The Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is hoping all of our friends and clients are continuing to stay safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

As this is my last president’s letter I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of the Appraisal Institute and the local MA and RI Chapter. Although this year was very different from past years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were able to continue our mission of offering professional education offerings along with representing our members on a state-wide and regional level. A special thank you to our executive director, Lianne Andreucci, who is as dedicated to this organization as any member! Thank you, Lianne!

Thank you also to our executive committee; John Drew, MAI-vice-president, Brad Hevenor, MAI-treasurer and Rob Maloney, MAI-secretary for their hard work this year and best wishes in your new roles in 2021! Thank you to all of our committee chairs and members who represent the chapter in education, finance, government relations, public relations, guidance, emerging leaders and social offerings. Thank you also to Susan Kelly, SRA who served as the Rhode Island Branch Chapter chairperson for 2020. And thank you to all the AI member professionals throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island who represent the best this profession offers. 

The chapter looks forward to co-hosting the annual New England Appraisers Expo with the MBREA! The Expo is still being held but this year it will be held virtually! Dates are December 8^th, 10^th and 15^th! There will be live speakers and all attendees will be able to earn up to 8 hours of continuing education credits. Topics will include; COVID-19 impact on tourism, events and hospitality and its impact on the multi-family and mixed-use sector, bias in appraising, and how appraisers and attorneys interact. Please visit our website to register today!

The Appraisal Foundation and Appraisal Institute are pleased to host a joint valuation symposium: Promoting Trust for Fair and Affordable Housing. This free symposium gives real estate appraisers the opportunity to hear from leaders from across the appraisal profession, mortgage lending, and academia in a discussion on fair and affordable housing issues. Discussion topics include the latest research on fair and affordable housing, impact and innovation in the appraisal process, and potential legislative, regulatory and financing solutions that can promote community and economic development.

This virtual event will take place on Thursday, December 9^th and is a free event, however, you must sign up in advance. Please visit the Appraisal Foundation website at www.appraisalfoundation.org to register.

The MA/RI Chapter continues to offer the best appraisal education in the area! We have been offering in-class and on-line education during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The following meetings and classes are being offered in the upcoming months - Please visit our website to register:

• New England Appraisers Expo – December 8^th, 10^th and 15^th, Virtual Classes;

• Getting it Right from the Start: A Workout Plan for your Scope of Work, Wednesday, January 20^th, Virtual Class.

We would like to thank our 2020 sponsors! A very special THANK YOU to our Platinum Sponsors; 

Boston Appraisal Company, CB Richard Ellis/New England, our Gold Sponsors, JLL Valuation Advisory and Compstak and our Silver Sponsor Cushman & Wakefield. For sponsorship opportunities please reach out to our office. Please visit our website at http://massri-appraisalinstitute.org for more information. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy holiday season!

George Demopulos, SRA, AI-RRS is the 2020 president of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and president and chief valuations officer at Lincoln Appraisal & Settlement Services (LASS) and Lincoln Abstract & Settlement Services, Providence, RI.