With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, I started thinking about all the things in my life for which I should be thankful for. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for the opportunity to worship as I please and to live in a country that allows me to pursue my dreams.
Being able to pursue the career of my choosing made me think about the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) and all that I have experienced serving as president of such a great organization. One of the things that has impressed me the most during my term are the volunteers who serve the association.

In the years that I have been active with NAMB, I believe that the volunteers I have been associated with this year are the very best group of volunteers NAMB has ever had. Our current volunteers are people who have served for a number of years on various NAMB committees, combined with a brand new group of people who are serving for the first time. This combination brings to our association a great balance of experience, fresh deals and an enthusiasm to complete any goal or task.

Our volunteers give NAMB many hours of their time and talent. You cannot imagine the staggering amount of time they give to the association which takes them away from their business and their family. They do this even though they have a company to run in an economic atmosphere where they have to work harder than ever to originate loans. They do it for no other reason than for the betterment of the association. I wish I had the space to name all of you who have volunteered. You deserve the thanks of all of the members (and even the non-members who choose to stay on the sidelines) for the work you do for our industry. This is true dedication.

We should also be very thankful for the staff of NAMB. Even though the size of the staff is smaller than in previous years, the quality of their work and the dedication they give to the association has not diminished. If anything, in my opinion, it has become stronger. They have had to take on additional responsibilities and have done so without any hesitation. Any time you have the opportunity to communicate with anyone of NAMB’s staffers, please say thank you for all they do.

This Thanksgiving, be sure to include all these unsung heroes in your thoughts and prayers. To all of our members, I want to extend a special thank you for your support of our association.
Please mark your calendar for the dates of Saturday-Tuesday, Dec. 5-8. These are dates for the NAMB/WEST Convention in Las Vegas. You must attend and learn the latest methods to build your business and be updated on the current legislative information. Please log on to www.nambwest.org to register for the event, reserve your room and view the Schedule of Events that are a must to attend.

I wish everyone a very special Thanksgiving and may God bless this great nation in which we live.

Jim Pair, CMC is with Mortgage Associates Corpus Christi and is president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.