FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK
Chapter 20 President: Brian Mielke
Happy Holidays from Chapter 20!
Hard to believe that spring’s almost here-especially when it keeps snowing! Just remember that road restrictions are on, it’s light until almost 8, and we’ve got a LOT of good projects going on!
With spring, there’s also renewal. Renewal of RE licenses (yep that’s coming), renewal of spring planting for some of the landowners we work with and some of us (I LOVE fresh veggies from our raised gardens), and fresh project phases-even an opportunity to get a new view of some properties we haven’t seen without snow. It’s also an opportunity to start new relationships and learn about new topics, while also learning from, and networking with, other professionals in our field. To that end, I’d love to see as many of our members and their colleagues at our upcoming events!
The First two are:
Chapter 20 March Member Meeting, Wednesday, March 29th.
- Time: 10:30am Board Meeting/11:30am Member Meeting, Speaker, and Lunch
- Where: WSB (701 Xenia Avenue South, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55416
- Speaker: Kory Trunau is a survey manager with Bolton & Menk in the Duluth Work Group. He will speak to the group on the monumentation of section corners statewide.
- Please register by March 24, 2023: IRWA Chapter 20 Member Meeting Registration
IRWA Region 3 Spring Forum
- When: April 16-18, 2023
- Evening Events on Sunday and Monday, Region Business Meeting and Event on Monday, Speaker Panel on Tuesday.
- Where: St. Paul, MN
- For more information and to register for the forum by April 11th, 2023: IRWA Region 3 Spring Forum Registration
Please see both of these at irwa20.org with registration links and additional information.
Thank each of you again for what you do!
Sincerely, Brian Mielke - IRWA Chapter 20 President
2022 - 2023 SPONSORS
Platinum
- WSB
- HDR
- ProSource
Gold
- Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
- Great River Energy
Silver
- Valbridge Property Advisors
- SRF
Bronze
- Acquire ROW Services, LLC
- Ulteig
- Henning Professional Services
- Patchin Messner Valuation Counselors
2022 - 2023 EXECUTIVE BOARD
- Director: Matthew Hagelin, SR/WA
- President: Brian Mielke, SR/WA, R/W-NAC
- President Elect: Sean Lawler, SR/WA
- Treasurer: Faye Gillespie
- Secretary: Joe Haefner
UPCOMING MARCH BOARD AND MEMBER MEETING
Mark your calendars for the March Board and Member meeting. Details Below.
- Location: WSB - 701 Xenia Avenue South, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55416
- Time: 10:30am Board Meeting/11:30am Member Meeting, Speaker, and Lunch
- Speaker: Kory Trunau is a survey manager with Bolton & Menk in the Duluth Work Group. He will speak to the group on the monumentation of section corners statewide.
- To Register, click here!
We look forward to seeing you!
JANUARY COLLEGE OUTREACH MEETING RECAP
On January 30, 2023, Chapter 20 hosted our annual College Outreach meeting at Beaver Island Brewing in St. Cloud, MN. Chapter 20 members Gregg Cooley (Moderator), Barbara Schriwber, Christy Mackaman, Sean Lawler, and Joe Haefner presented on our panel of experts. Nine students and two Professors attended from related real estate programs at St. Cloud Tech. Great information was provided, excellent questions were asked, and delicious food was catered by St. Cloud’s Mexican Village Restaurant. Chapter 20 has awarded one scholarship as a result of the meeting and planning is already underway for next year’s College Outreach.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Membership Renewal Reminder
Thank you to everyone who renewed your IRWA Membership. As of the end of February, 84% of our membership has renewed. If you have not renewed your membership, please renew your membership by April 1, 2023 at www.irwaonline.org.
If you are facing the difficult choice of paying for your dues out of your own pocket- or letting your membership lapse altogether, we encourage you to call the IRWA Headquarters to discuss options on how you can maintain your membership for the upcoming year.
If you have any questions about your membership, please feel free to contact Ben Barker at 612-581-6572 or bbarker@wsbeng.com.
RWIEF - THE SKINNY ON SCHOLARSHIPS
Most of us know that the Right of Way International Education Foundation is the non-profit funding mechanism for right of way education, providing funds for new courses, updates of existing courses and other education initiatives. Not as many of us remember that RWIEF supports three scholarship programs, click here to get the skinny!
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
We have some exciting courses coming up this year. Hold the date for the course below.
- Course 504 - Computing Replacement Housing Payments - May 9th and 10th, 2023 with Penny Rolf in Golden Valley, MN.
- Course 800 - Principles of Real Estate Law - Tentatively August 22nd and 23rd, 2023.
- Course 421 - Valuation of Partial Acquisitions - 4 day class. Tentatively scheduled for the week of December 11th - 15th, 2023.
Special request hosting course opportunities are available in September/October of 2023. If anyone wants or needs a specific course and their organization wants to host, contact Shawn Zepper for more details.
For more information on our upcoming education opportunities, visit our Chapter's Education Page or contact Chapter 20's Education Chair, Shawn Zepper.
Candidacies/Designations
- Gage Ritche, Minnesota Power/ALLETE - RWA Certification
- Dean Dulinksi, Minnesota Power/ALLETE – RWA Certification
- Nancy Madden, Tierra Right of Way Services, Ltd. – R/W-RAC Certification
- Lisa Beckman, WSB – R/W-NAC Recertification
NEW IRWA DESIGNATION PATHWAY
“Without change, there would be no butterflies.” – Maya Angelou. A revamped SR/WA designation pathway took flight in July 2022. Coursework requirements in all three levels Right of Way Agent (RWA), Right of Way Professional (RWP) and Senior Right of Way Professional (SR/WA) have increased to 272 total credit hours. The new look SR/WA pathway has been thoughtfully designed to help members acquire more advanced knowledge from several right of way discipline areas. Members currently pursuing RWA, RWP, SR/WA designations must take action by selecting one of two options:
- Stay on Current Industry-Specific Pathway: Members currently pursuing the RWA designation are required to complete and submit a Declaration of Industry-Specific Candidacy Form by December 31, 2022 to remain in your current industry-specific pathway. Members who have already obtained an RWA or RWP will not have to declare their candidacy. No fee will be charged for this initial declaration of candidacy. Members will have five years from December 31, 2022 to complete all the requirements for the industry-specific pathway.
- Migrate to New SR/WA Pathway: Members currently pursuing the RWA, RWP or SR/WA who would like to migrate to the new SR/WA pathway are required to complete and submit a Declaration of New SR/WA Pathway Candidacy Form and pay a $25 fee for RWA and RWP and a $50 fee for SR/WA.
Chapter 20 understands that additional coursework requirements means additional education costs to our members. A Scholarship Fund has been established to assist Chapter 20 Members with continuing education costs. If you are in need of financial assistance to help cover the rising costs of education, please contact Chapter 20 President Brian Mielke bmielke@wsbeng.com to submit a scholarship application. Look for the Chapter 20 Scholarship Application on the Chapter’s website in the coming weeks.
Declaration of Candidacy Forms can be submitted to Chapter 20 PDC Chair Sean Lawler at sean.w.lawler@xcelenergy.com. If you have any questions about the revamped SR/WA pathway or the Declaration of Candidacy Forms, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to helping you navigate the new and improved SR/WA pathway and achieve your credentialing goals.
CHAPTER 20 BLOG
Chapter 20's Blog was created to foster meaningful communication and sharing of information between our Executive Board, Committee Chairs, Chapter 20 Members, and all others who wish to participate. Please visit the Blog often as Committee Chairs and Executive Board Members post updates, news, and other relevant information pertaining to the Right of Way profession.