Mark these dates on your calendar now! Don’t miss any of our ‘exiting and interesting’ professional programs!
(A new Dinner Menu with different, and delectable, selections will Premier In February! Don’t miss it!)

Help make San Diego Chapter ASA Meetings meaningful in your professional life – sponsor a meeting by planning a program that will help you in your business practice! Call Georgie with your ideas and sponsor date!

The San Diego ASA Chapter sponsored the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) 7 hour Update Course and the 15 hour full Course & Exam January 7 – 9, 2005. Normally these courses are expensive, and often require overnight travel and lodging costs.

The San Diego ASA Chapter is proud to have provided this opportunity to our membership at a very low cost, and convenient for all our members. We had 19 participants, including many from out of town who came to take advantage of the great price – 2 from San Francisco and 3 from the LA area. We had 7 Gems & Jewelry participants, 2 Fine Art designees, an Oriental Rug specialist, and 2 Business Valuation designees, along with the majority of Antiques & Decorative Arts folks. (To see some photos from this program and 2004 Chapter meetings, click here.)

Bill Novotny , our instructor, was terrific! Bill is a Personal Property specialist and the courses used examples from the PP discipline, as well as from BV. Interviewed after the course, the BV members said this worked just fine for them. The principles, practices and reporting requirements are the same, the test is the same, but when the examples given to illustrate the application of the USPAP Standards are from your own discipline it is a lot easier to put the USPAP into practice in your everyday appraisal work.

A special THANK YOU goes to David Bowie, Gems & Jewelry candidate, and Kathi Jablonsky, ISA, for bringing our USPAP courses to the attention of so many of the attendees.

CONGRATULATIONS Greg Tesone, ASA

Greg Tesone is our newest Senior Member, in Business Valuation. Greg is also on the Board of the San Diego Forensic Expert Witness Association.

Greg is the manager of ValueNomics® Research, Inc supervising all aspects of their San Diego office. He has performed well over 100 valuations primarily for private closely-held mid-market companies for the purpose of buy/sell, M&A, financing, stock options, estate and gift tax, shareholder dispute, financial reporting, marital dissolution, and other business matters. For more information about Greg, please visit ValueNomics' Business Valuation website.

By Pamela Bensoussan, ASA

Many San Diego chapter members have remarked that our October program on “The Care and Feeding of Clients” was one of the best of the year – getting high marks for interest and relevance from members across appraisal disciplines. In fact, it ranked right up there with the wine tasting and cork screw collecting program in the Gas Lamp Quarter as the year’s most popular.

Pamela has organized her notes on that popular October meeting for the benefit of those who missed it or would like to revisit ideas that were shared during our lengthy panel discussion. Thank you once again, Pamela.

Pamela shares all our heartfelt appreciation to those involved in saying...

Jan Giamanco - Chapter Executive Administrator

"I would like to thank fellow panel members Thom Underwood, ASA; David Bowie, Candidate; Georgie Stillman, ASA; Kim Ufford, AM; Rick Engstrom, and our executive administrator Jan Giamanco, who served as moderator, for their help with the program."

Read the article- Primer on the Care & Feeding of Clients

...or you can open it in the Adobe pdf format for printing - Adobe Format - Primer on the Care & Feeding of Clients

If you browser does not have the Adobe Reader, you may download it for free- Adobe Reader.

A ‘Big Hit’ with the Public

This January marks the first anniversary of our San Diego ASA Chapter website. It takes time and effort to bring the website to the attention of the public, but they are finding us. Recently we have seen a big increase in verifiable responses from the public. In November Georgie Stillman, ASA reported five ‘contact’ requests from the public – three were from individuals requesting information and referrals for specific appraisal needs, and 2 were from collectors who were browsing through the Newsletter articles about specific art and antiques.

“This really amazed me!” said Georgie, “I never imagined I would get emails from people who found the articles helpful. One man emailed me about some silver & 'ivory' flatware he had left a bid on at an auction someplace up in the LA area, and, having read one of my articles, was now aware that the set he left a bid on was probable not sterling, or ivory. We shared some emails, and he told me he had retracted his bid. Another man emailed me saying he is a big collector of inkwells, and that he enjoyed my discussion of the Tiffany inkwell in the June 2004 Newsletter.”

“Just this week I had two emails from the website seeking referrals for Gems & Jewelry and sterling flatware appraisals, which I referred out to appropriate Chapter members in the inquirer’s area. I imagine I am not the only Chapter member getting these contacts.”

The ASA San Diego Chapter website ‘hits’ and requests for information should kick into high gear when the Chapter ad in the San Diego Lawyers Directory is published in the Spring of 2005.

What you can do to enhance the marketing of our members services?

1. Link your website to our ASA San Diego website -- and make sure your site is listed on the ASA San Diego site as well.
2. Request all websites of any professional or special interest group you belong to also link to our website.
3. Use the right terms on the links - "San Diego Jewelry Appraiser," "Business Valuation Professional," "Appraisals of Antiques & Fine Art," etc. Use the words that prospective clients will search for.

Our Chapter PR effort to enhance the market for your appraisal services is only going to work if you help to get out the word to other websites and ask for links. The more links we have to the website, the better standing we will get on the search engines.

Let’s all make the PR & Marketing the Chapter invests in generate more referrals to your inbox or telephone!

* Test your website marketing savvy by taking the quiz at the end of this newsletter.

A big ‘Thank You’ to Pamela Bensoussan, ASA, our Chapter Treasurer, for creating an Index to Topics in the ASA San Diego Newsletter. This will bring more of the public to our world of experts.

How? Links. Yes, once again here's another opportunity to not only provide a service to your clients by linking directly to our newsletters for relevant topics, but also by linking back to this site, you increase our impact on search engines.

Valuing A Silver Trophy Collection

American BSC sterling, early
20th century. “P and D Golf
Assn So Cal”. 8 ¼” high,
20 troy ounces. $12,500

Recently I had a fabulously interesting appraisal assignment, a collection of Silver Trophies – presentation awards to winners of sporting and other tournaments. This has always been a popular collecting area, but it is rare to see a collection on the West Coast. This was indeed a real treat for me as I have a personal interest in antique and collectible silver.

Silver trophies have been around since the Greeks and Romans, but very few survive from that era. The Renaissance and Baroque times saw the rise of elaborate and costly, gold, jeweled and silver trophies – but most of these are now in museums. The 18th & 19th centuries were the glory days of trophies, featuring large figural designs for winners of sporting events. And now we see collector demand for 20th century tennis, paddling, equestrian, prize livestock and yachting events.

American Derby Silver Plate Company,
“Tampico Country Club – April 1927”.
Whimsical design of a julep pitcher &
cups in the form of a golf bag, on a
matching tray with golf ball handles.
Pitcher 12 ½” high. $8,500

In the trophy market, the ‘sterling’ factor is not as important as style and the fame of the event or winner. A silver plated example with all the right attributes of value will do better than a sterling example with not as high number of ‘attributes of value’.

Silver trophies come in all shapes and sizes; mostly I see the boring types – bowls or vases with an engraved statement about the event and the winner. For example, someone wins the local golf tournament and they get a small silver bowl with their name, date, and tournament. The more interesting examples have either sculptured figures or relief designs representing the hunter, the player, the horse, etc., in action and decorative engraving.

The important features of trophies that indicate the attributes of high market value are:

• Interesting or unusual form, such as irregular loving cup shape, figural or sculptural designs
• Desirable decorative styles and motifs, such as Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Arts & Crafts, that are at the top of their type
• Impressive size
• Representing an award in a popular field, such as yachting, paddling, tennis, the equestrian and livestock competitions
• Representing a famous individual or competitor
• Representing a “luxury” community
• Made by an important maker with high “brand name” desirability, such as Tiffany, Gorham, or one of the other companies that specialize in highly decorative trophies
• Excellent original condition

The more of these desirable features that are represented in a single trophy, the higher the value in the appropriate market... and appropriate means appropriate. New York area items will sell best in the New York area and the trophies that represent California interests and places will bring more money here in California at, for example, a Butterfield Los Angeles or San Francisco auction, than they might in New York City.

English sterling canoe dated 1830 – 31,
probably originally an English ‘paddling’
trophy, then refitted as an American
trophy in 1891, probably by Tiffany or
Gorham. “Brooklyn Canoe Club,
Jan. 14th 1891” with plaques on its
sides of 24 winners 1891 – 1912.
8” high x 13 ½” long. $25,000

The most important Tiffany and Gorham examples are selling at auction for $150,000 and up, and lesser ‘brand name’ important examples easily reach $10,000 - $20,000.

The silver trophy collecting market is very active at ‘specialty’ silver auctions, and most of the buyers are private collectors rather than dealers. These collectors know what they want and are ready to spend to get it. This makes the auction ‘price realized’ a pretty solid “retail replacement” or “replacement cost comparable” for a client’s insurance appraisal, as well as a secondary market value. It means, in a nut shell, that dealer’s can’t often make a profit by buying at auction unless exceptional conditions are in play, such as an important piece that is being offered outside of its ‘appropriate’ market. For example, I just saw a Christie’s London auction listing for a piece of Shreve San Francisco circa 1900 Honolulu trophy estimated at a ridiculously low price by West Coast standards. Important (and scarce) West Coast maker, a rare Hawaii connection – yikes, someone better grab it!

Happy hunting, no matter what you collect...

Georgie Stillman, ASA

If you are involved in a community activity, special event, interesting assignment,
or know of courses being offered, please let us know.
Contact Georgie Stillman, ASA
619-563-9000

The Nominations Committee has submitted the following Slate of Officers for 2005-6 to the Chapter Board:

Please submit your comments or make a Nomination of a member to Paul Golubovs, ASA, Nominations Committee Chairman - phone (858) 578-5540. Nominations will be accepted until the February 15th meeting. Elections via e-ballot will take place soon after the February meeting. The 2005 – 6 Installation of Officers will take place at the June 2005 meeting.

Welcome to 2005. May it be a successful and happy year for you. Looking back at 2004, your San Diego ASA Chapter had a very productive year.

• The launch of our Chapter website, www.sandiegoappraiser.org,
  reaching a new high standard in marketing your services to the public
• An ad in the upcoming San Diego Lawyers Directory
• Many exciting programs, covering topics of interest to us all, from
  appraising stamps to ‘Care and Feeding of Clients’ - all topics that
  will enhance your appraisal practice

This Spring we will initiate an advertising campaign to the business community.

Networking among your fellow professionals is an important benefit of membership and attendance at San Diego ASA Chapter meetings. I participated in, and heard about, a lot of good referrals going around amongst members at the meetings - another reason to come to our meetings. Last but not least, we are seeing many new members, and mentoring opportunities abound, for both the senior members to ‘bring on’ the newer members, and for the newer members to get some sound advice and help in navigating the advancement process.

I am grateful that we have such a tremendous ASA Chapter here in San Diego – I have learned so much from our members and the Chapter has provided me many benefits in my professional practice – great programs, networking, problem solving. The more you participate, by assisting with program ideas, mentoring, serving as an officer, the more you will gain.

With all hopes for your Best Year ever,

Georgie Stillman, ASA

The Los Angeles ASA Chapter will be having a meeting sometime in March 2005 at the Chino Air Museum.  There will be a tour of the restored and ‘working’ collection of vintage aircraft, a no-host lunch, and the opportunity to see some of the ‘flying machines’ up in the air.

This is planned as a half-day event. Details are still being worked out. Please contact Noel Burndhal - phone (626) 301-9277 if you would like to attend this fun event.

Kathi Jablonsky, ISA, a frequent participant in our SD ASA Chapter activities, has created a website with listings of all types of educational programs, seminars and courses of interest to personal property appraisers. The listings include offerings from all the important personal property organizations, museums and other special interest groups offering opportunities to learn about appraising or ‘stuff’.

Check it out, & Thanks Kathi !

2005 Machinery and Technical Specialties One-Day Seminar

Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel, Chicago, Illinois -- Friday, March 11, 2005

For the complete schedule with times & room numbers, including the MTS Committee Meeting, click here.

BV204 & 204N Being Offered in Manhattan Beach

For details visit National's BV Education page

PPC Sponsoring Prints and Printmaking Seminar

Print Appraising Connoisseurship - February 17-19, 2005, Phoenix, Arizona

This three-day seminar will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, using the facilities of the print study room at Arizona State University.

Taught by Corinne Cain, ASA, the seminar will encompass:

• Exposure to various printmaking papers and dating of same
• Common and especially uncommon printmaking techniques to include sophisticated reproductions
• Clues in discerning lifetime impressions versus later versions
• Hands on inspection of prints both at Corinne's office and at Arizona State University's Print Study Room
• Paper conservation issues as they impact the value of prints
• Print catalogue raisonne savvy as well as the inside scoop of Gordon's and Lawrence's reference tools
• Identification of the top print dealers in each field: Old Master, German Expressionist, Japanese, Contemporary, Modern

The fees for the seminar include all sessions, a copy of the textbook, handouts (including mat samples, paper samples, video, notebooks with bibliography), transportation to and from the venues for all three days, two lunches, one dinner.
Plans are being confirmed for a Thursday night art walk in Scottsdale as well as a desert hike one morning for those inclined.

This seminar is limited in size (15) because of its hands-on nature, so don't hesitate to complete your registration. If you have questions contact Janella N. Smyth, ASA, at 919-468-5557.

Personal Property Annual Decorative Arts Seminar

Celebrating the Many Faces of Bucks County & Philadelphia - April 6-9, 2005

The base for the seminar will be the fabulous Inn at Lambertville Station, in Lambertville, N.J.,—a charming, friendly and sophisticated town with historically notable Victorian architecture, quaint antiques shops, wonderful art galleries, craft galleries and boutiques, tree-lined quiet back streets and tranquil river-valley views. Lambertville is an easy walk from New Hope, just minutes away from Doylestown, and a short drive to Philadelphia.

Details of the cost, agenda, tours and talks with an online and print registration form are available at the ASA website

For a list of upcoming classroom courses, please visit our Education page.

This newsletter is published (September through June) as a service to the ASA Members and the community it serves. If you would like to receive this publication, please contact Georgie Stillman - 619-563-9000

Newsletter Editor - Georgie Stillman, ASA

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