President's Desk
Integrity Check
By Frank N. Simpson |
CCIM Members:
“By God’s grace and my
little red pin. Because of those two factors, I am still active in the industry
I love,” says Thomas F. Campenni, CCIM, CPM, in “Thinking Big,” on p.38. He is
one of many CCIMs who often credit the designation with helping to keep them
solvent over the last few years.
Unfortunately, for one
reason or another, other designees have let their membership lapse. While they
no longer have access to member benefits such as STDB, MailBridge, and CIRE
magazine, they continue to use the CCIM logo in advertising and promotional
materials. This unfortunate occurrence affects the integrity of our CCIM
membership.
It is difficult to
understand why an industry professional would travel the arduous path to
earning the designation yet not invest in the dues payment necessary to
maintain membership on a yearly basis. For U.S. CCIMs, annual dues amount to 10
percent of a $6,000 commission. No doubt, it is a substantial sum of money —
particularly in this market. However, the value of maintaining your CCIM
membership pays dividends well into the future. And, for those in difficult
situations, the Institute offers an installment dues payment plan.
To knowingly not pay the
annual dues and continue to display the CCIM logo on Web sites, signs,
proposals, business cards, and other marketing materials is a fraudulent act.
It can result in possible violation of state licensing laws or legal action.
But most importantly, it is unfair to those us who maintain our membership.
Maintaining the integrity
of the CCIM designation is a responsibility we all share. If you are aware of
any violations in your market, contact CCIM’s Professional Standards Officer at (800) 621-7027, ext. 4472, or e-mail membership@ccim.com.
Frank N. Simpson, CCIM
President, CCIM Institute
fsimpson@ccim.net