FROM THE PRESIDENT
SCOTT KIRKWOOD | GRIFFIS BLESSING
Giving Back To The Apartment Association
This article is for those of you who are not able to attend or contribute as a
volunteer at AAMD events at this time.
B
ack in the early days of my
career, the days of the Wild
Wild West in real estate
management. When the pre-
eminent fee manager in Denver
was McDermott, Stein and Ira,
I was asked to give back to the
association by speaking at the next
Board meeting. At that time I was
a young regional manager with
a portfolio of bank owned assets.
I remember that it seemed that
everyone else in the organization
knew each other. The group
was rather large with the Board
lined up in row on either side of
a podium where the Chairman spoke. I only knew
a handful of people at the meeting. My assignment
was reading a list of names and acknowledging them
for their contribution. There was no real prep time
and no real support from the organization. Just a list
of thirty names and a microphone. Needless to say
it was a flop and many names were mispronounced
that morning.
The experience reinforced a fear of speaking and
made me question how valuable my service would
be. I left the meeting that day and did not return to
the Association for many years. I found other ways
to contribute by becoming a little league baseball
coach and a planning commissioner while continuing
to work in the apartment industry. Well, things have
changed dramatically since those early days!
The AAMD staff is much larger now. The main
point of focus is to support the owner/supplier
members. They facilitate networking opportunities
at many levels so we have a chance to get to know
each other better. There are now committees to join
with leadership roles and a LEAP program where
we can hone speaking skills. Staff members support
each committee and provide guidance. There are
networking opportunities before each monthly Board
6 | TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2019
meeting. The independent rental owner council
(IROC) provides support to owners of smaller
buildings. The supplier’s council is another option.
I have now been to Washington D.C twice, meeting
our Senators and Congressmen.
Please take a hard look at the organization and
find an area you are interested in. Find a way to
attend an event or meeting. The friendship and
support I have found will be there for you. The
growth in knowledge and leadership will follow as
you get engaged. You will feel the strength of the
organization as you create a web of diversity. This is
the reward as we give back to the industry that has
given us so much. To those of you that are currently
part of an apartment association event, committee
or leadership, thank you for your contribution. To
the past leaders of the Association, please find a way
to stay involved. To the rest of you, we hope to see
you at the next meeting or event!
www.aamdhq.org