Lewis J Goetz, FAIA, FIIDA President / CEO Group Goetz Architects  www.gga.com Board Member, American High Speed Rail Alliance LAI nominee for membership, George Washington Chapter

There are many reasons why high speed rail is a transportation system that America needs—and needs now. The most important long-term reasons are the need to reduce and eliminate our foreign and domestic oil dependency and our need to reduce the negative impact on our environment from our current transportation systems largely: oil dependant cars and planes. U.S. oil dependency has caused this country to fight wars, and to pollute the environment at costs far greater than the costs to fix these issues.

Throughout the industrialized world, we already see high speed rail as the 21st Century answer to advanced transportation systems, and it holds great promise for the American people.  These systems are proven technologies used widely in Europe, including England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain; in Asia, including Japan, China and Taiwan; and currently being designed or built in more than 20 other countries worldwide, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, The Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. It is being built in every major industrialized country but the U.S. and its North American neighbors. 

So why is America so slow in getting on board?  There are several reasons, not the least of which is a lack of education to Americans as to what high speed rail is and how it can benefit them. This is not surprising since the U.S. does not currently have a robust passenger rail system to compare and, more importantly, so few Americans travel outside of the U.S. and have not had the opportunity to see and experience these advanced systems. In fact, only 18 percent of all Americans have passports. In addition, and currently more important,  the U.S. is in the midst of a major economic crisis spending billions of dollars on wars,  and a financial crisis brought about by the banking industry. But even in this time of economic uncertainty, the long-term investment in infrastructure is exactly what this country needs to prepare itself for economic recovery and long-term economic growth in a global economy.

High speed rail has the potential to benefit America in positive ways not experienced since the construction of the U.S. Interstate Highway System, the greatest transportation infrastructure project in the U.S. in the last century.  This is a not a system for a few elite, but for more than 50% of the population currently living in urban centers, with that number projected to increase dramatically over the next forty years. 

These sophisticated highly efficient high speed rail systems can transport thousands of passengers per hour between major urban centers at speeds over 250 mph. It would take less than 90 minutes to travel from Washington, DC to New York, or 90 minutes from New York to Boston.  It would take under 4 hours to travel from Atlanta to New York. High speed rail is not just about speed and convenience. High speed rail will reduce congestion on our highways and at our airports. It has been consistently demonstrated in other countries that high speed rail is the transportation choice over cars and planes in distances of 100 to 600 miles. In addition, high speed rail complements and easily connects with other transportation modes such as airports, city center transit facilities, subways, commuter rail lines, highway systems and light rail systems. 

Powered by electricity, these systems contribute significantly to energy conservation and cleaner air because they are highly efficient and the energy source, electricity, can be produced by renewable and non polluting resources.  High speed rail fosters greater interconnectivity to major urban centers and serves as the foundation of increased commerce.  High speed rail provides an economic engine for real estate development opportunities at the station points and increases overall commerce between major urban centers.    

In the short to medium-term, building the underlying infrastructure will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Procuring the rolling stock equipment, installing the systems to run high speed rail, and maintaining the infrastructure will renew critical domestic manufacturing and supply industries - industries we have sadly ceded to foreign countries. In the long-term, operating and maintaining the system will create hundreds of thousands of sustained jobs and new job opportunities.  The Federal government estimates that for every $1 billion in project spending, 20,000 jobs are created or retained.  In addition, every dollar spent has a multiplier effect of three to one.  Following those standards, even the $8 billion announced on January 28, 2010 will support 160,000 jobs and stimulate at least $24 billion in new economic activity.

In many of America’s cities the intercity transportation system is at or beyond its capacity.  With greater concern over foreign oil dependence and the impact of the current transportation system on the environment we have the opportunity with high speed rail to provide a proven modern and efficient transportation system that can help alleviate these issues now and into the future.  

Based on the experience of other nations, individuals traveling between 100 miles to 600 miles are served best by high speed rail. In most cases, trips that took, door-to-door, three or more hours (principally regional air travel) or moved at speeds less than 100 miles an hour (auto travel) benefit most from high speed rail. Additionally, by helping to relieve the demand on those other traditional modes of transportation, new expanded roads and airports will be less needed.

Relying on the experience of travelers in other nations with high speed rail service, the cost for passengers on high speed rail is extremely competitive, and in many cases far less expensive than other passenger transportation modes. As gasoline becomes more expensive and the societal impact (i.e. cost) of non-renewable energy consumption increases, high speed rail will become even more attractive as a travel cost benefit.

There is no question that many benefits to high speed rail exist, but there are also many challenges and the one on everyone’s mind is how will it be funded.  These systems are expensive but as with any of our major transportation infrastructure projects much of the funding will have to come from state and local governments through a variety of funding mechanisms such as direct funds, grants, tax relief, and loans.  We now see more and more appetite and opportunities for public private partnership funding for significant portions of these types of projects.  Other challenges will be accessing right of ways, environmental impact issues, labor and Buy America issues. 

Vice President Joseph Biden recently summed it up nicely.

“By investing in high-speed rail, we’re doing so many good things for our country at the same time. We’re creating good construction and manufacturing jobs in the near-term; we’re spurring economic development in the future; we’re making our communities more livable—and we’re doing it all while decreasing America’s environmental impact and increasing America’s ability to compete in the world.”

High-Speed Rail Project announcement,
January 28, 2010

The American High Speed Rail Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit association whose mission is to advocate for the development, implementation, and sustainable operation of high speed passenger rail in the United States. The Alliance’s membership includes infrastructure design and engineering companies, construction companies, rail supplier companies, state departments of transportation, passenger rail corridors, financial organizations, rail labor unions, and grassroots advocates.  Your support for AHSRA and contacting your congress person to support high speed rail will make a difference.   
http://www.americanhsra.org/

Lou Slade KeyNotes Editor

The Bicycle in the City

Most U.S. cities have advanced their commitment to improved bicycle facilities, and there is also a social movement among upwardly mobile young urbanites who bicycle because they live close enough to work, it’s good for the environment and for their health, and it’s cool (and fun).  It’s cheaper than driving or using public transportation (although many bicyclists own more than one bike and many high performance bicycles are surprisingly expensive). And it’s often quicker, door to door, than other modes for short urban trips that are the majority of our daily trips.

Washington D.C. is a great bicycling city because of climate and terrain, with many close-in neighborhoods that support a growing population of young people who can live close enough to bike to their place of work.  Additionally, the city has made a commitment to the development of one of the more advanced bicycle networks and other bicycle support systems in the US.

When I moved to Washington in 1971:

• There were no special accommodations for bicyclists who ventured into the stream of motor vehicle traffic.  Now the city’s network of on-street, striped bike lanes is extensive and new lanes are being implemented that are physically isolated from traffic lanes.
  
  
• Some of us dared to bring our bicycles up the elevator to our offices but that was frowned upon if not outright prohibited.  Now, secure bicycle parking is common in office buildings and multi-family residences.
  
  
• Cyclists were prohibited from bringing bicycles onto the new Metrorail subway system without a registration permit and only during off-off peak times, and there were no accommodations for putting bicycles on buses.  Now, registration is no longer required and bikes are permitted at all but the very peak commuter times.  Buses are being outfitted with exterior bike racks on many routes.
  
  
• “Bikestation DC” recently opened at Union Station, our intercity train station; it’s an exciting small piece of unusual architecture for storing personal bikes and renting bikes.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bHO62qI1qM
  
  
• And bicycling is available without owning a bicycle. Capital Bikeshare consists of about 1000 bicycles spread over 105 kiosks in D.C. and Arlington VA.  Members take a bike from a kiosk, use it, and drop at another kiosk.  Real estate developers are willing to provide space for these facilities.  One of my young colleagues uses Capital Bikeshare to commute downhill from home to work in the morning, and then she takes the bus home, avoiding the long hill climb at the end of the day; something I wish I had when I was a bicycle commuter well before Bikeshare was available.  Note: trucks redistribute the bikes among the kiosks at the direction of a computer system that manages the whole fleet by location.  http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/

The Washington Area Bicycling Association (WABA) is a strong advocacy organization that lobbies the city on behalf of, and provides a support system for bicyclists.  WABA co-sponsors an annual Bike to Work Day and provides guided convoys in 26 commuting corridors so uncertain cyclists can try commuting with the leadership of an expert.  WABA also provides free bike valet services at major events such as gatherings on the National Mall. Valet bike parking was integrated into the facilities and services at the new Nationals Major League Ballpark in the city.  WMATA also promotes responsible riding by cyclists and encourages them to respect the rights of other road users and follow the law. 

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/451/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5340

Bicycling is an increasingly attractive option for all kinds of urban trips, which is why it’s growing in popularity.  It’s also worth promoting because, in addition to making it easier and safer for those already using bicycles, it benefits everybody traveling within the District. There is congestion on the roads and crowding on buses and the subway during peak periods.  A trip made by bicycle may free up a seat on the subway or an on-street parking space outside a restaurant or store. There are major obstacles to expanding transportation system capacity, but making cycling more attractive for existing residents and new arrivals is an easy way for the city to provide a popular low-impact means of getting around town. 

Baltimore LAI chapter Treasurer Joe Cronyn discusses construction standards, methods and products with guest speaker Doug McCoach.

What One Maryland Company Does During A Massive Real Estate Downturn:  Work in China!

RTKL Associates, Inc, a global design firm that originated in Annapolis, Maryland, is helping to shape the urban landscape of Chinese cities.  RTKL's revenue stream is increasingly from overseas markets including China and the Middle East, and they have taken full advantage of China’s legal framework for direct foreign investment and trade over the past 25 years.

Through a pictorial tour of buildings and infrastructure throughout China, RTKL’s Director of Urban Design and Planning, Douglas McCoach, NCARB, LEED AP and former Director of Planning for the City of Baltimore, showcased some of the projects his firm designed. These ventures in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Zhu Jia Jiao, Chengdu and Jiang illustrate the housing typologies and the different cultural values and economic platforms, which dominate the environment in China. 

While homeownership has skyrocketed in China during the last 10 to 15 years, rental is the predominant form of housing.  On one hand, affordability is an issue with most young workers priced out of the market while, on the other, there is a growing and affluent middle class who are locating in suburban and exurban settings.  Consistency in sizes of units between the U.S. and China (e.g., 600 square feet for efficiencies and 1,000 to 1,200 for two bedrooms) is similar although the bathrooms and kitchens in Chinese units are smaller.  A large difference is the parking requirement in a country where only 15% of the population owns cars..

In China, vertical development is accepted as the norm where 50% of the population is urbanized, and the density per square kilometer ranges (about .4 square miles) from 2,000 to 5,000 per square kilo compared to 1,100 to 1,444 in US cities. 

China requires new residential buildings to have southern exposures.  Sustainable design is embraced; however, lacking an institutional infrastructure for sustainability, Government requirements for modeling and measurement systems do not exist to track environmental compliance.  This results in projects that in the US would be considered  “green washed”. In China, there are few tools (e.g., density bonus, property tax credit, etc) to incentivize green design.  Maintaining a healthy environment is a struggle, given highway growth, congestion, gridlocked traffic, and pollution.  Accommodating automobile traffic has surprisingly created opportunities in planning.  

The Chinese, according to McCoach, have a romantic notion about the shape of cities. The Sino mentality is to think big dreams and then, build them. This makes it an exciting place for RTKL to work. Citing the great integration of mixed uses, he applauds the way the Chinese are currently building for a 22nd century workforce with industrial, residential, cultural, recreational and commercial co-located.

The country is forward thinking, by making a massive investment in infrastructure (rail, highways and modernizing airports).  Public infrastructure and facilities create a stimulus for “place making” and are symbols of the country's coming of age.  A 25,000 mile high-speed rail network connecting China’s three major metropolitan areas is under construction  

In China's centrally planned economy, projects can be executed in a speedy manner that often carries a high social cost.  Their rationale is there is a greater public good.

Tara B. Clifford, Scribe

The Year of Living Dangerously  - Walter Boettcher, Colliers International
2010 was a year that was better than most had forecast. However there are a number of downside
risks for this year –

• Inflation - Is it the wrong type? Main headline inflation is being caused by oil, food and commodities as a result of demand from emerging markets and this is forecast to continue.
• Eurozone Collapse – sovereign defaults and the possibility of a country going bust
• Currency Wars – ongoing tension with China, the US and the rest of the world.
• Food Risks – risk of reduced production and continued increase in demand from population growth.
• Natural Disasters

UK Property Market
There was a big bounceback in values in 2010. UK was perceived to be cheap internationally because of the big correction and the weakness of Sterling.  Foreign investors will continue to drive the market forward for the best assets – almost becoming ‘forced buyers’  as UK is considered to have ‘safe haven’ status with a lot of investors and known to be liquid and transparent.

Secondary assets are vulnerable to a potential pricing readjustment, especially if the banks ‘open the floodgates’ of putting distressed properties on the market.  For NAMA there was no real focus yet.  However, Lloyds and RBS were moving forward as they now have the teams in place.

The HOT sectors were Central London and Supermarkets. The not so Hot sectors were secondary Industrials.  Walter’s Hot tip was ‘sell secondary industrial with short income now, because people are over paying for it’.

The concerns over property and inflation were making people question if property was truly a hedge against inflation.  Do equities actually provide a better bet?

Asset management in 2011 will be the main factor that will drive property performance.

Total Return Forecasts

                                Colliers                                                 Derivatives Implied Return
2011                       7.5% pa                                                 4.5% pa
2012                       10.6% pa                                              2.5% pa

Shailendra Shah, London Chapter Scribe

On February 9, The New York Chapter held its first open meeting signaling the resumption of Chapter activities and programming. Distinguished real estate professionals in government, urban planning, capital markets, valuation, appraisal, affordable housing, architecture and scholarship met to discuss prospects for public-private partnerships in a risk adverse economy as struggling municipal finances have already cancelled or stalled many projects. Led by Chapter President Pamela Hannigan, discussants representing public and private sectors addressed current regional trends and outlooks given the increasing role of public-private cooperation in current and future development. Patricia Lancaster, former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, addressed how the rules of engagement have changed, especially in regard to transit-oriented development. Emily Youssouf, former President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation, continued with the implications of fiscal distress for municipal finance through capital markets. Ned Foss, an experienced private developer in the region, presented his recent on-the-ground experience in proceeding through the public approval process. Kathleen Zarwotniak of the Pittsburgh Partnership concluded the formal program with a case study of Market Square, where public-private cooperation has helped revitalize the central core of a city faced with permanent declines in population and economic activity.

In sum, all perspectives concurred that public support for development will remain constrained for some time. With finance as the dominant economic base of the region, large increases in unemployment and falling incomes mean a structural contraction in municipal revenues and much more scrutiny at the local level. For transit-oriented development, a regional planning goal, local governments shall be able to fund development, but the pacing and sequencing will be scaled back to match local resources as public finance becomes increasingly stratified across jurisdictions.  Diminished demand for municipal debt means that New York will lose recent gains and face new challenges in solving its long-term housing shortage. Recent private experience in development indicates that all aspects of the approval process, including new markets tax credits that were so persistently advocated by government, have become much more complex and time-consuming.  Nonetheless, even as political will to support development diminishes the sense of place in the New York Chapter remains.  Private developers and public officials continue to emphasize the economic and locational advantages of the region such that, in the end, the meeting opened ways to accomplish development goals in the new economy.  The redevelopment success provided by the Pittsburgh Partnership resonated with the local Chapter’s determination to move development forward even as conditions worsen.  The next New York Chapter meeting shall will assemble professionals in construction, engineering, policy and finance to explore strategies for improved infrastructure that would support new and old development alike.

LAI Minnesota will host its Annual Meeting and new member initiation at a luncheon on March 16 at the Minneapolis Club.  The event will feature keynote speaker, Tom Horner, 2010 Independence Party candidate for Governor.  Mr. Horner’s presentation will focus on “Where Do We Go from Here? How Politics Affects Our Economic Future.” 

LAI MN will welcome distinguished initiates, Jack Boarman (Principal, BKV Group), Dean Thomas Fisher (University of Minnesota College of Design), Thomas Nelson (President, Eberhardt Properties), Kit Richardson (Principal, Schafer Richardson), Elizabeth Ryan (Vice President, Family Housing Fund), and Adam Wilford (Director, Real Estate Services, United Health Group).

Jeff Lapota

February’s luncheon meeting for the LAI Los Angeles chapter featured Jeff Lapota, Partner, Cox Castle & Nicholson, LLP. Jeff’s spoke about opportunities to evaluate and manage exposure under the under the New Estate Tax Act passed by Congress at year end 2010. Jeff indicated that for the next two years, that there are several structures available to owners of real estate to manage and significantly save money for their estate/heirs. Jeff’s commentary included an honest disclosure of issues encountered for Grantors in the Estate Planning process.

Jeffrey Lapota, is the principal attorney in the Estate Planning Group at Cox Castle and Nicholson, LLP and a partner in the firm's Los Angeles office.

John Marshall Law School Students Inducted into Ely Chapter

At its February luncheon, the Ely Chapter inducted eight John Marshall Law School students into the Student Chapter.

What’s McNew with McPier?

At the Ely Chapter February luncheon, entitled “What’s McNew with McPier?”, David Mosena, CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry and Interim Board Chairman of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (affectionately called McPier), provided insight into the plans for updating and revitalizing  Navy Pier, one of Chicago and Illinois’ top tourist attractions. Mr. Mosena also presented the positive ripple effects we have seen already from the significant legislation changes transforming the convention management system at McCormick Place and gave us a taste of what will be coming for the newly revised McCormick Place.

Mr. Mosena became interim Board Chairman in May 2010 corresponding with the new State legislation implementing sweeping reforms within the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA). His post, along with all other Board members is 18 months long and will be replaced with a new permanent Board in Dec. 2011. This new legislation was initiated after two major conventions left McCormick Place and relocated to other convention cities (along with other shows threatening to leave), combined with a general decrease in convention traffic due to the suffering economy.

This major McCormick Place legislation included several key elements:

• Re-writing union rules to give more flexibility to exhibitors (who can now plug cords into their own booth’s electrical outlets and bring in their own lunches/food);
• Restructuring the debt freeing up $200 million in capital to be invested in the facilities, including building a 465 room new Hyatt hotel on site;
• Privatizing the management of McCormick effective July 2011.

These massive legislative changes, along with cooperation from labor, has created a 25% cost savings to exhibitors. As a result McCormick has seen a drastic turn around. For the last 2 quarters, McCormick has had positive results in the top 4 metrics used for evaluating convention center strength: total square footage, attendance, number of companies attending, and revenue. This is compared to the previous nine consecutive quarters of negative growth. Additional good news is that convention and trade business is also growing nationally again.

The message Mr. Mosena delivered to the crowd of Chicagoans is that this turnaround is an example of how government should work, including the leadership and cooperation shown from all levels of State and Local elected officials.

Another good model to follow is Navy Pier, where a similar transformation is underway as well. Also in July, MPEA will own but not operate Navy Pier—there will be a lease to Navy Pier, Inc., a new non-profit charged with the management of Navy Pier. This model has been successful in other arenas as well, such as when the Chicago Park District leased the Lincoln Park Zoo to a separate non-profit entity with its only responsibility as the management and development of the Zoo.

A new Plan for Navy Pier will be released in March 2011 highlighting several goals:

• Maintain a strong children’s anchor
• Create a major iconic feature, a giant wheel (however economics are not strong for this component)
• Expand the Shakespeare Theater facility
• Add more entertainment within Festival Hall
• Increase softscape with more landscaping and possible park at east end

Mr. Mosena’s presentation was enthusiastically received by the Ely Chapter members, who recognize the significant impact both McCormick Place and Navy Pier have on the tourist and related economy for Chicago and Illinois.

Terri T. Haymaker, Ely Chapter Scribe

At its two most recent luncheon meetings GW chapter members heard about the repurposing of Washington Metro’s transit-oriented development program and the initiatives being advanced by the Smart Growth America Leadership Institute, a nationwide coalition of nearly 100 organizations advocating integrated land use/transportation planning and programming. Former Maryland Governor, Parris Glendenning, a key proponent of smart growth programs as the state’s chief executive and now president of the Institute, emphasized the imperatives behind smart growth: 1) an aging population and the ever-decreasing size of households leading to location decisions favoring urban-type settings with higher density and walkability to meet life style desires, 2) the wastefulness and uneconomic decisions producing sprawl, including the failure to take into account both auto and mortgage costs when making a location decision and 3) the value of place now given higher priority by those who want to live in lively, mixed use communities. He urged LAI members to reinforce his message.

In January, those who recovered from the previous evening’s icy commute, listened to Steven Goldin, Metro’s real estate director, highlight the future of the agency’s public-private TOD development program. He noted that Metro’s easy-to-develop sites have already been sold or leased to private developers and that those remaining (averaging 20-30 acres) required developers with financial strength given the large areas and many steps in the predevelopment phase to plan and entitle projects and provide replacement/relocation of Metro operating facilities. In the past, Goldin stated, developers were selected on the basis of highest price offered; now they will be chosen through a Request for Qualifications process on the basis of experience and financial strength with financial arrangements negotiated once the parameters and timing of development are known. Further, public agencies will commit up-front planning funds to assist in pre-development activities. In the first initiative of this type, a major national firm and partners have just been selected through an RFQ as developer for the combined State of Maryland/Metro 37-acre New Carrollton site in Prince George’s County. A unique location with first rate access to Metro, commuter rail, Amtrak, local highways and airports, New Carrollton’s redevelopment will be a major coup for a part of the Washington region that has lagged in TOD. Goldin also expressed his opinion that as local governments become more financially strapped, monetizing land lease and parking revenues like those of Metro will become an attractive and necessary financial tool.

New Members and Initiation Ceremonies

The year-old Atlanta chapter of Lambda Alpha International held Initiation Ceremonies for new members on Thursday, December 16, 2010 and Tuesday, March 8, 2011.  The new members are:  Tina Arbes, COO/CFO, Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategies; Roy Black Ph.D., J.D., Professor in the Practice of Finance, Goizueta Business School, Emory University; William (Bill) de St. Aubin, Principal, The Sizemore Group; Steve Foster, Senior Urban Advisor, Community and Economic Development, Georgia Power;  Hakim Hilliard, Partner, McKenna, Long, & Aldridge; Amanda Rhein, Project Manager, TADS, Atlanta Development Authority; Catherine Ross, Ph.D., Center for Quality Growth & Regional Development, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology; Gregg Simon, Manager of Business Engagement, Atlanta Development Authority; and Andrea Wynn, President & CEO, A&W Realty.  Joan Herron, President, conducted the Initiation Ceremonies for the new members.

Members of the LAI Atlanta Chapter include Joan Herron, President, HERRON CONSULTING and President, LAI Atlanta Chapter; Russ Posey, Senior Vice President, The Alter Group and Vice President, LAI Atlanta Chapter; Mike Grella, Director, Grant Thornton and Treasurer, LAI Atlanta Chapter, Patsy Jo Hilliard, Former Mayor East Point GA and Secretary, LAI Atlanta Chapter;  David Elam, Lead Director Community Development, Fannie Mae and LAI Atlanta Board of Directors; James (Jim) Viviano, Associate Director, Cooper Carry and LAI Atlanta Board of Directors; Aasia Mustakeem, Attorney, Smith, Gambrell & Russell; Allen Dedels, Associate Director, Cooper Carry;  Barbara Faga, Executive VP, AECOM; Charles (Chick) Krautler, Director, Atlanta Regional Commission; Charles Whatley, Director of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Atlanta Development Authority;  Paul Martin, Managing Director, Fortius Financial; Robert (Bob) Price, Director, HERRON CONSULTING; Robin Spratlin, (retired, Georgia Power); Tad Scepaniak, Principal, Real Property Research Group; and Ron Thomas, AICP, AIA, ASLA, Adjunct Professor, University of Georgia and Senior Advisor/Consultant of Ron Thomas & Co.  

The Atlanta Chapter continues its goal of bringing together a very diverse group of members with complimentary experience, expertise and interests.  The group is committed to growing its membership; internal and external networking; having a voice on issues; and working together towards positive initiatives in the Atlanta Region.  The Chapter plans to host its first formal Member-Non-Member event before the end of the year. 

Joan H. Herron, President LAI Atlanta

LEF GRANT PROGRAM

Ron Buss, LEF Vice President

Dr. Ronald R. Pollina is President and founder of Chicago-based Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc. He had written a book entitled Selling Out a Superpower: How the U.S. Economy Went Wrong and How We Can Turn It Around, Click here to read more and see praises for the book.

Lambda Alpha International (LAI) has recently created a group on Linkedin.com. Linkedin is an online professional network of more than 60 million professionals in over 150 industries. Linkedin is a great place to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Linkedin allows you to:

• Stay informed about your contacts and industry,
• Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals, and
• Control your professional identity online.

Our LAI Linkedin group will provide a means to further promote communication and networking among LAI members. Please join us at LAI’s newest place to network: www.linkedin.com.

Forgot how to login? No problem.

Please visit the LAI Website at www.LAI.org. On the left hand side click on the Members Only Tab. Here you will need to use your email and the password is lai.

Scotland Land Economics Weekend

June 1-4, 2011
Scotland

Please visit www.scotlandthebrave2011.com for all the details.

Sacramento Land Economics Weekend

October 20-22, 2011
The Citizens Hotel, Sacramento, CA