Message From The President - Fall Conference 2003

Past President Longo, Executive Board Members, Fellow Assessors and Guests. I would like to thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your president for the 2003/ 2004 term.

My theme for the coming year is "Having Pride In Your Association"

The Term Pride can have some very negative connotations however it can also be a very powerful tool if directed wisely and with humility.

The pride I am referring to includes:

          Professionalism

          Respect for others

          Involvement in your association

          Dedication to the Public we serve and

          Excellence (Growing both personally & professionally)

I had no idea back in 1996, as the President of the Fulton County Assessors Association, the road that lay ahead.   I received a notice of an upcoming Executive Board meeting in Syracuse and, being just a little curious, I decided to attend.

What I found there was amazing!

I found people that were excited about this association,

I found people who were concerned about their profession,

I found a group of dedicated individuals working together for the New York State Assessors' Association.

I also found people, who I now have the pleasure of calling friends as well as colleagues.

It has been very fulfilling to work these last six years with you, and for you, to promote and improve the Profession of Assessing.  I am looking forward to this coming year.

When we first put our Association Web Page on line, Edye McCarthy suggested an addition to our main page.  Our web-page carries the statement: "An Association Is Only As Good As Its Members," and we have some very excellent members.

I want you to know I am very proud of our membership.  I am proud of you.  I still stand in awe of the skills and talents I have seen in you, our membership.

And I am grateful that many of our members have, over the years, stepped forward and took the time to serve this association.  The executive board, the trustees of the IAO, numerous committees, these people that help guide your association, have a commitment to you, the members of this association.

I hope you , along with me, appreciate the work they perform.

My goals for the coming year are simple,

First, I want to assure you that I plan to support the new initiatives that have been started by my predecessors.

Second, I am seeking continued cooperation with the State with the expectation that ORPS will work with us.

And third, it is my vision to see our association become more active in legislative issues.  We can put our talent to work.  I therefore plan to create, with the cooperation of the executive board and IAO trustees, a Legislative Liaison Position.  This person will have the responsibility of working with the Executive Board, IAO, Legislative committee, and ORPS to better communicate our positions, influence work in progress, and track legislative issues.  As you all know, we have had some success in the past few years legislatively.  I believe we will continue to be successful. And what can You do?  The formation of legislative action day has done a lot for us and our dealings in Albany.  It would be fantastic to see you all there next January (2004).

In conclusion, I am looking forward to meeting with many of you this coming year.  I urge you to be proud of you association and become more involved.

Thank you again for your support.  May God bless you.