ISA Membership Certificates

Print-On-Demand ISA Membership Certificates Now Available!

The International Society of Appraisers is pleased to announce the addition of two complimentary features that are now available through our website. In an effort to bring added value to our growing list of member benefits, we’re taking advantage of improved technology to offer members the ability to print your membership certificates and membership cards on demand, right from the comfort of your own home or office.

To qualify for this opportunity, you must be a 2013 paid member in good standing at the ISA, ISA AM, or ISA CAPP levels. The information on the certificate and card will pull directly from our database, and will include an expiration date of December 31, 2013.

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to access these new features. Once you’re signed on to the website, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to populate the information in your online profile. This will help to enhance your presence on the “Find an Appraiser” search function and help connect you to the appraisal-seeking public more readily.

Instructions:

If you've signed on to the website recently, you may have already taken notice of the new feature, but for those who haven't, it all starts with visiting the ISA website and signing in via the 'Sign In' button in the upper right-hand corner.

Once you've logged in, you'll see that your name now appears in that upper corner, indicating that you've successfully logged in. (If you don't have your login information, you can contact ISA Headquarters and we can help you out)

Clicking on your name will take you to the backend of your profile, where you can update your contact information, add a profile picture and alter your 'Find an Appraiser' categories.

Any balance that you have due will appear at the top in the yellow box, but immediately below that will be a blue box containing links to "Membership Certificate" and "Membership Card". Clicking on either will prompt you to open or save (these are in PDF format, so they will open in Adobe). The information is pulled automatically, so then all you have to do is print your new, at-will certificates and cards!

If you have any questions or would like assistance in accessing these new benefits, please contact Tom Radde at ISA, tradde@thesentergroup.com or 312/981-6778.

2013 ISA AWARD NOMINATIONS

Sweet Home Chicago!! I am excited to have you all join us in my home town for Assets 2013: Chicago, Your Kind of Town!! 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 Friday, March 8th. Please submit all inquiries and forms to kate@theperfectthing.net.

I am honored to be seated as your awards chair again this year and look forward to MANY responses! I sincerely hope each of you will take just a minute out of your day to recognize your peers, partners and fellow appraisers for their outstanding contributions to our organization over the past year. See you all in the Windy City!!!

Kate Martin, ISA AM
Chair, Awards Committee

Where Did All the Hummels Go?

It is January with bone-chilling cold in snow covered North Central Washington. There is beauty to the whiteness of the deep snowfall and a quietness that enfolds the area. Looking out my office window, I see a frozen cascade of snow and ice that hangs expectantly from the eave. There is tension in the view. Will the roof edge hold? Will we be faced with roof repairs in the springtime? As Scarlet O’Hara would say, “I’ll think of that tomorrow.” For now, I will enjoy being able to see the snow, the peacefulness that surrounds me and the warmth of a good household heating system.

January is a slow month for appraisal requests and even phone calls. Yesterday, I had two calls that finally broke the silence. I greeted these calls with anticipation and a willingness to spend the time that the callers seemed to need. One of the calls was from a young man who was helping his elderly grandfather dispose of items that were purchased after World War II. His father had been stationed overseas in the military. In his off-duty hours, he shopped for family members back in the States. He, as many service men, was attracted to Hummel figurines, a variety of collector plates, wooden pictures and other similar items. I suggested sources and options for the grandson to explore as possible sources for distribution and/or selling. He then asked, “Why don’t I see any Hummel figures for sale on eBay?” As gently as possible, I told him why—no market. He agreed that he knew that must have been the reason. We talked a little about the way the market has shifted, and that Hummels no longer have the attraction that they had after World War II. I remember a few years ago that Chintz china had a strong market for a brief moment as well. I began to wonder if Hummel porcelain figurines could show a market resurgence. Would the Hummel market surge as the figurines were brought forth from attics, basements and closets? Or, would we experience a flood on the market and the little porcelains would sink into oblivion? What fun—IF a Hummel market surge occurred! It would make a cold January hot if only for a brief moment in time.

My very best for the New Year to you all.

Sally A. Ambrose, ISA CAPP

2013 COURSE REGISTRATION IS OPEN

ISA is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2013 courses! ISA has expanded its course offerings and host locations. ISA will host 15 different courses in a three different locations: Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA and Naperville, IL.  To register for an upcoming 2013 course, please visit the ISA website. If you are an ISA member, be sure to sign in, so that you receive the member discounted price!

Registration for the Distance Education Core Course in Appraisal Studies as well as the Distance Education Requalification course is available at any time. New this year, ISA will also offer the Fine Art and Antiques and Residential Contents courses through distance education as well! Registration for all DE courses is available all year; register and begin furthering your education at any time. Course descriptions may be viewed here.

The 2013 electronic course brochure will be available on the website for download very soon.  If you have any questions regarding the upcoming 2013 course offerings, please contact Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator at: mstearns@thesentergroup.com.