A LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Ah, May 1^st!  My roll is filed and now the real fun begins!  I don’t know about you but 2011 has been a rough one for me and they don’t look like they are going to get any easier.  I long for a break – an opportunity to get back to the things I am supposed to be doing as an assessor.  A chance to talk with my colleagues.   A chance to learn something new – that has nothing to do with STAR!

Ah, Cornell!  Get through grievance, put the roll to bed and off to Ithaca!  What shall I take?  Maybe Instructor Training – brush up my skills before next year.  Or Statistical Analysis – maybe that will help me through all those SCARs I know are coming.  IAO-2 Exemptions – sorry Mike, I’ve had enough of exemptions this year!  Maybe Forest Land Valuation – not really experienced there.  Or Highest & Best Use – always good to keep the basics sharp.  Haven’t been around the assessment biz a million years like me?  How about Appraisal Course 1 or 2 – you need those for basic certification.  RPSV-4 will sharpen up your computer skills.  Can’t get out of the office that long?  Market Approach to Value or Basics of Reassessment will remind you of what our job is supposed to focus on – and they’re only 2 days!

Whatever you choose, I know you will learn something new or brush off those cobwebs on a skill you had forgotten.  Education keeps us sharp, it develops professionalism and that’s never been more important than in these days of “doing more with less”.

So I hope to see you in Ithaca.  I’m looking forward to it!

Cathy