TODAY IS THE DAY. 
HOUR IS 1545. 
PLACE IS N/E/C OF SECOND FLOOR OF LEGISLATIVE BUILDING (THE CAPITOL)
SPOT IS GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM AT ENTRANCE TO GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
BE PRESENT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE APPRAISAL PROFESSION'S FUTURE

BE THERE EARLY!  SSB 5924a IS THE FIRST ITEM ON AGENDA.  ACTION IS FAST.

Governor Locke has made his decision.  It is unknown to ACOW.  Appraisers have worked hard to convince him that he should sign SSB 5924a into law. Thank you to all who have telephoned his office and/or sent him letters. The banking and thrift lobbyists have been working for his veto.  DOL has written a letter supporting his signing the bill.  The Governor's staff and, finally, Governor Locke have reviewed the cases for and against the bill.  This afternoon, he will "take action." If he signs SSB 5924a into law, there will be pens and satisfaction for all appraisers present, plus a picture with the Governor.  Come summer, the Real Estate Appraiser Commission will become a long-sought reality and the appraisal profession will have a statutory role in its future.  All along, T.K. Bentler has done a great job working the bill for ACOW in this Legislature and in the 1997-1998 Legislature also.  Thank you, T.K., for lining up the sponsors and all that has followed along this bumpy road.  Well done for an outstanding job as ACOW's lobbyist. 

Special thank yous go to Senators Ken Jacobson (D-46, Seattle (King)), Jim Honeyford (R-15, Sunnyside (Klickitat, and parts of Yakima, Benton and Skamania)) and Georgia Gardner (D-42, Blaine (Whatcom)) who sponsored the original SB 5924 in the 1999 Session of the 56th Legislature.  Please be sure to let each of them know of your appreciation for this favor, especially all of you appraisers who live in these districts.

SSB 5924a is the first bill on this afternoon's agenda.  Therefore, it is essential to be on time today at 3:45 p.m., because it takes very little time for the Governor to comment and sign (or not sign) each bill on the day's agenda.  A good plan would be to gather beforehand for a late lunch in the Capitol Cafeteria on the ground floor below the Governor's Office. We can then return there, or adjourn elsewhere, afterwards to "take action" ourselves and to look ahead.

AHEAD

ACOW's NEXT MONTHLY MEETING is Thursday, April 6, at 5:00 p.m. in Renton, at the office of Market Value Systems (425-226-2855, Barry Wilson), 321 Burnett Avenue South, Suite 308, in downtown Renton (TB=656-C3).

GENERIC CERTIFICATES AND LICENSE NUMBERS have been announced by DOL.
REAAC - The next meeting of the Real Estate Appraiser Advisory Committee (REAAC) is set for Friday, April 14, 2000, at 9:00 a.m., again at DOL Tacoma, 2502 East 112th Street (Tho. Bro. 834-B5).  The meeting agenda is being developed at this time.  Attending the REAAC meeting is the best possible forum to discuss your views on what the program should be expected to accomplish.  Two hours of Continuing Education Credit generally is available.  You should have received your copy of the mailing, if your address is current with DOL.  Always check http://www.wa.gov/dol/bpd/appfront.htm for the latest info.

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JIM IRISH 206-789-7472    bf777@scn.org www.scn.org/~bf777
SRA Member of the Appraisal Institute
State-Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
10508 Palatine Avenue North, Seattle, Washington  98133-8725

MESSAGES ARE A MUST

Washington State Legislature's Toll-free Hot Line is 1-800-562-6000
E-mail "Your Good Member" (Senator/Representative) at member_yo@leg.wa.gov
Find Bills at http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/1999-00/senate (or house)

Contacting your own Senators and Representatives is essential.  Phone and FAX numbers, E-mail and Post Office Addressees, bill copies and any other information which you need can be found by calling the Legislative Hot Line at 1-800-562-6000.  The illustrative model e-mail address for "Your Favorite Legislator" is legislator_yo@leg.wa.gov.  Use the WEB at www.leg.wa.gov for LEGInfo, or access by FTP at ftp.leg.wa.gov or by E-mail at ftpmail@leg.wa.gov.  

APPRAISAL NEWS IN WASHINGTON STATE

See ACOW on the Web at www.acow-wa.org for government and public relations related to appraising.  Request ACOW E-mail from bf777@scn.org until a listserve is implemented.  Sending fewer faxes will help to stretch ACOW's resources.  No part of this effort is too small to matter.  

Go to http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/Appraisers-WA to subscribe to newsgroup postings for appraisal business matters of interest in Washington State.  Stay abreast of who has or needs what in comparables.  See what's hot, and what's rot.

PLEASE HELP OUR PROFESSION NOW!

GET INVOLVED, ACOW NEEDS YOU!