If you have never been to a major NAMB convention, you may not know about the Delegate Council. The Delegate Council is what separates NAMB from every other trade association in the real estate industry. Some trade associations are run by a chief executive, while others select a board that runs the association. NAMB is very different. Rather than being an association run from the top down, NAMB is run from the ground up. Delegate Council is like the United States Senate … every state affiliate, large or small is allowed two delegates and gets two votes.
Delegate Council is NAMB members choosing who the leaders of NAMB will be. It also sets NAMB policies, NAMB bylaws and NAMB dues. It is a group with amazing power given to the members of NAMB. If you have never attended a Delegate Council meeting, you are in for an interesting time. Every Delegate Council meeting is open to all NAMB members. Even NAMB board meetings are open to NAMB members. It is a tradition at NAMB to have its leadership face its members regularly. After all, they are the people who chose them.
NAMB is the recognized voice of mortgage professionals across America. Elected officials listen to NAMB as your voice. It is important that the collective voices of the various areas around the United States shape NAMB into a truly reflective voice. Surprisingly, a few states fail to send representatives to Delegate Council. They claim several hundred dollars to come to Las Vegas is beyond their budget. If you come to Las Vegas and your state fails to send a representative, let them know that is one of the reasons why you pay state dues. If your state is too small to have an association, let us know that you are interested in representing your state. If you are a Platinum NAMB Member, you are eligible to be a delegate at Delegate Council.
Your NAMB board, including the president, receives no pay. No board member is reimbursed for travel expenses. We are all volunteers who care enough about our profession to spend our own money and our own time to make certain we all have the ability to make a living and serve the public.
Make certain your state is sending two delegates so your voice is heard. If they aren’t, step up and volunteer to represent your state and your profession. See you in Vegas!
John Councilman, CMC, CRMS is NAMB vice president and Delegate Council chair. He may be reached by phone at (239) 267-2400 or e-mail
[email protected].
