I want to touch upon a few things that we should reflect on during this holiday season. First, make sure that during this festive season, you remember why you do things. Make sure that you thank all of your employees and their families for allowing you to be in the greatest job in the whole world. The mortgage business has changed so many times over my 35 years in the business, that I am continually reminded that those of you that are left out there as mortgage brokers and mortgage professionals are the best in the business. You continue to produce and talk with customers each and every day using your expertise and your wisdom to make dreams come true.
Second, a big thank you goes out to all who helped produce the 2011 NAMB/WEST Loan Originator Conference in Las Vegas. This turned out to be one of the best gatherings of speakers and exhibitors that I have ever witnessed. The camaraderie and sharing of ideas was top notch. Those who missed out can only hope that next year will be a repeat of this year. John Stevens did an outstanding job as the Committee Chair of the event, and he is already talking about the changes to make next year even better and larger.
Third, as those of you who were at the Delegate Council Meeting and luncheon, Think Big Work Small’s and Frank Garay and Brian Stevens have agreed to work with NAMB and produce a really great NAMB BLOG and share this information with our state affiliates. The states, in turn, can share this information with their members. If you think about this, it is an exciting time and we are all only going to get better from this association with them. The end result should be a larger membership for the states and a larger membership for NAMB.
One of the items that really mystifies me has to do with membership. The door is now open for everyone in every state to become a member of NAMB. The Delegate Council passed the new association by-laws that allow for the joining to either NAMB alone, the NAMB state affiliate alone or the option to join both. Now we would like to see everyone join both organizations, but we realize that now you have a choice. You can log on to NAMB.org, go to the “Membership” page and click on the “Join NAMB” tab or click on your state affiliate and join both associations. The other news is that the two memberships are as follows:
►Platinum Membership is $120 per year. This is an exclusive membership that includes a discount to all NAMB events, free or reduced costs on Webinars that will be produced at least monthly, and the ability to have early sign up for these Webinars. It also includes a quarterly conference call with me to inform you of items that the NAMB Government Affairs team is working on and to answer questions. This membership category also includes the ability to vote in the election of NAMB board members and on by-law changes at the Annual Meeting.
►Silver Membership is $50 per year and is for the mortgage professional who wants to be a member, but does not want all of the extras that come with the Platinum Membership. These members will have to pay regular price for the NAMB functions, NAMB Webinars and will have no vote in the affairs of the association.
The ironic part of membership is that we (NAMB) represent all mortgage loan originators, either licensed, registered or exempt. We do not discriminate. That, according to the NMLS figures, is over 130,000 of you. If we could just get 75 percent of you to join, that would mean we would have 97,000-plus members. If this would happen, we could go to Congress with a large majority behind us and that would mean something to the legislators on Capitol Hill. This is another reason why we have teamed up with Frank and Brian of Think Big Work Small. They can help us get the information out to all of the states and to all of the LOs in America. They can also help pass information down to everyone with the NAMB Blog we are developing. So stay tuned to hear more about this.
And lastly, if I may, being a mortgage professional myself and representing you as president is a great honor. I am excited to see some of the things that we have been able to do in the first 30 days. That is why I am asking each and every one of you to make a commitment. Join NAMB and become a part of this great organization. We are here to represent you and we are going to continue to fight for you, the mortgage professional. It is my career and it is your career. That means that you take a vested interest in your work. If you want to join as a Platinum Member, its $120 per year ($10 per month, and we know that is only just one breakfast or lunch per month). It is really a small amount that you pay for what you get. Or you can join as a Silver member for just $50 for the year (only $4.17 per month or the cost of a latte at Starbucks). So if you need answers as to why you should be a member, ask yourself this basic question: WHY NOT?
My e-mail is
[email protected], and I am open to answer any of your questions. If you would like to be involved in one of our committees, just let me know as well. I will arrange for you to get in contact with a committee chair in your area of interest. We are going to make this association a big and powerful player, and we will continue to represent you. It is time to join and be part of the solution. If you are a member, ask your friends why they are waiting.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Frommeyer, CRMS, President
NAMB, The Association of Mortgage Professionals
Scenes From the 2011 NAMB/WEST Loan Originators Conference
December 3-5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Terry W. Clemans, executive director of the National Credit Reporting Association (NCRA), delivers his session, “Rapid Rescore Compliance Infractions”
NAMB President Donald J. Frommeyer welcomes attendees to the 2011 NAMB/WEST Loan Originators Conference
NAMB Director Fred Arnold and 2011 NAMB/WEST Conference Committee Chair John Stevens pause for a photo
Sue Woodard of Mortgage Success Source, presenter of the “Successful Originations in Today’s Challenging and Dynamic Market” session
NAMB Past President Jim Nabors listening to bids at the NAMBPAC Auction
Beverly Frase of USA Cares (center) chats with Mary Ann Pino (left) of Home & Garden Mortgage Corporation and NAMB Director Kay Cleland (right) of KC Mortgage LLC
Brian Stevens of Think Big Work Small discusses video marketing with attendees
Kristina Bennett, Danny Marogy and Catherine Parsell from United Wholesale Mortgage on the exhibit hall floor of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
Mark Madsen of RehabLoanNetwork, Raymond Bartreau of Best Rate Referrals and Mark Teteris of Mortgage Success Source pause for a photo
Jim McMahan of LoanToolbox delivers his presentation, “Unlocking Your Success Disciplines That Make a Lasting Difference”
David Ellis of 1st Rate Mortgage (second from left) stops by the RMS-Reverse Mortgage Solutions booth for a photo with Michael Kent (left), Garret Kolb (second from right) and Ralph Rosynek Jr. (far right)
NAMB Director Fred Arnold (right) with Mark Green of Top of Mind Networks (left) after Mark’s session on marketing
Ron Kruger and Genny Crane from Freedom Mortgage
Ron Vaimberg from The Warrior Sales Academy delivers his presentation on lead generation
Raymond Bartreau, Cody Bennett and John Myler from Best Rate Referrals were on hand to discuss their product offerings
Carl Markman, Tammy Conklin, Thomas Conklin and Donald Magnuson from Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc. (REMN)
