March 26, 2002

NEXT MEETING, APRIL 1… Our speaker will be Don Phillips, with the Potash Corporation. This is not an April Fool! We really will meet that day. Don Phillips is a real, live human being, who will speak to us about potash, chemicals, fertilizer, business success and other things having to do with an important industry. We don't promise that you won't experience a few other "gotchas" on that day, but this is not one of them!

LAST MEETING, MARCH 25… Robert Praytor, Administrator of the Mississippi Real Estate Commission, Appraisal Board, and Home Inspector Board, told us about the work of the three state agencies he heads. Essentially, Robert's organizations control the licensing of the people who sell, buy, appraise, and inspect real estate in the state. As such, he's in a unique position to tell us what's going on in real estate, and he did so. The hardest-hit part of the state since the events of September 11 has been the Gulf Coast, while the northwest portion of the state near Memphis has shown dramatic increase. Robert told us that, due to the rural nature of the state, there are several counties with NO appraisers, despite the fact that there are more than 1200 statewide. Robert shared with us a number of anecdotes from recent years, including several involving "creative" real estate transactions (read "fraud"). Thanks to Wes Holsapple for arranging and introducing this program.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS… has approved the following new member proposals. If no objection is received within 10 days, they will be introduced as new members: