American Society of Appraisers: Newsletter -- 0804 Edition

The Chapter 73 Newsletter is written by the President of the Chapter for its members. This edition was written by outgoing President, Jane Muranyi, ASA.

Our Chapter has had a very successful year. We welcome our new members and congratulate those who achieved their ASA and AM designations.

Growth Through Change.
World Wide Web As the old sage said, "The road to success is always under construction." This year we modernized communications with chapter members by expanding our use of the internet. Not only did we continue the award-winning newsletter on our website started by Timothy Griffith, ASA we disseminated information, sent announcements of meetings and seminars, sent invitations and voted online. Even the Installation Dinner could be paid for online with a credit card. We found that information could be published efficiently, and the chapter was spared the expense and time involved in producing a mailing. On the international level, designated members found a dramatic increase in job referrals from clients who went to the ASA website. Candidates: Obtain your designation -– it's worth it!

Growth Through Education.
Education is a key component of professionalism. No longer can one graduate and coast. Paul Roberts, ASA a member of our chapter and current Regional Governor, over the years has set a high benchmark for our chapter's focus on education. In our monthly meetings we always strive to expand our knowledge of appraising, and seminars provide an opportunity to gain expertise in a selective area. Our own members Ben Williams and Scott McMahon, for instance, presented a very interesting program on appraising electrical generating facilities that incorporated both Business Valuation and Machinery & Equipment approaches to value. It is the ability to handle sophisticated and complex assignments that distinguish ASA members from competitors, and their program informed us how to smoothly integrate multi-discipline analyses. Other programs were arranged by Program Chair Dorothy Nicklus to appeal to all disciplines. USPAP instructor John D. Willey, FASA

Seminars this year included a real property program held jointly with the National Association of Fee Appraisers and a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course with noted instructor, John D. Willey, FASA, seen at right. We worked closely with the Long Island ASA Chapter, and in the end we held the 15 hour course and they sponsored the 7 hour USPAP course.


The Regional Governors. From left to right, Charles Tholen, ASA Region 11 Governor, George Silver, ASA, Region 2, Paul Roberts, ASA, Region 15, and Larry Phillips, ASA, incoming International President.

Growth Through Networking.
The opportunity to meet with appraiser colleagues is an important reason many join ASA. Not only did we network at monthly meetings, our chapter hosted the Regional Meeting this year at the Meadowlands. We brought together ASA members from the Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City and Northern New Jersey chapters. Former International President (and a member of our Chapter) John J. Connolly III, ASA, (not in photo at left), Region 11 Governor Charles E. Tholen, ASA (Greater Michigan), Region 2 Governor George F. Silver, ASA (New England), and incoming International President Larry D. Phillips, ASA (New Mexico) also came to pay their respects to their friend Paul Roberts, our chapter member and retiring Governor of Region 15 who was our Guest of Honor at dinner. Earlier in the day there was a wonderful tour of Giants Stadium, and it was quite an experience to stand in the center of that famous football field. The speakers addressed a range of appraising challenges that will arise in the near future as landmark properties in New Jersey and in New York are redeveloped.

Growth Through Advocacy.
Our Chapter has joined with other appraisal groups to form an advocacy group -- United We Stand: New Jersey Coalition of Valuation Consultants. Recent meetings have concentrated on issues which the NJ State Board of Real Estate Appraisers has requested the group's input. A recommendation for NJ regarding the upcoming Federal trainee sponsorship regulation was passed at the May 25th meeting. Participants include members of the following organizations: National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers (NAIFA), Appraisal Institute (AI), American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), International Right of Way Association (IRWA), American Guild of Appraisers (AGA), NJ Association of Municipal Assessors (AMANJ), NJ Association of Realtors (NJAR), Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).

Purposeful Fun.
At Chapter 73 we multi-task at social events. This means we have fun and raise some funds too. Our holiday party always has a spirited (pardon the pun) auction that raises a lot of good cheer. In May, Tim Griffith organized a very successful golf tournament It was a glorious day that followed a lot of rain, and everyone enjoyed the links. Marilyn Vernon, ASA and her guest took top honors. A big thank you goes to our Tee Sponsors: Appraisal Economics Inc., ASA Long Island Chapter, Ehrenkrantz Sterling & Co., Ericson Appraisal, IAC: International Appraisal Company, The Meers Group Ltd, MR Valuation Consulting, LLC, and Joseph Novelli, ASA. I too was glad to sponsor a tee since I'm not a golfer. Steven Chaker and Ron Bird generously sponsored awards.


	2003-2004 Leadership. Outgoing Chapter President, Jane Muranyi, ASA (center) poses with incoming Regional Governor, Timothy Griffith, ASA (left) and other Chapter members, including the members of her Board. From left, Tim, outgoing Secretary, Nicholas Stabile, Candidate Steven Chaker, Jane, outgoing Treasurer, Robert Zak, outgoing Vice President and incoming President, Mark Rodriguez, ASA, and incoming Treasurer, Benjamin Williams, AM.

Thanks to My Board
Since it is the end of my term as president of the Chapter, I want to express my gratitude to those that served on the Board this year. In case you have forgotten, Mark Rodriguez, ASA is Vice President, Robert Zak is Treasurer and Nick Stabile is Secretary. Other Voting Members include Steve Chaker, Tim Griffith, our Past President, Dorothy Nicklus, and Ben Williams.

You will hear Tim Griffith mentioned frequently since he will be the next Governor of Region 15. Congratulations, Tim, and Happy Traveling. You have been elected to a responsible position that oversees a large part of the northeast.

Welcome to the New Board
The new officers for our chapter are an outstanding group: President Mark Rodriguez, ASA, Vice President Kal Barrow, ASA, Treasurer Ben Williams, AM and Secretary Scott Vandervliet, ASA. They will organize an eventful schedule that will move Chapter 73 ahead. Check our website regularly for news and information about meetings and ASA events. Also, consider getting more involved with ASA next year. You will enjoy working with this dynamic young group. (Kal may have a little more experience than the others, but he remains young at heart and dynamic.)

Lastly, I want to thank all members of the chapter for the opportunity to be President this year. It has been a fast-paced job that has enriched my life. Best of all, I enjoyed meeting colleagues in all the chapters of our region. More than ever, I am convinced the American Society of Appraisers has the right professional standards, and it is a worthwhile organization.