Dear NC-CCIM Member,
It’s again that time of year when each of us sits down to evaluate our respective businesses. If your operation is like mine, you are deep in to the business planning cycle for 2009. There is no doubt that we will face some new challenges in 2009. I believe that those who hold the prestigious CCIM designation will be in the best position to take advantage of the drastically different landscape.
It may be tempting to cut certain expenses in some of your professional organizations, but I can assure you, as a long-time CCIM, your continued investment in the pre-eminent commercial real estate designation, CCIM, is one you must continue. In fact, I want to challenge you to consider investing further in your CCIM “degree” by committing in 2009 to attend an After the Pin course and/or one of the national conferences which will be held in Fort Worth and Hawaii in 2009.
Did you know that as a member of NC-CCIM you will be a member of the top CCIM Chapter in the United States? The NC-CCIM chapter was the winner of the prestigious President’s Cup in 2008. For details, go to our website at www.nc-ccim.org.
It’s critically important that you are kept aware of the tremendous value proposition that NC-CCIM provides. Did you know that you can get your annual CE requirement fulfilled FREE of charge as an NC-CCIM member? That alone pays your annual dues. In addition, we have launched a quarterly (virtual) Dealmaking Session for you to market your listings.
Let me outline some of the most significant benefits of being a member of the North Carolina CCIM Chapter.
First -- We are about education.
· FREE CE…Our chapter hosts four (4) classes, the Mandatory class, Ethics class, BIC Class, and an Elective class all FREE to its members. Make the most out of your CE day…spend it with 75+ other CCIM’s from around the state. This benefit alone justifies the cost of our low $95.00 annual dues and on top of that, it’s another great opportunity to network with our peers.
· Our chapter continues to actively sponsor the CCIM Core Courses (Two Intros, 101, 102, 103 and 104) each year in North Carolina. This gives the Candidates the opportunity to take all the classes in NC and save money on travel and it gives CCIM Designees the opportunity to participate in the “Life After the Pin” program. We hold a deal making session one evening during each class that we sponsor; it’s a great way to meet brokers from around the state and the country.
· Our chapter provides several other classes throughout the year such as (a) Site To Do Business update class (b) 1031 Tax Free Exchange class (c) Financial Analysis Class, and others that are offered either free or at a reduced cost to its members.
Second -- We promote the designation.
· Our Market Forecasts, held each spring in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, give us the chance to promote ourselves as the most knowledgeable of all the commercial real estate professionals. Our attendance and promotion speaks to others about doing business with a CCIM. We had over 1,000 professionals in attendance at three forecasts from all sectors of the commercial real estate industry. (Networking)
· The chapter newsletter, “The Communicator” is a way that we spread the word about doing business with a CCIM. In addition to our individual use, the Chapter sends out copies of “The Communicator” to hundreds of Department of Commerce developers, financial institutions, and real estate executives throughout the state and the region.
· An in-state Marketing campaign for the CCIM Designation in the Business Journals of Charlotte; the Triangle region; the Triad are and the North Carolina Economic Development Guide, which touts a CCIM Designee as an "expert in the commercial real estate transactions".
Third – We encourage Networking
· If you are not getting a hand full of deals every year from the CCIM network, you should be. Here are several great opportunities to increase your business:
(1) We have monthly networking events around the State (see our website for info www.nc-ccim.org click on Events),
(2) Three market forecasts with 1200 attendees,
(3) The State Conference, available at a discount to NC-CCIM members, with a networking cocktail party, a nationally recognized speaker, after the Pin class(es) and a deal making session.
· NEW – Virtual Deal making – we have launched a quarterly on-line dealmaking session available FREE to NC-CCIM members. This provides you with the opportunity to market your best listings to the top brokers in our state!
I am confident that you will realize tremendous value from your NC CCIM membership. I hope that you will plan to support the NC CCIM Chapter in 2009 with your membership renewal. Our Board of Directors will continue to work hard to enable you to experience the “Great Value” you gain by being a member of the NC-CCIM Chapter!
If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our offerings, please call me. It’s obvious that the best ideas come from our constituency, and that is you! The Board of Directors of the NC-CCIM Chapter is serious about its commitment to you, and its desire to increase the quality of all of our initiatives.
By renewing your membership in the North Carolina CCIM Chapter for 2009, I believe you will increase the level of your success. Please let me know if you need any help with your decision to participate in this great organization.
Please note that you have received, or will receive, a bill from the national office of the CCIM Institute, which will include our state Chapter Dues for $95 (same as the past several years). This is part of a new Unified Dues Billing program launched recently by the Institute.
If you do not wish to renew your chapter membership via CCIM National please take an opportunity to renew your membership on our website www.nc-ccim.org. Or you can call our chapter administrator, Ashley Boykin at 336-854-5868 or email her at aboykin@grra.org and she will handle your renewal for 2009.
Sincerely,
Gary Lyons, CCIM, SIOR, ALC
Sperry Van Ness
Raleigh, NC
(919) 268.4245 (ofc)
(919) 357.8964 (cell)
2009 NC-CCIM President
