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FCC acts on do-not-call complaints

Jul 06, 2005

President's cornerBob ArmbrusterNAMB 2005 legislative conference, membership, 2005 convention We write this column many weeks before you actually see it in print. In Washington, D.C., this April, we just completed perhaps our best Legislative and Regulatory Conference ever, with almost 500 in attendance. The first nine months of my tenure were very docile legislatively, which resulted in our being able to move about the country visiting with many of you and moving forward with enhancing programs in many of our other committees. With the return of the 109th Congress, things began to heat up, and the legislative conference is and has been an important part of our national agenda. We dedicated one full day to visiting senators and representatives in their respective offices and delivering our messages on issues of major importance to us. Included were our positions on: pending government-sponsored entities legislation; how important Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are to us along with direct access to their automated underwriting systems; the cause and effects of proposed predatory lending legislation; our demands for the creation of national standards on licensing and education; and a registry of all loan originators for tracking and providing a national clearing house of data on individual originators. Our messages were delivered loud and clear, and validated the National Association of Mortgage Brokers' position as a recognized force within our industry. Thanks to all of you who took the time to participate, and I hope you will continue this effort back home with regular meetings with your respective legislators. You are urged to check the NAMB Web site at www.namb.org regularly as there are many things developing that will enhance the value of your membership. Both the Education and Membership Committees have been working overtime and are submitting proposals regularly for Board approval. Time and space do not permit me to outline them individually here, but online course availability is being expanded tenfold, strategic alliances with private industry are being added monthly, the Industry Partner Program is having a tremendous year, and you will see an important announcement regarding an issue that we have talked about for years--a health insurance program for our members. Congress has been considering a bill that would enable us to offer insurance programs directly, but this new alliance with Assurant Health (formerly Fortis) brings a new line of products to us and assures at least an interim alternative until and if national legislation is ever passed. All of this being said, we want to address a few words to those who are reading this, and who, for whatever reason, are not members of NAMB and its state affiliates. For many years, I was one of those who sat back and thought a professional trade association did little for me individually, and that their programs were of little importance to my well being. While it took 10 years to draw me into the fold, I have now been a part of association life for 11 years, on both a state and national level. I can tell you that my initial thinking through the years was dead wrong, and that by getting involved in state issues, I could and did make a difference. Now, as president of your national association, having traveled many air miles and having attended 55-plus meetings around the country, not to mention the meetings in Washington, D.C., and with media, there is a true desire and initiative underway to expand all of the membership roles in each of our states. If you are sitting there thinking, as I did some 21 years ago, that my involvement would not count, I urge you to reconsider and join your state association today ... become involved and join the initiative to make our organizations even stronger. There is room for you, and we need you. Finally, in a few weeks, we will be holding our national convention in Minneapolis. The dates are Saturday-Tuesday, June 11-14, the exhibit hall is sold out, and registration numbers indicate this will also be one of our best. Please take a few days from your June calendar and join us for some bonding and just plain fun. Details are on our Web site at www.namb.org, and we hope you will make the extra effort to be there. Bring the entire family, as Minneapolis is a fun town with everything from the Mall of America, to one of the largest arrays of theater and art companies in the country ... it's also the Land of Lakes, with lots of water activities. At the convention, the program is outstanding, and there is also a place to put the kids while attending--a unique feature this year. It's a great place to become involved, get educated, learn the latest happenings, visit with 300-plus exhibitors, plus have a vacation ... see you there. Bob Armbruster, President National Association of Mortgage Brokers
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Jul 06, 2005
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