If you haven’t already registered for this summer’s Annual Meeting, I encourage you to take advantage of the advance rate that expires July 3.

Annual Meeting Advance Registration Ends Soon

There’s a little more than a month left to receive the best available registration rate for the Appraisal Institute Annual Meeting to be held July 27-29 in Dallas.

The 2015 AI Annual Meeting will feature a wide variety of panel discussions and will provide opportunities for networking, continuing education (with the chance to earn Appraisal Institute and state continuing education credit), an awards dinner, vendor exhibits and plenty of options to explore Dallas.

Learn more about the 2015 AI Annual Meeting and register by July 3 to receive the advance rate. On-site registration will be available at a higher cost. Also, be sure to follow the Annual Meeting conversation on Twitter (#AIConnect15).

AI Professionals Lobby to Maintain Appraisal Thresholds, Reduce Regulatory Burdens

More than 100 Appraisal Institute professionals went to Capitol Hill on May 21 to urge congressional support on two issues that could significantly impact the valuation profession.

Attendees of AI’s annual Leadership Development and Advisory Council Conference, held May 20-22 in Washington, lobbied lawmakers and their staffs on issues related to appraisal thresholds and appraisal regulatory burdens.

Jim Murrett Nominated for 2016 AI Vice President

James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA, was nominated for 2016 Appraisal Institute vice president by the AI National Nominating Committee at its May 6 meeting in Chicago.

National Nominating Committee Chair Ken P. Wilson, MAI, SRA, announced the committee’s decision to the AI Board of Directors at its May 7-8 meeting in Chicago. Board members may file petitions for additional nominees until mid-June. The AI Board of Directors is expected to elect the 2016 Appraisal Institute vice president at its July 30-31 meeting in Dallas.

Read more about this year’s nominee.

AI Enhances Thought Leadership, Attends Key Industry Events

In keeping with the Appraisal Institute’s commitment to convey its thought leadership to valuation professionals and others, I was joined by AI Director of Communications Ken Chitester for a media tour, April 28-29, in New York, where we met with national media contacts and local AI professionals. Vice President Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, attended the Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials’ Spring Conference May 1-3 in Nashville, Tennessee. President-Elect Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS and Chief Executive Officer Fred Grubbe, MBA, CAE, joined Jim and me for meetings with the Residential Energy Services Network and National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries May 6 in Chicago.

The Appraisal Institute also was represented at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon Convention May 17-20 in Las Vegas. I was in Washington, D.C., May 18-19, where Bill Garber, AI director of government and external relations, joined Scott and me for meetings with Federal Finance Housing Agency Director Mel Watt to discuss hiring qualified appraisers and appraisal reviewers, and another with the National Association of Home Builders. Scott is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the International Real Estate Federation (commonly known as FIABCI) World Congress.

Other News Around AI

And here’s some other important news from the Appraisal Institute:

• AI posted a new video to its YouTube channel which features Terry Bernhardt, SRA, AI-RRS; Rob Elliott, MAI, SRA; John Meyer, SRA; and Sladjana Popovic, Candidate for Designation discussing why they attend the Appraisal Institute Annual Meeting.
• The Appraisal Institute continues to grow its social media presence. Be sure to follow AI on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Best wishes for a prosperous month!