Well, it's that time. Time for me to pen my final message as President of Maryland Chapter 16. And what an experience it has been. This moment is bittersweet for me as I begin to the turn the reigns over to a very dynamic team that is as enthusiastic about the direction our chapter is heading as I have been. I wish them all the best and will be here to help them through the transition and beyond.
I've said it before and I will say it again, this isn't a role I ever wanted or thought about having, but I cannot picture my professional career without it. I have grown so much in the past three years, and I can say I owe it all to being "pushed" into IREM Leadership.
Nearly five years ago I received my pin at a monthly networking event from our then President, Carol Spinoso, CPM. Carol asked me at that meeting if I would like to get involved and I said that of course I would. What I thought I was getting involved with was as a helper on a committee. What I didn't realize, was that I had accepted a role that would put me on a trajectory for Chapter Leadership. It wasn't until I received the slate of nominees for the officers in 2006, that I saw that I was nominated as Secretary/Treasurer for 2007! I don't think I even did the math at that point and realized that I would be serving as President in 2009!
I sort of figured that one out on my very first regional Chapter Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh that I attended with Gene Novak, CPM, and Suzanne Miller, CPM, President and President-Elect of 2007 respectively. That was my first exposure to the "inner workings" of IREM. It was at that meeting that I realized what I had gotten myself into, and that in three years, I would be leading the chapter! To say I was terrified would be an understatement. The enthusiasm I got from the national leaders is something that I will never forget. I left that meeting so happy I had gotten involved. I also had three great mentors in Gene, Suzanne and of course, Mertie Pateros, our IREM Association Executive (IAE), and now, a very dear friend of mine. I knew through their support and the amazing support of IREM Headquarters, I would succeed.
Well, as most of you know, I only got one year of training under my belt before I was shoved into the big seat. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Suzanne Miller left not only our Chapter, but the state of Maryland all together and returned to her home state of Colorado. This meant that I would be making the leap from Secretary/Treasurer to President, a full year ahead of schedule. I was excited, but also a bit nervous. The thought of standing in front of a group of my peers leading meetings and events was something I never thought I would be able to do. Regardless, I agreed to fill two terms as President of the Chapter, thereby finishing up my experience as a chapter leader at the end of 2009, as originally planned. Fortunately, I wouldn't have to go it alone.
My first task was to find someone to come in behind me and someone that I knew could help me out when I needed it. So I turned to Amy Borgerding, CPM, our then Membership Chair. Amy agreed to come on board as Secretary/Treasurer for 2008, and move into the President Elect position for 2009. Amy has been, and continues to be, such a great presence for our chapter. I know whenever I have a tough decision to make, I can turn to Amy for some level headed, no-nonsense advice. She has kept me in line for the last two years, making sure I didn't let my own frenetic energy get the best of me. Fortunately we also had a very strong slate of committee chairs that helped everything run smoothly, and helped the chapter get through my first year as president.
The turning point for me was the 2008 regional Chapter Leadership Conference in Annapolis. Due to the proximity of the conference we were able to bring eight members of our chapter to see what IREM was all about. As I had expected, everyone that came with us left with the same sense of enthusiasm I got at my very first leadership conference. So much so, everyone that attended that conference agreed to head a committee, and one committee was even born out of that meeting! We were ready to head into 2009, stronger than we had been in a while with new faces, new ideas, and new enthusiasm.
And it has been a great year. We have seen the creation of the Community Outreach Committee headed by Janet Simmons, ARM, CPM Candidate. So far Janet has conducted very successful food and school supply drives, and has begun a partnership with a Baltimore City School. She took this new committee by the horns, and is already soaring! We have had a wonderful slate of new programs including tours of local developments, courtesy of our Programs Chair, Richard Escalante, CPM. Our Region 3 education reps, Brendan McHugh, CPM, and Leanne Laub, CPM, have worked with the region to bring several new seminars to our chapters, which are in addition to our normal educational offerings. Our Public Relations chair, Clif Bond, CPM Candidate, got us our first ever publicity shots in the Baltimore Business Journal. We had a sold-out golf outing gain, in spite of the current financial climate, and Dave Thomas, CPM, did another stupendous job of chairing the golf committee. As always, Billy Krone, CPM and Gene Novak, CPM did an outstanding job as our Friends of IREM co-chairs. Toni Harris, ARM, CPM Candidate came back to Chapter 16 mid-year and immediately took over the Communications Committee and did a great job. And next year should prove to be even more exciting with Amy as your President.
Though my role as President of the chapter is ending, by no means does that mean my involvement is ending. In addition to my role as Immediate Past President for our chapter, I will also be serving as Vice Chair for the Region 3 Education Committee and as a Governing Councilor for IREM National. I am excited to continue my engagement with this organization on a national level and give back to it what it has so generously given to me.
In my first speech to the Chapter, I reminded people that there is life beyond the letters. Getting your designation is only the beginning. IREM National and IREM Maryland Chapter 16 are here to be your career partner. Getting involved will open doors you never would have expected. IREM has helped me become a stronger leader, a better public speaker, a better networker, and a more rounded Property Manager. It can be the same for you. Thank you to everyone for your support throughout these last two years. It has been a true honor and privilege serving this great organization, and this most amazing and special Chapter.
Steve Antonsen, CPM® president@irem16.org
