CENTRAL VA IREM CHAPTER 38 MEMBERS ARE IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

On November 16, 2010, the Central VA IREM Chapter 38 2010 President, Dwayne Faria of Thalhimer, and the 2011 President, Bernardine Cde Baca, of SugarOak Management Services presented monies to the Central VA Food Bank. The donation was the result of the Chapter’s fundraiser which designated all proceeds be given to CVFB. The Chapter will hold a food drive in early December and members will participate in a day of volunteering at CVFB in the near future. In addition, Dwayne and Bernardine attended The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education luncheon held at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, VA. The luncheon honored more than twenty (20) Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship recipients. In 2010, the Chapter established a $20,000 scholarship for students studying real estate at the various community colleges within the Chapter’s region. The region includes the areas from Fredericksburg and Williamsburg, VA to the West Virginia and North Carolina borders. The Chapter previously established a fully endowed $25,000 scholarship to Virginia Tech as well as Virginia Commonwealth University.

IREM Takes Commercial Real Estate Issues to Capitol Hill

On May 5, 2010, more than 265 IREM® Members – joined by members of the CCIM Institute – recently visited Capitol Hill to raise awareness of key issues affecting the commercial real estate industry. IREM® Members representing 38 states and the District of Columbia held more than 230 meetings with their respective senators, representatives and their staffs to voice the industry’s concerns about:

• Tax treatment priorities – including capital gains, carried interest, and leasehold improvements
• Commercial mortgage market liquidity priorities – including credit union lending, term extensions, accelerated depreciation, and mortgage insurance.

First District, Virginia Representative Robert J. Wittman, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss these important issues with Executive Council members of Central VA IREM Chapter 38 including 2010 President-Elect Bernardine Cde Baca of SugarOak Management Services, LLC.