President's message: Board of Governors meeting held

We held our first board of governors' Meeting for 2008 on January 17 in Fayetteville.  It was a very productive meeting.  Many thanks to David Dworkin who served as president of NYSCAR for the past two years.  David did an outstanding job as president and we were fortunate to have him at the meeting to install the new officers and governors for the Association.  The new officers are as follows: Maureen Wilson, CCIM, SIOR, president (Binghamton); Joseph Rowley, first vice president (Rochester), Michael Johnson, second vice president (Buffalo), Richard Ferro, CCIM (secretary); and John Lavelle, treasurer (Pine Bush).  The following governors were also installed:  Brian DiNardo, Rochester Area Chapter president, Alan Hendrickson, Metro LI Chapter president, Harvey Kolin, LI, Donald Welch, SIOR, and Ted Welter, Rochester. I am pleased to announce that Robert Giniecki, CCIM, SEC of  Foresite Realty Advisors in Albany, NY was honored as the 2007 Realtor of the Year!  Joseph Rowley, (2006 Realtor of the Year recipient) presented Bob with the award during the meeting in Fayetteville.  Bob has been an instructor for the NYS Commercial Association of Realtors, the NYS Association of Realtors, the Society of Exchange Counselors, as well as several other commercial groups; he served on the founding Board of NYSCAR and holds the prestigious CCIM and SEC designations; he has served on numerous NYSCAR committees, and chairs the  Education Committee in 2008; he has been instrumental in assisting and moderating marketing sessions throughout the state as well as organizing education offerings throughout the state.  On behalf of the membership, I congratulate Bob on receiving this honor. During the Board meeting, the Governors approved the 2008 budget and the chairs and members of the 2008 committees.  Reports were heard from several of the committees and we are looking forward to another great year of member participation. Plans for the 7th Annual New York State Commercial Real Estate Conference are well underway under the guidance of Joseph Rowley of Rochester.  The conference will be held June 16-18, 2008 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona. As in the past, we will have a golf outing, marketing session, welcome reception and an array of commercial courses which carry continuing education credit.   If you are interested in exhibiting at the conference, please email NYSCAR to request information ([email protected]). Thanks to Don Welch, SIOR (Albany), we also have a new CD which highlights this year's conference which we can make available to all vendors. Maureen Wilson is 2008 president of NYSCAR, New York, N.Y.