October is here and the 10th month of the year is in full swing. By the time you are reading this, we will be in the final stages of completing plans for the 2012 NAMB National Conference in Las Vegas. There is still time to make your reservations and get there. I think of all of the conferences that NAMB has presented over the past five years, this one will be the best and you will get the most out of when you attend.
It is really important that you pay attention to our Government Affairs Committee and their letters and publications having to do with responses to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the deadlines for those responses. The only way we can all help change some of this is to respond to these items and let them know how you feel and what needs to be done. We have always said that the greatest force NAMB possesses is our grassroots efforts and our ability to answer the call and respond in writing to legislators and the agencies that ask for our opinion. So please, look on the CFPB Web site (ConsumerFinance.gov) and see the dates that correspond with the actions and send them a letter on each of the subjects.
We continue to participate with the other associations in a variety of different areas. John Hudson and Roy DeLoach have done a remarkable job of keeping on top of items from the CFPB, Small Business Administration (SBA), and others. John recently spent three days in Washington, D.C. meeting with Congressmen and federal agencies. John has spent numerous hours of his own time representing NAMB and the industry in all aspects of government affairs. John is also in charge of the Legislative Conference we will be hosting in Washington, D.C. this March, so his hands are extremely full. Remember, John is also an account rep for Premier Nationwide Lending, doing what he needs to do every day in his regular paying job. John, I truly appreciate what you do for us.
I have been president of NAMB since Nov. 10, 2011, and take it from me, it is very challenging. I would say that I get about 100 e-mails a day, 25-30 phone calls, and numerous conference calls, interviews and lots of secretarial work each and every day … and by no means am I complaining. I thrive on being busy, and I sure am. I am also open to ideas from all of you, both members and non-members, on what NAMB can do to try to make your life easier and better doing mortgages. So please, take the time and if you have something that you think might help other members, perhaps you know of a service or item that can help other members increase their business or increase their membership, let us know. All of our e-mails are on the NAMB Web site so it is easy to reach us by e-mail, phone or by mail. We want to hear from you so please, take a few minutes and do this.
If you are reading this article while you are at NAMB National, please make sure that you go through and thank all of our supporters in each of the booths. These companies believe in NAMB and you as a mortgage professional. Please take the time to talk with them and if you are not already signed up to do business with them, take the initiative and ask for a package to complete. Just a little way of thanking them for their sponsorship and their support of NAMB.
All of the activities slated for NAMB National are for you, the mortgage professional and to help you in your business. We have gone to great lengths to get good speakers and great demonstrations and items that will help you. Please be sure to attend all of the functions and activities, and be sure to attend the session that will help you build your social media and online presence during the event. I am sure that you will enjoy it and get something out of it.
Donald J. Frommeyer, CRMS is president of NAMB—The Association of Mortgage Professionals. he may be reached by e-mail at
[email protected].
