Message from the President

Dear Members –

I would like to express my gratitude for the honor of serving as 2012 President of the Appraisal Institute, North Texas Chapter. The past several years have been challenging for many facets of the North Texas area. However, I am hopeful that we are seeing a turn for the profession as well as the economy. Mr. Jim Justice, MAI, our Chapter’s 2011 President did an outstanding job leading us and I plan to continue his good work.

I ask that you attend the general meetings and various educational offerings planned for 2012. The general meeting attendance continues to be at all-time highs. Please help it to grow more by inviting others to attend, whether it is clients, colleagues, or competitors. Our Chapter and its membership have much to offer the real estate community and it would be to all of our benefit to share our accomplishments and knowledge. It is also to our benefit to grow the membership and it is each member’s duty to mentor and encourage others to seek the MAI and SRA designations. Please make it a goal of yours for 2012 to help and encourage at least one colleague and/or competitor to seek the path of becoming designated.

In December 2011, we sponsored the third North Texas Realty Symposium and we plan to continue this event. Our goal for 2012 is to expand this event’s attendance and have it become an event that is anticipated by not only the appraisal community but our clients as well. This event will help our membership become better recognized as leaders in the North Texas real estate community.

The National Appraisal Institute Board of Directors has passed a strategic vision for a new business model and has adopted changes to designation requirements as well as candidates for designations. The demographics for the aging member and practicing appraiser show that a greater need will be forthcoming for professional, designated appraisers as more of our membership and the appraisal community begin to retire. We will continue to monitor the changing landscape of the Appraisal Institute and keep you updated. Also, you should be reassured that many key decision makers nationally come from the North Texas Chapter. We are very fortunate to have outstanding leadership in our Chapter and to be influential not only locally but nationally as well.

In 2011, our Chapter members held key leadership roles in the enactment and passing of the AMC legislation in Texas. We will continue to work with FACT to offer new legislative measures, which will be beneficial to the entire appraisal profession. We were fortunate to have Commissioner Douglas E. Oldmixon address the audience at the recent North Texas Realty Symposium. We will continue to work to further expand our positive relationship with Commissioner Oldmixon as well as the TALCB.

Please make sure your email is current, as this is our primary way of maintaining communication with Chapter Members regarding events and issues. We are always looking for volunteers throughout the year. If you would like to help the North Texas Chapter by serving on a committee or with an individual event, please contact Ruth Kelton, Executive Director or myself. The Chapter’s 2012 committee chairs are: Education-Sharon Myers; Finance-Bill Morris, MAI; FACT/Government Relations-Jim Jacobs, SRA; Nominating-Jim Underhill, MAI; Programs Co-Chairs-Jeff Briggs, MAI and Greg Stephens, SRA; Public Relations-Mark O’Briant, MAI; Residential-Ron Box, SRA; Scholarship Co-Chairs-Brenda Cottone, SRA, Ann Kostishak, MAI and George Naeter, MAI; and Symposium-Arleen Cassidy, MAI.

I look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Sincerely,

Allen Gardiner, SRA

2012 President

Appraisal Institute, North Texas Chapter