Wisconsin Association Of Assessing Officers
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Why Belong to WAAO???

The WAAO offers a variety of membership benefits to help keep Wisconsin assessment professionals at the top of his or her level of expertise. The assessment profession is constantly changing, and as a WAAO member, you have access to the most up-to-date, relevant information. Some of the membership benefits include:

Quarterly Assessors Voice of Wisconsin magazine - AVOW

Access to affordable educational opportunities through WAAO and IAAO

Peer Networking and Leadership Opportunities

Access to the acclaimed WAAO webpage

‘Members only section’ at www.waao.org

Access to the legislative decision making process

Access to the statewide Commercial Sales Database

For membership inquiries, please contact one of the following individuals:  

    WAAO’s  Mission  statement
      
The mission of the WAAO is to promote the public good by ensuring equitable assessments through assessor education, professional development, and public awareness.

WAAO is a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to work together to ensure that the assessment community in Wisconsin can be characterized by words like integrity, professionalism, expertise, pro-activity, community, cohesiveness, productivity and openness.

The membership of the Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers is what makes this organization worthwhile. In order to enrich the impact, relevancy, and worth of our organization, a sincere call is extended to anyone who is interested in achieving and maintaining the goals and tenets of is organization to become involved in our mission, and share in our commitment to it…

The SIX commitments of WAAO are:

to Promote:

1) ASSESSMENT EDUCATION

 Improving knowledge and skills in appraisal.
 Increasing knowledge of assessment law.
 Increasing knowledge of assessment administration (duties).
       
How?
       
Sponsor a certified assessor education session at each regular quarterly meeting, except at the fall League meeting.

Provide annual scholarship funds for students of the assessment profession.

Sponsor at least one day-long certified professional workshop per year. 

Publish in the AVOW assessment related course offerings sponsored by other groups.

Offer assessor certified sessions in locations to adequately  serve our members and encourage new membership.

2) PROFESSIONALISM IN ASSESSING

Supporting professional designation programs.
Promoting ethical standards.
Providing career counseling/member development.       
Encouraging membership in IAAO.

How?

Provide for an annual awards program.

Provide funding to promote attendance at IAAO sponsored courses or IAAO / NCRAAO

Promote and encourage the submission for national publication of at least two papers per year.

Publish from the standing committees at least one subject related article for the AVOW per year.   
 
Encourage membership in the IAAO and attendance at the IAAO and NCRAAO annual  conferences.
 
Promote the IAAO professional designation program.

Develop a program to encourage members to become IAAO certified instructors. 

Promote ethical standards by providing appropriate training and resources.
 
3) ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN  ASSESSMENT LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENT
      
 Monitoring legislation affecting assessment.
 Actively promoting legislation.
 Creating and maintaining a legislative agenda.
 Improving relationship with the legislature.

 How?

Annually provide each legislator with a Letter of Introduction  

Monitor, act upon, and inform membership about assessment related legislation each year.  
 
Provide information to legislators and identify individuals   within the WAAO willing to offer testimony at legislative hearings. 

Propose legislation concerning assessment related matters. 
      
Become well informed on the state's legislative process by annually providing information to the membership.
 
Establish a contact WAAO member for each legislator.

Survey the membership regarding legislative needs. 

4) A  BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION

 Developing messages of understanding
 Defining the audience
 Delivering messages to the audience
 Monitoring our performance       

How?
     
Develop and publish an informational pamphlet on property assessments.
 
Encourage assessors to speak before local groups by developing and making available presentation materials.
 
Develop and publish sample press releases. 
     
Invite a local governing official and local state legislator to speak at quarterly meetings/luncheon. 

Develop, maintain, and publicize a speaker’s  bureau made up of WAAO representatives who are available to speak to other groups.        


5) AN ACTIVE, BROAD-BASED MEMBERSHIP                 
      
Member involvement in the organization
Broadening the membership base
Sustaining the membership base
Balancing the membership between rural, urban & state

How?

To sponsor at least one certified professional workshop per year at a location other than those of quarterly meetings. 

Arrange for one social function per year in conjunction with a quarterly meeting. 
        
Prepare an orientation packet for new members and personally contact to welcome and inform each new member within the first three months of their joining the WAAO.                                          

Develop a plan to recruit new members.   

Regularly publish in the AVOW agricultural related articles. 
      
Every three years conduct an environmental scan/situation analysis from the membership at large.

Be aware of and responsive to the concerns of the rural assessor.

6) PROMOTE NETWORKING AND INFORMATION SHARING

Creating a forum for information exchange.
Receive and disseminate information on relevant topics.
Developing liaisons with other groups and associations.

How?

Continue to cultivate working relationships with other associated groups. 

Allow time at each quarterly meeting to discuss current issues. 

Provide information on current issues and resources to interested parties via AVOW, IAAO Newsletters, direct mailings, and other appropriate mediums. 

Develop a bank of sales data on commercial properties.

Gain from the work done by the following committees:

WAAO Committees

Auditing  - Awards – Nominating - Legislative

Planning & Management – IAAO Ad Hoc

NCRAAO Ad Hoc - Education & Training

Public Relations - Property Exemptions

Membership Services - Rural Concerns

Computer Assisted – Real Estate Standards

Commercial Sales Ad Hoc

Personal Property Standards

Assessment Classification Ad Hoc