Hello one last time to everyone within earshot of this article. I can hardly believe that the time has arrived for my final president's message. The past two years have seemed to just fly by. Of course, being from New England, I am a man of tradition, and as such, I feel compelled to give you yet another installment of change/ weather updates. The weather is the easy part, it is a cool, yet clear and sunny day. We got a chance earlier this week to exercise all of our winter equipment as we had an adventurous day of ice and another day with a little bit of snow. As for the change, well I guess that's going to be me. I started in this field in 2007 and was immediately introduced to BOMA. I believe within 2 weeks of being hired, I was taking my first class toward gaining my RPA designation. I have to thank my boss at the time, who has since retired, Ron Eddy. Getting involved with BOMA was the best thing that has happened for me professionally since I have started working. I continued to work on my RPA and received it in April 2011. I now have a recognized and honored designation from one of the oldest and largest real estate groups around. People all over the world involved with commercial real estate realize the designation and the hard work and knowledge that it represents. I wear my RPA with great pride. I am looking forward to getting back into BOMI's educational offerings in 2015 and concentrating on the new "HP" (High Performance) courses that have been added. BOMI's educational offerings stand head and shoulders above the rest in our industry. I have also been involved in BOMA's lobbying efforts, another huge benefit to being a member. BOMA's lobbying efforts have resulted in savings of up to $3.50 per s/f annually for all commercial real estate in the U.S. By helping to fight unfair legislation and keep regulations under control, BOMA has helped us all realize those savings. I personally have been involved in lobbying on both a local level as well as in Washington, D.C. We have fought to keep depreciation schedules where they should be, we have fought to keep unfair taxes out of legislation, and many other issues that have an effect on our industry. BOMA is literally the standard by which Commercial Real Estate operates. If you are measuring space, chances are you will be using the "BOMA" standard for measurement. The EER (Experience Exchange Report) compiled each year gives some of the best operating costs information in each and every market. BOMA produces some of the best tools for our field. Perhaps the biggest benefit I have gained from being involved with BOMA is the network I have developed with the people I have met. BOMA members tend to be outgoing, friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. Whether it's fellow property managers in your local, or fellow BOMA members at conferences and trade shows, or even BOMA executives, BOMA members always have time for other members and can always find something to talk about and share. And if you are involved in our industry, you understand just how important that network can be. No matter what you are looking for, whether it's a good vendor in your (or someone else's) area, knowledge about how to handle a particular issue, needing a job, looking to fill a job, or even just looking for a little bit of feedback, BOMA can and will help you. And maybe most impressive of all, it is a volunteer organization. BOMA members want to be BOMA members. And they do it for no pay. All of these wonderful, powerful, and influential people are taking time out of their days to participate. We all have "day jobs" that occupy a large part of our time, many of us also have families and children, yet BOMA members still find the time to dedicate to BOMA and other members. The fact that our group compels our members to do that may be most impressive of all. If you ask me why, I think it's simple, because it is worth it. I have one last local piece that I want to share. On December 11th, Greater Harford BOMA celebrated their annual Holiday Party at 960 Main St. in beautiful Downtown Hartford. We took the opportunity to celebrate one of our own as we presented Jim Williams with his Lifetime Membership that had been awarded to him at the annual BOMA International conference in June. Williams has been involved with BOMA and BOMI on many different levels, and he was a groundbreaker in our area. Congratulations Jim on a well-deserved honor. Williams was a founding member of Greater Hartford BOMA, a past president, and actively involved in both BOMA International and BOMI. So that's just about it from me. Thanks to NEREJ for this soapbox I have had for the last 2 years. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has read these messages. Thank you to everyone who has supported Greater Hartford BOMA. And, of course - thank you to BOMA international for everything. I look forward to continuing to be involved with such a great organization. Wes Nicoll is the president of BOMA Greater Hartford, and is with Griffin Land, Bloomfield, Conn.