The 2010 chapter CRE board met for its first time at The Algonquin Club on Wednesday, December 16th prior to its annual Holiday Reception. At the meeting I announced the 2010 officers. Emmet Logue and Bob Costello and myself will remain in their present position as Vice-Chair, Treasurer/Secretary and Chapter Chair respectively. New board members however have been accepted and include Jill Hatton, John McLaughlin, Peter Nichols and Walter Pennell. Congratulations to the four new board members now bringing the total board number to seven members. The new board members bring many years of CRE experience as well as having served on other industry boards. The chapter appreciates their involvement.
Bob Costello gave the Treasurer's Report and summarized that almost all the chapter members have paid there '09 dues and that some of the members have started to pay the '10 dues. The 2010 dues were mailed out during December. Currently the chapter is in good financial shape.
I then reviewed the chapter 2009 activities.
*January 13th: Federal Reserve Luncheon
*March 29th-31st: NYC National Convention
*April 30th: CRE/Corenet event
*June 8th: Charlie Akerson Tribute
*June 15th-16th: Corenet Regional Symposium/CRE panel
*September 16th: CRE/Corenet event
*October 11th-13th: New Orleans National Convention
*October 21st: Corenet/CRE
*December 16th: CRE chapter holiday reception, Algonquin Club.
The chapter has plans to join on selective events with CoreNet in 2010. The board members discussed 2010 possible events On January 21st, Harold Brown, chairman of The Hamilton Co. will discuss the past and future of the real estate cycles and market. His program "Back to the Future" is timely as he closed on one of the largest multi-family housing non-distressed complex in the U.S. for 2009. Dexter Park in Brookline was purchased for $129.5 million. The Wall Street Journal wrote an article about Brown and the acquisition in November.
Other events were discussed and the board wants to move in a direction of engaging CRE chapter members as speakers. Topics could include broader topics on the economy and skills to be a Counselor. A survey was sent to chapter members during November as well and the results were reviewed by the chapter board. The first half of 2010 was then planned and some CRE members will be contacted to make presentations to the chapter on knowledge based items.
In the Fall, John McLaughlin discussed the need to have a more class-style topic on how does a counselor counsel or learn to counsel. Back in the 1990s the CRE organization published a book on Counseling in a brown paper bag and the Chapter Board discussed having an one and one-half program on becoming real estate advisors and counselors.
There was also discussion on conducting more joint real estate organization events. The board then convened for the Holiday Reception in which 22 CREs and guests arrived for a wonderful Holiday event.

Robert Nahigian, FRICS, SIOR, CRE is principal of Auburndale Realty Co., Newton, Mass.Rob Nahigian, CRE