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Weekly UpdatesNo question, the highlight of my tenure as president of IREM this past year has been the opportunity to get out and visit with the fantastic members of our Institute. Traveling all over the states and abroad reminded me of the force behind this organization and the potential we have going forward.
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Some of my most humbling, yet personally fulfilling moments as president were spent installing new CPM Members at the different chapters I visited. In one city, a gentleman I installed brought his entire family to the occasion. All who were present could see the pride on his face and in the eyes of his family. In a different city, another CPM had tears streaming down her face during the installation ceremony as all her hard work paid off in that proud moment in her career.
These moments allowed me to take a step back and realize how very important achieving the CPM designation is to real estate professionals, their families and their careers. They were a reminder that at the very heart of our IREM strategic initiatives and planning are people--consummate professionals who make a difference every day in the real estate management field through their knowledge, ethics and commitment.
And while our individual members are contributing so much to the field, IREM is doing its part, too. We've made huge strides in earning a seat at the table among other valued professions--further legitimizing real estate management as a viable profession.
Our legitimacy as an organization has also been solidified as other like-industry organizations have reached out to partner with IREM and have acknowledged the Institute as providing the gold standard of real estate education. We've shown we have international reach, and we've shown we have staying power. We kicked off the Institute's 75th anniversary year and installed the 20,000th CPM and 15,000th ARM.
The Institute has undergone a cultural change: IREM is a much more nimble organization now, with transparency in how it operates. Strong leadership is in place, and we've embedded a training process so organization leaders are better prepared to serve in their respective positions.
Yes, the sun is shining on IREM right now. I've seen it firsthand as I've traveled from chapter to chapter, city to city and country to country. Over the last four years, I've met amazing IREM Members; been impressed by local chapters' initiatives and commitment to the profession; and have developed unshakeable confidence in our leadership going forward. Also, I've also learned there's no place like home, and I can't think of a better home than IREM.
Bob Toothaker, CPM
2007 IREM President
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