IAAO to Celebrate Wisconsin Style

The City of Milwaukee will host the IAAO convention in 2006. After a dynamic presentation, amid heavy competition, the International Association of Assessing officers has chosen the City of Milwaukee as the local host for their convention in October 2006.

Accompanied and assisted by Ms. Heidi Edinger, of the Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau, the WAAO contingent, including Bob Lorier, Mary Reavey and Pete Weissenfluh jetted off to Marco Island, FLA to meet with the IAAO Executive Board January 20th & 21st. A contingent from Kansas City also made a presentation on the same day.

In addition to providing details on Milwaukee’s convention facilities and hotels, the Wisconsin Team suited-up in their best Harley-Davidson apparel to promote the Harley-Davidson museum and restaurant that will open on a riverfront site several years before convention time. They also talked up the great restaurants and entertainment facilities already near the convention site.

The board members reacted very positively to the Midwest Express Center. They said that they liked the array of restaurants and cultural activities near the convention center as well as the close-knit urban feeling.

Mary Reavey expressed heartfelt thanks to the Bid Team including Pat Lowe, John Meyer, Becky Doyle, Darryl Malquist, Pete Weissenfluh, Laura Smiley, Bob Lorier and Carol Kuehn. These people helped prepare the presentation and strategies used in gaining the bid. Thanks also go to WAAO and SEWAA for their support in this effort.

Soon the preparation work will begin. Please think about ways you may be able to help. As details begin to take shape and the big event draws near, we will need your help in making this the best convention the IAAO has seen since 1948.