On March 1st, 2021, the State of Maine Chapter and the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter merged to form the Massachusetts Rhode Island & Maine Chapter. With the merger, the State of Maine Committee was formed to ensure that Maine appraisers have a voice in the management of the Chapter. This page will be used to keep the chapter’s Maine appraisers informed about important issues regulatory issues affecting Maine appraisers as well as events held in Maine.
About the State of Maine Committee
Per the approved merger agreement, the State of Maine standing committee is comprised of three (3) members that are residents of the State of Maine who will be appointed by the Chapter President for staggered 3-year terms. Each year, the committee will vote one (1) of its members to be the committee chair. As a committee chair, that member is expected to attend each Board meeting in a non-voting capacity. That person would provide the Board with a report of Maine issues / activities, etc.
The State of Maine Committee members will serve dual roles also serving on the Chapter’s education, government relations, and candidate guidance committees.
The Montello-Sawyer Memorial Scholarship
Per the merger agreement, the Montello-Sawyer Memorial Scholarship shall continue for a five (5) year period and will sunset on December 31, 2025. At that time, any remaining funds will be transferred to the merged chapter’s scholarship fund.
The merged chapter will award up to 3 scholarships per year in the following categories: a $1,500 scholarship to a member that is a resident of the State of Maine and is seeking designation or a $1,500 scholarship to a resident of the State of Maine that is an AI professional and is seeking appraiser licensure. Should there not be a sufficient number of applicants within a specific scholarship category than additional scholarships may be awarded to applicants of another scholarship category at the discretion of the scholarship committee.
History of the Montello-Sawyer Memorial Scholarship
The scholarship was originally established in 1991 as the Richard Lewis Sawyer Memorial Scholarship through the efforts of Frank Montello and Teena Sawyer. Richard (Dick) Sawyer was a founding member of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers Maine Chapter, a predecessor to the Appraisal Institute. He was a huge proponent of designations having achieved the SRPA, SREA, and SRA designations. He also taught some of the appraisal classes. Through a joint effort the Sawyer family and the Maine Chapter members raised the initial funds for the scholarship, which was originally set up to provide financial assistance to appraisers seeking designation. Frank Montello spearheaded the efforts to raise the initial funds and establish the scholarship. Later, in 2011, Frank lost a battle with cancer and Teena Sawyer approached the chapter to change the name of the scholarship to the Montello-Sawyer Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Frank, like Dick also believed strongly in the Appraisal Institute designations and had achieved both the MAI and SRA designations. He was an active and valued member of the chapter serving in various leadership roles over the years, but one of his proudest accomplishments was becoming a national Appraisal Institute instructor. When it came to teaching, Frank was gifted, helping many appraisers elevate their skills.
