It is a difficult time to be in the multi-family and commercial real estate business.  Deal volume is down, the availability of office sub lease space is nearing a record high level, apartment rental concessions are as high as 2-month’s free rent, many retailers are struggling and most new development has been postponed or cancelled.  We keep hearing that the recession is over but I haven’t yet seen any definitive upward trends.  We are living in uncertain times and I think many people are holding on to what they have, staying close to home and maintaining the status quo.  I am no economist (nor do I want to be) but I think demand will remain somewhat stagnant for the rest of the year and both rates and occupancy levels will remain flat. I am confident the economy will turn around, I am just not sure when. 

The good news is that under these current market conditions, good managers are in demand and will have opportunities to increase their market share.  Well-managed properties stand out among the competition, owners are demanding improved operating efficiencies and tenants want to lease or renew at the properties where attentive service and attention to detail are standard operating procedures.  The days when constantly improving market conditions would save even the poorest of managers are over. 

The Chapter wants to do everything we can to help our members take advantage of the opportunities that today’s challenging conditions present.  Here are a few examples:

·         The program for the July membership meeting will focus on Technology Use in our Business.  Call Source, a powerful and innovative marketing tool, will be demonstrated and the latest in techno-gadgets will be presented by Comp-U-Serve.

·         Upcoming classes to be held in Orlando include: Managing Real Estate Maintenance Operations (June 19 and 20) and Basic Budgeting and Accounting for Managers (August 28 and 29).

·         Members may borrow the latest in IREM’s professional publications by visiting our website IREM60.0rg.

·         Members may search for jobs or post available jobs by visiting our website IREM60.org.

·         The program for the September membership meeting will deal with Toxic Mold and how to avoid the pitfalls of this increasingly serious issue.

·         Members may receive a free roof inspection and condition report by contacting a ‘Friend’ of the IREM Chapter, the Roofing Connection. 

These are just a few of the things the Chapter is doing.  We are always looking for new ideas and services to create value for our members.    As an example, the Executive Council has had discussions about providing budgeting assistance to the membership.  A budgeting course is scheduled for August but could the Chapter provide other support?  Do the members want that and if so what issues should be addressed?  Should we have a budget seminar and make use of the special expertise of our Friends and experienced Managers?  Would that be useful?  Are there other things the Chapter should be doing?  We genuinely want your input.  Please give us your ideas and suggestions.  Contact me or any member of the Executive Council.  I guarantee your ideas will be considered.  Working together IREM members will continue to lead the way and stay a step ahead of your competitors.

Mike McConnell, CPM
MMCCONN111@AOL.COM

SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

MAY 9, 2002 

v      Lou Nimkoff will chair the officer nominating committee.  Nominations for 2003 President, President elect, Secretary-Treasurer and three at large positions on the Executive Council are now being accepted.  The 2003 officer slate will be announced in August and the election will take place at the September membership meeting.

v      Nominations are now being received for CPM of the Year, CPM Candidate of the Year and ARM of the Year.  Nominees will be announced in August and voting will take place in September.  The awards will be presented in November.  Jay Schoonover and Steve Jankowski were appointed to the ARM of the Year Nominating Committee and Jane Bullock, Lou Nimkoff and Mike McConnell were appointed to the CPM and Candidate of the Year Nominating Committee.

v      Robin Stinson reported 12 students were taking the Asset Management Track of courses held in Orlando this week (the week of May 5^th).

v      Robin announced she is searching for someone to Chair the Education Committee for 2003.  

v      Shannon Mitchel and Maria Baldizon were approved as CPM candidates.  Linda Hastings, CPM and Ken Shaw, CPM rejoined the Chapter and were welcomed.

v      James McKinney (Cameo Professionals), Kimberly Morton (Picerne) and J. Antonio Vargas (Picerne) were approved as ARM applicants.

v      Plans are in the making for an ARM function to be held in August or October. 

v      Plans are underway to hold a one-day seminar for Certified Apartment Managers (CAM) who wish to earn the ARM designation.  CAMs may earn the ARM designation by successfully completing the ARM examination.

v      The program topic for the July membership meeting is Technology and for the September meeting is Toxic Mold. 

v      The format for the July membership meeting will be “Lunch on the Go”.  Lunch will be served buffet style and members will be able to serve themselves.  It is hoped that this new format will allow more time for networking and the program presentation.

v      Davey Tree Service was approved as a Friend of IREM.

v      Mez Birdie reported the Chapter achieved its goals for the number of Income and Expense report submissions.  The one exception was apartments where the number of reports fell short of our goal.  The goal for Homeowner Associations’ submittals was far exceeded thanks to Jim Hart and Sentry Management.

v      The member directory will be published and distributed in early June.

v      Amendments to the Bylaws were approved that provide for 2 membership categories; Designated Members and Non-Designated Members. 

v      A Bylaw amendment was approved that provides for the Immediate Past President to be a member of the Executive Council.

IREM ASSOCIATE MEMBER PROGRAM –

AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS

At its May meeting, the Executive Council approved an amendment to the Chapter Bylaws that provides Associate members will also hold membership within the Chapter.  Individuals can now join IREM National as an Associate Member and each Chapter has the ability to determine if it wants to include Associate Members within the Chapter membership.  The proposed amendment must  be approved by the general membership of the Chapter and will be voted on at the July meeting.  The amendment revises Section 4 of the Chapter Bylaws by adding a new subsection 2.2.1.  The text of the proposed amendment is as follows: 

2.2.1 Associate members.  This chapter shall have among its nondesignated membership those individuals within its jurisdiction who hold national associate membership. The benefits, services, and rights of associate members to participate in the governance of the chapter shall be determined by the Executive Council provided such rights are not inconsistent with any other articles of these bylaws or the IREM national bylaws.  Associate members shall not be assessed annual dues by the chapter; however, the chapter may choose to offer an optional service package to associate members for a fee.  Acceptance or refusal of such a service package shall not affect the membership status of the associate member.

Associate Membership is open to individuals who:

§         are engaged in the profession of real estate management, including property managers, asset managers, facility managers

§         work in real estate companies, corporate real estate departments, government agencies

§         are actively pursuing a career in real estate (this could include students)

§         Suppliers and Vendors to the real estate industry will not be eligible for associate membership 

The annual cost of this new membership category is $175 and will offer these member benefits:

§         Listing on IREM’s on-line directory as an Associate Member

§         Access to the members-only section of IREM’s web site.

§         Subscription to the Journal of Property Management.

§         Access to the IREM National jobs service.

§         Member discounts for meetings, publications and education courses.

§         The ability to promote one’s status as an associate member.

The Executive Council has approved the proposed amendment and recommends its passage.  If you want to learn more about this issue please see the May edition of the NewsReal (a copy is available at IREM60.org).  

The Executive Council has also approved a change in the composition of the Executive Council, adding the immediate past President.  The proposed amendment to Section 7 of the Bylaws is as follows: 

Section 2.  COMPOSITION.  The Executive Council shall be composed of the elected officers of this chapter, the immediate past President and at least three (3) other members, at least one of whom is an ARM member, unless there is no ARM within the chapter jurisdiction, elected by the active membership of this chapter for a term of one (1) year or until their successors are elected and installed.  Members of the Executive Council shall be eligible for re‑election. 

This Bylaw amendment will be voted upon at the July membership meeting.

SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE! 

IREM and the IREM Foundation are now offering more opportunities to apply for the Minority Outreach Scholarship and the Paul H. Rittle Sr. Memorial Scholarship.  Up to five Minority Outreach Scholarships and an unlimited number of Rittle Scholarships will now be awarded each quarter.   

Applications for  these scholarships may be submitted at anytime.  Completed Applications will be reviewed each quarter beginning in April.  The next quarterly review is June 2002.  If you are interested in making application for one of these scholarships please contact, Meridythe Kanaga, CPM, Chapter Administrator at admin@irem-centralfl.org or 407-862-2292 ext 10. 

The Paul H. Rittle Sr. Memorial Scholarship benefits students needing assistance to attend IREM courses.  The Rittle Scholarship covers course tuition and related costs.  Scholarships are based on financial need and commitment to a career in property management. 

The Minority Outreach Scholarship benefits minorities wishing to pursue the CPM designation.  The Scholarship covers course tuition needed to attain the CPM designation and provides a Mentor. 

TODAY’S Fast Forward:

Imagine………….

There is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.  It carries over no balance from day to day.  Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.  What would you do?

Draw out ALL OF IT, of course!!!!

Each of us has such a bank.  Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.  Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.  It carries over no balance.  It allows no overdraft. 

There is no going back if you fail to use the day’s deposit.  There is no drawing on tomorrow.  You must live in the present on today’s deposits.  Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!  The clock is running.  Make the most of today. 

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask the mother who gave birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE-SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. 

Time waits for no one.  Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  Today is a gift.  That’s why it is called a present!!

Make a difference in someone’s professional future.  Become involved with IREM,  support your local chapter by volunteering just two hours per month.  Your expertise, knowledge, experience and interest are valuable assets to our industry…share it with others. Call me at 407-323-6653, we need you! 

Robin Stinson, CPM

Why I Am So Tired?

For a couple years I've been blaming it on iron poor blood, lack of vitamins, dieting and a dozen other maladies. Now I found out the real reason. I'm tired because I'm overworked.

The population of this country is 237 million. 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work. There are 85 million in school, which leave 48 million to do the work.  Of this, there are 29 million employed by the federal government.

This leaves 19 million to do the work.

Four million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 15 million to do the work. Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for State and City Government and that leaves 200,000 to do the work.

There are 188,000 in hospitals, so that leaves 12,000 to do the work.

Now, there are 11,998 people in Prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work.   You and me . . . and you're sitting there reading jokes.

CPM OF THE YEAR

CPM CANDIDATE OF THE YEAR

ARM OF THE YEAR

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2002 CPM of the Year, CPM Candidate of the Year and the ARM of the Year.  These prestigious awards will be presented in November to the individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Chapter, the real estate management profession and the community. Nominees will be announced in August and the winners selected by a secret ballot vote of the general membership.   Please submit nominations to Meridythe Kanaga, CPM, Chapter Administrator (admin@irem-centralfl.org).

RECENT EDUCATION CLASSES

Approximately 100 students recently completed IREM classes in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.  These classes, sponsored by our own chapter or IREM Region 4, of which we are part of, included the Asset Management Track- “Track B” and the CPM Exam Track- “Track C”.  18 candidates sat for the CPM Exam, passage of which is required to become a designee.  The next class is  MNT201- Introduction to Managing Real Estate Maintenance Operations which will be held this month on the 19^th and 20^th here in Orlando.  Our last class of the year is FIN201 Basic Budgeting and Accounting for Real Estate Managers, which will also be held in Orlando August 28-29. Mark your calendar!

On September 27^th and 28^th, Orlando will be host city to the IREM region 4 2003 Leadership Conference.  These meetings, to be held at Marriott Village in the Disney area, will update representatives from the eight IREM chapters in Florida and Georgia on changes going on in IREM, and how to be a good leader.  While these meetings are oriented to incoming IREM chapter presidents, all IREM members are invited.  For more information, please contact Region 4 Vice President, Lou Nimkoff, CPM at 407-650-1146 or by e-mail: Lou_Nimkoff@CNLReit.com.

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Anyone wishing to submit articles, thoughts,  comments or concerns for the upcoming newsletter must do so before June 24th. Please submit all materials in Microsoft Word format and e-mail to: drdotherow@realtycapitaltcn.com