I am confident in the continued success of the Appraisal Institute and the Long Island chapter. My goals are to continue the educational offerings, services and communication provided to chapter members, interested appraisers and real estate professionals, and to assist associate members in their path to designation. The Appraisal Institute and its national leaders are committed to being competitive in the global marketplace. Four key strategic elements for 2011 are: I. International Initiatives; II. Core Competency; III. Candidate Member Program; and IV. New Business Model. The Appraisal Institute International Initiative now has The Appraisal Institute involved in over 50 countries worldwide. The Core Competency goal is to maintain the highest level of competency in the appraisal field, while at the same time, recruiting PhDs and other potential new members by offering "alternatives" to the experience requirements for designations from The Appraisal Institute. The "candidate member" is to be "reintroduced" by the Appraisal Institute as a way of recognizing the current "associate" members in a more positive format. The New Business Model of the Appraisal Institute will replace the now obsolete 79 year old business model, as The Appraisal Institute must adapt to the changing world and world market. The Appraisal Institute is meeting the requirements and demands of the market, the public and its members worldwide. The Long Island Chapter of The Appraisal Institute is committed to providing appraisers with the highest level of professional education, services, and support in order for appraisers to reach their professional, educational, and financial objectives. In June, the chapter is offering seminars on the current new topics of Green Appraising and the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Uniform Appraisal Dataset. I am proud to be a chapter leader for our organization in 2011. I encourage all members to take advantage of the education programs the chapter is producing, and attend dinner seminars for information on the most timely topics, and an opportunity to network with fellow appraisers and real estate professionals. Looking forward, 2011 brings us another year closer to economic recovery, and the demand for highly-educated, professional appraisers has never been stronger. Matthew Guzowski, MAI, is the 2011 president of the Long Island chapter of the Appraisal Institute, Williston Park, N.Y.