An open letter from the Chairman of the Board, Jay Garten, CML - Feburary 4, 2010

 CMLA Strong, CMLA Proud   

As I take a break from reading proposed legislation aimed at further regulating the mortgage industry, I can’t help but wonder what the founders of the CMLA from 1956 would think of the mortgage lending profession these 54 years later.  Would they be outraged at the level of government intrusion, or would they chastise us for following the Wall Street “Pied-Pipers” offering products that could never end well?

I hope it would be neither.  I trust that they would know how much, and how fast, the world has changed and that the hard working mortgage professionals of this new decade have simply done the best they could towards the goal of “a world of homeownership through integrity based lending”.  I think they would still be proud.

As the current chairman of this long standing organization, I am very grateful for their effort and foresight.  I am grateful that after five decades the CMLA and its members have been able to remain strong and proud in their industry representation, industry advocacy, industry education and also in creating a strong sense of “community” among mortgage professionals.

It is about the CMLA success these recent past few years that I am writing today.  The many distractions provided by legislators, regulators and investors have caused many of our members to lose track of what the CMLA has been working on.  In fact, many of you may not be involved or up to date beyond attending our social or networking events. Not to worry!  We have been hard at work on your behalf and, with the help of other members of your Board of Directors, I am providing some updates for you today.  Please click on the following links for brief updates on your Representation, Education, Networking, Member Forums, and Southern & Western Chapter committees.

Over the next few months, we will be providing you regular updates of the activities of each committee.  In addition, we will routinely spotlight one committee to give you more depth and history on the committee’s structure, history, primary function and successes.  The first of these spotlight articles will be on your representation committee which encompasses both legislative and regulatory interaction.  Please be sure to catch that issue as the representation committee is a shining star for CMLA members!

As you will learn, or be reminded, in the upcoming weeks and months, "your CMLA" plays a vital and integral role in the mortgage industry.  Decades of professionals before us have insured that we have this valuable tool at our disposal.  Our charge is to use it, advance and prosper with it, and to pass it along.

I thank you for your past support and involvement in the CMLA.  If you are not a member, or have not been an involved member, I invite you now to join or become involved. Now, more than ever, you need the CMLA….and the CMLA needs you! I hope that you will join me and other members in staying CMLA Strong and CMLA Proud.