Winter 2006-07 Newsletter
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Winter 2006-07 President’s Report Philip W. Humphries Dear Friends, meetings and conferences maintain public trust and to represent the Associa- confidence from individ- I want to thank you for tion which was a tremen- ual consumers and ap- Inside this issue: the confidence you have dous boost in spreading praisers then we will come expressed by electing me our name and mission under extreme pressure Where’d the year go! 2 as president for this year. I around the country. for the regulatory process pledge to you that I will as currently structured to work with the other offi- AARO is the organization be drastically changed. Post Katrina Update 2 cers and committees to that if we work together carry out our mission. will bond us together to AARO is the only organi- Conference Program 5 meet the many challenges zation established to rep- The year 2006 was a very we are facing and will en- resent and promote regu- successful year under the counter in the future. The latory officials across this New ASC Manager 9 leadership of Larry Dis- appraisal profession is un- great nation. In my opin- ney, and the Association der fire from many organi- ion the system of regula- Mission Statement 9 accomplished many acts zations and political lead- tion created by Title XI is to help the appraisal pro- ers due to the record high not broken but does have fession in the future. We number of foreclosure some weaknesses that AARO Benefits 10 had two very well at- and fraud cases in the need to be addressed. We tended meetings in San United States. As an Asso- have jurisdictions that are Regulatory Structure 11 Antonio and Washington ciation we must promote struggling to carry out with outstanding pro- an effective and strong their mission to protect grams of education and regulatory presence and the public and it is my training. Larry and other program in every state and hope that AARO can help members attended many jurisdiction. If we do not (continued on page 5) AARO Spring Conference Welcome to St. Petersburg, Florida!! By Francois Gregoire The Florida Real Estate about St. Petersburg, what sula between Tampa Bay Appraisal Board is proud to to expect and where to and the Gulf of Mexico. The welcome the Association of spend your time during your only land connection is to Appraiser Regulatory Offi- visit. the north. You may fly in to cials to Florida. Since the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Sunshine City is our meeting Located on the west coast of International Airport (PIE), site and my hometown, I am Florida, we are situated on north of the Downtown delighted to tell you a bit the Pinellas County penin- (continued on page 4) 1 Page 2 WOW! Where Did the Year GO? By: Larry Disney As I stated at the AARO fall cule percentage of what I had than acting on anyone’s be- conference during my closing intended to do. half or speaking for any spe- remarks as the association’s cific state or territory, the 2005-2006 President, “It The purpose of this message President generally acts and seemed as if only a blink of to the membership and read- speaks on behalf of the asso- the eye had taken place since ers is to convey what I was ciation leadership. I accepted the position of able to achieve, what I ob- President during the 2005 fall served, and my thought of One of my priority objectives conference.” the current status of the As- was to concentrate on making sociation of Appraiser Regu- AARO more widely recog- There was so much I had latory Officials in the hierar- nized and foster a cooperative planned for AARO and for chy of appraiser regulation. spirit by working with other the professional appraiser groups, agencies and indi- regulatory officials when I The first thing I discovered, viduals within the regulatory AARO 2006 accepted the position that I and rather quickly, we are groups and the appraisal pro- Fall Conference was unable to do. At the end made up of jurisdictions and fession. of the year it seemed I had not the individuals from completed only a very minus- those jurisdictions. So, rather (continued on page 3) Post-Katrina New Orleans: Disparities in wealth and A City and a Region Re-defined in the distance of Before Hurricane Katrina, the lation at the end of 2005 is tion density for a flourishing evacuees from their city of New Orleans was estimated at 134,400, and a region whose identity is far ruined houses are home to 462,269 people. A considerable number of com- less dependent on the city. tourist mecca, the historic Big mercial establishments were dictating, in many cases, Easy boasted of its fabulous either destroyed or have left. August 29, 2005 will be the date from which all future which neighborhoods will French Quarter, Mardi Gras, Vast parts of the city still delectable food, an amazing reflect its devastation. Per- analyses of the city and the be part of New Orleans's musical history and centuries- sons in the surrounding areas greater New Orleans region future and which will be old architecture—all adding no longer look to the city for may mark their beginnings spice to the gumbo that had goods and services as they and endings. Pre-Katrina consigned to its history. as its base the diverse cultures once had. demographic analysis, eco- of the people who called it nomic base analysis and gen- home. The heart of a broader The present scenario in erally accepted axioms regard- market area, the city was of- most—but not all—of the ing the region are for the ten the destination of choice outlying area is significantly most part no longer pertinent for 1.3 million area residents different. Population, new and stand only as points of for entertainment, shopping, home construction and new reference. medical care and other ser- businesses have all mush- vices. The surrounding com- roomed as the exodus from In reality, this is a “tale of two munities drew much of their the city brings new prosperity cities”—or of one city and identity from their relation- from Katrina’s devastation— the remainder of the broader ship to the city. together with its accompany- region that surrounds it—in ing challenges. The I-12 inter- which it is the best of times Katrina Disaster Photo Today, the distinctive attrac- state spur that connects the and the worst of times. The tions remain in New Orleans, Mississippi Gulf Coast to effects of Katrina and the but many of the people, their Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ensuing 18 months on the homes and their jobs are no state capital, is on track to city and other parts of the longer there. The city’s popu- become the base of popula- (continued on page 6) 2 Page 3 continued from page 2) tion Task Force along with towards developing training It was my great pleasure representatives of the Ap- sessions for appraiser regula- and honor to have WOW! Where praisal Foundation to advise tory Board members, attor- served you as President the regulatory agencies, edu- neys, and staff. The dream of AARO. I thank Did the Year cators and others in imple- would be to have a complete everyone for the support menting the 2008 Education training and education core and assistance during my GO? Criteria, and other changes curriculum that would lead to year of service, and I am that must be in place for ap- a professional recognition appreciative for having In meeting that priority I, or a praiser regulation no later certification for appraiser been given that honor member of the AARO leader- than January 1, 2008. regulatory officials. This cer- and privilege. ship team, attended every tainly can, and should be- ASB and AQB meeting of the All of the above meetings and come a reality, because today In closing, I urge all of Appraisal Foundation. The conferences have, hopefully, there is no such program you to push as hard as Appraisal Foundation recog- assisted in letting others 1) available. you possibly can for the nized AARO as a member of know that AARO exists, 2) most effective heights the Education Council of the what the mission of AARO you can achieve within is, and 3) what we can do as Appraisal Foundation Spon- your agency. Push your sors (ECAFS). Also, the Ap- an organization to assist ap- praiser regulatory agencies AARO leadership and praisal Foundation continued demand effective to have a representative sit- across the nation in having a leadership. We can no ting on The Appraisal Foun- more effective and successful dation Advisory Council. appraiser regulatory enforce- longer simply meet the ment program. minimum and expect it Also, I believe that AARO to be the best we can do. My second priority was to should work diligently toward We must demand more carry out the mission of pro- developing an education ap- from ourselves and our viding education to appraiser proval program that will be a agency. Only you can regulatory agencies and the corollary to the AQB Course make your state individuals within those agen- Approval Program. This type cies. I am pleased to report program would be especially appraiser agency more that through the efforts of beneficial for those states and effective and proactive. the AARO leadership, and a territories that either cannot Other meetings which I at- committee of many individu- or will not, for whatever rea- tended on behalf of AARO als, AARO is the only agency son, abdicate all qualifying were the Illinois Coalition of or organization that, I per- education course approval to Appraiser Professionals, the sonally have knowledge of, is the AQB Course Approval Chicago Land Area Chapter active in developing, perfect- Program.