Just a Landlord

Fellow Members,

As you have heard me say many times the association is at a critical point, and we must unite together or become powerless separately. The board has adopted an aggressive agenda and will need all hands on deck to make it a reality. The status quo is no longer acceptable and I promise the association will be more active and involved during the next election cycle than we have been in a long time. I am worried about many things including expansion of the Rental Inspection Programs and possible use of Eminent Domain by the City of Milwaukee. I have no doubt the City has both on its mind but I promise the association will give them hell every step of the way.

To ensure the association is in a position to protect our rights we must increase both our membership and business sponsorship’s. I want you to invite every landlord you know to our upcoming May 20th meeting. This meeting will feature some of the top lenders in the area and should be an informative and worthwhile conversation. I need everyone of you to work on behalf of the association and help us gain strength in numbers. Many of you have answered the call and your energy has been felt and is making a difference.

After the last meeting a number of members spoke to me about the importance of supporting businesses that support us. This is a topic I am passionate about and have spoken to frequently. If any vendor you use is not a business member of the association I want you to invite them to our next meeting as a guest of the association. I want them to experience first hand the energy and passion of our organization. I believe this is the best way to get them to see the value of being a part of what we are doing. Please email me if you will be bringing anyone and take a moment to introduce them me at the meeting.

For the past 4 months I have been negotiating with both Home Depot and Sherwin Williams about offering our membership a discount on their products and joining the association. I am happy to announce that representatives from both organizations will be at our next upcoming meeting and we will be announcing the details of the partnerships.

If you can only attend one meeting for the entire year, this is the one you do not want to miss!

Our industry is only as strong as our association and our association is only as strong as our membership. I look forward to seeing all of you at the meeting.

All the best,

Joe Dahl
President
Apartment Association of Southeastern WI
Meeting Details:

Financing Real Estate in Today’s Market.

When: Monday May 20th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Best Western, 1005 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield 53005

Who: Panel of local lending experts.

Cost: This meeting is free for current AASEW members, $25 for guests or expired members

Tom Ortell was very active in many aspects of our industry.

He was a landlord, but so much more.  He cofounded of Milwaukee Asbestos & Lead Information Center where many of us and our crews received lead abatement training. He was the DILHR weatherization inspector  of choice for many owners. (Key Inspections)

For many years he has been lead faculty for Milwaukee Area Technical College’s  Real Estate and Property Management programs

His loss leaves yet another hole in our community.

Joe Dahl, the new president of the Apartment Association of Southeastern WI, wrote an insightful piece on the importance of apartment associations and what they can do for our industry.

It is posted on the AASEW website.  It is worth the read.

As most of you know, the Association membership elects the board in November and then the board elects the president from those elected to the board in December.

In December 2008 Tristan Pettit graciously accepted the challenges and responsibilities of being the AASEW president.

Last year Tristan was hesitant to accept the position again citing the amount of work it entails but acquiesced to the will of the board. Arm twisting and thumbscrews had the desired effect.

This year Tristan was emphatic stating that he could not accept another term. His growing law practice is more demanding and he wishes to spend more time with his year and a half old son. Both worthy pursuits. Fear not, though. Even as Tristan is no longer president, he remains an active board member.

I was president of the AASEW for a decade and will attest to the tremendous amount of work that comes with the position.

Don’t feel bad for AASEW presidents. They are rewarded by learning more about the industry than could otherwise be learned. This benefit far outweighs the efforts put forth. I now know the quickest way to excel at a trade or profession is to jump in and become active in something like our board.

After Tristan made his intentions known we were very fortunate to have Joe Dahl step forward and express an interest in leading the Association for 2013.

Many of you met Joe when he spoke at our August meeting. Joe has an MBA, is the President of Milwaukee Metro Management and has been featured in a Journal article on his profitable renovation and preservation activities. Joe is also energetic and dynamic.

I was psyched when we landed Tristan as president with his impressive knowledge of landlord tenant law, which included drafting the standardized forms available at Wisconsin Legal Blank.

I’ve had meetings with Joe and those encounters leave me equally enthused that Joe has accepted the challenge to become president of the AASEW. Those of you who have heard him speak know of his enthusiasm and desire to move this association forward.

Joe brings with him a new, forward thinking, larger vision for the future AASEW. He has also taken the bold step of asking long time member, Bill Peretz, of ABC Sewer who recently joined the board, to assist him.

While Joe has the fresh views and big ideas, Bill is old school and wants to see events like the Trade Show return to their former glory. Both Bill and Joe have set a goal of getting more owners involved with the Association. A large, stronger membership is essential to achieving any other goals we may have.

This combination is bound to move us beyond where we are today without losing our heritage. Of course Tristan, Dave, Richard, Kim, Wendy, Ralph and I are still on the board to assist in seeing that we stay true to our core goals and values.

Tim Ballering
Tim@ApartmentsMilwaukee.com

November 5th, 2011 was a very sad day, as our industry has lost yet another one of its few superstars, Attorney Joe Peters.  I met joe twenty plus years ago at an apartment association meeting. I don’t think he ever missed more than a handful of those meetings in the ensuing years, but now we will all deeply miss him. 

What Joe taught me:  Continue reading »

I’ve spent most of the past 22 years as a director of the Apartment Association of Southeastern WI, yet I feel this is a question that must be asked often so that the Association continues to add value.

Continue reading »

Hey folks

It election time again…at the Apartment Association.

Here is a real opportunity to help change the industry, the direction of the association and your life. Yes, and improve your life. As an AASEW board member you will see opportunities and pitfalls facing our industry well in advance of others. You will help decide which issues we should address and what resources the association should provide.

Back in the 1980’s I looked at joining the Association, but was reluctant because I did not see it as addressing my needs and concerns. Then John Chitko, Jeff’s Dad, said the one thing that changed my life probably more than anything else: ‘This is an all volunteer group. Join, put your ideas out there. If they have merit people will support them, if not you’ll learn something’

Taking John’s challenge and becoming actively involved with the board taught me so much and propelled my business far beyond were it would have been otherwise. Ask any former board member – I am certain you will not find one who will not tell you they came away with more than they gave.

You say ‘I don’t know all that much about landlording, what can I contribute?’ I did not know that much either when I first became a board member many, many years ago. I only  knew there were things in my industry that needed to be changed.

So take John’s challenge and improve your life.

Requirements: Member of the AASEW for six months