GOVERNOR LOCKE SIGNED SSB 5924a INTO LAW FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 3-31-2000
REAL ESTATE APPRAISER COMMISSION BECOMES REALITY
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK, CALLS AND LETTERS
CONGRATULATIONS

Appraisers in Washington State can be both happy and proud! We have proven to ourselves and others that appraisers can make a difference for the good of the appraisal profession and the public in this post-FIRREA era of state appraiser regulation. We have shown ourselves and appraisers everywhere that appraisers can work together individually, through our organizations, and with our regulator to refine the systems that govern us. In fact, we have shown that teamwork is the only way. It was a tough fight because of the opposition that developed. Appraisers worked together, and worked hard. The effort paid off. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped.

DOL was a part of the team. Director Fred Stephens wrote a memo to the Governor's Office in support of Governor Locke's signing SSB 5924a in to law. Governor Locke reviewed the cases for and against the bill. Friday afternoon he quickly proceeded to "take action" to help the appraisal profession move forward, and to simultaneously enhance the protection of the public by creating the Real Estate Appraiser Commission with the stroke of his pen. Now the bill is a Chapter in the Laws of 2000. All appraisers owe their thanks to Governor Locke.

As lobbyist for ACOW, T.K. Bentler did a great job working the bill. It has been a difficult road through this Legislature and in the 1997-1998 Legislature also. Thank you, T.K., for lining up the sponsors and then getting SSB 5924a through the legislative maze. Well done for an outstanding job.

Special thank you's go to the Senators who sponsored the original SB 5924 in the 1999 Session of the 56th Legislature. 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)) were brought together by T.K. as an influential bi-partisan team of respected leaders in their respective parties and in the Senate as a whole. 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.

THE WORK CONTINUES - APRIL IS AN IMPORTANT MONTH

NEXT ACOW MONTHLY MEETING is Thursday, April 6, at 5:00 p.m. in Renton. The location is the office of Market Value Systems (425-226-2855, Barry Wilson), 321 Burnett Avenue South, Suite 308, in downtown Renton (TB=656-C3). This meeting is very important. Agenda items will include:

More contributions and involvement of every appraiser's time, talent and treasure will allow Washington's appraiser program to be the finest that we can imagine. What do you believe ACOW's 2000-2002 goals should be??? Active participation in ACOW is the best way to work toward having your expectations fulfilled. BE PRESENT AND BE HEARD!

REAAC QUARTERLY(?) MEETING is Friday, April 14, at 9:00 a.m. in Tacoma.

The next meeting of the Real Estate Appraiser Advisory Committee (REAAC) will be on Friday, April 14, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. It again is at the DOL and Emissions Testing Facility southeast of Tacoma at 2502 East 112th Street (Tho. Bro. 834-B5). Exit I-5 at the Puyallup Freeway (SR 512), and head east to Portland Avenue (21st Avenue East), then south to East 112th Sreeet, then east to DOL.\

The meeting agenda and bulletin has been mailed. If you have not received it, make sure that DOL has your current address. Attending the REAAC meeting is the best possible forum to discuss your views on what the appraisal program should be expected to accomplish. Two hours of Continuing Education Credit generally is available. Always check http://www.wa.gov/dol/bpd/appfront.htm for the latest info.

GENERIC CERTIFICATE AND LICENSE NUMBERS

"Random License/Certificate Numbers" have been announced by DOL. Implementation is imminent. Procedures to get yours will be reviewed at the meeting.

ACOW MEETINGS

ACOW meetings regularly are 17:00 on the Thursday after the first Tuesday of every month. Remaining meetings during Y2K are on April 6, May 4, June 8, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 9, and December 7.
Odd-numbered months are at the Department of Assessments, Commercial Division (206-296-5144, Robin Hopkins), King County Administration Building, Room 853 (watch for signs in halls); 500 Fourth Avenue (one-way northbound). Enter from Fifth Avenue (one-way southbound) to the Fourth Floor. Exit I-5 at James Street, and go south on Sixth Avenue (between I-5 and the County Jail), then west down the hill to the County Parking Lot on the south side of Jefferson Street opposite the Jail, between Sixth and Fifth Avenues. (TB=Downtown Seattle (ix)-D5, or 565-A6.)

. . . JIM IRISH

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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
APPRAISERS' COALITION OF WASHINGTON * at * www.acow-wa.org

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)
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MESSAGES ARE A MUST

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!