REMINDER TO SUBMIT ISA ELECTION BALLOTS

This is a reminder to cast your vote for the 2014 Board of Directors!

In an effort to simplify the balloting process and make taking part in the ISA elections more convenient for the membership, the ISA Board of Directors Election is taking place online this year.  Only current ISA Members, Life Members, Accredited Members, and Certified Members in good standing are eligible to vote.

Qualified members who haven’t yet cast their votes will receive a reminder email today that will include your unique voter ID.  You’ll need this ID number to log into the ballot system.

ALL VOTES MUST BE CAST BY SEPTEMBER 6, 2013!

There are five (5) candidates running for three (3) open positions:

-     Hughene Acheson, ISA AM

-     Marian Aubry, ISA CAPP

-     Ron Freeman, ISA CAPP

-     Steve Roach, ISA AM

-     Judy Settle, ISA AM

Thank you for your participation, and best of luck to each candidate!

Positive Changes Made Possible Thanks to Hundreds of Hours of Hard Work!

I am responding to the most recent Blog where the writer wrote about how much ISA has changed and is changing. Since I joined in 2008, I have noticed enormous changes all for the better. ISA has gone from being one of the three top appraisal organizations to the personal property appraisal organization of choice, with many member driven benefits and support.

 I would like to publicly thank all of the selfless hardworking and committed ISA members who have made the CHANGES in our organization possible. I say “selfless, hardworking, and committed ISA members” because without the hours and hours of volunteer efforts put forth by ordinary members who run successful businesses, have families and lives, and activities in other organizations, the changes we have all witnessed and enjoyed in the last five years wouldn’t have been possible. These changes haven’t happened because everyone “just didn’t do much –or haven’t done anything”.

So thank you -and you know who you are- (the list of names is much too long to list individually) for:

• The many hours devoted to developing continuing educational opportunities for all ISA members through classes, webinars, the new online learning systems which are about to be launched, the very informative speakers that are booked for conference each year and special study opportunities. 
• Three cheers for the volunteers on the Designation and Review Committee who help us to get our CAPP! 
• A very special thank you to our members who serve on the Foundation for Appraisal Education and all they do to help support the educational needs of ISA. 
• A big thank you to all of those involved with conference every year! What is essentially a fun and educational 3 day get-away for most of us, is a year- long gut wrenching planning event for a few. Conference attendees have no idea how much work goes into planning what seems like a seamless and wonderful event. There are thousands of moving parts - trust me. If you have never been to a conference, you are missing out on one of ISA’s best benefits! 
• How about applause for all of those members who put in many hours of their spare time initiating programs that benefit all of us as members? In this last year we have seen a major overhaul of our ISA website, “Find an Appraiser”, a national advertising campaign that promotes ISA and its members to the public at large and target those who use appraisal services. Not only do we have professional ads now being placed in targeted media but we also have templates for members to customize and use in their own marketing. We also have a new program inviting major non-appraising businesses who are appraisal related to join our organization. This collaboration can only benefit all involved. 
• What about our new mentoring program? Don’t you wish when you were starting out that you could mentor with a seasoned appraiser to learn the ropes? I don’t ever remember a time in ISA when there were so many initiatives being launched that directly benefited its members. 

So who is making all these great changes? It’s the ISA members who realize how much ISA has done for them as appraisers both in personal development and professionally with their businesses. It’s the members who appreciate the organization, want to say thank you and step up to the plate to take their turn at “paying back” and keeping our great momentum forward going.

So thank you to all of you who have made these changes possible! You know who you are. A big pat on the back for all the thankless hours that we all enjoy but sometimes forget to say THANK YOU!

Submitted By:
Christine Guernsey, ISA CAPP
ISA Board of Directors, Secretary and former Fine Art Chair

It’s about time…..

When I agreed to head up the ARC at ISA, I was told, there really isn’t too much you have to do.”  I took “not having to do too much” to the next level and really haven’t done anything !!! I think that promise was really was a ploy to have a live body (me) head this committee...and so, here I am FINALLY reaching out to you, the ISA -ARC members. But many of you are probably thinking “IS SHE ALIVE?”

A little history….

            For many years, I took any and ALL antique seminars/classes that I could get my hands on.  My library is overflowing with scholarly books on antique porcelain and such.  I still have my wood blocks that the North Texas Chapter provided to the Identifying Wood class that I took several years ago which I would bring to my various appraisal sites trying to figure out whether that sideboard is oak or cherry!

            Recently, I was called in to a very prominent family’s home in my town in which the elderly mother was moving out of state to be closer to her family and the family was trying to decide what exactly what should go where. It had been awhile since I had seen such a collection of Period English and American antiques in place.

Change……

            And why?? Because I joined a co-op with 3 other women in which we buy and sell (mostly vintage) decorative objects and furniture.

And I realized that there was an entire century of  tchatckies and furniture that I had overlooked  and frankly disregarded while I was studying the world of antiques. And boy did I have to catch up!!There is a whole world of Geodes out there!! Who knew?? But seriously, I have had to do my homework to study the works of Adrian Pearsall and Milo Baughman.

            I don’t mean to have this blog be a blog about me. I think my point is there is always something to learn. My appraisal practice and my antiques business hasn’t gone down the commode if you will, I just appraise and sell different things. And I am OPEN to the change. And you should be too.

            In conclusion, as the Allstate man on TV says, you are in good hands. ISA is stronger and better than ever and we all should feel proud to be a part of a CHANGED and CHANGING organization. If you can relate to what I am saying please post or respond to me. If you disagree, well OK, post or respond to me. I look forward to hearing from you.

By: Martha Peck, ISA AM

Who We Are

“The International Society of Appraisers (ISA) is a not-for-profit, member-driven association, formed to support our member needs and serve the public by producing highly qualified and ethical appraisers who are recognized authorities in professional personal property appraising. Our members include many of the country's most respected independent appraisers, consultants, estate liquidators, auctioneers, gallery owners, and dealers.”

The quote above was taken from ISA website. We are dedicated professionals who have chosen to be trained and tested by a volunteer-based association which has matured into one of the most respected appraisal societies in the country. Many, many individuals have contributed countless hours to make this happen.

“Volunteer” is the key word. We volunteer for many reasons including wanting to help others. But let’s be honest, we also volunteer because we generally want something in return. ISA’s continued success depends on this need for wanting something in return. We exist to fill your desire for education, branding, credibility, professionalism, and numerous other reasons. It is a symbiotic relationship.

Our motivations to volunteer include a need to be involved, share a skill, network with our peers, recognition, and the satisfaction of helping ISA and its members by continually improving the organization. We want you to pose questions, give feedback and get involved.

ISA is composed of the Board of Directors, 14 committees, and 12 chapters. We also have the ISA Foundation for Appraisal Education. It is a not-for-profit volunteer organization formed to promote the advancement of education related to personal property appraising by providing scholarships to our members. This means there are numerous opportunities for you to contribute to your association. Everyone has a talent to share. Don’t feel you need to be asked to participate or that you are too new to ISA.

Also, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for being involved even in the smallest way. I want to thank you for being a walker and not a talker. I want to thank you for giving time, which in our business, is often a precious commodity. I want to thank you for your continued membership and promoting our common goals within your business.

As a member for over 25 years I have been through many cycles in ISA. I must say I have never been more proud to be part of this association than I am today. ISA could not have the status it has acquired in the appraisal industry without you and your commitment to make ISA the appraisal organization of choice.

By: Karen Rabe, ISA CAPP

ISA LAUNCHES THE AFFINITY BUSINESS PARTNER MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

The ISA Board of Directors is excited to announce a new category of non-designated ISA membership, available to businesses that provide related services to the appraisal community.

The "Affinity Business Partner" (ABP) membership category was developed to formalize, expand and build ISA's existing relationships with allied businesses and organizations and to form new business relationships and opportunities for ISA members and our clients.

ABP members will enjoy targeted access to approximately 800 ISA members and share the common goal of providing the highest level of professional and ethical service to consumers of appraisal services. 

Examples of categories of businesses ISA hopes to include are those offering financial services to antique and art collectors and dealers, auction companies, storage companies, restoration services, moving companies specializing in antiques and art, conservators, estate law firms, insurance companies and industry publications.

Benefits of the Affinity Business Partner Membership include*:

·         A Designated ABP Webpage on the ISA Website, including hot-linked company logo and up to 50 words of business description.  Please click here for a listing of our current Partners.

·         Single use of the ISA mailing list, or two web-blasts to our membership per year. (Communications to be sent through ISA Headquarters)

·         Use of ISA Affinity Business Partner member logo Access to Affinity Business Partner member profile through ISA website to update contact information

·         Collateral Table exposure for promotional material at conference.

·         A listing of our Affinity Business Partners will be included in the Final National Conference Program.

·         A 20% discount on advertising in the ISA Annual Conference Program.

·         A 10% discount on ISA website advertising.

All revenues raised by the Affinity Business Partner Category will be specifically earmarked to advance ISA’s mission: “To advance the professionalism and effectiveness of personal property appraisers” by supporting professional educational programs and continuing education to members.

We need ISA member support to help build this exciting new program. Please invite your business contacts to join with ISA!   The potential benefit to ISA members and to our Affinity Business Partners is significant, including the development of new, invested sources of referrals to members. 

Information about the ABP program, including an online application form may be found by visiting the ABP page of the ISA website.  Membership is open to companies who employ appraisers.  However, the category is not open to businesses whose primary focus is appraising. 

If you have questions about the program or know of a business who may be interested in a formal relationship with ISA, please email contact information to: Fred Winer at fred@pwpusa.com or Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg at info@artappraisalfirm.com.

*Benefits package is subject to change. 

By: Cindy Charleston-Rosenberg, ISA CAPP