Professional Alliance Project Team

[RVS SanDiego]

Is someone in this forum known about the SWOT team?

The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) initiative is to explore alliances between the appraisal organizations and the possible formation of national organization with one designation!!!.

Is the development of a common professional designation would or would not eliminate the confusion of the proliferation of designations? I think it is a great topic for us and I hope all of us will get into a useful discussion.

If you like to read more about that topic please go to

http://www.Valuer-umbrella.org

The topic: Appraisal Experts Propose, Envision Aligned Associations with Shared Services, Common Professional Designation

 

[Leon Stewart]

It's nothing new, the topic has been discussed several times over the years, and they will end up just where they left off the last time, which is nowhere. Some of these organizations have always used this vehicle as a gimmick to try and increase the membership in their prespective organizations.

Also, there has always been one organization who has considered themselves better than all the others, so it's always them who will be trying to get other organizations to join them and get their designation(s). There were discussions in this forum a few months ago where some posters indicated how valuable they thought their designation was, so you can't expect them to just give it up for something new and untested, plus the fact that they consider others appraisers inferior to them, and now it's expected that they will all have the same designation, it wont happen. So you can imagine where any of these meetings will lead, especially with the profession being on the decline and approaching extention.

leon

 

[Ross (CO)]

James, Barbara or Deanne, An interesting topic, and one that has been brought forth before in the Forum. A lofty idea, and one that seems to have the same ring as "new world order" or "one world government". What would constitute the qualifications for that one designation.....the one which could eliminate the need or desire for the dozens of others that one can pursue ? I have pondered "going" for a designation, and have been drawn back for my own sense of lack of solid appraisal experiences and not having a greater span of years in this profession, and needing more "been there, done that" to make it feel like it would be worthwhile. Add to that the reverberating effects we are all sensing with the emergence of AVM's, BPO's, no-appraisal-needed waivers, and de-minimus this and de-maximus that. Sharks and turtles have done well to survive 500 m.y.+ of watching every other specie come and go. With what designation can an appraiser be equipped to pass through to the next era of (life after) appraising ? When one sees that J. has 4 designations and a state title of Cert. Gen. Appr. .... which one actually does the most for him ? Is he thinking that he might chuck the other four desig's .... let those memberships lapse without renewal.... and then be one to attain this new and all-encompassing designation ? Any chance he may feel that the other four have lost their punch, or lustre, and may not have the deeper benefits, as in years past ? When you mentioned "confusion and proliferation of designations"...just what did you mean ? What does the vast pool of potential clientele think about designations ? Do they care ? Do they (some) make absolute requirements in all cases ? Yes, perhaps, and for others, we all know that an appraiser with 10 designations....who can not also "hit the right number"..... is considered to be of little importance for what that client expects to do with the appraisal report. Can designations shield someone from the bad blood of the client pool ? .... other than setting one out to serve only the upper echelons of potential clients ? Would having this one designation mean that an appraiser could immediately command higher fees.....and would the clients pay that higher fee ? .... or just go out and find the appraiser who does not have the designation, yet ? One designation ? One organization of appraisers ? I wonder which man or woman will be the first "president" of that group ? A very noble and daunting task....no, no, I am not running for the office.

 

[wyecoyote]

Would be great if they could do that the clout would be enourmous and we might be able to somewhat compete with the others for lobbying. But, I don't think they will ever do something like that.

 

[Caterina Platt]

It all sounds so impossible, yet I read the meeting minutes and it does look like they are making great strides toward this umbrella stucture!

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[Eric Boggs]

I agree with Leon, we are approaching extinction as a profession. Just read some of the links to articles regarding the consolidation of companies that provide streamlined services including BPO's and AVM's, and the conclusion that we are dinosaurs cannot be overlooked. It is not a matter of "if," but "when" we will be replaced. Sorry to be so negative.

Eric