Important Membership News

Dear Members of ISA:

The ISA Board of Directors has been discussing for some time many issues involving membership in our Association.  Two new policy changes have been approved and will become effective on January 1, 2013.  We want to notify all of our members now so you may plan accordingly.

The first change impacts the Associate Member category.  Most members are aware that ISA has not been accepting new Associate Members for several years, and has been planning to eliminate this membership level.  There are many reasons for this; the most important being the potential for prospective users of appraisal services to confuse the “Associate Member” who has no ISA or USPAP educational requirements for one who has earned an ISA, ISA AM or ISA CAPP credential.  

Over the past few years we have been encouraging our Associate Members to upgrade to Accredited Member status.  As mentioned, on January 1, 2013, The Board of Directors will eliminate the Associate Member category. Since these colleagues are long-term members who are important to us, we are offering two options to our current Associate Members:

A. For those who are no longer appraising, you can remain with ISA as an Affiliate Member.  Affiliate Members, who do not appraise, pay 50% of the regular membership dues.  To do this you only have to call the ISA office and make arrangements with our Membership Coordinator, Sara Porter.  Sara may be reached at: (312) 981-6782, or at sporter@thesentergroup.com.

B. For those who are still appraising and have not yet met the requirements to become Accredited Members, we will offer a special Core Course at Northern Illinois University, September 10-16, 2012 for Associate Members only.  This course will be offered at a 50% discount from our normal registration fee.  It is our hope that you will stay with ISA and become a full member of our association with full membership benefits, including your own webpage on our new website.  If you have not already done so, we invite you to explore the site.  We think you will be excited about the direction of ISA and proud to become an Accredited Member.  

The second change will be for members who are advancing from the ISA level to the ISA AM designation.  In order to ensure that ISA members are writing to current ISA report writing and USPAP standards, the process for obtaining an ISA AM designation will be amended.  Members will be required to submit one self-contained appraisal report, for a single item for a charitable donation with a value of more than $5,000 in his or her specialty area, to the Designation and Review Committee for approval.  This new requirement for the ISA AM designation will become effective January 1, 2013.  

Of course, all members will still be required to comply with ISA's current policy of keeping current with USPAP standards through the USPAP courses and updates.  In addition, ISA level members have 5 years to move from the ISA level to the ISA AM level.

If you have any questions about the credentialing program, please feel free to contact Michelle Stearns, Education and Credentialing Coordinator at (312) 981-6784, or mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

ISA is constantly striving to maintain the highest standard of appraising in each of our three designation levels, and we believe these significant changes will strengthen our position as the leading association in the personal property appraisal marketplace.

Sincerely yours,

ISA Board of Directors