I have thought for years that there needs to be an all-inclusive organization that speaks for the interests of all licensed and certified (that is, regulated) appraisers. The practice of appraisal as a profession is currently "represented" by factional groups, all with what I believe to be generally honorable intentions, but limited to the interests of their equally limited contituencies or their organizational bureaucracies.
It is interesting that the initial model for appraisal regulation was that of the Certified Public Accountants (CPA). However, from a professional organization standpoint, that is where the similarity appears to have stopped. For example, when one passes the required examinations and has the necessary education and work experience to become a CPA, that designation is awarded by the state regulatory body consistent with national standards. By virtue of being admitted as a CPA, you are eligible to join the National Association of Certified Public Accountants, which presumably speaks as an advocate for its members without respect to specialty. The same is true for most other professions. MD's are eligible to join the AMA (American Medical Association) soley on the basis of attaining license in good standing as an MD, Veterinarians are eligible to join the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) by virtue of attaining license as a DVM, etc. Further, in addition to being represented in numbers at the national levels, these organization are represented at the state and local level by sub-groups made up of state organizations and regional organizations which speak to issues affecting their members at the grass roots level.
The key IMHO is to have an organization for Certified Real Estate Appraisers, to speak to issues affecting appraisers, not just appraiser organizations or specific appraiser sub-groups. While the efforts of the Appraisal Guild appears noteworthy, I believe that an AFL-CIO affliation brings in unwanted baggage that in the long run would be contrary to the interest and perception of appraisers as professionals. What is needed, again IMHO, is something akin to the National Association of Certified Real Estate Appraisers, modeled after the CPA association. It mission and goal should be to represent the interests of appraisers as professionals and work to elevate the professional standing of all licensed and certified appraisers at the state and national levels.
This does not mean that fine organizations dedicated to recognizing and promoting higher standards for its members and awarding advanced designations such as the AI, ASA, NAIFA, etc. would become unnecessary. On the contrary, under the model of the other professional organizations there are specialty boards (e.g. American College of Surgeons, American College of Dermatologists, American College of Internal Medicine, etc.) that recognize and promote higher standards for their members. It is these board that provide the advance education that goes beyond the basic level of competency established for their profession for licensure and ensures competency for practice specialists.
The question is, how can such an organization be formed? And, who will take the lead in its formation? Perhaps a grass roots attempt through this forum would be a starting point. What about the signators of the Appraisal Petition as an initial membership list with an invitation to all licensed and certified appraisers across the country? This may be a "pie in the sky" idea, but I believe the survival of our profession will ultimately rest upon our ability to represent our profession as a cohesive voice.
I just have not seen where any of them have really done anything.
