ISA Now

Earning Professional Development Credits

2012-03-06T10:01:00.001-06:00

You may hear various people from ISA talking about professional development credits (PDCs) from time to time. Mainly when you are attending an annual meeting, course, webinar or when it is time for your five year requalification. And, you may be asking yourself, what are professional development credits and how do I earn them? Or are they are even important? The simple answer is, yes, they are very important.

WHAT ARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS?
These are earned through participation in various educational activities. How do you know how many PDCs you earn? For each hour of instruction you earn one (1) professional development credit or PDC. Why are these important? Members of ISA are required to requalify every five (5) years; one step in this process is to submit a certain number of these PDCs. The number is dependent on your level of membership:

ISA: 50 PDCs
ISA AM: 75 PDCs
ISA CAPP: 100 PDCs

HOW TO EARN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS
Each time that you participate in an ISA course, attend an annual conference, participate in a local ISA Chapter meeting/event, or attend a webinar, you earn PDCs. Do you attend courses or annual meetings presented by other appraisal groups? These are also great ways to earn professional development credits. One of the easiest ways to earn additional PDCs, without traveling and for very minimal cost, is by participating in ISA webinars. For each educational webinar that you attend, you earn 1 PDC. It might not seem like much, but these points add up quickly. Have you created and presented a speech or seminar? You can year PDCs for that as well, two (2) per presentation hour. There are many ways to earn professional development credits through ISA and non-ISA activities alike.

KEEPING TRACK OF PDCS
After you participate in ISA activities (ex: course, webinar, annual meeting) you receive a “CE Form”. This document will state your name, the date and name of the activity as well as the number of PDCs that you earned. It is important to keep these documents, even if they are emailed to you. They serve as your “proof” of participation; which will be important to have when you submit your Requalification Packet. It’s always easiest to start keeping track of these points early on. How do you do that you might ask; my suggestion would be to create a log sheet or excel spreadsheet, where you can track these activities as you complete them. It might also be a good idea to keep a hard copy file for those documents which you receive a physical copy versus an electronic copy. For electronic copies, it is easy to create a folder on your computer desk top in which to save these items.

If you have any questions about tracking professional development credits or how many you might have earned for participation in an ISA course, please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

2012 ISA AWARD NOMINATIONS

2012-02-28T09:47:00.001-06:00

Well, folks, the time is upon us again. “Assets 2012: Turning Up the Heat” in Tempe, Arizona is right around the corner! As most of you know conference is not only an enrichment experience, but also a time when we have the opportunity to celebrate and award our peers for the hard work and un-ending dedication they have shown to both the appraisal profession, and ISA, throughout the year.

This year we are taking award nominations based on ten categories:
Lamp of Knowledge
Leadership
Outstanding Member
Distinguished Service
Chapter of the Year
Publication
Media
Marketing
Special Merit
Service

Here you will find an explanation of the applicable categories. I encourage you all to take a moment and consider the nominations. Each of these will be given to those in our profession who stand out and go above and beyond the call of duty…and let’s face it…sometimes it’s just nice to be acknowledged for all that work!

Deadline for nominations is Monday, March 19. Please submit all inquiries and forms to kmartin035@yahoo.com.

It is a pleasure to be your Awards Chair this year and I’ll see you all in sunny Arizona!!!
Kate Martin, ISA AM

Important Membership News

2012-02-23T07:02:00.001-06:00

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

Are you thinking about Tempe?

2012-02-21T08:55:00.001-06:00

It may hard to believe, but Assets 2012, is only 8 weeks away! If you haven’t started thinking about sending in your registration, booking your flights and making your hotel reservation, now is the time! If you have registered for conference, will you encourage a friend or colleague to turn in their registration?

A full schedule, program information and registration for Assets 2012, to take place April 20-23, 2012 at the Tempe Mission Palms in Tempe, AZ can be found on our website.

Early Bird Pricing Expires March 16th
Friday March 16th is the last day to receive the early bird pricing for conference. After this date, registration rates go up by $75. Register now (link to http://www.isa-appraisers.org/annual-conference/registration) take advantage of the early rates.

Hotel Cut-off Date
Saturday, March 17th is the final day to receive our discounted rate of $179 + hospitality fee and tax. You can call the hotel directly at (480) 894-1400 to make your reservations, or visit the hotel website.

Staying at the conference hotel will put you in the middle of the action for networking with your peers in and out of the educational sessions. Our group rate also includes a round-trip transfer from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is only a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

Promote Your Business and Support ISA
Do you want to advertise in the Final Program and Resource Guide? Doing so supports ISA and the Annual Conference! Deadline for ad copy is Tuesday, March 20th. Ad rates for the guide are as follows:

Premium Position (full color): $800

Full Inside Page: $500

Half Inside Page: $250

Quarter Inside Page: $125

For more information about sponsorship and advertising at the conference, click here.

Hopefully you’ve noticed that while conference is about two months away, all these impending deadlines are only one month away or less! If you’re interested in learning even more about what will be featured during Assets 2012, don’t miss Tom Helms’ free webinar on Tuesday, February 28 at 5:00pm EST/ 4:00pm CST that will surely get you very excited about conference.

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ISA: JOIN A COMMITTEE

2012-02-14T09:11:00.000-06:00

Be part of the advancement we all hope to see as ISA soars into first place as the premiere society for personal property appraisers.

Are we all feeling the momentum that is building within ISA? As members, the best way we can further that momentum and help ISA continue to grow is by joining with your fellow members in Committee work.

Volunteer committee members are vital to the health of our organization. Committees draft and propose programs that support the goals and objectives of the Society’s strategic plan, make recommendations to the board of directors, work with the ISA Office staff to determine financial budget of programs, and enhance effective communication with the membership.

A clear example of great committee work is the development of our new website. Hopefully you have all had a chance check out our new image and capability, including the ability to build your own professional webpage (including a photo) on the ISA site. The success of the new website is not only for our current members and potential new clients. It is a big step toward building our brand, and advancing our goal of positioning ISA as the premiere personal appraisal society. When you admire our new website you are experiencing the results of committee work.

Please consider volunteering for a committee today. Below is a list of your opportunities:

Annual Conference Program – The mission of the committee is to develop a speaker program and the pre-conference tours in conjunction with the Annual ISA Conference on Personal Property Appraising.
Awards Committee: Acknowledges members' contributions in differing categories of endeavor for exceptional contributions of time and talent to the society.
Bylaws & Governance – The mission of the committee is to accurately maintain, monitor compliance, make recommendations and serve as a source to interpret the Society’s governing documents, as well as offer amendments based on actions taken by the Board of Directors. This committee is responsible for annual review of bylaws, as well as development and review of all policies and procedures for the Society.

Chapter Relations Committee - The mission of this committee is to facilitate coordination and communication between the chapters of ISA in order to help and strengthen each chapter. This committee also is charged with assisting in improving the communication between ISA and the chapters; to advance the membership recruitment and retention efforts at both the national and chapter levels; and to increase awareness of the ISA “brand” to strengthen participation at the regional and local levels.

Designation and Review – The mission of the committee is to review the qualifications of members applying for certification and Requalification under the Society’s credentialing programs, including review of CAPP appraisal submissions. You must be a CAPP member to participate in this committee.

Education Committee - The mission of this committee is to review and help develop all education and course-related activities of the Society, including annual review of manuals and instructors. This committee oversees the development of curriculum for on- site courses as well as webinars, distance education, and other electronic forms of education. Includes the following subcommittees:
Fine Art
Antiques & Residential Contents
Gems & Jewelry
Specialty Studies

Each subcommittee also has the goal of strengthening the specialty within ISA by encouraging members to participate in ISA’s activities and educational programs and serving as an information conduit between the members and the association.

Ethics Committee - Ensures that ISA members exhibit the highest level of ethical behavior, develops and implement procedures for processing ethics complaints, reviews the ISA Code of Ethics periodically.
Finance & Audit Committee – The mission of this committee is to monitor and/or offer financial policy, and coordinate approved audit procedures. Reviews Society financial statements on a quarterly basis. This committee will include board and non-board members to promote organizational transparency.

Marketing & Promotions Committee – The mission of this committee is to focus on the Society’s marketing, advertising, public relations, and communications efforts.

Membership Committee – The mission of this committee is to provide support and oversight of the Society’s recruitment of new members and retention of current members. The committee also reviews and makes recommendations for membership and/or member classification actions.
Nominating Committee: Reviews qualifications, and nominates qualified candidates to serve on the board of directors.

Resource Development Committee – The mission of this committee is to provide support and oversight of sponsorship and fundraising-related activities, and to assist in the development of non-dues revenue opportunities.

Website Task Force - The mission of the task force is to oversee and recommend improvements, updates, and further development to our website.
ISA Board and Committee ISA Now Pog Schedule

Over the past couple of years a lot of work by a few visionary members has had a great impact on our organization. Imagine where we could be a year from now with just a little more work from more members. If you are considering volunteering for any of our committees, please contact me at 215 346-2799 or email at info@artappraisalfirm.com.

Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP

Why attend an ISA Webinar?

2012-02-07T10:05:00.000-06:00

What is a webinar? According to Merriam-Webster, a webinar is “a live online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments.” Source

Now you may be asking yourself, why should I participate in a webinar? Participating in a webinar has many benefits; no travel required, view the session from the comfort of your home or office, condensed 1 hour sessions and practical, useful information in an accessible format, are just a few. ISA has been offering webinars for almost three years; with the goal of providing relevant, timely, exciting education to our members as well as the general public. These sessions are offered once, sometimes twice a month and some are even free. ISA webinars are presented by respected leading experts in their respective fields.

Not only do viewers reap the benefits of furthering their knowledge in a particular subject area, they also earn professional development credits. For each educational webinar that you participate in, you earn 1 professional development credit. Now, that might not sound like much; but, that handful of live sessions that you participate in during the year, could make all the difference when it comes time for your five year requalification and meeting your point requirement.

What happens if you can’t attend a live session? Not to worry, each live session is recorded and then made available in the webinar archive library. Also, you still earn professional development credits for viewing recorded sessions. Would you like this information in a printer friendly format? Click here.

Upcoming ISA Webinars

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – 4:00PM CST/ 5:00PM EST *FREE*
“2012 ISA Conference: ‘Turning up the Heat’”
Presenter: Tom Helms, ISA CAPP

Thursday, March 15, 2012 – 3:00PM CST/ 4:00PM EST
“Antique & Vintage Toys”
Presenter: David Mapes, ISA CAPP

Register now!

ISA Announces Course Attendees

2012-02-02T09:02:00.003-06:00

ISA kicked off the 2012 course calendar with offerings of the Requalification course: January 20-21 and the 15 Hour Personal Property USPAP course: January 23-24, in Naperville, IL at the Northern Illinois University- Naperville campus.

ISA is pleased to announce recent course attendees:

Requalification
Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP – Elkins Park, PA
Michael Conner, ISA AM – Champaign, IL
Dana Garvey, ISA AM – Seattle, WA
Darlene Hines, ISA CAPP – Bloomfield Hills, MI
Carey Ross, ISA AM – Seattle, WA

15 Hour Personal Property USPAP
Martha Arney, ISA AM – St. Joseph, MI
Jack Bacon – Reno, NV
Dana Garvey, ISA AM – Seattle, WA
Nigel Harrison – Vancouver, BC
Roberta Kramer, ISA AM – Chicago, IL
Judith Martin, ISA CAPP – Wheaton, IL
Kamille Parkinson – Kingston, ON
Carey Ross, ISA AM – Seattle, WA
Wendy Treacy – Aurora, ON
Elise Waters Olonia – El Prado, NM

We would like to congratulate these course attendees, in the successful completion of the course as well as for taking an important step in further their industry knowledge! If you would like to learn more about upcoming ISA courses, click here.

New ISA Forum

2012-01-31T10:19:00.002-06:00

As many of our readers know, ISA not only has a brand new website, but has a fantastic new Membership Forum as well. This new Forum is much more robust and user friendly; we’d like to take you on a quick tour…

Once logged into the Forum, you will be able to read new topic postings, search previous posts, post topics and much more.

Subscribing to the Forum
To subscribe to a specific Forum (Education, Requests for Help, Appraisal Theory and Practice, Open Discussion) select the desired Forum and then select “watch this forum for new topics”. If you would like to be updated when new posts are made to that Forum, select “watch this forum for new posts”.

Another great feature of the Forum is your ability to see which topics have been updated, since you last logged on. These can be viewed by selecting “unread topics”; from there a list of new updates is populated.

How to Unsubscribe
If you would no longer like to receive updates on specific Forum topic and post updates, you can simply unsubscribe. To do this, select “My profile”, then “My subscriptions”. This is where you can unsubscribe to specific topics and posts.

Posting on Forum
To post on the Forum, select the specific forum and then choose “new topic”. This brings you to the area where you can draft your post; you have the ability to add links, images, etc. When you have completed your draft you can preview what it will look like, prior to posting. Once, you are satisfied with the post, select “add message” to post the message for other Forum users to see.

Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ tab, within the Forum provides solutions to common user questions, at the click of a button.

Forum Search

There are multiple ways to look for posts within the new Forum: Recent Topics, Recent Posts and Search. The Search feature allows the user to set parameters for the results, whereas, Recent Topics and Recent Posts, list recently updated topics and newly added posts.

We hope that this brief tour helps you become more familiar with the New ISA Forum.

ISA is Headed West

2012-01-24T09:14:00.002-06:00

Go west ISA, go west for an exciting, entertaining, educational and enriching experience to the Annual Conference: Turning Up the Heat! Assets 2012. Start preparing and packing your saddle bags to board the coach and escape to our Arizona Western hospitality for a “rootin’ tootin’ highfalutin’ good time”!

As one of your hosts, we have planned a Friday tour schedule that will make it difficult for you to choose which tour experience to take --- either the Antiques and Residential Contents package tour with lunch taking you to the world famous Heard Museum followed by the Musical Instruments Museum housed in a fifty thousand square foot musical mecca, or The Fine Arts package tour including lunch with a special behind the scenes look at museum storage at the Arizona State University Art Museum followed by the Phoenix Art Museum that is presently highlighting Frank Lloyd Wright. We guarantee that either one will leave you “wide-eyed and open-mouthed” and saying “WOW”!

A brief synopsis for each of the venues are …

a. The Heard Museum: Since 1929, the museum has educated visitors from around the world about art, artifacts, and decorative arts with its 40,000 items and changing exhibitions such as Navajo Textile: 100 years of weaving and Bola ties: the Ultimate Neckwear, and Around the World Collections.

b. The Musical Instruments Museum (MIM): As an introduction to the newest world famous two-year-old museum, it is like “a jewel rising from the desert, MIM is an inspiring venue for sharing the world’s music. Pass through the majestic courtyard into the bright and soaring atrium. Follow “El Río,” the flowing river form that creates the path linking the museum’s galleries. With an interior designed to convey the graceful lines common to musical instruments, MIM is bright, open, and dramatic in scale. It’s a magnificent destination befitting the discoveries inside.”

c. The Arizona State University Art Museum (with the adjacent Ceramics Research Center): The 57,000 square foot building houses a 12,000 piece collection that includes works from the 14th century to the present featuring paintings sculpture, prints drawings, ceramics and photography. Contemporary, Latino, Southwestern artists are well-represented.

d. The Phoenix Art Museum: With over eleven galleries, you could spend two days and still not finish as you explore American, Western, Contemporary artists, fashion design, miniature rooms, photography, and special collections.

Of course, you will have an expert docent with a customized tour for each museum to help personalize your experience. Sign up NOW as spaces are limited especially the “pre-conference bonus” offered below to the first 28 early arrivals.

Sincerely,
Tom Helms ISA-CAPP
Annual Meeting Chair

A PRE-CONFERENCE BONUS offered by your hosts from A-Z Appraisal and Estate Consultants would like to invite you to sign up for a $20.00 bus charge for an all day Thursday, April 19th no-host “Behind the Scenes Exploration of Greater Phoenix”.
Get to know the area with some possible stops such as a quick visit to the rarely visited “Mystery Castle” or a visit to famous “Paolo Soleri Cosanti Bell Studio” or a stop at “Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West” or a look at “Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art”, or just to stop at one of Phoenix’s premier antique malls or shop the galleries in Scottsdale or just listen to me chat about the good, bad and the scandalous “Valley of the Sun”. We will pick you up at the hotel at 9:00 and bring you home by 6:00. Of course this no-host experience will stop at “MacAlpine’s1929 Soda Fountain” for lunch as we unravel the mysteries of the area as we continue to celebrate Arizona’s Centennial.

Hopefully, you will be the first one of the 28 to email Tom Helms at the 123@cox.net to say, “count me in as I am coming in on Wednesday and will be raring and ready to hop aboard and explore.” It will be a fun day leaving you exhausted for your next day’s event leading to a memorable 2012 Conference.

Your Formal Invitation to be Social

2012-01-17T14:23:00.006-06:00

Greetings ISANow Blog Readers! In the last few months you may have seen the name “Thomas K. Radde” in tutorial pictures and the sample profile that was in the Sneak Peek album of the ISA’s Facebook page and thought, “Who is that?” or “that guy isn’t any appraiser of ISA that I know” so it is high time that I introduce myself. I am Thomas K. Radde, though I go by Tom, and I am your friendly ISA Social Media staff guru. Pretty much any time a Facebook post goes up from ISA headquarters or you receive a tweet on Twitter it’s me behind the scenes.

I’m sure that reading that last sentence made some of you shudder, but the fact is that Social Media is here to stay. It was played off as a favorite pastime for the college-aged crowd at its inception (rightfully so, Facebook was founded in 2004 to link college kids together) and has since received the vast majority of its press from celebrity snafus, legal action, and uprisings, but the bigger picture here is that it has become the norm, grown to epic proportions, and a lot of people are using it.

Perhaps the term “a lot” doesn’t do it justice, the image to the right is a By-the-Numbers breakdown.

So please consider this to be your formal invitation to join the conversation. You can ask questions, catch up with other appraisers, find out about events, or just read the articles that are posted but whatever your purposes are for joining, I encourage each and every one of you to at least give it a try. There is no commitment to be made unless you want there to be, so all you have to lose is the amount of time it takes you to decide if social media is for you. What you have to gain is a new form of communication, access to a world of real-time up-to-date information as it’s happening, virtually unlimited networking opportunities, and a place to promote yourself, your businesses, and your services.

Facebook.com
Twitter.com
LinkedIn.com

Explore!

2012-01-12T16:33:00.003-06:00

As this week's previous post indicated, ISA has a brand new website! We would like to help you get to know our new website a little better with our version of a scavenger hunt. We have listed ten questions below, to get you started on your exploration.

By entering the bold word in any of the questions below into the “Search” field found on the ISA homepage, you will be presented with “Search Results”, which will assist you in answering the question. Click on any of the populated results; this action will take you to that source of content.

1. What is the Mission of ISA?
2. Who currently sits on the ISA Board of Directors?
3. Where and when is the Annual Conference being held?
4. How can you be certain you have a good appraisal?
5. What is the ISA Code of Ethics?
6. What is ISA’s Credentialing Policy?
7. What courses are being offered in 2012?
8. What are the benefits of ISA Membership?
9. What are the four ways to search using: Find an Appraiser?
10. Where are current committees listed?

Whether you are an ISA Member familiarizing yourself with your Society’s website or a member of the public just trying to learn more about us and what we do; this is a great way to explore all that the new site and ISA has to offer.

ISA Launches NEW Website!

2012-01-10T13:52:00.001-06:00

As many of our blog readers know, ISA has officially launched its brand new website! This exciting project has been in the works for some time and we are proud of all of the hard work and effort that has gone into this incredible new site; it not only provides up to date information on ISA as a Society, but also promotes the individual appraiser as well.

We would like to take you on a brief tour and introduce you to a few of the many exciting, newly refined aspects of our new website.

The ISA homepage, the central hub of information at a glance. Be sure to complete your member profile, upload an image and complete the spotlight section – our full members (ISA, AM, and CAPP) will be featured in the “Member Spotlight”, which rotates through completed member profiles. Utilize the new search function from the homepage to locate information within the website.

The new and improved ISA Forum, available to ISA Members only, is accessible with the same user name and password that is used to sign into the member side of the website. No more trying to remember two sets of user names and passwords for ISA. The new platform is user friendly allowing members to post questions, photos and comments on a specific thread.

Access details on the upcoming ISA Annual Conference by clicking on “Annual Conference”; this brings you to a dedicated page, where you can not only register, but find information on the program, hotel, specialty tours and more.

Are you curious about ISA Education? The Education page of the website allows you to learn more about the current education initiatives as well as register for upcoming courses.

Are you curious about the latest news from ISA? Navigate to the News tab of the website and view recent ISA Now blog posts, view ISA’s calendar by month, week or day, catch up on Member News Feeds and see the latest member updates.

These are just a few of the exciting new pages on the brand new ISA website. Visit our blog later this week for more tips and hints about discovering all the new and exciting features of the ISA website.

New ISA CAPP Members

2012-01-03T11:21:00.001-06:00

ISA would like to recognize those members of ISA who completed the ISA CAPP Program in 2011 and have now earned their ISA CAPP designation. Please join ISA in congratulating the following ISA members on this extraordinary achievement:

Genae Fields, ISA CAPP – Houston, TX
Susan Fisher, ISA CAPP – Jacksonville, FL
Ron Freeman, ISA CAPP – Phoenix, AZ
Valerie Hale, ISA CAPP – Atlanta, GA
Thomas Helms, ISA CAPP – Phoenix, AZ
Charles McCracken, ISA CAPP – Hilton Head, SC
Michelle Angerman-Soffer, ISA CAPP – Los Angeles, CA
Andrea Thorin, ISA CAPP – Foster City, CA

Congratulations to ISA’s newest CAPP members!

Happy Holidays from ISA

2011-12-20T09:46:00.002-06:00

Happy Holidays from ISA!

As 2011 comes to a close, we reflect back on what has been a very busy year for ISA, including record attendance at the annual meeting that took place in Nashville along with increased course attendance and continued partnerships with the Northern Illinois University.

ISA is also proud to have welcomed 64 new candidates for membership this year!

We look forward to the New Year and all of the excitement that it is sure to bring. We are pleased to announce the launch of a brand new website for the Society during the first week of January 2012 – this has been an exciting and in-depth process and we are anxious to unveil the final results and culmination of member and task-force feedback. Watch your email over the next two weeks for further details.

ISA is headed west for Assets 2012, which is taking place April 20-23 in Tempe, AZ at the Tempe Mission Palms. We’re also kicking off the educational courses early with offerings of both the Requalification and 15 Hour USPAP courses, taking place in January.

Due to the holidays, ISA Headquarters will be closed on the following dates:
Monday, December 26
Monday, January 2

We are looking forward to 2012 being another successful year for the Society as well as for our members! We wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday season.

4th Quarter Member Applicants and New ISA CAPPs

2011-12-13T09:30:00.004-06:00

ISA is proud to announce our newest ISA CAPP members for the fourth quarter of 2011:

Ron Freeman – Phoenix, AZ
Andrea Thorin – Foster City, CA

Congratulations on all of your hard work and this outstanding achievement!

We are also pleased to introduce our 14 new membership applicants for this quarter. Please join us in welcoming these applicants to the Society.

Caroline Ashleigh – Birmingham, MI
Valerie Bennet – Chicago, IL
Carolyn Day – Chicago, IL
Leila Dunbar – New York, NY
Miller Gaffney – Columbia, SC
Margaret Gratz – Norristown, PA
Deirdre Hoffer – Vancouver, BC
Mikhail Khandros – Maplewood, NJ
Leonardo F. Rivera Gomez – Bogota, Cundinamarca
Teresa Sarkisian – Oakland, CA
Zelma Sedano – Sardis, MS
Gabrielle Stickley – Cleveland, OH
Mark Woehrle – Hamilton, ON
Judy Youens – Houston, TX

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.

WANT TO BE A GUEST BLOGGER?

2011-12-06T09:17:00.001-06:00

Would you like to be a guest blogger on ISA Now? As a guest blogger you can share a story, experience or expertise with the ISA Now readers. Have you had an interesting experience with ISA that sticks out in your mind; your first course, conference, appraisal after becoming a member, etc., we would like to hear from you. We would like to hear how ISA has made a difference in your professional or personal life. If you are interested in being a guest blogger, contact Michelle Stearns, Education and Credentialing Coordinator at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com to learn more about the process or to submit a post.

2012 COURSE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

2011-11-29T09:23:00.001-06:00

ISA is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2012 courses! ISA has expanded its course offerings and will host 15 different courses in a three different locations: Tempe, AZ, Naperville, IL and Dallas, TX. To register for an upcoming 2012 course, please visit the ISA Store.

Registration for the Distance Education Core Course in Appraisal Studies as well as the Distance Education Requalification course is available at any time. Course descriptions may be viewed, here.

The 2012 course brochure will be hitting mail boxes very soon. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming 2012 course offerings, please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

Looking Forward to 2012

2011-11-22T08:43:00.001-06:00

As 2011 comes to its conclusion, we look forward to 2012 as an exciting year for ISA and our members. The ISA Board meeting at the end of October was a great success with many member initiatives scheduled for the New Year.

The new ISA website should be up and functioning for the start of 2012. This new website has been developed from the ground-up, and will function as the center point for promoting ISA and our members. It will include appraisal news, appraisal information, member updates, social media connections and most importantly a newly designed find an appraiser search utility with proximity functionality and enhanced member profiles. The new website will be graphically pleasing and intuitive, incorporating the most up to date technology and programming features. The new site will be an important tool for ISA and members to interact with the public and allied professionals.

Built into the website will be a new and robust member database section, new forum software, e-commerce connectivity, plus member and staff functionality for easily updating member accounts. In adding the database functionality, which is directly connected and interactive with the website, ISA will now move away from the rather difficult, non user friendly system we have been using for the past several years. The web design team is now working on the transfer of membership records to the new database and the added efficiencies will greatly enhance our operations and tracking requirements.

Beyond the website and member database, ISA continues with important back room operations updates. In addition to the new website for 2012, we will begin digitizing member records. This will allow for easy searches by staff on current and historical information for members, such as certificates on file, class completion information, milestones etc.

As a sign of our growth and seriousness for proper internal controls, the ISA Board has also asked Sentergroup to contract with an independent financial auditing firm to perform a complete and industry accepted audit of our financial records.

The ISA Board is also looking at a complete review and renewal of our committee structure. ISA has been operating under the same committee system for years, and it is now time for a complete review and updating. This review will look to both consolidate and add new committees. New committees under consideration include an ISA by-law and governance committee, a membership committee, finance and audit committee, as well as marketing and resource groups. The new committee structure will support ISA's growth and efficiency while enhancing our ability to provide and encourage new leadership and member management.

ISA also plans to continue promoting our brand and our appraisers in 2012. We have already started this process with a three month color half page ad in Maine Antiques Digest during the last quarter of 2011. Once the new website goes live, future professionally designed marketing and promotional campaigns will be devised to include cross channel branding and social media marketing. We have allocated money in the 2012 budget for advertising and promotional campaigns to advance our brand, market the importance of personal property appraising, promote ISA as the leading appraisal association and encourage the hiring of ISA credentialed appraisers.

ISA has the reputation of having the best appraisal conferences and education. Assets 2012 is no different and continues with our strong tradition of offering the latest scholarship in product knowledge, current appraisal trends and appraisal methodology. The three day conference (four with tours) will include motivation speakers, art law discussions, media channel talks, mid century modern discussions, inspection and condition topics, and good, better, best analysis to name only a few, plus all of the networking and socialization that has become a staple of an ISA conference. Members can look for updated ARC and Fine Art classes as well as new course offerings in 2012.

With the new website, membership database and record digitization, most of the backroom and capital intensive operations and updates for ISA will be complete. Funding that has been used for these long term investments will soon be allocated for membership benefits and societal growth.

Now when someone asks what does your appraisal association do for you, it will be easy to respond. ISA offers the best appraisal education, the best marketing outreach, the best credentialing options, the best conference, the best association management, the best members forum, the best member services/support and of course the best members in the profession.

Sorry I got a little long winded on this post, but ISA is progressing quickly to enhance our membership experience. It is a good time to be an ISA member.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Todd W. Sigety, ISA CAPP
President, ISA

Board Election Results

2011-11-17T08:53:00.001-06:00

Just a few short weeks ago, the ISA Board of Directors held theirannual meeting in Chicago, IL. Each year, three board members retire and threenew board members are seated. We’d like to acknowledge the hard work anddedication of the three outgoing board members, all of whom played an importantrole in the growth and direction of the ISA over the past 3-6 years: Fred WinerISA CAPP, Christine Corbin ISA CAPP, and Jim Poag ISA CAPP.

Please join us in welcoming our three newest board members, who arebeginning their 3-year terms: Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg ISA CAPP, NiniHamalainen ISA CAPP, and Selma Paul ISA CAPP.

At the close of the meeting, the election of new officers took place.Congratulations to the following:

President: Todd SigetyISA CAPP (2-Year Term)

Vice President: TerriEllis ISA CAPP (1-Year Term)

Treasurer: Steve RoachISA AM (1-Year Term)

Secretary: LibbyHolloway ISA CAPP (1-Year Term)

Continuing their terms are returning board members Judith Martin ISACAPP, and Sally Ambrose ISA CAPP.

The Board of Directors continues to work hard on your behalf to ensurethat ISA remains the leading international organization for personal propertyappraisers!

In Defense of Specialists and Specialty Studies Committee

2011-11-15T09:03:00.001-06:00

Whenasked about the purpose and function of ISA’s Specialty Studies Committee(SSC), I simply recite what has become a mantra: “No one can knoweverything…”

Iusually follow with an analogy comparing doctors to appraisers. You have a problem: you have a headache, fever, your throathurts, your neck is swollen, and it hurts to swallow. Although a general physician may diagnoseyour infected tonsils, (hopefully) he/she will not remove them. Instead, a competent doctor will refer asurgeon. Your problem is solved, not byone doctor, but by a team of specialists.

The sameis true for appraisers. The competentgeneral household contents appraiser refers specialists for certainproperties--the gems and jewelry appraiser for the Cartier ring, the machineryand equipment appraiser for the 1952 Mercedes Gullwing, and the fine artappraiser for the Dali prints. Certainproperties have subtle market complexities that require more than comparables (oran internet connection), but also a certain amount of expertise and experiencethat only specialists can provide.

Butthere is a corollary to my mantra: “Noone wants to know what they don’t know…” One of the more difficult tasks for the competent appraiser is to know when to refer a specialist. Sometimes we are tempted to appraise propertythat may require a specialist, but convince ourselves that we can perform it,by rationalizing that, “I’m saving the client time and money by doing itmyself.” But because we don’t haveimmediate knowledge of an object/artist/market/etc., we have to spend extratime trying to access it, and that time adds up. In our efforts to save a client time andmoney, we may cost them those very things. Then, not only are our efforts counterproductive, but we fear our clientcomes to that same realization. Orworse, the client takes action upon it. How much time and money does court cost?

In fact,you save both your and yourclient’s time and money by referring specialists. Moreover, you build a network ofrelationships with experts in their fields who likely don’t share yourknowledge about other property. Byreferring, you get referrals. But mostimportantly, you may save your reputation by not appraising a property, and instead, referring a specialist.

Memberswho attended conference in Charleston, SC in 2009, may remember Roger Durkin’sexcellent presentation citing how a really good lawyer needs only our resume todiscredit us on a witness stand. Nexttime, when deciding whether to accept an assignment by building a team andreferring a specialist, or go it alone by doing it all yourself, maybe themantra should not be, “No one can know everything,” but rather, “am I willingto take a witness stand?”

The needfor specialists creates the need for a Specialty Studies Committee.

Scott W.Hale, ISA AM

Chair,ISA Specialty Studies Committee

ISA Concludes 2011 Course Offerings

2011-11-08T09:58:00.003-06:00

ISA recently concluded its course offerings for 2011. Last week ISA held three courses: Advanced Report Writing, Requalification and the 15-Hour USPAP. All courses took place in Naperville, IL at the Northern Illinois University Naperville Campus. We would like to announce those course participants and congratulate them on take the necessary steps to further their industry knowledge.

Advanced Report Writing Course: October 31- November 1

Hughene Acheson – Oakville, ON

Sally Ambrose, ISA CAPP – Leavenworth WA

Bette Bell, ISA CAPP – Edmonds, WA

Marcet Bliss, ISA AM – Leesburg FL

Ric Emmet, ISA AM – Coral Gables, FL

Paula Fox, ISA AM – Bensalem, PA

Elizabeth Gaidos, ISA AM – Santa Rosa, CA
Kathleen Greenaway, ISA CAPP – Mountain View, CA
Darlene Hines, ISA CAPP – Bloomfield Hills, MI

Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP – Beaufort, SC

Alyssa Loney, ISA AM – Carlisle, PA

Rosalind Lyness, ISA AM – Oshkosh, WI

Judy Martin, ISA CAPP – Wheaton, IL

Sue McGovern-Huffman, ISA – Washington, DC

Suzy McGrane-Hop, ISA CAPP – Cedar Rapids, IA

Shell Payton – Montgomery, AL

Cathy Peters, ISA CAPP – Naperville, IL

Suzanne Staley, ISA CAPP – Santa Fe, NM

Fred Winer, ISA CAPP – Baltimore, MD

Requalification Course: November 2-3

Marcet Bliss, ISA AM – Leesburg, FL

Susan Boze, ISA AM – Richmond, VA

Robin Braswell, ISA AM – Satellite Beach, FL

Molly Butler, ISA AM – Columbus, OH

Keith DeLong, ISA AM – Federal Way, WA

Tabitha Doby, ISA AM – Houston, TX

Robert Dunlap, ISA – Wichita, KS

Miles Quinten Fitterman, ISA AM – Minneapolis, MN

Elizabeth Gaidos, ISA AM – Santa Rosa, CA
Zia Ghahary, ISA CAPP Life Member – Franklin Lakes, NJ

Kathleen Greenaway, ISA CAPP – Mountain View, CA

Marcia Harris, ISA AM – San Antonio, TX

Kathi Jablonsky, ISA CAPP – San Diego, CA

Alleen LaScala, ISA AM – Stuart, FL

Adrian Lewis, ISA AM – Houston, TX

David Mapes, ISA CAPP – Vestal, NY

Judy Martin, ISA CAPP – Wheaton, IL

Sue McGovern-Huffman, ISA – Washington, DC

Shannon Mitchell, ISA AM – Fayetteville, AR

Kim Morrison – Hinsdale, IL

Mike Odell, ISA – Edmonds, WA

Steven Roach, ISA AM – Dallas, TX

Mandy Sabbaddini, ISA AM – Carmichale, CA

Emil Simon, ISA AM – Aurora, ON

Melanie Smith, ISA AM – Nags Head, NC

Terry Stubbs, ISA AM – Abilene, TX

Patricia Thompson, ISA CAPP – Tupelo, MS
Rhonda Tollstrup, ISA AM – Carrollton, TX

Kathleen Victor, ISA CAPP – Redmond, WA

Scott Zema, ISA CAPP – Seattle, WA

15-Hour USPAP Course: November 4-5

Tracy Bernabo – Ashland, VA

Marcet Bliss, ISA AM – Leesburg, FL

E. Ross Bradley – Edmonton, AB

Madeline Brophy – Dallas, TX

Susan Busch – Bradenton, FL

Elenaor Carmack, ISA AM – Tulsa, OK

Michelle Castro – New Orleans, LA

Keith DeLong, ISA AM – Federal Way, WA
Dennis Godfrey – Bradenton, FL

Holly Hackwith – Omaha, NE

Lorie Hart – Solon, OH

Lorretta Harwood, ISA AM – Western Springs, IL

Jessica Heerten – Lincoln, NE

Laurie Johnson – Tucson, AZ

Brian Kathenes, ISA CAPP – Hope, NJ

Christianna Kay – Hampstead, NC

Chelsea Kozachenko – Fort Worth, TX

Lisa Lowy – Solon, OH

David Mapes, ISA CAPP – Vestal, NY

Catherine Martin – Wheaton, IL

Daniel Matthews – Nokomis, IL

Sue McGovern-Hoffman, ISA – Washington, DC

Shannon Mitchell, ISA AM – Fayetteville, AR

Shell Payton – Montgomery, AL

Jeffrey Pearson – Phoenix, AZ

Stacey Porter – Winnetka, IL

Lynn Roberts – Tucson, AZ

Jeani Shankle – Raleigh, NC

Melanie Smith, ISA AM – Nags Head, NC

Terry Stubbs, ISA AM – Abilene, TX

Patricia Thompson, ISA CAPP – Tupelo, MS

Rhonda Tollstrup, ISA AM – Carrollton, TX
Deric Torres – Oakland, CA
Robert Trapp, ISA CAPP – Las Vegas, NV

Kathleen Victor, ISA CAPP – Redmond, WA

Rosalie Wardell – Healdsburg, CA
Scott Zema, ISA CAPP – Seattle, WA

ISA Announces Course Attendees

2011-11-01T09:28:00.001-05:00

ISA would like to announce the attendees of the recent Core Course in Appraisal Studies as well as the Appraisal of Antiques and Residential Contents course. The Core Course in Appraisal Studies took place October 17-23 and the Appraisal of Antiques and Residential Contents course followed on October 24-29; both courses took place in Naperville, IL at the Northern Illinois University Naperville Campus.

Core Course in Appraisal Studies

Tracy Bernabo – Ashland, VA

Gus Bynum – Georgetown, KY

Jerry Copland – Memphis, TN

Carolyn Day – Chicago, IL

Randy Denosowicz - Dallas, TX

Janie Fountain – Sausalito, CA

Nigel Harrison – Vancouver, BC

Daniel Matthews – Nokomis, IL

Jeffrey Pearson – Phoenix, AZ

Amy Piotrowski – Toronto, ON

Stacey Porter – Winnetka, IL

Jody Scott-Olson – Royalton, MN

Wendy Treacy – Aurora, ON

Lori Weidow – DuBois, PA

Nichole Wilson – DuBois, PA

Judy Youenes – Houston, TX

Appraisal of Antiques and Residential Contents

Jennifer Bird – Coral Gables, FL

Gus Bynum – Georgetown, KY

Jaime Corbacho, ISA – Los Angeles, CA

Katherine Cutlip – Winter Park, FL

Randy Denosowicz – Dallas, TX

Reba Jo Fleming, ISA – Amarillo, TX

Bryne Hagstrom – Egene, OR

Shelley Hall, ISA AM – Bend, OR

Lorie Hart – Solon, OH

Kay Helker – Platteville, WI

Georgia Jobes – Boerne, TX

Lisa Lowy – Solon, OH

Holly Nelson, ISA – Braham, MN

Laura Nelson, ISA – Tulsa, OK

Shell Payton – Montgomery, AL

Jeani Shankle – Raleigh, NC

Suzanne Staley, ISA CAPP – Santa Fe, NM

Jess Sturtevant – Bradenton, FL

Maureen Winer, ISA – Baltimore, MD

Congratulations to those who attended these courses and in taking this important step in further your industry knowledge!

Thank you

2011-10-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Colleagues,

As I begin to ready for my last Board meeting as President of ISA I wanted to share some thoughts and thank you’s.

Four years ago when I was fortunate enough to be elected to the Board of Directors I came to the position with a great depth of knowledge regarding the workings of ISA; or so I thought. As a CORE instructor for many years I had dealt with eight different Boards of Directors, 2 Executive Directors, 3 Education Coordinators at headquarters, numerous staff changes and seven other CORE instructors not counting the Distance Education CORE instructors who at one time numbered 24 total. And this was just my time as an instructor.

As a member of ISA for nearly twenty years now I have seen many changes. Some of the changes were very good, and some unfortunately were not. But hopefully the not so good changes went by the way side as the organization worked its way through growing pains. When I joined ISA we were a profit-based organization headed and owned by Maury Fry. We are now and have been for many years a not-for-profit organization owned by our members. My how times have changed.

The profession of Personal Property Appraising has been making great changes over these past 30+ years ISA has existed. We have been at the forefront of these changes every step of the way. Many times the changes to our programs and/or positions have been followed or copied by other organizations and that is perfectly fine. Actually it is quite a complement to our group.

When I came to the Board ISA was certainly at a crossroads. I know that many members had worked very hard to keep our organization moving forward. We were in a very troublesome financial condition. We were in need of real professional guidance, perseverance and financial belt-tightening. And so as a group we put our heads down and went to work. The first thing to change was our business model of running our organization – from a self-contained office to a society managed office. And so we moved to Chicago.

Our first management group didn’t work out so well, but you don’t know until you try. We didn’t stay with them very long and landed at Sentergroup. What a fortunate day that was. I have to say when I first met Craig Sondalle of Sentergroup I thought him a little too sharp. I really thought he was just trying to sell us, and so did the other Board members who met with him. Funny, we decided to go with the other guy; we should have gone with the sharp young man the first time around. With the help of Sentergroup led by Craig Sondalle and our Joe Jackson we have moved mountains to be on solid financial footing. It is my hope that in the future the decision makers will make good financial decisions to keep us moving forward.

Things are moving upward and forward. I believe that the changes that are afoot are good for ISA and as these changes are publicized I hope that the majority of the members will approve.   I cannot share with you all that we have been working on. But you do know about the website – it is coming soon, it takes more time than you can imagine as there are many pieces to the puzzle. But the puzzle is almost complete and it makes a pretty picture.

So before I change my seat at the BoD I would like to give a few public thank you’s.   First to Gloria Moroni for teaching from the beginning the correct way to be a professional appraiser and for taking me to “her” meetings to meet “her” associates, thanks mom. To my daughter Kate Martin who has been my work partner so that I could do my ISA work, and who now is an appraiser like her grandmother and mother.

To my fellow past instructors who had taught me so much and helped me to understand the needs of the ISA education program; so that when I was in the position to do something about it, I could and I did.
To my fellow Board members these past four years –for your support, your hard work and your input – I am so proud to have served with each and every one of you. I look forward to my remaining two years to see the projects we have worked on come to fruition.

And to the members of ISA who have listened and understood my vision. Through your support I know that we are on a good path, I know that we have turned a huge corner, and I know that ISA will be around for years to come. I would ask just one thing from those of you who can: step up, join in and have your voice heard – you never know where a strong voice can bring you – maybe to one of the most exhausting , fulfilling and joyful positions in your life.

Thank you
Judith Martin, ISA CAPP
President, ISA

ISA Recognizes Course Attendees

2011-10-18T13:17:00.004-05:00

ISA would like to announce the attendees of the recent Appraisal of Fine Arts course:

Lauren Bradley, ISA – Fountainville, PA

Madeline Brophy – Dallas, TX

Michelle Castro – New Orleans, LA

Moncia Fidel, ISA AM – Miami, FL

Sylvia Fraley, ISA – St. Louis, MO

Carlette Fredrickson, ISA – Springdale, AR

Wendy Gerdau, ISA – Los Angeles, CA

Holly Hackwith – Omaha, NE

Kelly Knoll – West Bloomfield, MI

Shannon Law – Minneapolis, MN

Kim Morrison – Hinsdale, IL

Scott Palmer, ISA – Elgin, IL

Cindy Stephenson, ISA AM – Southampton, PA

Irene Szylinger, ISA – Toronto, ON

Wendy Treacy – Aurora, ON

Rosalie Wardell – Healdsburg, CA

Elise Waters – El Prado, NM

Congratulations to those who attended the course and taking this important step in further your industry knowledge!

Recent Activities of the Marketing and Promotions Committee

2011-10-11T08:46:00.003-05:00

This has been a busy summer for the Marketing and Promotions Committee. We have redone the piece that goes to potential sponsors and advertisers so that it offers more year-round opportunities for a wider range of budgets (view it here!), placed an ad in Maine Antiques Digest which will run through the fall, brainstormed ideas for future ads, added free links in related industry websites and started reworking our old prospecting brochure. What’s really great about all this activity is that many members took one project and ran with it. Some people really did commit hours of effort into their project but most helped achieve major goals with short time commitment. I say this to let all of you know that there is plenty of room for more busy appraisers to make a contribution to the society through committee involvement.

When asked what membership benefits are important, members consistently say advertising that leads to jobs for our appraisers. I commend the creativity of the members of the Marketing and Promotions committee for their efforts to find ways to promote ISA and the use of its members to those who hire us. We will also be promoting the advantages of our educational system to those who are considering becoming appraisers. Another aspect of this committee’s task is to find sponsors and advertisers to help pay for further educational programs and for our annual conference. Now, I understand that raising money is not a favorite hobby for most of you but surprisingly this is one of the most rewarding aspects of my service. I have had several calls from sponsors who attend conference just to tell me how impressed they are with our programs. They all tell me that our members are friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. You are the ones who have resold them on the value of continuing to sponsor and advertise with us.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Marketing and Promotions committee please contact board liaisons Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP at: libby@LibbyHollowayAppraisals.com or Steve Roach, ISA AM at: Roach.Steve@gmail.com for information on current projects.

Online Registration Open for Assets 2012

2011-10-04T08:31:00.000-05:00

The full program is just a few weeks away from being launched, but you can register for Assets 2012 online now and make your hotel arrangements today! Super Saver pricing is in effect for the remainder of 2011. Register by December 31^st in order to receive $150 off the regular registration price.

Here is a look at the schedule to help you plan your trip. More details are coming soon!

Abbreviated Schedule
Friday, April 20, 2012: Optional Tour Day for ARC and Fine Art
Saturday, April 21, 2012: Full day of education
Sunday, April 22, 2012: Full day of education
Monday, April 23, 2012: Half day of education, meeting adjourns at 2:15pm

We’ve highlighted all the ways that you can save while attending Assets 2012. We look forward to seeing you at the Tempe Mission Palms in Tempe, Arizona, April 20-23, 2012!

Super-Savings

Through the end of 2011, we are offering a special discount of $150 off the regular conference pricing. Also, pricing for the 2012 Conference has not increased and Assets 2012 will offer additional breakfasts and lunches for attendees, lessening your out-of-pocket costs while at the meeting. Act fast to take advantage of the lowest registration fees possible! Tours are limited and registration for them is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Payment Plan

Pay 50% of your meeting registration at the time of registration and the balance on March 31, 2012. This option is available if you register on or prior to Tuesday, March 1, 2012 and for credit card users only. This option is not available with online registration. For more details please see the registration form that accompanies the Advance Program in November.

Chapter/Group Discounts

ISA will offer a special group discount of $50 off the current registration fee for groups of 8 registrants or more. This option is not available with online registration. The registration forms must be submitted with full payment and must be submitted at the same time. Email isa@isa-appraisers.org for more information.

Referral Program

ISA’s conference success relies on attracting non-members to the meeting. For every 5 non-member names (with email) you provide to ISA Headquarters, you will receive one entry into a drawing for one night free at the Tempe Mission Palms during the conference ($179 value). Email your names to isa@isa-appraisers.org by December 1, 2011. There’s no limit on the number of names you can provide!

Discounted Hotel Rates

By committing to a block of rooms at the Tempe Mission Palms, we are able to offer you the lowest possible hotel rates. By staying at the conference hotel, you help ISA fulfill this commitment, receive a great rate, and are perfectly positioned in the center of the conference activities. Don’t miss a minute of the action – book your room today! Discounted rates are available until March 17, 2012 – room and rate availability cannot be guaranteed after that date. For more information or to reserve your room, click here.

Airport Shuttle Service

With your stay at the Tempe Mission Palms, you are able to receive complimentary roundtrip transportation between the conference hotel and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Advance Program will provide more details; no reservations are necessary.

New ISA CAPP Members and Membership Applicants

2011-09-27T09:34:00.000-05:00

ISA would like to announce our newest ISA CAPP members for the third quarter of 2011:

Michelle Angerman Soffer – Los Angeles, CA

Susan Fisher – Jacksonville, FL

Valerie Hale – Atlanta, GA

Congratulations on all of your hard work and this outstanding achievement!

We would also like to introduce our 19 new membership applicants for this quarter. Please join us in welcoming these applicants to the Society.

Tracy Bernabo – Ashland, VA

David Brandt – Honolulu, HI

Madeline Brophy – Dallas, TX

Randolph Denosowicz - Dallas, TX

Katrina Enros – Toronto, ON

Nigel Harrison – Vancouver, BC

Jessica Heerten – Lincoln, NE

Laurie Johnson – Tuscon, AZ

Christopher Karn – Mission Viejo, CA

Kelly Knoll – Weset Bloomfield, MI

Alison Neumann – Naperville, IL

Jeffrey Pearson – Phoenix, AZ

Amy Piotrowski – Toronto, ON

Stacey Porter – Winnetka, IL

Lynn Roberts – Tucson, AZ

Kristina Ryan – Nashville, TN

John Weeden – Memphis, TN

Lori Weidow – DuBouis, PA

Nichole Wilson – DuBois, PA

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.

Election Results

2011-09-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

We are pleased to report that the ballot counting processfor this year’s Board of Directors election took place last week. Just over 300 ballots were received thisyear, considered a very strong rate of response.

Congratulations to ISA’s three newest incoming Boardmembers:

Aloysia “Nini” Hamalainen, ISA CAPP (Silver Spring, MD)

Selma Paul, ISA CAPP (Atlanta, GA)

Cindy Charleston Rosenberg, ISA CAPP (Elkins Park, PA)

Thank you to all the members who participated in thisimportant process by taking the time to submit your votes. Also, special thanks to two local Chicago areamembers, Martha Peck, ISA AM and Richard Meliska, ISA AM, who came into the ISA office to supervisethe ballot counting process.

Nini, Selma, and Cindy will become officially seated at thenext ISA Board of Directors meeting on October 29 in Chicago.

Wow What an Eye Opening Experience!

2011-09-20T08:17:00.001-05:00

As my time comes to an end as Vice President of ISA I thought it would be a good time to look back at some the pleasures and the pains of the past three years. Having served as a volunteer in many other areas of ISA, from Education to Ethics to Course Writing the position on the board has certainly been the most challenging to date. I came to the Board with a long list of goals and dreams that I had gathered from others as well as those developed on my own for ISA. This excitement quickly washed away as the Board was put into survival mode running very short on funds, losing our line of credit and changing association management companies. The Board had to meet one to two times a week in December which for many of us was the busiest month of the year for our businesses. I was so proud and honored to be considered part of this amazing team. The Board worked together and made solid logical business decisions which brought ISA back from the brink of disaster.

Over the next few months, the Board spent what seemed like forever in survival mode, putting out "fire" after "fire" to ensure ISA's survival. The assistance and direction from Craig Sondalle at SenterGroup and his style of management was invaluable. He would present the facts, different options to deal with them and leave the decision to the Board. His style assisted our Board in making some very difficult decisions while still leaving the ultimate control of ISA in the Boards votes.

After that first crazy year we were actually able to step out of survival mode and look forward, setting goals for ISA, keeping in mind they had to be achievable with very limited funds and critically prioritized for the benefit of ISA and the members.

We have seen a balanced budget, the elimination of the line of credit, a Director of Education, a Core Course re-write, an increase in ISA dedicated staff at SenterGroup, an extremely successful conference, the start of revised credentialing program with the help of ICE, an excitement from members I have not seen in years about ISA's future and many more accomplishments.

I would like to thank Craig Sondalle, SenterGroup, the present and past ISA Board members and the membership for the amazing experience of being involved with the Board at such a decisive time for ISA. Three years ago I wanted to get involved in the Board and make some positive changes for ISA and leave the Board "better than I found it". I believe I have done this and in turn I have also benefited. I encourage others to get involved and do the same.

James G. Poag GG, ISA CAPP, CM (NAJA), CJA-CAP
Vice President, ISA

So, why did YOU choose ISA?

2011-09-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

I will always remember the job I lost because I did not have any credentials. The job was an estate sale for a man who owned a house full of marketable high end “stuff”. I wanted that job, and I knew that I would be his best choice, but aside from providing my great references, I could not say that I belonged to a professional organization. In fact there were no organizations for estate sellers to which I could apply for membership. On that day, ten years ago, my search began and another world opened to me.

Researching organizations pertinent to estate sales led me to the appraisal organizations. Not knowing any appraisers I could not ask for advice, I endeavored to find the right group for me. I considered AAA, ASA and ISA carefully and came to the conclusion that ISA would be most suitable for my geographical location and my background in sales of jewelry, art, and antiques.

We all have stories about how we came to be appraisers. Our backgrounds are varied, the stories diverse, but one thing we all have in common: we seek to be professional. Every day we have a choice in which jobs we take, what clients we accept, what assignments will be our focus. To quote my favorite economist, Milton Friedman, we are “Free to Choose” as we vote with our dollars. The fact that you have chosen ISA demonstrates this clearly as you vote for ISA each year you submit your membership dues.

Allow me to share the recent informal research I have compiled with regard to the three major appraisal organizations. In the searchable Internet databases provided by the organizations, there are more than 1300 appraisers of personal property in the USA. Taken by state, ISA membership dominates in 30, equals others in four, does not exist in two where others have a presence, and shares an absence in three. Of the 30 states where ISA is the strongest, there are 15 states where ISA membership significantly dominates. Of the 1300+ total appraisers listed in the searchable databases, ASA has 19.6%, AAA has 28.7%, and ISA has 51.7%. That is a strong membership base.

Of the total membership in all three organizations, the following percentages of highest membership designations were noted: AAA Certified members 83%; ASA Accredited Senior Appraisers 61%; and ISA CAPPS 18.6%. Specialty by category based on those who responded to the latest ISA membership survey revealed that 63% are ARC, 24% are Fine Art, and 7% are GJ.

What all this means will be different to each of us. We can be proud of the fact that ISA enjoys a strong presence in the appraisal community. As an organization we can strive to increase the percentage of certified members. Individually you are free to choose your organizational affiliations and your level of membership within those groups. As you endeavor to be the best appraiser you can be I encourage you to extend that energy to the association you have chosen as your own.

I appreciate the generous support ARC members have provided over the past four years. Please consider how you could contribute in any way, large or small, to make ISA the best it can be.

Selma Paul, ISA CAPP
Chair Antiques & Residential Contents

WHY ISA?

2011-09-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

When I began to consider a career as a fine art appraiser I was advised by someone in the art field to join one of the other three professional appraisal organizations. It was one that this person deemed to be more esteemed for appraising fine art. Valuing this professional’s advice, I took it under consideration but joined the International Society of Appraisers in the end.

I’m often asked by individuals in the art field why I joined ISA as opposed to one of the other appraising organizations. My most honest answer is I was attracted to the openness of ISA members and the fact that ISA has strong and active local chapters. The opportunity to meet and develop relationships with appraisal professionals in your area can’t be understated. I have found other members to be helpful, friendly and encouraging. I can’t imagine trying to appraise full time without having trusted colleagues to consult with occasionally.

Getting to know the other members in your organization allows you as an individual member to become involved in your organization first on a local level and then on the national level. Overall, I chose ISA because in the end because I had more opportunity to participate and “get out of the organization what I put into to it”.

I believe that an organization is only as good as the members who belong to it. Each one of us has a responsibility to reflect well on our organization by presenting ourselves to the public and our clients as professionally and specifically trained and educated in our area of expertise as possible. I also believe the organization stays strong and healthy through the volunteer efforts of its members in various positions and tasks in the organizations. If we all don’t do our part, the organization suffers and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

As Chair of the Fine Art Division I volunteer my time to help make our organization responsive to the needs of the Fine Art Appraising members. One of the more enjoyable tasks I have with this position is helping to place speakers for the annual conference. This allows me to have a real voice in what topics we hear and who comes to speak at conference based on input that members have provided me through past conference meetings, questionnaires and personal correspondence. Two threads of thought most requested by FA members is quality of speakers and subjects that are relevant to our daily work. If members are going to sacrifice time away from the office and money to travel they want to return feeling like they’ve learned something. It is quite a challenge to find speakers for 4-5 breakout sessions on such a limited budget which meets the needs for so many diverse specialty areas and years of experience.

I am really excited about the speakers we have lined up for the 2012 Annual Conference in Tempe, AZ. Rather than specialty area topics, all speakers will focus on various methodology topics which I hope all level of appraisers will find useful. Topics will include: What’s New in Art Research and How to Use the Findings; Auction Houses and Galleries: How do They Value; Inspection and Condition: How Does it Impact Value; and Connoisseurship: What is it and How Can it Help the Appraiser. It has been a real pleasure working on the conference with my committee and various other volunteer committees. I have really enjoyed getting to know more appraisers within ISA and learning from them. I hope that you all will attend Conference this next year. It promises to be terrific!!

Christine Guernsey, ISA AM

ISA Fine Art Chair, 2011

ISA ELECTION REMINDER!

2011-08-30T10:10:00.004-05:00

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for returning completed ballots for ISA’s upcoming election is rapidly approaching. Ballots must be postmarked no later than September 9, 2011. Be sure to cast your vote for the candidates running for election to the ISA Board of Directors:

Tom DiNardo, ISA AM

Aloysia C. Hamalainen, ISA CAPP, ASEA

Marcia Harris, ISA AM

Selma Paul, ISA CAPP

Cindy Charleston Rosenberg, ISA CAPP

There are three positions available on the Board, each for a three year term. Please be sure to take part in this important process, and vote!

Website Project Update

2011-08-23T09:15:00.003-05:00

As President of ISA, I wanted to give you an update on the redesign of the ISA website. As detailed in the 2011 Annual Conference in Nashville, the organization has begun to take the steps necessary to provide a web product for all members, whether members or the general public, that is informative, engaging and impactful.

As a first step, our management team, Sentergroup, created and circulated a request for proposal, reviewed and interviewed a host of web design firms and after careful consideration against pre-set expectations – chose Webitects, Inc. Based in Chicago, Webitects (www.webitects.com) has extensive experience in the association marketplace, has a keen understanding of back end functionality and met our scheduling and price demands.

Several key components of the project have already been completed. First, a group of members participated in a focus group and offered a tremendous amount of feedback on what members want to for the ISA website – from user interface and esthetics to content and the find an appraiser function. Based on that information, Webitects and the ISA staff have been able to create a thorough and comprehensive wire diagram – an essential site map that highlights key web functions, processes and the flow of information for end users. I have seen the wire diagram and it does an excellent job of prioritizing key functions and information.

The next step in the project is the creative element that will drive ISA’s web presence. We anticipate in the next few weeks that the designated Task Force, leadership and staff will review options for the esthetic platform. It is our expectation that creative component of the site will be a reflection of our industry, be impactful and clearly distinguish ISA from our competitors. In addition, we think your feedback and engagement is critical to the overall success of the project, As such, all members will be given an opportunity to review the creative options through an online portal and vote for their favorite.

A relevant, functional and impactful ISA website has been and continues to be a major goal for my term as President and I am confident we are very close to having a platform that is valuable to you, our members, and those who seek out appraisers or appraisal information.

Judith Martin, ISA CAPP

President

The Hidden Value

2011-08-16T11:01:00.005-05:00

It has been a hot and stormy weather summer in the US this year. The State of Texas seems to be in a perpetual sauna, and storms race across the prairie, one after the other. But soon the cool days of autumn will be here and these hazy days will be a distant memory.

I am in Washington DC at the moment at the ASA annual conference to which I was an invited guest. What a nice gesture from a sister organization to ask myself and Todd Sigety to be their guests. The program is good (not as flush as the ISA programs are) and there are many fine appraisers to meet. But it brings my mind to ISA conferences of the past and the one we are currently planning for 2012.

This brings me to my thought about conferences. Conferences are not only important for the information a member comes away with for their work process. Conferences are important for the people we meet and make connections with. Members who become our life long friends and colleagues.

I remember my first conference was in Boston. I was excited to attend and had scraped the money together so that I could go. I attended with my mother, Gloria, so we could share a room. At this point, Gloria was an accomplished appraiser, but I really was just a novice who didn’t know anyone other than her and the few members from the Greater Illinois Chapter who attended. That first day was for committee meetings so I was on my own, kind of wandering around trying to get my bearings. There was a woman there who also looked like she wasn’t quite sure where to go and what to do, but we both had these tags on, so we knew we belonged the same group. We introduced ourselves, and said “what are you doing today?”, “don’t know, think I might go walking around , would you like some company? That would be great” And off we went, looking and shopping around Boston – Joanna Stearns bought a Mont Blanc pen that day; funny what you remember. But we had connected and we had become friends that were joined together because of this strange profession we both were in.

Through the years I have met many of my friends that way. I can’t remember when I first met Christine Corbin. I think some times I have known her forever. We seem to have walked the same path in ISA for many years. She doing her committee work, me doing mine. But we truly got to know one another when we went to New York one year together. Christine was the board representative to the AAA conference, and I was going as a speaker. We shared a room together and got to know one another and found that we had many things in common. We have worked together on the board now for four years, and I have watched as Christine in her unassuming way has transformed the boards thinking on USPAP and the Foundation which has become her professional passion. I have listened as she changed her professional profile and went out on her own to run her appraisal business. I am proud that she is my friend and colleague that I seem to have known for ever and certainly first met her through a conference.

I had met every member of our current board through ISA’s annual conference long before we worked together on the board. I remember being at a conference dinner where this particular board member who I did know well was talking about the items being offered for auction. He was witty and quick; very funny. I sat at the dinner table thinking, who knew that Fred Winer was so funny. As I got to know Fred from working as Education Chair and then on the board I grew to know how very smart he is, how tenacious he is about a passion, and how very kind he can be. What an honor it has been to work side by side with Fred during these years of transition. He was truly the leader in our change but knew how to gracefully hand over the reigns when the time came. I am hoping that I have learned the lessons he taught me and can also step back and let the next President move in their direction with the support and guidance they might need when asked.

That first year in Boston, there was this tall red haired young man (we were all new young members once) who I met casually, he was a jeweler and I didn’t hang out with that group, don’t know why, just didn’t. The next year we met again, and from that moment on Jim Poag and I have been friends. We know each others families, we have certainly worked together on the education branch of ISA as well as on the board together these past three years, and we have shared many many laughs together. Jim is one of the special people in our society and I am lucky to have him as my friend. I will miss him dearly when he steps off the board this fall. I will miss his guidance, his business sense and his straight forward attitude, he was such an important part of what we accomplished during his tenure and for that ISA will and should be forever grateful.

So, I think my thought is this – scrape together whatever you can to get to the conference. The conference is not just about the seminars – it is about the people. In a world that has become more secluded in its social interaction due to the internet and the fast pace we all live, it is important to make those connections. Meet, listen, talk and enjoy. I promise you, you could not have a better investment in your profession than attending conference. See You There!

Judith Martin, ISA CAPP

President

Ethics

2011-08-09T08:55:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you read the ISA Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct? Do you remember signing this statement agreeing to abide by the Code? As Chair of the Ethics Committee I receive complaints from members and individuals who have had appraisal reports prepared by ISA members. Complaints may be as simple as trademark violations or more serious regarding the performance of the appraiser. An ethics complaint may be filed by any ISA member or any outside party having first hand knowledge of alleged unethical conduct through direct dealings with the appraiser.

The first paragraph of the Code of Ethics states:

“The purpose of the Code of Ethics is to provide guidelines to the members of The International Society of Appraisers (“ISA”) for their professional conduct. These principles are also intended to inform the general public, the business community and government agencies of ISA’s ethical standards. Public confidence in the honesty, integrity, professionalism, and ability of the professional personal property appraiser is fundamental to the success of the ISA. ISA members shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that enhances the overall image of the appraisal profession.” An ethics complaint filed by an outside party frequently reflects negatively not only on the appraiser, but on the organization as a whole.

I encourage you to go to the ISA website and print off a copy of the Code of Ethics and read it. Lack of knowledge of the Code does not constitute an excuse for a member’s noncompliance.

The Ethics committee is a confidential committee. All complaints are first sent to the Executive Director of ISA and then if deemed worthy sent to the chair of the committee. The chair and committee then proceed in accordance with the Code of Ethics Disciplinary Procedures.

Beverly Morris, ISA CAPP

Chair, Ethics Committee

Ballots are in the mail

2011-08-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

Ballots for ISA’s upcoming election are being mailed to voting members today! Be sure to check your mail box as these are time sensitive. The Nominating Committee, chaired by Marian (Mo) Aubry, ISA CAPP, worked diligently putting together this year’s slate. There are three Board positions available, each for a three year term.

We’re pleased to announce the following candidates are running for election to the ISA Board of Directors:

Tom DiNardo, ISA AM
Aloysia C. Hamalainen, ISA CAPP, ASEA
Marcia Harris, ISA AM
Selma Paul, ISA CAPP
Cindy Charleston Rosenberg, ISA CAPP

Please participate in this important process. Be sure to vote and return your completed ballot, postmarked no later than September 9, 2011.

Best of luck to each candidate!

News from ISA's Membership Coordinator

2011-07-26T10:43:00.000-05:00

Over the past year, ISA has been transitioning to a calendar year (January – December) membership renewal cycle for all members. This change will help members know when their membership needs to be renewed, as everyone will have the same membership renewal date.

Throughout 2011members have been receiving pro-rated renewal forms, so that their membership will expire in December of 2011. Those who have a membership expiring in September were given a renewal form for 15 months (October 2011 – December 2012). This will also occur for those who expire in October and November and account for any changes you may notice in the total amount due. Membership dues are remaining the same for 2012.

As ISA transitions its members to a calendar year schedule, we greatly appreciate your patience. If there are any concerns regarding your membership dues payment, please contact Sara Porter, ISA Membership & Operations Coordinator, at 312.981.6782 or sporter@thesentergroup.com.

Sara Porter
Membership & Operations Coordinator

With a Little Help From a Friend…

2011-07-19T09:11:00.003-05:00

I’m a CAPP, up to date on my USPAP classes and serve on the board of directors and a few committees. I’ve been a mentor to three appraisers who are now successfully on their own. I’ve helped write sections of the ARC manual and taken just about every class on American decorative arts my budget will allow. I’ve even taught a few classes. It seems like I would be pretty confident as an appraiser. Guess what; sometimes I’m just not sure I’m approaching an appraisal in the right way.

I chose to join ISA years ago because a helpful appraiser in my town encouraged me to. She said the courses were great and the people were helpful. Most importantly, she said she’d be there to answer questions while I got started. Back in those days the only option for the core course was onsite, including a long hotel stay. We trimmed our family budget for months and my mother in-law offered to stay with my babies while I took a week out of my life to attend the course. Despite the sacrifices, I have never regretted that decision. Not only do I have a career that I love but I made friends who I still rely on. Many of those friends are now teaching classes and writing manuals themselves.

Doing business in a resort area that attracts lots of retirees means that I am seldom bored. I have clients who have lived all over the world collecting as they went. Because people here are from a variety of cultures and economic groups I see a huge variety of personal property. I like to pretend I know everything but the truth is I get stumped. I count on ISA’s network of appraisers to find an expert on anything. One of my first “out of the box” appraisals involved a large collection of taxidermy trophies from safaris and local hunting trips (by the way, they lived in a nature preserve...go figure). I was able to call on a classmate from the ARC courses who steered me in the right direction for finding comps. The next year I met someone at conference who had heard that I was an expert in taxidermy and hoped I would help her. I’m no expert but I could share my sources and make her job much easier. I get to do some pretty challenging jobs at this point in my career but still reach out to appraisers who have done similar reports. I wouldn’t know what to do without them! I’m so glad I learned to swallow my pride, admit I wasn’t sure about something, and ask for help.

I encourage each of you, no matter how new or experienced, to reach out to other members or our wonderful staff. Use the forum or one of our social network options to ask questions. I also encourage you to go to conference, join a chapter and take as many onsite courses as you can. You learn so much and meet the most interesting people. Help other appraisers; yes even your competition across town, when you know the answer. Remember, that when we work together we all grow as appraisers.

Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP

The Certification Process is Nothing to Fear

2011-07-12T08:59:00.000-05:00

“Be all you can be! Join the army!” We are inundated with this commercial for the U.S. Army at the movie theaters as well as on television. But, have you ever thought that this slogan also applies to ISA?

A certified appraiser is the highest designation that our society gives to an appraiser, denoting the pinnacle of achievement in the appraisal field. In order to earn the right to have “ISA CAPP” after their name, certified appraisers have worked many hours in their chosen profession, have been tested on their knowledge of methodology, and their appraisals have passed peer review. So why do so few of our accredited members actually seek to achieve this level of professionalism?

“I am too busy, or “I don’t need it where I live” are commonly heard reasons for not pursuing certification. It does take time to complete the paperwork, document the hours, ask for references, but not much more time than when putting together the paperwork for requalification.

“I always do poorly on tests” or “I don’t like to be tested” are also common reasons for staying at the accredited level. No one likes to be tested. It is anxiety-producing for everyone and even terrifying for some. As appraisers, we probably know the information that we are tested on because we use it every day. However, ISA’s Requalification Course or the Core Course are good reviews of what we must know and attending one of these classes, can help you overcome your testing anxiety. The purpose of the certification test is not to trick you, but to make sure you know what is necessary. Remember, there are NO trick questions. Review in preparation, then take a deep breath and go for it.

So, you’ve turned in your hours and referrals and passed your test. Now, only the peer reviews of your reports stands between you and your certification. Yikes! “I’m afraid of what others may say about my reports.” Or, “I have been doing this for so long that I know how to write good reports. I don’t need to pass a review.” As appraisers, we should be rightfully proud of our reports because they are the culmination of our research and experience. But, hearing what others have to say is ALWAYS beneficial. We are often too close to our reports, so that although we understand what we are saying, others may not. The peer review process is anomymous and provides an objective, third party perspective on the reports. Reviewers offer helpful suggestions and point out valid errors that will improve the accuracy, readability, and usefulness of the reports. In fact, the comment I hear most often after a candidate receives their CAPP is “Thank you. I’ve learned so much.”

In the past few years, we have seen an increase in demand for professionalism in the practice of personal property appraisal. For example, USPAP will be demanding an increase in general and specialized education. The Internal Revenue Service is requiring a declaration that IRS appraisals contain a statement of qualifications of the appraiser. Certification is ISA’s highest designation. Consumers and peers alike recognize that those who reach that level of achievement are considered at the top of their profession. While the process may be time-consuming and at times frustrating, receiving ISA’s CAPP designation is well-worth the effort. Consider being “all that you can be.”

Cathy Peters ISA CAPP
Chair, Designation and Review Committee

Happy Summer to all our members

2011-07-07T10:26:00.000-05:00

It has been a very busy time for ISA since I last wrote. The 2012 Conference Committee has been hard at work getting the Tempe based conference ready to present. The speakers are chosen, the tours are scheduled and the publication of the conference will be ready soon. Make your plans to join us in Tempe Arizona, April 21st through April 23rd 2012 for a fabulous conference line-up.

The BOD has had the opportunity to work with our newest member, Steven Roach who joined the BOD after the resignation of Francine Proulx. Steve has terrific business experience and has had some great input on the issues facing ISA and its members.

I had the privilege of meeting the latest CORE course attendees two weeks ago. We enjoyed a social evening getting to know each other. What a fantastic group of professionals joining ISA and we are very fortunate to have more and more professionals finding their way to ISA.

One terrific forward movement was the presentation of the new CORE manual. The new manual has been published and is now ready for purchase. If a member has taken the CORE course or Requalification course in the past 12 months they can order the manual at cost plus shipping from ISA. If a member wants a copy of the new manual and has not taken these courses within the past 12 months, the cost is $75.00 plus shipping. You can order the manual on the web site, www.ISA-Appraisers.org

ISA has initiated the seven hour Personal Property USPAP course for our members. For those who have taken the 15 hour USPAP Personal Property course as required to be a member, you are now able to take the 7 hour personal property update to keep your credential. You will need to take this 7 hour class every two years to be compliant with the AQB and ISA. You can take this course through any organization offering the personal property version. Members must have taken the 15 hour USPAP Personal Property version prior to being eligible to take the 7 hour PP USPAP.

I know many of our members will be thrilled to know that we have begun the revamping of our website. ISA has chosen the web designer and they are now in the process of gathering information from a task force regarding what is needed to update and make our website more user friendly and professional. Our members will have an opportunity to vote on the front page look when the time is right. Please let the web designers know what you prefer when the time comes.

Please visit the website regularly to see class updates, blog entries, and happenings in our society. Some of the information found on the website includes the names of new CORE attendees, recent CAPP recipients, member news, and webinar schedules plus more.

The Nominations Committee is almost finished with their task of forming a roster of candidates for the upcoming elections. This year there will be three open spots on the Board of Directors. Fred Winer, Christine Corbin and James Poag are stepping down from their positions on the BOD. ISA can never reward them enough for their hard work these past years and we will certainly miss their wise input. But, I am assured that whoever joins the BOD this October will come with their ideas and commitment to moving ISA forward for the benefit of the membership at large.

I want to thank all of you who have reached out to me with your comments, concerns and ideas. Your input is always important to all of the members of the BOD so that we can make sure we are working for the society as a whole.

I wish you all a wonderful summer season. Take the time to watch a sunset, enjoy the good weather when you can, and share a picnic with a loved one.

All the best,

Judith Martin, ISA CAPP
President

Educational Opportunities Calendar

2011-07-05T14:03:00.006-05:00

Personal property appraisers are always looking for opportunities to enhance their appraisal knowledge and earn professional development points. As part of the Education Committee for the ISA Antiques & Residential Contents Division, I created the Educational Opportunities Calendar (http://www.my.calendars.net/ISA) in 2004 and am currently the manager.

Included in the calendar are classes, symposiums and seminars from major appraisal societies, auction houses, museums, historical societies and colleges. Offerings include antiques, collectibles, decorative art, fine art, jewelry, furniture, historical events, regional studies, USPAP classes and more. In addition to the classes hosted in various locations, many on-line events are listed and highlighted in yellow.

Check the calendar for events up to a year in advance. For calendar submissions, please e-mail event information to me at kjablonsky@personalpropertyappraisals.com.

Kathi Jablonsky, ISA CAPP

Active in Education

2011-06-28T12:59:00.001-05:00

June has been a busy month for ISA educational offerings! Between a North Texas Chapter-sponsored Advanced Report Writing course, the Appraisal of Japanese Prints course, and the Core Course in Appraisal Studies, more than 40 members enhanced their professional knowledge by taking part in these learning activities. The Japanese Prints course attendees participated in a field trip to Chicago’s Floating World Gallery, where they gained insight and perspective from a professional in the field, and Core Course attendees enjoyed a reception hosted by President Judith Martin at her local shop in Wheaton, IL.

ISA would like to recognize those who participated in this month of educational offerings:

Advanced Report Writing
Ellen Amirkham, ISA CAPP – Dallas, TX
Pamela Cole-Witt, ISA AM – Fort Worth, TX
Elizabeth Douglas, ISA CAPP – Austin, TX
Terri Ellis, ISA CAPP – Fort Worth, TX
Jerry Forrest, ISA CAPP – Dallas, TX
Dana Franklin, ISA AM – Irving, TX
Judy Godfrey, ISA AM – Abilene, TX
Scott Hale, ISA AM – Santa Fe, NM
Kim Kolker, ISA AM – Dallas, TX
Marigold Lamb, ISA AM – Rockwell, TX
Carol Matesic, ISA AM – Dallas, TX
Meredith Meuwly – Dallas, TX
Diane Pease, ISA AM – Fort Worth, TX
Lorrie Semler – Dallas, TX

Appraisal of Japanese Prints
Jeff Baker, ISA AM – Bexley, OH
Shirley Baumann, ISA AM – Madison, WI
Robert Hittel, ISA AM – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Ted Krajnik, ISA AM – Glenview, IL
Susan Lahey – Toronto, ON
Suzy McGrane-Hop, ISA CAPP – Cedar Rapids, IA
Kim Morrison – Hinsdale, IL
Catherine Sankey, ISA CAPP – Auburn, NY
Susan Sinclair – Nashville, TN
Susan Tarman, ISA – Santa Fe, NM

Core Course in Appraisal Studies
John Abajian – New Orleans, LA
Jack Bacon – Reno, NV
Jennifer Bird – Coral Gables, FL
Michelle Castro – New Orleans, LA
Holly Hackwith – Omaha, NE
Lorie Hart – Solon, OH
Chelsea Kozachenko – Fort Worth, TX
Lauren Laughry – Dallas, TX
Lisa Lowy – Solon, OH
Rosalind Lyness – Oshkosh, WI
Bill Mercer – Pueblo, CO
Margaret Nicolson – New Orleans, LA
Shell Payton – Montgomery, AL
Edan Sassoon – Beverly Hills, CA
Jeani Shankle – Raleigh, NC
Caroline Shuford – Dallas, TX
Marcus Wardell – Oakland, CA
Rosalie Wardell – Headlsburg, CA
Ruth Winston, ISA AM – New Orleans, LA

These individuals have taken a crucial step in maintaining and furthering their membership with ISA, congratulations!

If you are interested in learning more about the 2011 ISA course offerings, click here to view our course brochure. Please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator with any questions regarding ISA Education at mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

Taking the ISA Advanced Report Writing course

2011-06-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

I recently took the new ISA Advanced Report Writing course that was developed and taught by our Director of Education, Leon Castner ISA CAPP. He was assisted very capably by Scott Hale, ISA AM. I highly recommend this course to all appraisers, especially those who have been practicing for many years since they first took the core course, even having taken the required requalification classes on schedule. One of the most important aspects of the new course is the review of everyone's appraisals, done anonymously by other members of the class as an exercise. This is daunting: it can be scary and humbling to have another appraiser look at your work, but think how important this is! Wouldn't you rather have one of your peers give you honest feedback than have it picked over by an opposing attorney in a courtroom? It was a great chance to have fresh (and understanding) eyes look at your appraisal and give you a chance to make the necessary updates to your report writing techniques.

Using the basics of journalism as related to report writing, Leon went through our ISA report formats, encouraging everyone to remember to present all the relevant facts of who, what, where, when, why and how, all in the first paragraph of the report. Scope of work was discussed, and we practiced and discussed different ways to present these facts.

Another part of the class, presented by Scott Hale, dealt with the actual writing of the report. Scott, an English major, has been a professor at the University of Oklahoma teaching technical writing, and had very good tips on how to make our appraisals better. Spell check is just not enough! We also went over the new parts of the Core Course manual, and had a short update of USPAP. All in all, this is an important new course to add to our educational curriculum, and I would encourage everyone who can squeeze it in your schedule to do so. It will definitely give you that extra incentive you need to bring your appraisals to a higher level.

Terri Ellis, ISA CAPP

Getting involved with an ISA Chapter

2011-06-14T07:48:00.000-05:00

In a recent ISA Now blog, Sally Ambrose asked the question, “How do I get involved with ISA?”, and answered, join a local ISA chapter and volunteer to serve on a committee.” Soon, another question was asked at ISA headquarters, “How do I get involved with a chapter?”

For most members of a large organization, the local chapter is the face of their group, and usually the place where the closest friendships are made. As appraisers, our business is primarily a solitary endeavor. The local chapter provides the opportunity to spend time with and learn from other appraisers. What should also be stressed is that members of the chapters can acquire the necessary CEUs, or “Continuing Education Units” that are part of maintaining a professional standing.

A chapter meeting contributes one CEU for every hour of documented professional activity or program. This can be as simple as a presentation by an authority or professional service commonly used by appraisers, i.e. Art Insurance brokerage, or Identification and valuation of different carved bone and ivory, to a planned outing to a conservation shop or museum for hands on professional demonstration. More PDCs, or “Professional Development Credits” are earned by those members who spend hours of their time organizing and producing these meetings.

The meetings can be scheduled as often as desired, with a minimum of four per year. Their venue can be a convenient restaurant or alternating member’s homes. The chapter must adhere to the structure defined by the ISA Chapters Manual, which is easily downloaded from the ISA website.

This past year, the formation and exuberance of the Tennessee Chapter, spearheaded by Carol Wamble was a major factor in the success of the 2011 Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The previous year, the Canadian Chapter developed the great 2010 Conference in Toronto. So many appraisers enjoyed and learned so much about their profession by small groups of dedicated ISA chapter members.

The ISA chapter network is open to anyone who wants to join, and members are always encouraged to start or re-invigorate a chapter if a minimum of five members agree to do so. The information chart of the chapters and the Chapter Manual can be downloaded from the ISA website. I am happy to answer any questions via my email at ahamalainen@comcast.net.

Aloysia Hamalainen ISA CAPP
Chapter Networking chair

Course and Manual Announcements

2011-06-09T09:59:00.000-05:00

ISA has recently produced a newly revised version of the Core Course manual, the most complete and thorough revision to be done in many years. The manual comes in two volumes: the main Core Course in Appraisal Studies manual and an Appraisal Resource Guide. These are now available for purchase; pricing for the manuals is listed below:

Core Course in Appraisal Studies
ID# 10544453
Price: $45 (10% discount!)
Link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/core-course-in-appraisal-studies/10544453

Appraisal Resource Guide
ID# 10036157
Price: $29.75 (15% discount!)
Link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/appraisal-resource-guide/10036157

The manuals are currently available only in print format and are accessible only through the links above. If you participated in a Requalification or Core Course during 2010 or the beginning of 2011 and would like to order these manuals, please contact ISA Headquarters at 312.981.6778 for special instructions.

7 Hour USPAP Announcement!

Registration is open for ISA’s first offerings of the 7 Hour USPAP course!

The 7 Hour (Personal Property) USPAP course is being offered June 25 and September 10, 2011 at the Northern Illinois University - Naperville Campus in Naperville, IL. Gayle Skluzacek will be teaching this course, she is an AQB Certified USPAP instructor. To register for this course please visit the ISA website or click here. If you have any questions about this or other upcoming ISA course offerings please contact ISA Headquarters at 312.981.6778.

New Membership Applicants

2011-06-07T09:52:00.000-05:00

ISA is pleased to announce our 18 new membership applicants for the second quarter of 2011. Please join us in welcoming these applicants to the Society.

John Abajian – New Orleans, LA
Gus Bynum – Georgetown, KY
Michelle Castro – New Orleans, LA
Jerry Copeland – Memphis, TN
Emily Gaul – Evanston, IL
Holly Hackwith – Omaha, NE
Lorie Hart – Solon, OH
Chelsea Kozachenko – Fort Worth, TX
Lisa Lowy – Solon, OH
G. Baxter Mathews – Winter Park, FL
Bill Mercer – Pueblo, CO
Margaret Nicolson – New Orleans, LA
Shell Payton – Montgomery, AL
Edan Sassoon – Beverly Hills, CA
Jeani Shankle – Raleigh, NC
Deric Torres – Oakland, CA
Marcus Wardell – Oakland, CA
Rosalie Wardell – Healdsburg, CA

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.

Call for Nominations – Reminder!

2011-05-31T09:40:00.000-05:00

A reminder the Nominating Committee is accepting applications from members wishing to be considered for the ISA Board of Directors. Three vacancies must be filled and we are seeking candidates who will lead and inspire our membership. Each vacant position is for a three-year term.

The ISA Board meets four times a year, two via conference call and two are in person, with one taking place at the annual conference and the other in Chicago at ISA headquarters. If you are looking to lead and to become more involved within ISA, this is the perfect opportunity. Please submit letters of intent along with your resume to Marian “Mo” Aubry no later than Friday, June 17, 2011.

Please contact:
Marian “Mo”, Aubry ISA CAPP
Chair, Nominating Committee
941-921-4237 or 941-544-6806
Marianaubryappraisals@comcast.net

Congratulations!

2011-05-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

ISA would like to recognize those members who successfully completed the Requalification course in Naperville, IL May 13-14, 2011. ISA would also like to recognize the attendees of the 15-Hour USPAP course in Naperville, IL May 16-17, 2011. Congratulations on your successful completion of this course, this is a crucial step in maintaining and furthering your membership.

Requalification Attendees
Sally Ambrose, ISA CAPP – Leavenworth, TX
Charles Bartman, ISA – Louisville, KY
Nancy Beebe, ISA AM – Holland, MI
Joan Caballero, ISA – Santa Fe, NM
Dalimira Cmiel, ISA – La Porte, IN
Susan Eisen, ISA AM – El Paso, TX
Ric Emmett, ISA AM – Coral Gables, FL
Beverly Graham, ISA AM – Winter Park, FL
Jonathan Grogan, ISA – Jacksonville, FL
Joette Humphrey, ISA CAPP – Hendersonville, NC
Jan Jessie Jocoy, ISA – Vista, CA
Barbara Langston, ISA – Jacksonville, FL
Claudia Miller, ISA CAPP – Quartz Hill, CA
Irene Moreno, ISA AM – Bloomfield Hills, MI
Richard Pence, ISA AM – Liberty, MO
Ramona Sakiestewa, ISA – Santa Fe, NM
Jnanideva Shanmuga, ISA – Albuquerque, NM
Todd Sigety, ISA CAPP – Alexandria, VA
Beatrice Weiskopf, ISA AM – North Brook, IL
Dennis West, ISA AM – Woodland, CA

15-Hour USPAP Attendees
Marco Balzano – Phoenix, AZ
Joan Caballero, ISA – Santa Fe, NM
Reba Jo Fleming – Amarillo, TX
Emily Gaul – Evanston, IL
Susan Gaze, ISA – Houston, TX
Beverly Graham, ISA AM – Winter Park, FL
James Harris, ISA AM – Richmond, KY
Joette Humphrey, ISA CAPP – Hendersonville, NC
Rosalind Lyness – Oshkosh, WI
Bill Mercer – Pueblo, CO
Lindsay Nivens-Frosini – Oakland, CA
Judith Settle, ISA – Albuquerque, NM
Pamela Wright, ISA AM – Houston, TX

If you are interested in learning more about the 2011 ISA course offerings, click here to view our course brochure. Please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator with any questions regarding ISA Education at mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

The affect of recent market trends on valuation

2011-05-17T09:47:00.000-05:00

No one can predict the future or we would all become rich in the stock market. Likewise, appraisals are not predictions; they are valuations of specific objects at a given point in time. Just like auctions and the stock market, actual values are market driven by supply and demand, and by popularity and trends, economic factors, weather, time of year, and for lots of other intangible and intangible reasons. The market is always changing.

Auctioneers know what happens when an object we are selling turns out to be a rare example of a work done by an artist, or a work by an artist that rarely comes on the market. Consider the Picasso that turned up in an attic in the UK in 2008 and brought $200,000 at auction!!! Another Picasso set a record at $106.5 Million in 2010. Putting all physical attributes of the works aside for another discussion, the fine art market and the auction market fluctuated and declined in the same way that the Real Estate market skyrocketed and changed direction. In 2008-2009 it seems to have reached a low. In New York, experts say that high end art is shining. Middle of the road art, they say, is still in an auction slump.

Chinese art has been the big surprise and bonus for auctioneers with online visibility. The Chinese art market took off in 2007-2008. The Chinese are knowledgeable buyers and seek out fine examples of their heritage. Some are wealthy and have extra money to buy. Consider the vase that was auctioned at Sotheby’s NY, recently, with a pre-auction estimate of approximately $800 sold for $18,002,500! Or the Qianlong vase found in a London attic that sold at Christie’s in November for $69.5 Million plus buyer’s premium!

I don’t know anyone at this point in time who does not worry about undervaluing Chinese art and artifacts. There is so much money in China, even auction sales of late 20th century art by living artists are off the charts! Yet, with so much knowledge destroyed in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, some of the purchases of antiquities could be considered to border on whimsical or speculative buying. It can be an appraiser’s nightmare, especially when an object sells in the millions because it is a nice color! So if you appraise Chinese art, call a specialist. If you sell quality Chinese art and antiques, make sure you have online visibility with competitive bidding, or send the objects to someone who does!

There are many examples, and it’s important for appraisers to research objects to verify values for a given point in time. Was the vase that sold for $18, 002,500 in 2011, worth $18 Million in 2006? Even in a current market valuation, the value is hypothetical because it is derived using past sales comparisons and trends. We cannot predict the future. We have to consider past sales. Those sales are listed chronologically on archived auction databases. Then we can use the most common trends to extrapolate values when there are not an abundance of comparisons available, if we know what we are looking at, and it’s a normal market, which we have not seen in a while.

Some of us work with estates that contain multiple types of objects, and frequently not all objects are appropriate for one type of auction or sale. That holds true in the appraisal report as well. Therefore, the appraiser needs to have a broader range of research opportunities available. We work with experts and dealers (many of whom we have met at ISA conferences), who can authenticate objects and conservators can verify conditions of objects. Sometimes auctioneers can assist and some will provide names of dealers who specialize in a given type of object! No one person can know everything, and even if we network, appraisers have to brush up knowledge too, learning new information about objects and market evaluation, developing an “eye” for details. Fortunately, most appraisal problems can be minimized with outside help and training and research.

In the auction world, if something sells for more than what it was appraised for, the auctioneer looks like a hero. Not the appraiser. So ISA recommends that an appraiser research past sales for almost everything they appraise. Appraising is not an accurate science. It basically involves finding the most likely value at a given time that is supportable by facts. Facts keep appraisers out of trouble; avoid law suits and embarrassment in a changing market.

It’s all in the details. Using physical attributes, market trends and actual sales, the appraiser can discern the most likely value of an object based on actual sales by known and unknown makers. These completed auction sales can be found listed on archived databases of auction results and include photographs for reference.

Some objects might normally, or most commonly, be sold on the national or international market place. If you go to Christie’s website or to artfact.com, you can find the “Garvan Carver” Philadelphia Tea Table that sold at Christie’s NY in October for $6.7 Million. It was found in a garage of a suburban Philadelphia house that was being prepared for sale. Never know what one might find! It could be any of us! The photograph and article in Maine Antiques Digest show that it was pretty much “in the rough” or “as found”.

Amazingly, the actual auction record for a Chippendale Tea Table still stands at $8.4 Million. It was auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2005, and was a Goddard Newport Table. This was before that real estate market trend re-adjustment, or setback, that happened in 2006. Once again, changing market trends need to be considered when an appraiser values a similar object. We need to be leery of earlier record breaking sale results and explain why in our reports. Note also that these actual sale results include a buyer’s premium. Archived auctions also tell you if the value derived includes a buyer’s premium. An expectant client might then be prepared for that differential in their potential market return of an object sold.

It’s a double edge sword. You value too high, your seller may not be able to attain the value given in an auction sale. You value too low, the executor may not have a realistic value for estate probate. You call it the wrong thing, and it later sells at a big auction house for an astronomical record price, your client won’t like reading about it in the news either! That’s happened too, and fortunately we have not heard about any recent snafus in that area. You’ll still probably want to check out extended research databases when you find something unusual in your next appraisal project.

If the appraiser can justify valuation decisions, and even if the market changes, the client understands the rational used in making the appraisal value decision. Appraisers therefore not only need to belong to appraisal associations, like ISA, they need to attend seminars where appraisers are taught to describe in their reports why they chose a particular value. Appraiser’s need continuing education that is provided at conferences, to have credentials, to network with peers, learn new report writing techniques, study specific objects, study market trends, and attend seminars. They learn to discern good-better-and best examples of quality objects. They meet other appraisers and experts who can advise on appraisal projects. They learn how to write reports that keep them out of trouble in an ever-changing market. It’s a win-win situation not only for the appraiser, for clients as well.

Christine Corbin, ISA CAPP

Call for Nominations

2011-05-10T08:51:00.000-05:00

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications from members wishing to be considered for the ISA Board of Directors. Three vacancies must be filled and we are seeking candidates who will lead and inspire our membership.

Our members look to the Board to do their utmost to encourage enhanced opportunities for the membership such as quality educational opportunities and the promotion of the appraisal industry so that each individual member can benefit professionally and personally from their connection to ISA. The membership will count on your energy and commitment to these objectives. As a Board member you will have direct input into these important priorities. It is a position of responsibility and great opportunity. Don’t you want someone like that on your Board, too?

While the effort is a serious one, the Board meets just four times per year with two of the sessions in teleconference. Two meetings are in person with one meeting to be held at the annual conference and the other at a meeting in the headquarters office.

Here is your opportunity to lead, to inspire others, to work for the good of your profession and the benefit of the membership.

We will be most pleased to accept letters of intent to run for the Board along with your resume. Kindly let us know how your accomplishments can best serve the Board and the Society. Please submit all letters of intent to Marian “Mo” Aubry no later than Friday, June 17, 2011. If you would like additional information we will be happy to send it to you.

Please contact:
Marian (“Mo”), Aubry ISA CAPP
Chair, Nominating Committee
941-921-4237 or 941-544-6806
Marianaubryappraisals@comcast.net

ISA is headed to Tempe, AZ!

2011-05-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

The official location for the 2012 Annual Conference has just been announced!

ISA is headed to Tempe, AZ, April 20-23 to the Tempe Mission Palms for Assets 2012. More details regarding the conference program, tours and registration will be available very soon. Want to learn more about where ISA is headed? Check out Tempe, AZ by visiting the link below and stay tuned for more exciting details as they become available!

To learn more about what Tempe, AZ has to offer, click here.

Did you know

2011-04-26T09:04:00.000-05:00

If you aren’t able to attend ISA’s live webinars, did you know that it’s not too late to gain valuable insight on the topics being presented? Each time ISA hosts a webinar; the live session is recorded and then made available for purchase, if you were not able to attend the presentation. Each webinar is archived in the “Recorded Sessions” area of the ISA WebEx page, these recorded sessions include not only the verbal aspect of the live presentation, but the presentation slides as well, giving those who purchase a recorded session as similar an experience to the live session as possible.

If you have any questions about accessing ISA’s recorded session or any of the upcoming live webinars, please feel free to contact Michelle Stearns at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com

Around About Blogging

2011-04-19T08:42:00.000-05:00

Years ago a New York newspaper featured a column entitled, “Around About Town.” As I remember, it offered observations about the area as seen through the eyes of the columnist. The writings were far ranging and pertinent to everyone’s daily activities. Morning conversations around the office water cooler often started with the question, “did you read ‘Around About Town’ this morning”? It was a nice interlude to start the office day.
Today we use social media, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter and blogging to share happenings with our colleagues. Around About Blogging, an unofficial title, is my way to share with you an on-going question that I have heard from conference attendees over the years, “How do I get involved with ISA?” My frequent answer; join a local ISA chapter and volunteer to serve on a committee.

New members may feel a little overwhelmed by the knowledge exhibited by long time members or may be shy about serving on a committee when you are new to the group or you don’t know or understand the work of the committees. An expedient way to learn more about ISA Committees is to ask for information from the committee chairs.

Presently, there are 11 Standing Committees that are responsible for advising the Board with concerns and activity relating to their area of specialty. These are Antiques and Residential Contents, Awards, Chapter Networking, Conference Program, Designation and Review, Ethics, Fine Art, Gemstones & Jewelry, Nominating, Marketing and Promotions and Specialty Studies. Three of these committees, D & R, Ethics and Specialty Studies, are sensitive to confidentiality and members are invited or appointed to these committees. Committees have specific tasks that are important to the successful functioning of ISA and the number of committees will fluctuate from time to time. The committee chairs are appointed by the President of the Board of Directors and are responsible to report quarterly and annually to the Board.

Still don’t know which committee to volunteer to serve? Contact the present Committee Chairs and ask about the mission and function of the committee. Following is a list of present Chairs:

ARC – Selma Paul
Awards- Martha Peck
Chapter Networking - Nini Hamalainen
Conference Program – OPEN
D & R – Cathy Peters
Ethics – Beverly Morris
Fine Art – Christine Guernsey
Gemstones & Jewelry – Jim Poag (Liaison)
Marketing & Promotions – Libby Holloway
Nominating – Mo Aubry
Specialty Studies – Scott Hale

Get involved, volunteer for an ISA committee. Involvement in your professional organization is a responsibility you will find worthwhile and satisfying for you.

Sally Ambrose, ISA CAPP

Membership Survey Results at a Glance

2011-04-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year, a Membership Survey was distributed to ISA members, and nearly 150 completed responses were received. Survey questions ranged in topics including: demographics, membership, education and annual meeting. Below is a snap shot of some of the key results.

Demographics
63.9% specialize in Antiques & Residential Contents
47.1% are at the ISA AM membership level
26.1% have been members for 11-15 years

Membership
94.2% joined ISA for the education/professional development
59.3% are also members of AAA or ASA
44.3% complete 1-25 appraisals per year

Education
90% prefer communication via email
83.2% are interested in online learning options
43% have visited the ISA blog

Annual Meeting
Top 2 Choices of timing for the Annual Meeting:
Spring/No preference……….67.8%
Summer……………………..17.8%

The results of this survey will help ISA assess how we can better meet the needs of our members. Thank you to all who took the time to provide your valuable feedback.

New Applicants

2011-04-05T12:12:00.000-05:00

ISA would like to announce our 13 new membership applicants for the first quarter of 2011.

Steve Allard – St. Ignatius, MT
Deborah Batterson – Jericho, NY
Jennifer Bird – Coral Gables, FL
Bruce Cobb – Peterborough, NH
Robert DuMouchelle – Detroit, MI
Leslie Hunter – Edmonton, AB
Francesca LaSala Cobb – Peterborough, NH
Lauren Laughry – Dallas, TX
Daniel Matthews – Nokomis, IL
James Modena – Scottsdale, AZ
Jody Scott-Olson – Royalton, MN
Caroline Shuford – Dallas, TX
Wendy Treacy – Aurora, ON

Please join us in welcoming our new applicants to the Society and congratulations on taking this important step in furthering your professional career.

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

Exciting Announcement

2011-03-29T09:54:00.004-05:00

ISA headquarters is moving!

Due to continued growth, Sentergroup (ISA’s management company) is relocating its offices to a larger consolidated space in downtown Chicago. We are headed a few blocks south and moving into a brand new office space at the end of this week. As of April 1st, our new address will be:

International Society of Appraisers
303 West Madison Street, Suite 2650
Chicago, IL 60606-3396

Our phone number will be staying the same: 312/981.6778; however we will have a new fax number, which is 312/265.2908. Although we may have a new physical address and a new fax number all staff contact information will remain the same. Click here to view the ISA Staff roster.

ISA JOINS ICE

2011-03-22T08:42:00.004-05:00

In an effort to add value to your membership, ISA constantly looks for ways to improve our products and services. The cornerstone of ISA is our education and credentialing program, and as we move to strengthen our opportunities in this area, we are pleased to report that ISA was recently accepted as an Organizational Member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE).

Established in 1977, ICE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and serves as a clearinghouse for information on the latest trends and issues of concern to practitioners and organizations focused on certification, licensure, and human resource development. ICE is dedicated to providing resources for the credentialing community, and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute as a Standards Developer.

ICE’s accrediting body, The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), is the international leader in setting quality standards for credentialing organizations and grants accreditation to those organizations that meet them. NCCA also evaluates certification organizations for compliance with the Standards for Accreditation of Certification Programs. These standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The mission of ICE is to promote excellence in competency assessment for practitioners in all occupations and professions by:

• Providing expertise and guidance
• Developing and implementing standards for accreditation of certification programs
• Providing educational and networking resources
• Serving as an advocate on certification issues

ISA’s long-term goals include gaining national accreditation of our credentialing programs, and continuing our efforts to provide our members with the best education available in the personal property appraisal arena.

Joseph M. Jackson, CAE
Executive Director

Musing on Assets 2011

2011-03-15T08:47:00.008-05:00

I always look forward to the annual ISA conference. This year was no exception and I wasn’t disappointed. Is it possible for me to select one event that just seemed to stand above the crowd in subject matter and presentation? Everything I attended from my first dinner in the hotel Thursday to the closing Awards Luncheon and speaker was pertinent and memorable.

I did not attend any tours so I can only attest to the rest of the conference. The general sessions were thought provoking; the breakout sessions well presented and informative; the special events were fun and the auction -- well, you had to be there to soak up the fun and laughter. The bourbon and barbeque preceded the live auction. And a live auction it was as Auctioneer, Leigh Dunbar kept the evening moving, the laughter was on-going and at times explosive. I will never again hear a coyote yip without thinking about this evening with ISA friends. You had to have been there to understand why.

I have been left with impressions of a hotel that is operating at full steam after being devastated by floods less than one year ago. The staff was pleasant and amazingly everyone I asked knew how to direct me to my destination. This is especially amazing as the hotel is huge. If there was a drawback to the conference it was walking from our room to the conference rooms. I don’t know the distance walking each day, but I wondered if I should make an appointment for a hip replacement as soon as I arrived home. I was tired!

Something that stands out in my mind was the number of young attendees. Their energy was pervasive and welcome. They mixed right in with the long-time attendees and we all enjoyed each other’s view on appraising as we shared our experiences and enthusiasm. I now look back on a delightful week with long time friends and new friends. I am already anticipating the ISA conference in 2012.

Sally A. Ambrose, ISA CAPP

How We Stand in 2011

2011-03-10T07:04:00.000-06:00

The annual business meeting of ISA Members was held in Nashville on February 21, 2011. President Judith Martin reported we are currently self-credentialed but have been accepted as an organizational member by ICE (Institute for Credentialing Excellence). This isn’t a fast or easy process but the outcome will add to our professional reputation and will put us ahead of the trend for stricter credentialing standards in our profession.

Ms. Martin and Treasurer Todd Sigety also reported that we are in sound financial status for the first time in years. The last of our old debt will be retired in the first half of this year. In order to keep our membership and education costs low in relation to other appraisal organizations the staff and board will take our obligation to be good stewards of your dues seriously. Speaking of education, the final editing of the core course manuals is under way. Watch the web site for new manuals to become available for purchase. The publication system we are currently using allows for more frequent updates of small sections of the manual. This will help us keep current as changes to USPAP occur. Updates to the Fine Art and ARC courses are also being completed thanks to the hard work of volunteers from both divisions.

The board had identified the condition of our web site as the priority for this year at our fall meeting where it was chosen as a major budget expense for 2011. The web site was also the primary topic for questions and comments at the business meeting. Bids for revamping the site are currently being accepted at Sentergroup, our management firm. Craig Sondalle said that the goal is an aesthetically pleasing and easy to use site ready before this fall. One point that was brought up was the difficulty we currently experience in the Find An Appraiser search function. Mr. Sigety said that we wouldn’t be able to make large changes in that application due to the limits of our database software. He also pointed out that the ease of internet searches we are accustomed to are usually a virtue of the Google Software that has very expensive licensing costs. Simplification of the instructions for use will be addressed with the web updates.

A major change all of us will start seeing is the shift to a calendar year dues cycle. Right now budgeting is complicated by spurts of money coming in at different times in the year. Your next renewal notice will include instructions for making your payments depending on the time of year you renew. The majority of us will renew in the fall and will be asked to renew for 15 months. I plan to start saving early this year to make my own life easy but for those of you who find that amount hard to pay in September options will be offered. Remember, your listing on Find An Appraiser is tied to your dues expiration date – if your dues aren’t paid on time, the database software automatically removes you from this feature. This is not an action by staff, it is a function of the technology we use.

The second most asked questions involved USPAP classes and qualifications. There are major changes in the requirements that are still under review by TAF. ISA will be offering a 7 hour course as an update for those who have had the 15 hour course. Updates are now required every 2 years because of the speed changes are being made in our industry. Though taking USPAP every 2 years is not considered fun by most of us it is to our advantage to make sure we are following proper procedures. The good news is that the 7 hour update does not include a test. More on the changes on this and other requalification information will be addressed by Leon Castner in his education newsletters.

Here’s to a prosperous 2011 for each of us!

Sincerely,
Libby Holloway

Secretary to the Board of Directors

Assets 2011 in photos

2011-03-08T09:53:00.004-06:00

Great educational sessions by engaging speakers

Networking and reuniting with old friends

Fundraising

Achievements

Visit ISA on Facebook to see more photos from Assets 2011!

ISA Recognizes Course Attendees

2011-03-01T08:46:00.004-06:00

ISA would like to recognize those members who successfully completed the Requalification course in Nashville, TN February 22-23, 2011. Congratulations on your successful completion of this course, this is a crucial step in maintaining your membership.

If you are interested in learning more about the 2011 ISA course offerings, click here to view the course brochure. Please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator with any questions regarding ISA Education at mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

2011 ISA Award Recipients

2011-02-23T15:57:00.003-06:00

ISA would like to announce the 2010-2011 award recipients

As well as recognize the 2010-2011 Committee Chairs

Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication and service to ISA!

ISA is on the road

2011-02-15T13:50:00.000-06:00

ISA is headed to Nashville this week! Be sure to check your inbox for a “what to know before you go” last minute tips and important information email, hitting your inbox today. We look forward to seeing you there.

ISA Membership Survey

2011-02-08T09:42:00.000-06:00

This week ISA is distributing a new membership survey, via email. You may be curious about the goal of this survey and what we hope to accomplish. First we want to hear from you our member on matters that the Society provides such as: conference, educational offerings, other professional organization involvement; methods you prefer ISA to contact you, etc. Our goal is to gain feedback on how to improve the services provided by the Society and how to better meet the needs of our members; this short 10 minute survey will provide ISA headquarters with valuable insight. Your responses are anonymous and information collected with be kept confidential. Please contact Sara Porter at: sporter@thesentergroup.com, if you have trouble accessing the link provided in the email or if you have questions.

ISA Course registration now open!

2011-02-03T09:02:00.000-06:00

ISA has officially opened registration for its 2011 educational course offerings. Please visit the ISA Store (http://www.isa-appraisers.org/classstore.html) to register for any of the upcoming courses being held in Naperville, IL, courses begin in May. Distance education course registration is available at anytime. Course descriptions may be viewed at: http://www.isa-appraisers.org/course_offerings.html.

Courses will be held at the Northern Illinois University, Naperville Campus in Naperville, IL, click here (http://www.niunaperville.niu.edu/) to view the facility, also the Country Inn & Suites, Naperville will be the host hotel for 2011course offerings.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the upcoming 2011 course offerings at mstearns@thesentergroup.com

Michelle Stearns
Education & Credentialing Coordinator

10 reasons to join ISA in Nashville for Assets 2011

2011-02-01T08:56:00.000-06:00

February 18-21, ISA will be in Nashville, TN for Assets 2011- Appraising America, this year’s annual conference. There are so many reasons you should join us! Here are some of the top ones…

10. Great speakers. Joseph Bothwell , from the IRS Art advisory panel, will open the conference on Saturday morning. Leigh Keno, of Keno Auctions will speak on due diligence in one of the closing sessions on Monday.

9. The price. Conference registration prices have been lowered from 2010 pricing, flights to Nashville are inexpensive, and we have a great hotel rate of $169 a night single/double. Attending conference is an investment in your education and it’s one you won’t regret!

8. Nashville is a fantastic destination to visit even if ISA weren’t having Assets 2011 there! The Gaylord Opryland, our conference hotel, is a wonderful place to explore as well, with beautiful waterfalls and gardens everywhere you turn. Plus, Nashville is an easily accessible city with an international airport just 10 minutes from the Gaylord. For more information about Nashville, click over to http://www.visitmusiccity.com/

7. A great selection of vendors have made the commitment to support ISA and join us in Nashville. Their sponsor tables will be conveniently set up by the main lecture hall, allowing you to visit with them during the morning and afternoon coffee networking breaks.

6. Support the Foundation for Appraisal Education and their mission to promote the advancement of education related to personal property appraising, through their silent and live auctions. The Foundation will have a multitude of interesting items available to bid on, from books to trips!

5. The meeting committee has done a wonderful job of selecting speakers that appeal to a wide array of specialties. Sunday will be a day of breakouts, but never more than two at once, hopefully making your choices a little easier! Topics include sessions on Southern pottery, silversmithing, furniture, black and white photographs, frames, and more! Visit http://www.assets2011.org/ for detailed session descriptions.

4. The food will be fantastic – a true Southern treat. A hot breakfast buffet starts things off on Saturday morning with a scrambled egg bar, and at Sunday night’s dinner there will even be S’mores!

3. Don’t miss out on your chance to take home this year’s conference tote bag, provided by member Matt McNeil, ISA CAPP. (Thanks Matt!)

2. New programming will be offered to make the most out of your time at conference. From special attention to first time attendees (there are over 30 registered!) to a Meet the Speakers Reception to extend your time with the speakers, you don’t want to miss out on the exciting things happening.

1. And the number one reason to attend Assets 2011 is the people and networking, of course! The connections made at conference are the type that can last a lifetime.

Introducing ISA Instructors

2011-01-25T09:21:00.000-06:00

ISA would like to take a moment to introduce our course instructors

Richard (Rick) Casagrande, ISA CAPP
Rick has been an instructor for the Appraisal of Fine Art course for 12 years and is certified in both Fine Art and Antiques and Residential Contents. He is a Past President of ISA and the Foundation for Appraisal Education. Rick recently moved from San Antonio, TX where he had 17 year experience to Ellinwood, KS.

Leon Castner, PhD, ISA CAPP
Leon is Director of Education for ISA and teaches the Core, Requalification and Advanced Report Writing courses as well as DE Core and Requalification. He has been an appraiser for over 30 years and is certified with ISA and AAA.

Lyn Livingston, ISA CAPP
Lyn is a DE Core instructor and has also been a co-instructor for the Core course; she specializes in appraising Antiques and Residential contents and is currently the chair of the Appraisal Studies Committee.

David Mapes, ISA CAPP
David is an instructor for the Appraisal of Antiques & Residential Contents course, he has been co-instructing this course since 1997. He joined ISA in 1984 and served on the ISA Board of Directors from 1994 to 1996 and has also served on the Scholarships, Ethics and Designation Committees within ISA.

Kathryn Minard, ISA CAPP
Kathryn is a DE Core course instructor and president of the Canadian Chapter of ISA. She is the president of Curator Asset Management Inc. and has served as a Special Advisor to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board and consultant to Christies Inc. on the valuation of Canadian Art.

Joyce Newman, ISA CAPP
Joyce is a co-instructor for the Core course as well being a DE Core instructor. She is currently serving as the Vice Chair for the Designation & Review Committee and serves on the Nevada Museum of Art’s Collections Committee. Joyce is also a columnist for the Reno Gazette Journal and the Galena Times.

Cathy Peters, ISA CAPP
Cathy is an instructor for the Appraisal of Fine Art course and specializes in appraising Fine Art, she began her career 12 years ago when she joined ISA. Since that time, Cathy has been active in the Greater-Illinois chapter of ISA serving as secretary, treasure, vice-chair and chairman. She has also been chair of ISA’s specialty studies committee and is currently chair of the Designation & Review Committee.

Karen Rabe, ISA CAPP
Karen is an instructor for the Appraisal of Antiques & Residential Contents course and has been appraising antiques, decorative arts and general household items since 1987. She formerly served as a Director on the ISA Board of Directors as treasure.

Daphne Rosenzweig, PhD, ISA CAPP
Daphne is the instructor for the Appraisal of Japanese Prints, a two day course for which she is also the author of the course manual. She was previously a member of the ISA Board of Directors and has been a university professor for many years. Her appraisal firm specializes in Asian and Islamic art appraisals for the purpose of Federal Tax Functions.

Sandra (Sandie) Tropper, ASA
Sandie is the instructor of the 15-Hour USPAP course; she represents ASA at The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council (TAFAC) and is an AQB-certified USPAP instructor. She has been an art consultant and appraiser in fine art in the Washington, D.C. area for over 25 years.

Taking the confusion out of Requalification

2011-01-18T08:44:00.007-06:00

If you are new to ISA or maybe if you haven’t been a member for very long, you may be wondering what Requalification is, what it entails, how to complete it or if it applies to you. ISA requires that all credentialed members complete the Requalification process every five (5) years; this process can be completed in three (3) easy steps:

Take an onsite or distance education Requal course, each has its own benefits depending on the student.
Make sure your USPAP is up to date; if you have taken it with another provider be sure to send ISA a copy of your completion letter/certificate.
Submit your Requalification Packet, including the required professional development credits for your membership level. This can be submitted either before or after you complete the course.

ISA – 50 PDCs
ISA AM – 75 PDCs
ISA CAPP – 100 PDCs
Life Member – 50 PDCs

Requalification is very important, no matter if you take the onsite or distance education course you are taking a vital step at maintaining the designation that you have work so hard to achieve and in doing so are receiving the updates to keep your appraisal practice current as well as notification about any updated regulations that may effect how you do business.

If you have a question about when you are due to requalify or the requalification process please feel free to contact me at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com

New members in 2010!

2011-01-11T08:47:00.000-06:00

ISA would like to take a moment to recognize the 60 new members who joined the Society in 2010:

Alexander, Heather - Barrington NH
Baldwin, Jason, ISA - Chicago IL
Bernstein, Alexander - Minnetonka MN
Braddock, Dennis - Seattle WA
Bradley, Lauren - Doylestown PA
Brogan, Jessica - Cedar Falls IA
Brown, Susan - Sugar Land TX
Busch, Susan - Bradenton FL
Carr, Marjorie - Miami FL
Conway, Debbie - Waterville NY
Deming, Claudia - Bradenton FL
Durnin-Moore, Stephen - Cream Ridge NJ
Echeverry, Gabriel A. - San Antonio TX
Fleming, Reba Jo - Amarillo TX
Forcier, Madeleine - Montreal QC
Fredrickson, Carlette, ISA - Centerton AR
Garcia, Lisa, ISA - San Antonio TX
Giroux, James - Parker CO
Goodell, Amy, ISA - Westminster MD
Hahn, Ann - La Grange IL
Hale, Andrew - Santa Fe NM
Hensarling, Whitney - San Francisco CA
Hittel, Matthew - Fort Lauderdale FL
Holderman, Elizabeth, ISA AM - Richardson TX
Hyde, Brittany - Stuart FL
Irvin, William, ISA - Petersburg VA
Jacobson, Miranda A. - Albuquerque NM
Jamrose, Robert - Chicago IL
Jobes Cottle, Georgia - Boerne TX
Johnson, York - Franklint TN
Jones, Carolyn - Shoreline WA
Kane, Lorne - Forth Worth TX
Kane, Vicki - Fort Worth TX
Kaylakie, Marcia, ISA - Austin TX
Keller, Charles - Lone Jack MO
Kline, John - Durham NC
Leonard, John - Addison IL
Luppino, Tony - Calgary AB
Lyness, Rosalind - Oshkosh WI
Martin, Cathryn (Kate) - Wheaton IL
McCaslin, William - North Richland Hills TX
McGeoghegan, Kelly, ISA - Chico CA
Merriman, Terri - Amarillo TX
Mieczkowski, Michael - Summerfield NC
Millie, Tom, GPPA - Omaha NE
Morrison, Kim - Hinsdale IL
Pierson, Lee - Dallas TX
Plunkett, John Long - Grove IL
Ray, Dawn - Hermitage TN
Schwartz, Stefanie, ISA AM - Moreland Hills OH
Sorenson, Dale - Silver Spring MD
Sturtevant, Jess - Bradenton FL
Sumberg, Bobbie, PhD - Santa Fe NM
Torres, Maria - Montreal QC
Waters Olonia, Elise - El Prado NM
Whisenhunt, Janet Lynn - San Antonio TX
Wysoki, Susan - Richmond VA
Yeonjin Chung, Amy - Los Angeles CA
Yocum,Pearline - Herald CA
Young, Henry - Belvidere IL

If you know someone you’d like to recommend for membership, please forward their contact information to me at sporter@thesentergroup.com.

Sara Porter
Membership & Operations Coordinator

ISA 2011 Awards Nominations

2011-01-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

As time is closely drawing near to Assets 2011, we are taking award nominations that will be presented during the ISA annual meeting in Nashville, February 18-21. The ten categories for member and non-member nominations include:

Lamp of Knowledge
Leadership
Outstanding Member
Distinguished Service
Chapter of the Year
Publication
Media
Marketing
Special Merit
Service

Nominations for awards can be submitted to the Chair of the Awards Committee, Martha Peck, ISA AM at: Martha.peck@gmail.com and must be received by Thursday, January 27. If you have more then one person you would like to nominate, simply complete separate nominations forms for each.

Award nomination instructions, judging criteria and award descriptions can be found here and award nomination forms can be found here.

Remember, nominations are due by: January 27, we are looking forward to seeing everyone in Nashville!

Michelle Stearns

Education & Credentialing Coordinator

Sneak Peak at the 2011 ISA Course Schedule

2011-01-04T08:50:00.000-06:00

As 2011 begins, we are excited to announce the course dates for the coming year; registration will open for all courses very soon. We are looking forward to another year of providing successful educational course offerings.

Open Registration
February 22-23: Requalification Course – Location: Nashville, TN
Distance Education Core Course
Distance Education Requalification Course

Registration Opening Soon
(Location: Naperville, IL)
May 13-14: Requalification
        16-17: 15-Hour USPAP
June 16-17: Japanese Prints
        20-26: Core Course in Appraisal Studies
October 10-15: Appraisal of Fine Arts
              17-23: Core Course in Appraisal Studies
              24-29: Antiques & Residential Contents
              28-29: 15-Hour USPAP
October 31- November 1: *New* Advanced Report Writing
November 2-3: Requalification

If you would like to learn more about the 2011 ISA course schedule or if you are interesting in submitting a blog article, please contact me at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com

Michelle Stearns
Education & Credentialing Coordinator

2011 Webinar Program Incentive

2010-12-28T10:36:00.000-06:00

Beginning in 2011, ISA will be introducing a new incentive program that will allow members who register and participate in four (4) paid for live webinars to get one free webinar registration. The free webinar registration will need to be used within the calendar year. Members will be able register for their free webinar with a coupon that they will be issued after they’ve attended the required four webinars. This coupon will have an expiration date of December 31, 2011.

The 2011 webinar schedule through June will be available soon; there will be a variety of topics presented by excellent speakers. The upcoming topics were chosen straight from member suggestions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the upcoming webinars or the new program at mstearns@thesentergroup.com

Michelle Stearns

Education & Credentialing Coordinator

Holiday Greetings

2010-12-21T08:33:00.000-06:00

Dear Colleagues

2010 has been a very busy year for ISA. We have welcomed more than 100 new members to our organization adding strong additions to our membership and volunteer pool. In the past 12 months we have instituted our Webinars on a regular basis.    Our relationship with Northern Illinois University is growing stronger . All the while our education process is becoming more professional and updated.

Our database has been cleaned up and our member’s records sorted and stabilized. Our website is getting ready to be geared up for new exciting changes. And the updated and re-edited manual is due out this spring.

We are well on our way to having one of the best attended conferences in many a year when we all meet in Nashville 2011.   Our financials have been stabilized and we are looking to end our year in the black , which in a very tenuous financial year is a fete all by itself.

We have been very fortunate to have received good constructive criticism from our membership at large – both on the forum and privately. As an organization we have listened carefully ; please watch us in the New Year as we begin to move from idea to implementation.

Please make the ISA blog a daily visit in your busy day as well as our facebook page . If you have not joined our linkedin site – you must join to read the conversations. These are just the extra communication tools we are using along with our regular education blasts , newsworthy blasts and the ever important member forum.

As we all prepare to celebrate the coming New Year and look towards the future, the ISA Board of Directors along with the staff of Sentergroup wishes each of our members a Happy , Healthy ,and Prosperous New Year.

Happy Holidays to you all !

Judith Martin ISA CAPP
President, ISA

Chapter Networking Committee Update

2010-12-14T13:02:00.001-06:00

There is good news in the Chapters front! Carol Wamble and her devoted ISA appraisers created the Tennessee Chapter and have a lively group of over twenty members. The Tennessee chapter is a major impetus in the 2011 Conference, so we are very fortunate that Carol worked so hard over the past two years so all the ISA can benefit from the Tennessee Chapter.

Interest has been expressed by members in Northern California to re-activate the Northern California chapter of ISA. Right now there are approximately 20-25 ISA members who would be interested in joining and being involved if the chapter was to re-activate.

I spoke to the current secretary of the South Florida chapter. She has many good ideas and has a lot of passion and interest.

The following chart has the most current information on the chapters. Joining a local chapter is a great way to network and meet fellow appraisers in your area.

ISA CHAPTERS 2010-2011

Nini Hamalainen ISA CAPP

Chapter Networking Committee Update

Some News About Conference and Nashville, TN

2010-12-09T08:36:00.001-06:00

When the committees first began planning ISA Conference back in May it was a joint decision that two good Nashville tours is what we would go with. Last week I could hardly believe it but got word that we were going to put together another tour as the ARC had filled up with a waiting list, the FA is on the way to being full and Conference is surpassing registration expectations! And we still have 10 weeks left for members to sign up. Sounds like we will have a full house and no wonder!

The Opryland Hotel is almost a city within itself and newly renovated with a $285 million dollar face lift after the flooding last May. The hotel has 2,881 guestrooms, a European-inspired spa, 4 swimming pools, renovated meeting rooms, nine acres of indoor gardens and waterways, 12 restaurants, a fantastic breakfast buffet, upscale shopping and electrifying entertainment all day long and this hotel is considered to be the best of world-class elegance in hotel listings. The discounted room rates are really good (ISA has secured rates of $169/night.) This has to be one reason so many members have already secured their room so early.

Another reason I think conference is filling up so quickly is the speakers on board for opening day and the breakout sessions are a fantastic line up along with the diverse subjects given in the seminars and the product knowledge available to us in becoming better educated appraisers. What can I say about Leigh Keno being such a big draw for us? I will say, “Thanks to him for being with us”. There is something for everyone, old timers and brand new members.

Oh my, and the fun things we are going to do: On Sunday, February 20th, there is the Bar-B-Q and Bourbon Tasting event and this will be followed by that great ole Fund Fun Auction. By the way: Who knows where that ORANGE CRUSH suit is? I have been assigned part of the job to find that suit! If anyone can help me I will be very grateful. I understand the person that wins the bid on the suit will receive the magical gift of keeping it for one full year which brings tons of high end paying appraisal jobs all year long. I guess that is why the suit has always brought such high dollar bids at conference.

You can probably tell that the Tennessee ISA members are getting very excited because Assets 2011 will be in our home state but it seems all of ISA is getting excited. This is just ISA on the move upward.

One last note: If you have a free night during conference the Opryland Hotel has a shuttle that runs back and forth to The Riverfront Area, Honky Tonks, B B Kings, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music and Restaurants all within a block of the Riverfront Downtown Area. Could be a fun taste of Nashville country music nightlife for you!

Please check out the new additional tour now available at this time. As of today there are 10 members that have already registered for this 3rd tour. But there are still 30 spots open at this writing. I’ll be on this one, hope you will join me for a fun Southern Antebellum tour and learn about Tennessee Furniture at the State Museum tour and President Andrew Jackson during The Hermitage tour. Read about it below.

BELMONT MANSION

The 1853 home of Adelicia Acklen is a story rich in art, wealth, fashion, architecture, tradition and romance. The Belmont Mansion is an Italianate-style villa, every room filled with the most elaborate furnishings in the domestic antebellum home built in Tennessee . The home has 36 rooms furnished with a large collection of Belter furniture, French furniture along with many rare pieces of 19th century Tennessee hand made furniture. Large marble statues by American sculptors: Randolph Rogers, William Rinehart, Chauncey Ives and Joseph Mozier grace this 10,900 square foot Southern mansion along with original textiles, porcelains, silver, tortoiseshell pieces and other rare 19th century furnishings most pieces authentic to the home.

After her husband died during the Civil War, Adelicia faced financial ruin when the Confederate army threatened to burn 2,800 bales of her cotton to keep it from falling into Union possession. She boldly rushed to Louisiana and secretly negotiated with both sides to save her fortune. She secured Confederate promises not to burn her cotton, while the Union army agreed to help her move the cotton to New Orleans. She ran the Union blockade and sold her cotton to the Rothschilds of London for a reported $960,000 in gold. Three weeks after Robert E. Lee's surrender in 1865, Acklen and her children left for Europe to retrieve the money made from this cotton sale. She was quite a business woman and one that tops legendary Scarlett O'Hare! Belmont is the story of Adelicia Acklen, the wealthiest and considered most beautiful grand lady of Tennessee’s antebellum era.

Lunch at Belmont

Our group will have a full buffet inside the Belmont mansion for our group with Southern style linens and silverware.

Tennessee State Museum

This is one of the largest state museums in the South, exhibiting artifacts from 15,000 years ago through the 20th century. The museum houses many pieces of rare TN furniture which will be the focus of this tour. Curator Mike Bell, state curator of TN Furniture will speak on the history of TN furniture from the simple and straightforward styles to the plantation culture of the high style that developed around 1815 and changes throughout the19th century. We will learn about early techniques of craftsmanship, stylistic elements, varieties of wood and motifs used, all which makes TN furniture unique.

THE HERMITAGE: Home of the 7^th U.S. President: Andrew Jackson

The Hermitage is one of the country's most authentic early presidential sites housing over 80% of original 19th century furniture, decorative arts and personal collections of one of the wealthiest of all Presidents. Jackson owned the plantation from 1804 until his death in 1845. After a fire in 1834 Jackson had the mansion remodeled in the Greek revival style. Six original hand painted block wallpapers from Paris still hang on the walls today. Our curator led tour of the mansion will allow us to personally inspect some of the rooms not open to the general public and get a glimpse into the life of this great man.

Look forward to seeing you at conference in Nashville,

Carol Wamble, ISA CAPP
Annual Meeting Co-Chair

RETIRING MEMBER SHARES FOND MEMORIES

2010-12-07T08:57:00.000-06:00

To ISA, with thanks...

I recall when I was writing for National Jeweler Magazine in the 1990’s, the staff was discussing a feature article I was writing and someone suggested limiting me to 5,000 words. Someone else blurted out, "Ralph can't say Hello in 5,000 words. Let's give him 7500." And they did. So it’s not lost on me that I can be long winded. Hopefully you’ll be entertained.

I can still remember my very first ISA meeting in 1988. At the time I owned a retail jewelry store in Los Angeles with my cousin and partner. I had just completed my studies at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica and realized almost immediately that I still knew little about appraising. At the suggestion of Cos Altobelli, one of the appraisal “gurus” of the time, I attended a Los Angeles Chapter ISA meeting. The meeting’s featured speaker was Elly Rosen, a gemologist and one of the real “old timers” in ISA lore.

Rosen not only confirmed my thoughts but when I asked a couple of questions that would soon have obvious answers he asked me if I had “taken our courses yet.” Jim Goodman, an art appraiser and local from Los Angeles, blurted out “He’s a prime candidate!” At the time I didn’t know if that was a compliment or not. Was it that I was in desperate need of formal appraisal education or that I was a really bright dude who would get a lot out of the ISA courses.

In the end it didn’t matter because looking back both were true (okay the “really bright” assessment is my own). And certainly I was both intellectually and professionally desperate for the knowledge I would need in pursuing a new element in my career. I knew that the value of that knowledge would serve me well but the magnitude of that benefit was yet to be discovered.

To jump ahead, my education and networking with ISA have provided me with immeasurable benefits. As I seamfully (as opposed to seamlessly) cruise into retirement I can’t help but think back on the 27 years that have passed since I wrote my first appraisal in 1984. I was working on a monochrome display IBM XT computer that we had purchased for about $4,500.00 and the only real software aside from the operating system was a simple word processing program that a friend wrote for us from scratch. Before I ever turned on that computer I attended two “training classes” at the computer store where the machine was purchased. It may as well have been a foreign language class where the instructor didn’t speak English. My partner validated my utter confusion when he said, “Ralph there aren’t many things in the world that scare me but that thing scares the hell out of me!”

So there I was, generating appraisal reports that I knew instinctively were inadequate. One-page reports with a copy we retained in a file folder, printed on a noisy dot matrix printer (I think that was another four hundred dollars!) and folded to insert into a plain envelope.

And have things changed since then. I remember my first digital camera. It was a digital video system with a light box. Cost: $1,800.00. Value to me: Almost none. While it beat having to waste film and run to the photo lab every day, I never did get the thing to work to my satisfaction. Ultimately I found that a $150.00 digital hand held camera with jewelry displayed on plain white paper was the most efficient and produced the highest quality photos I could offer short of a very expensive custom made system.

While I have benefited enormously from the lightning speed at which technology has developed and had loads of fun doing so, I’ve become increasingly aware that I have developed so many other interests that I have already moved on. As the Jewelry Judge of Princeton I have not only survived, but thrived during the twelve years since I opened up here in New Jersey.

I am grateful for the foundation that ISA provided me way back in the late 1980’s and continuing as additional classes and conferences enhanced my ability to write credible, professional appraisal reports.

I end this cyber-manuscript with what I think is a pretty funny story. One of the members of the Los Angeles ISA chapter at the time I joined possessed a Ph.D. in a seriously academic field. In relating an argument he’d had with another member about an approach to teaching a particular appraisal principle he was told, “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” and as he exclaimed, “Who is he to challenge my educational credentials? I come from academia!” I couldn’t resist: “Really? You don’t have an accent!” The joke fell flat as he continued his rant but I still think it’s funny and so I felt compelled to relate it to anyone unfortunate enough to read it.

So thanks ISA and those members who have been so supportive and helpful over the years. Rather than name all of the fine appraisal professionals who have contributed so much to my development and success I’ll say a simple “Thanks. You know who you are.” One exception who has to be identified is Maurice Fry, founding ISA member/owner of ISA whose vision and generosity extended well beyond what most members will ever know. So here’s to you, Maury, and I raise a glass to ISA as well.

Ralph Joseph, GG, ISA CAPP

Fun'd Auction

2010-11-30T08:41:00.000-06:00

Dear ISA Colleagues,

It’s baaaack! Pull out your 2011 calendars and mark them for an evening of barbeque, bourbon, and Fun’d. Yes, the Fun’d Auction will be revived and held Sunday evening, February 20th, during ISA's Annual Conference, Appraising America. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is looking for new ways to energize its primary fundraising event. Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 to support appraisal education so that we can continue to award grants and scholarships. We would like to ask for your help and creativity to help us achieve this goal.

We’re asking for quality items for the silent and live auctions, items that have typically not been offered in the past. Do you, or does someone you know, have a vacation home or time share they would be willing to donate the use of for a vacation getaway? How about dinner and an evening on someone’s yacht? A cruise to Mexico for 2? A meal with a celebrity? A hunting weekend? Air miles? Subscriptions? A course registration fee? Tickets to a concert or sporting event? The possibilities are limitless, and this is where your creativity kicks in.

Because the Foundation for Appraisal Education is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), those who donate items for the auction are entitled to claim their fair market value as tax deductions, and successful bidders can deduct any monies paid above the fair market value of the items they purchase. Of course, monetary gifts are always welcome and may be deducted in their entirety. We are grateful for smaller items as well such as collectibles, paintings, silver items, good out-of-print reference books, tools of the trade, etc. Every dollar we raise will put us closer to reaching this year's goal.

Please send your auction items to: Carol Wamble, 302 South Cameron Court, Hermitage, TN 37076. Carol has asked that packages be sent via UPS, if possible, and that a signature be required on packages sent through the mail.

We are also looking for volunteers to help before, during and after the auction. If you would like to join us in our efforts to raise money for the good cause of supporting appraisal education, please contact Beth Szescila at beth@houstonappraiser.net, Fred Winer at fred@pwpusa.com, or Carol Wamble at wambleappraising@bellsouth.net .

Beth Szescila, ISA CAPP

Foundation for Appraisal Education President

Thankful

2010-11-23T09:18:00.016-06:00

As the Thanksgiving holiday is approaching I have been thinking of the things I am thankful for...

I am thankful for the encouraging movement ISA has made in the past year.

I am thankful for all those members who have rejoined ISA for this year

I am thankful for all of our new members who have joined ISA this year.

I am thankful to all those members who have given us feedback on the changes we have made; both positive and negative (it shows members are paying attention).

I am thankful to all those members who have worked on different committees to make our society move.

I am thankful to our instructors who work so hard to make sure that the attendees experience is rich and full of information.

I am thankful to our Sentergroup staff who has worked so hard to make sure our members are taken care of in a professional manner with grace and humor.

I am thankful that the ASSETS 2011 is set to go and our members are registering at a quick pace.

I am thankful to all of our speakers for ASSETS 2011 who are going to make this the Must Attend Conference of the Year.

I am thankful to all our signed sponsor and potential sponsors who are going to help make this a win/win for both ISA and them.

I am thankful to the conference committee who worked at lightening speed to get the speakers, the tours, and the sponsors.

I am thankful to the Southern California Chapter who gave ISA a very generous gift when they closed their chapter.

I am thankful to my fellow board members who have made our working together a joy.

And most importantly, I am thankful that this profession of being an appraiser still keeps me excited and wanting to go to work each day. And for that I must say finally I am thankful simply for ISA.

I wish you each a safe and happy holiday.
Judith Martin ISA CAPP
President, ISA

What is a Guest Blogger?

2010-11-16T08:38:00.000-06:00

You may have previously seen statements on posts asking for anyone interested in being a guest blogger to contact ISA. You may have asked yourself, “What is a guest blogger and what do they do?” That is very simple, as a guest blogger you would be sharing a story with ISA. Do you have an experience with ISA that sticks out in your mind; your first course, conference, appraisal after becoming a member, etc. We would like to hear from our members about your experiences with ISA. We would like to hear how ISA has made a difference in your professional or personal life. If you think you have a story that you would like to share or have questions about being a guest blogger, please contact me at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com.

Michelle Stearns
Education & Credentialing Coordinator

NOTES FROM THE BOARD

2010-11-09T08:50:00.000-06:00

Your Board of Directors has just concluded another successful October meeting in Chicago. The big news for 2010 is that ISA is financially stable. Those of you who have just sent in your annual renewal fee are probably thinking “they better be”, but in the past few years of uncertainty for our industry, as well as many others, that is saying something. Congratulations to the staff and membership who have worked hard this past year trimming programs that were outdated and filling in with better benefits for our members.

Another accomplishment that the organization can be proud of is the continued move toward the excellence of our educational programming. Leon Castner has done a wonderful job this past year as our Educational Director. He has been instrumental in the development of the new course materials which will continue through 2011. He is also assisting in the development of more easily obtainable education through Webinars and Distance Education. Watch Leon’s monthly education reports for more news on the 7 hour USPAP update course currently awaiting approval from the Appraisal Foundation. Michelle Stearns is in our home office in the role of Education and Credentialing Coordinator. Many of you have had a chance to appreciate her knowledge and compassion as you have worked on your credentialing process. Our other new association is with Northern Illinois University. A record number of Core course and continuing education attendees have seen the benefits of this association in person. Those who have attended our fall classes at this facility have appreciated the comfortable and professional environment. Many thanks as well to instructors, committee members and staff who have worked on the development of webinars, course rewrites, credentialing policies and evaluation processes.

If you haven’t read through the Assets 2011 Conference materials yet you had better hurry. Many members have already registered for conference and tours. From the Heart of Country Show to Leigh Keno to Joseph Bothwell we have the opportunity to gain skills and network contacts which will improve our business...great job Nashville Conference Committee! Come learn the latest in industry standards, learn about tools that will help you build your business and spend time with friends from across the country. Conference is also a time when committees meet in person. Many of you have expressed great ideas or an interest in becoming involved in ISA. This will be a great time to learn more about where your talents fit best. There is no better way to make ISA work for you than to work to make ISA a stronger organization. The Fun’d Auction to benefit the Foundation for Appraisal Education is returning this year. If you have never experienced a Fun’d Auction then you definitely need to be there to see what all the buzz is about. The Foundation is currently accepting donations for the auction. Please see their web site, www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org, for contact information.

Our progress cannot happen without the hard work of your Board of Directors and staff. The board is sad to be loosing Darlene Hines as a Director after six years of dedicated service. Darlene is rotating off the board but will continue to be involved with the future of ISA through committee participation. We welcome new board member Sally Ambrose who brings experience as an appraiser and from her service on many committees including Ethics, Designation and Review, ARC, Nominating and Specialty Studies.

I can’t wait to see everyone in Nashville in February. I won’t be hard to find...I’ll be at the head of the Barbecue line!

Libby Holloway
ISA Secretary

ISA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS and RECOGINIZES ATTENDEES

2010-11-05T11:26:00.000-05:00

We’re pleased to welcome the following new members who have joined the Society since July 1, 2010:

If you know someone you’d like to recommend for membership, please forward their contact info to Sara Porter, ISA’s Membership & Operations Coordinator, at sporter@thesentergroup.com.

ISA would also like to recognize those who have successfully completed the recent Core Course in Appraisal Studies, in Naperville, IL October 25-31, 2010. Congratulations on your successful completion of the Core Course and best of luck as you further your education, knowledge and experience through the ISA courses and membership!

Assets2011.org is Live!

2010-11-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

The wait is over… the conference website is live with all the info you have been waiting for! Visit assets2011.org for program information, sponsorship and advertising details, and to register now.

Just a reminder…there are so many ways to save while attending the ISA Annual Conference, which is taking place February 18-21, 2011 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN.

SUPER-SAVINGS

Through November 19, 2010, we are offering a special discount of $150 off the regular conference pricing. Plus, 2011 member pricing reflects a saving of $50 over 2010 prices. Act fast to take advantage of the lowest registration fees possible! Tours are limited attendance and registration for them is on a first-come, first-served basis.

PAYMENT PLAN

Pay 50% of your meeting registration at the time of registration and pay the balance on January 28, 2011. This option is available if you register on or prior to Friday, January 7, 2011 and for credit card users only. For more details please see the registration form.

CHAPTER/GROUP DISCOUNTS

ISA will offer a special group discount of $50 off the current registration fee for groups of 8 registrants or more. The registration forms must be submitted with full payment and must be submitted at the same time. Email isa@isa-appraisers.org for more information. The newly formed Tennessee Chapter just took advantage of this great promotion and registered 20 people! Why shouldn’t your group or chapter be next?

REFERRAL PROGRAM

ISA’s conference success relies on attracting non-members to the meeting. For every 5 non-member names (with email) you provide to ISA Headquarters, you will receive one entry into a drawing for one night free at the Gaylord Opryland during the conference ($169 value). Email your names to isa@isa-appraisers.org by November 1, 2010. There’s no limit on the number of names you can provide!

DISCOUNTED HOTEL RATES

By committing to a block of rooms at the Gaylord Opryland, we are able to offer you the lowest possible hotel rates. By staying at the conference hotel, you help ISA fulfill this commitment, receive a great rate, and are perfectly positioned in the center of the conference activities. Don’t miss a minute of the action – book your room today! Discounted rates are available until January 14, 2011 – room and rate availability cannot be guaranteed after that date. For more information or to reserve your room, click here.

HOTEL PROMOTION
Win your stay at the conference hotel! Every attendee who books into the ISA room block and stays at the Gaylord Opryland for the conference (minimum 3 nights) will be entered into a raffle to win a free hotel stay for the conference (maximum 4 nights)! With a value of almost $700, you can’t afford to miss this promotion!

DISCOUNTED AIRFARE

ISA has negotiated discounts with American Airlines. Visit aa.com for fares and use code 4521BM to book.

DISCOUNTED SHUTTLE SERVICE

With the Gaylord Opryland, ISA is able to provide discounted roundtrip transportation between the Gaylord Opryland and Nashville International Airport. To book your transportation, click here.

P.S. Advance Programs are in the mail to all members – watch your mail boxes!

Course completion congratulations are in order

2010-10-19T11:19:00.010-05:00

ISA would like to recognize those who participated in the recent Antiques and Residential Contents Course and Appraisal of Fine Arts Course offered in downtown Chicago, IL September 28-October 3, 2010. Congratulations on your successful completion of this course and best of luck as you continue to further your education!

ISA would also like to acknowledge those who participated in the Requalification Course offered in Naperville, IL October 4-5, 2010 as well as the 15-Hour National USPAP Course offered October 7-8, 2010. These individuals have recognized the importance of maintaining their professional designations and have done so through the participation and completion of this course. Congratulations to the following for successfully completing the Requalification course:

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ISA Announces Election Results!

2010-10-08T10:18:00.005-05:00

I want to thank all of our members who voted in this past Board of Directors election. We are pleased to have Sally Ambrose join the board as the newest member. I know that both Todd Sigety and myself are pleased to be going back to finish what we had started with our sitting board.

The Board would like to thank outgoing Director Darlene Hines for her dedication, thoughtful input and professionalism these past six years. It has been an honor for all of us to have worked with Darlene.

Approximately 1/3 of the membership voted and that is a solid number based on historical numbers. In a year that offered a strong field of nominated members I know it was not an easy choice. We would like to thank the nominating committee headed by Maureen Aubry for their hard work and their excellent choices. Also thank you to the nominees for their time and effort and hope they will consider running again in the future.

As a member of ISA it is extremely important for the benefit of the society that we each give what we can to move our society forward. I want to thank everyone involved in the election process this year for their professionalism and their time.

Judith Martin ISA CAPP
President, ISA