Region VI Recap by Sara Gaskill, MAI, Vice President of the Pittsburgh Metro Chapter of the Appraisal Institute

The Joint Regional Meeting between Regions IV and VI was held April 4 & 5 in Southbury, CT.  Chapter President Dennis Cestra and Vice President Sara Gaskill were in attendance.

The weekend began Friday afternoon with separate meetings for the two regions.  The Region VI meeting was led by chair Tom Reynolds, III and vice chair Robert Robidoux. Chapter presidents were asked to present a 10 minute report on the state of their chapter.  Several issues were discussed including:

• The new CE point system: In January 2014, Regulation 10 changed the way CE hours are recorded.  Education is no longer tracked as “hours” but rather “points”.  A Designated Member must complete in his or her 5 year cycle the Standards Requirement, the Ethics Requirement and the 500-Points Requirement. The reasoning behind switching to the points system was to encourage members to attend more advanced level courses – More points are offered the more advanced classes.
• Noeline Fuller Region VI Scholarship: The region will be funding the $500 scholarship again this year for qualifying education.  The deadline to submit your application is June 30, 2014.  Click here for the application.
• Capstone:  All 2014 programs are sold out!  The 2015 Capstone schedule is planned for release in June.  Sign up quickly!

National Report: National Vice President Scott Robinson reported on the State of the Appraisal Institute in the joint meeting with the two regions.  

• National rolled out a new website in February.  All the kinks have been worked out – check it out!
• New courses available and coming soon include: 
• Application and Interpretation of Simple Linear Regression (15 hours) – Available Aug. 15
• Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling for Valuation Applications (15 hours) – Available now
• International Valuation Standards Overview (8 hours) – Available Now
• Two-day Advanced Income Capitalization/A (15 hours) – Coming 2015
• Two-day Advanced Income Capitalization/B (15 hours) – Coming 2015
• Candidates are required to attend one meeting or event per year.  Candidates must upload that they attended a chapter-sponsored meeting themselves to receive credit.
• The Review Theory courses are in great demand nationally.  Pittsburgh will be offering Review Theory Residential on Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 and the Review Theory General is set for October 29-31. The courses will be taught by Mark Smeltzer.  Talk to Kari Ballenger for more details.  
• The AI is continuing working towards improving the relationship with the Appraisal Foundation without compromising 1st amendment. 
• The national meeting will be in Austin, TX August 4-6, 2014.

2014 Region VI National Representatives: 
Thomas Reynolds, SRPA – Chair 
Robert Robidoux, MAI, SRA – Vice Chair 
Ryan Hlubb, SRA – Third Director
Russell Sterling, MAI – Past Chair 
Roland Johnson, SRA – National Nominating Committee
Region VI Positions: 
Region Finance Officer – Ryan Hlubb, SRA 
Region Government Relations Liaison – Donald Boucher, SRA

Region VI members who serve on National Committees for 2014:
ADQC – Reaves Lukens, III, MAI (Chair) 
Professional Standards and Guidance - J. Brian O’Donnell, MAI 
Nominating – Roland Johnson, SRA 
Strategic Planning – Reaves Lukens, III, MAI
International Relations – Michele Glower, MAI
AI Holdings – Thomas Reynolds, III, SRPA 
Education Trust – J. Brian O’Donnell, MAI and Terry Dunkin, MAI, SRA 
Relief Foundation - Carlos J. Ortiz and Russell Sterling, MAI