President's message: June educational offerings

Memorial Day has come and gone and we're fully into summer. The beach, golf and vacation time are front and center in our thoughts. I hope you all take time to enjoy some sunshine and "smell the roses." You would think that June is a slow month for the MA-RI chapter but not so. We have a number of educational offerings including Review Theory-General (6/9-6/13), General Appraiser Site Valuation & Cost Approach (6/18-6/21) and two 7-hour USPAP offerings (6/19) and 6/26). In addition, the Rhode Island branch is hosted a meeting on June 10 at the Rhode Island Country Club. An evening of networking followed a brief business meeting. Last month I urged candidates to plan their goals for the remainder of the year. We're at the halfway point and time is racing by. Take advantage of the chapter's educational offerings while they're available. Check the website and commit. SRA candidates should be aware that the 45-hour Residential Demonstration Appraisal option program is being offered in the Boston area in August. This is a great local opportunity to complete the demonstration report requirement. MAI candidates should be aware that the General Demonstration Report: Capstone Program option will be run in the Boston area in July 2015. While this is a long way off these programs fill quickly, all 2014 offerings are currently filled. If this option for completing the demonstration appraisal report requirement interests you I suggest you log onto the national site, review the prerequisites and commit early. One additional note regarding both demonstration reporting options. Funds are available through the Hewitt and Hope Scholarship Funds to help offset the costs of these programs. Log onto the chapter website and review the requirements, prerequisites and fine print. I'll also note the Hewitt Fund board of directors recently voted to extend the funding program through December 2015. Speaking of scholarship funds, I want to give an early plug for the McKenney - Kinsella Memorial Golf Outing. The event will be held at Stow Acres Country Club on September 29. Check the chapter website for details. All proceeds will benefit the John D. Hewitt and Paul Kinsella Scholarship Funds. These funds have directly benefitted a number of candidates in their quest for designation. Join us for great day of golf, food and networking. It's a fun day and a worthy cause. Note: sponsorships are available and encouraged! In closing I want to take a moment to thank our chapter sponsors. Joseph J. Blake and Associates, CBRE/New England, Colliers International and Narrative 1 who have made generous donations to the chapter for 2014. On behalf of the chapter we thank you for your generosity. Gotta go. Enjoy the summer! Joseph Comperchio, SRA, is the 2014 president of the Mass. & R.I. chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and works for commercial banking at Chase, Boston, MA.