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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Brand Yourself

You know the old office joke about the overachiever who probably has the company logo branded on their rear.  That may be a little drastic, but it does pay to link in to the efforts of your company or organization that has spent thousands of dollars and several years creating a recognizable name. 

Since the formation of the very first board, people associated with ISA have worked very hard to make the name International Society of Appraisers meaningful.  Years of refining our educational offerings have given our society recognition as one of the world leaders in preparing appraisers.  Many of our members have gained national recognition as knowledgeable specialists in their fields.  Through the years, we have done a good job of making our members proud to be associated with this organization. 

Recently, our board and staff at Sentergroup have made efforts to make sure the public knows what we have to offer.  The new website was our first fresh face to the public.  Two professionally designed ads using the same branding as our web site were presented at conference this year; One to reach out to users of our services and one to appeal to potential members of ISA.  Through your suggestions, refinements have been made to the ads so they will best represent our members.  These ads are available for download from the ISA website.  The old brochure, that so many of us used as handouts several years ago, is also being revamped with our branding and will be made available on the website upon its completion. 

So now you’re probably thinking how nice all that is, but wondering what that does for your small business.  “Tremendous lots”, as one of my middle school friends would say.  If you’re like me you stress about spending more than $150 on a local ad.  Spending $500 on an ad that reaches every attorney in my state just about did me in.  It’s a wonder I ever made it through those early days of trying to market myself in my small town (Thank heavens for that brochure I mentioned earlier.)  Our branding is used throughout our public face on a national level.  That reaches a lot of people, but imagine if everyone of us joined in.  I’m not saying you can’t have your own company identity, especially since ISA’s strength is found in our individuals, but if everyone used the logo on all their pieces that go out to the public just think how powerful that would be.  That logo means that the appraiser using it is ethical and well trained (if you aren't, shame on you) and will do the best job they can for their client.  It means that appraiser is linked to a large group of professionals with a wide base of knowledge so they can get advice when they need it.  It means that I may be a small fish in a small pond but I can call in the big guys if I need to. 

I encourage you to do your best work, put your best face forward and show off your brand. 

By: Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

ISA Asian Art Attendees & ISA BOD Call for Nominations Reminder

The International Society of Appraisers is pleased to congratulate the following individuals for participating in the recent Asian Art I & II courses.  The attendees for each course are as follows:

Asian Art I: Japanese Prints Attendees
John Abajian ISA
New Orleans, LA
Margaret Allen ISA AM
Tallahassee, FL
Tracy Bernabo ISA
Ashland, VA
Jane Brennom ISA CAPP
Houston, TX
Greg Brown ISA
Bainbridge Island, WA
Nan Ruth Chardoul ISA CAPP
Grand Blanc, MI
Genae Fields ISA CAPP
Houston, TX
Dianna Flanigan ISA AM
Arlington, TX.
Suzanne Houck
Palm Desert, CA
Kathi Jablonsky ISA CAPP
San Diego, CA
Ted Krajnik ISA AM
Glenview, IL
Nancy Lear
San Diego, CA
Pamela Lewis ISA AM
San Antonio, TX
Rosalind Lyness ISA AM
Oshkosh, WI
Susan Taggart
Spring Valley, CA
Ruth Winston ISA AM
New Orleans, LA


Asian Art II: Asian Paintings & Screens Attendees



John Abajian ISA
New Orleans, LA
Margaret Allen ISA AM
Tallahassee, FL
Valerie Bennett ISA AM
Chicago, IL
Tracy Bernabo ISA
Ashland, VA
Jane Brennom ISA CAPP
Houston, TX
Greg Brown ISA
Bainbridge Island, WA
Lynn Carlson
Crystal Lake, IL
Nan Ruth Chardoul ISA CAPP
Grand Blanc, MI
Genae Fields ISA CAPP
Houston, TX
Dianna Flanigan ISA AM
Arlington, TX.
Suzanne Houck
Palm Desert, CA
Kathi Jablonsky ISA CAPP
San Diego, CA
Ted Krajnik ISA AM
Glenview, IL
Nancy Lear
San Diego, CA
Pamela Lewis ISA AM
San Antonio, TX
Rosalind Lyness ISA AM
Oshkosh, WI
Susan Taggart
Spring Valley, CA
Ruth Winston ISA AM
New Orleans, LA



ISA BOD Call for Nominations Reminder

Are you looking for the perfect opportunity to volunteer some time and energy, while giving back to ISA and the appraisal industry? Then consider throwing your hat in the ring and run for election to one of the three vacancies that will become available on the ISA Board of Directors this fall. Terms are for three years, and you can nominate yourself or another ISA member. In addition to having a desire to help ISA continue to grow and flourish, you must also be either an accredited ISA AM or certified ISA CAPP member. Interested members should submit a short letter of intent to Mo Aubry, ISA CAPP, chair of the Nominating Committee by the end of this week. Mo can be reached via email at marianaubryappraisals@comcast.net.  These are exciting times for ISA, and you can take part in our success!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

FAE to Fund Wendell Garrett Winterthur Scholarships

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Foundation for Appraisal Education (FAE), the fundraising arm of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), has announced the establishment of a scholarship program at Winterthur Museum, Library and Gardens in the name of revered antiques authority the late Wendell D. Garrett. To be awarded over three consecutive years to graduate students or professionals with less than five years of experience in the field, the scholarships will be underwritten by funds raised through a series of FAE activities including their educational seminars. The scholarships to be awarded in Wendell Garrett’s name are for Winterthur Institute, Furniture Forum and Ceramics Conference.

This year’s seminar will take place Sept. 6-7 at Quinn’s Auction Galleries in Falls Church, Va. (suburban Washington DC). Registration is open to anyone with a working association or interest in antiques and fine art. The ISA will award 15.5 professional development credits to those appraisers who attend the event in its entirety.

The seminar agenda is packed with entertaining, informative talks, as well as ample leisure time for socializing, dining and networking. A meet-and-greet reception to welcome attendees will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Quinn’s second-floor gallery.

On Friday morning at 9:15, the lecture series will begin with Sumpter Priddy III’s discourse on Religion and Furniture in Southern Back-Country. This will be followed by noted New York art dealer Betty Krulik’s address on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in American Painting.

Friday afternoon speakers include Luke Zipp of Crocker Farm Auctions, who will discuss American Stoneware: Its History and Uses 1812-1900; and Yale Fellow Louisa Brouwer, of Israel Sack Inc., who will recount the story behind the building of the Israel Sack empire and its legendary founder. An evening reception will follow immediately afterward.

Saturday offers another full day of insider information from a formidable lineup of experts. At 9 a.m., Daniel K. Ackerman, associate curator of the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts, Old Salem (N.C.) Museum and Gardens, will lecture on Internet search techniques. His talk is titled Google It: Using New Tools to Unlock Secrets of Old Things. Next, Alan Fausel, MA, FRICS, vice president and director of fine arts at Bonhams, will reveal Ten Ways to Tell a Fake Painting Without Looking at It. After lunch, Ronald W. Fuchs II, curator of ceramics and manager of the Reeves Collection, Washington and Lee University, will speak on Chinese Export for the American Market 1785-1940. The seminar will conclude with the personal recollections of highly decorated former FBI Agent Robert K. Wittman, who spearheaded the crack FBI Art Crime Team and authored a riveting autobiography titled “Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures.”

FAE Board member Marcy Molinaro, ISA AM, said the FAE made a commitment to underwrite the three Wendell Garrett Scholarships over the next three years as a posthumous tribute to one of the antiques trade’s most influential contributors.

“Wendell Garrett left an immense legacy to appraisers, dealers and collectors through his lectures, books and magazine articles. In recognition of his lifetime of achievement, we approached the Winterthur Museum and asked if we could partner with them to fund scholarships in his name. Winterthur was an appropriate choice, as Mr. Garrett was a member of the first graduating class, in 1957, of Winterthur’s Early American Culture Program,” Molinaro said.

Matthew Quinn, vice president of Quinn’s Auction Galleries, noted that the series of seminars will offer attendees “not only a wealth of useful information, but also a unique opportunity to network at the highest echelons of the antiques and fine art trade.” He added: “It’s rare for so many VIPs to come together under one roof, make themselves accessible to others one on one, and share their knowledge so openly.” Quinn’s is hosting the seminar at its venue and providing hospitality to guests a courtesy to the antiques and fine art appraisal community.

The cost to attend the Sept. 6-7 seminar, inclusive of receptions, lunches and refreshment breaks, is $375. Of that cost, $200 is a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation for Appraisal Education. Attendance is limited to 100 registrants. Quinn’s is located at 360 S. Washington St. Falls Church, VA 22046. Nearest airports: Reagan National and Dulles International. A special room rate of $95/night is available at the Hyatt House, 8296 Glass Alley, Falls Church, Va., by quoting the booking reference QUINNS.

Questions regarding the FAE Seminar may be directed to Andrea Lee at Quinn’s Auction by calling 703-532-5632 or emailing info@quinnsauction.com; or Marcy Molinaro at molinaro.marcy@gmail.com. To reserve a room at the Hyatt House, call 571-327-2277.

To view the entire seminar agenda, or to download a brochure or registration form, visit http://www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org/seminar.html.


About Wendell D. Garrett: Wendell D. Garrett was an expert on American decorative arts. He served as senior vice president of Sotheby’s American decorative arts department and was subsequently editor and publisher of The Magazine Antiques. Garrett also authored numerous books on antiques and Americana, and was widely known from his appearances on WGBH-TV’s Antiques Roadshow. He passed away last year at the age of 83.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Welcome to ISA!

ISA would like to introduce, 24 new membership applicants for this quarter.  Please join us in welcoming these applicants to the Society.

Jeffrey Stout - Studio City, CA
Ian Rawlinson - Saskatoon, SK
Stephen Spadaro - Oak Park, IL
Elaina Sanders - Atlanta, GA
Lara Tomaszewska - Victoria, BC
Mara Vostral - Edmonds, WA
Jacquelyn Williams - La Grange Park ,IL
Brady Dreasher - Wichita, KS 
Jonathan Castner - Brooklyn, NY
Francois Pelletier - Montreal, QC
Tamra Mast - Houston,  TX
Heather Beecroft - Guelph, ON
Ivelina Nikolov - Mississauga, ON
Patrick Smith, Sr. - Fredericksburg, VA
Rae Mahaffey - Portland, OR
Christine Griffiths - Toronto, ON
Rita Shope - San Antonio, TX
Dee Appleby - Truro, NS
Kimberly Brigance - Sandy Springs, GA
Shelley Matthews - Fort Worth, TX
Christina Blaus - Toronto, ON
Troy Deacon - Lynchburg, VA
Andrew Kravit - Boca Raton, FL
David Stevens - Roxboro, NC

Congratulations on taking this important step in furthering your professional career and welcome to ISA!

If you would like to recommend someone for membership, please forward their contact information to Sara Porter: sporter@thesentergroup.com.