NYSCAR: Bringing comm'l. practioners together

By Maureen Wilson, CCIM, SIOR We have just returned from the NYSCAR board meeting and strategic planning session in Fayetteville.  We were very fortunate to have Jim Peters, MLM, RCE, CAE, e-PRO, Columbia, S.C., as the moderator for the strategic planning session. Jim did a great job keeping everyone on track and focused. The board developed goals and strategies to put in place to move the association forward with our three-year plan.  We are very excited about the plan and will be asking the local chapters to hold focus groups to get feedback at the local level relative to the needs of the members.  Plans are well underway for the 8th Annual NYS Commercial Real Estate Conference, June 1-3 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino. With our challenging economy, networking with your colleagues from NYS and beyond is more important than ever. If you are interested in being a sponsor for the event, please email Ali Mann at [email protected] and request a sponsor form.  Watch your mail and e-mail in mid March for full conference details. If you have not checked out the new NYSCAR website, I encourage you do so today (www.nyscar.org)! You are able to view the calendar of events, email members and obtain membership information. Please join us in congratulating Mike Johnson of Realty USA and John Lavelle of RJ Smith Realty for being honored at our February 22 board meeting. Johnson was honored with the 2008 Realtor of the Year Award! He is the second VP of NYSCAR, the president of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors and is extremely active with the National Association of Realtors and NYS Association of Realtors. He is the current chairman of NYSCAR's national affairs committee. He serves as town councilman for Lewiston and is very active with many organizations in the community. Lavelle was recognized with the first NYSCAR Meritorious Service Award. The award was given to Lavalle for going above and beyond the call of duty by fostering the objectives of NYSCAR and in particular for his guidance and direction in regard to promoting education and marketing efforts and thereby growing the Hudson Valley chapter of NYSCAR. He is the immediate past-president of the Hudson Valley chapter. NYSCAR was recognized by the NYS Association of Realtors for going over goal with their RPAC contributions in 2008. Thanks to all of you who contributed to RPAC! Maureen Wilson, CCIM, SIOR, is the 2009 president of New York State Commercial Association of Realtors Inc., Albany, N.Y. Upcoming NYSCAR Education Dates Go to www.nyscar.org to obtain a registration form. * March 16: Introduction to Creative Marketing of Commercial Investment Real Estate (3 hr. c.e.) Course will be held in the morning and marketing session will be held in the afternoon. Located in Plainview. * April 16: Creative Equity Marketing & Exchanging of Commercial Investment Real Estate (7.5 hr. c.e.)To be held in Fishkill. *April 23: Investment Property Analysis and Creative Transaction Formulas (7.5 hr. c.e.) to be held in Amherst. * May 30-31: CCIM Intro Class to be held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona. Please visit www.ccim.com to register. * June 1-3: 8th Annual NYS Commercial Real Estate Conference to be held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona. The conference will feature a 1.5-day marketing session, c.e. classes, leasing roundtable, golf, networking luncheon and much, much more! Watch for details!