A Message from the CEO

ASA’s CEO letter to members and friends

This past month marked a whirlwind of partnerships and collaborative activity, the kind association leaders live for.

To start, the American Society of Appraisers, along with eleven other organizations, signed a letter to congressional leaders calling for immediate passage of the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act (S.4751). The ending of conservation easement tax deduction abuse and passing the S. 4751 is urgently needed and long overdue. As such, it was important to have ASA’s name associated with such a grave cause.

ASA also partnered with TAF, AI, ASFMRA, RICS, NSREA, and NAR to host an upcoming free symposium on Promoting Trust for Fair and Affordable Housing. This free symposium on 12/9, consists of 3 separate events including two panel discussions that I will be co-moderating in respect to fair housing, racial discrimination, and bias in real estate and mortgage finance and its lingering impacts to the present day; and one forward thinking session that will provide early insights into the housing and economic development agendas of the 117th Congress and incoming Biden Administration as they relate to real estate appraisal.

In a similar effort, ASA has partnered with TAQEEM and other global VPOs to submit a joint message to G20 virtual summit participants. Since the influence and importance of the G20 meetings and discussions can be crucial to the development and growth of the valuation profession in various markets, ASA was happy to contribute to this initiative.

 “The American Society of Appraisers stands in support of the G20’s crucial role in empowering inclusive global economic growth. Together our shared goals will help shape and ensure continued opportunities for consumers around the world and the valuation professionals who service them.” —American Society of Appraisers.

In other news, this past month I participated in the OnBoard Leadership Panel, where I and 3 other association executives shared our expertise and advice on how associations prepare for and address uncertainty in upcoming board meetings and planning sessions. Fully understanding our peers’ situations as well as regional differences during the pandemic, will ultimately help Board members strategize and grow as an association. I was honored to be a part of such a well-respected group of executives and appreciated sharing why member connections are so crucial to a leadership Board’s success.

I am also proud to announce that ASA recently made a donation to the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR) on behalf of the many ASA members who utilize the organization’s educational resources. IFAR bridges a critical gap in the scholarly, legal, and museum worlds. As such, providing financial support will serve as a benefit to our members as well as helping IFAR continue its programs, services and goals.

Lastly, ASA has signed an Emerald Sponsorship Level agreement for the upcoming AGA conference. AGA offers the highest level of education for gemologist. They are up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry and have well-respected individuals as speakers. By being an Emerald Sponsor, ASA’s logo will be featured in all promotional materials; on AGA social media posts before, during, and after the conference; acknowledged during the opening and closing statements; and on the recorded banner that will run during breaks. We are inspirited ASA is sponsoring such a prominent and appreciated conference in the GJ appraisal industry.

To read other important news visit my Message from the CEO column on ASA’s Blog, or follow me on Twitter @johnniewhiteCEO and LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnniewhiteceo for more ASA updates.