The Importance of Voting YES for the ASA-NAIFA Merger

By Ernest A. Demba, FASA, ARM-RP
Real Property Discipline Governor

Ernest A. Demba, FASA, ARM-RP
Real Property Discipline Governor

As one of your Real Property representatives on the Board of Governors (BOG), I want to take this opportunity to urge you to cast your vote -“YES”- to unify the real property valuation profession. By voting YES, you vote to merge the NAIFA and the ASA Real Property Committee and Disciplines. If you have not already done so, please do so as soon as possible before our national meeting in Houston.

“In my view, and others, the long-term future
of our profession depends on a YES vote.
We owe it to those who follow in our footsteps
to take this position and lay the foundation
for success for others.”

Last week I celebrated my 71st birthday and will not be in the profession long enough to see all the benefits of the unifications just beginning. However, for the benefits of our profession, these steps must be taken and these are the rights ones. I was Chairman of the Real Property Committee back in the early 1990’s when the first steps began with the NAIFA and this is the time to finish the process. ASA is the only major national appraisal organization representing six appraisal and valuation Disciplines. And under this unique umbrella concept, each valuation discipline will continue to grow and thrive. As an example, this growth of our Real Property Discipline with the NAIFA may be just the first of potential future growth opportunities which are in the future. However, currently, this growth for the Real Property Discipline within the current ASA structure may add an additional 60% of new membership to our Real Property ranks. Just think what this means to our position within both the ASA and the profession.

If you didn’t receive your ballot invitation, please contact ASA at mergerinfo@appraisers.org or call (800) 272-8258. If you still have doubts about the benefits of a YES vote, or seeking additional information, please contact me at (636) 227-0321 (my office) or by e-mail at demba@wustl.edu.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter and your participation in the ASA.