President’s Message ~ January 2018
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
In the nine months that I have been your President, I am so happy to share some of our accomplishments in 2017. The Renaissance of FIABCA-USA that I envisioned last April has become a reality. It has been a pleasure and honor to participate with our amazing group of leaders. The Executive Committee and Board of Directors have implemented many of the goals we proposed to initiate in 2017.
Most important is the change in our FIABCI-USA Administration. I want to introduce you to Laura Rubinfeld CAE, CIPS, RCE, our new operations consultant. Laura comes to us with many years of experience as a REALTOR Association Executive.. We are very excited about her joining with us and hope you will all welcome Laura to the FIABCI-USA family. We are looking forward to 2018 under the guidance of Laura.
The changes we made with our administration brought many transitional issues and growing pains, but with all that, we accomplished a successful National Fall meeting held in Chicago on October 31 and November 1, dovetailing with the National Association of REALTORS convention. One of the many highlights was a Leadership Class run by the Past President of the Real Estate Brokers Institute combined with other speakers and topics designed to open the world of International business to all and attracting many of our international members in attendance for the NAR Global meetings.
FIABCI-USA has a new telephone number. +1.917. 287.7020
FIABCI-USA Membership is growing too. We offered an early bird reduced membership rate of $495, for all renewals, which was a $100 reduction off the $595 regular membership rate. Many of you took advantage of the savings to renew your membership. We have changed over to an annual membership cycle instead of a rotating basis. Going forward, Memberships will be annual.
FIABCI-USA launched a major new member campaign, offering a special one-time reduced membership fee only for new members for all of 2018.
FIABCI-USA welcomed CCIM as a new Principal Member; Many CCIM members have joined FIABCI-USA as new regular members.
Once again, FIABCI-USA is able to offer a 50% discount on MIPIM registration to our members who wish to attend MIPIM 2018 in Cannes, France. EUR 980, for all FIABCI-USA members. MRCH 13-16, 2018. We will be a part of the FIABCI Pavilion at MIPIM. All those who are interested in attending and wishing to take advantage of the deep discount for registration must give your name to FIABCI-USA Secretariat.
FIABCI-USA Local Councils are flourishing; Houston, Miami, Wash DC, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Hawaii and our newest Council in Orlando, are the important active grassroots Local Council communities of FIABCI-USA.
We have received several inquiries from members looking to start a Council in their local areas. Local Councils, good programing, meeting regularly and member leadership is the valuable component for growth.
Combining the history of the past with new ideas, local Councils with strong local leaders who see a new future for their members and FIABCI-USA, we have begun to build a solid foundation for the future of FIABCI-USA.
We will soon be calling on our membership for candidates to step forward for the vacancies on the 2018-2019 Board of Directors. For me the most important aspect of our future is the consideration of an involved leadership team. We can no longer afford leaders both local and national that are leaders in name only. They must step up and work to build and grow FIABCI-USA.
Our FIABCI meetings nationally and internationally, will be on our site going forward.
FIABCI AMERICAS Global Summit meeting, hosted by AMPI, will be taking place in Cancun, Mexico – March 1-2 2018. www.fiabciamericas.com
DUBAI World Congress will be April 27-May 2, 2018. www.fiabcidubai.com
We are planning our FIABCI-USA – National Spring meeting in Washington DC May 14 just prior to the NAR Legislative meetings in Washington DC. May 15-19, 2018. We will have our General Meeting and in the evening, we are planning an Amazing Gala, Installation of our President-Elect, Barbara Schmerzler and Board of Directors. So Save the Date.
We are committed to building the future of our International organization in its’ 60th decade to even greater heights. If you have a desire to participate in an exciting adventure by building for the future of FIABCI-USA for this 21st Century world we live and work in, please plan to put your name forward to run for the National Board of Directors of FIABCI- USA.
I look forward with great anticipation to hear from you.
Susan Merdinger Greenfield
President of FIABCI-USA
