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
