After many years of singlehandedly putting together Points of Interest Joleen Palmer has retired. We all owe her and her employer former Board member, Ernie Shanes a debt of gratitude for all of her hard work, most often under the pressure of printing deadlines.

My name is Steve Leidner and I am taking her place. I know what you’re thinking; “There goes the magazine” but wait, Dr. Stephen Pollack, Board member from Anchor Loans has joined me and he will be holding up the standards and integrity of Points of Interest. “Points of Interest,” by the way, was a name suggested by Board member Bob Cushman. “The Quarterly” was simple but “Points of Interest” is so much more interesting.

OK, there’s going to be some changes around here. First, more pictures! It makes it so much easier to read when there are lots of pictures. Fellas, if you told your wife that you were going to go to the seminar, you’d better have your picture taken by Kevin Hubbard of PLM Lender Services, our resident photographer, raffle ticket salesman, donor of raffle prizes, exhibitor and sometimes he even makes coffee. Other changes: Dr. Pollack has suggested that all new members submit a photograph to Points of Interest along with a brief paragraph about themselves and their business model. Then, when you see them at the cocktail hour you can welcome them appropriately, by getting an extra drink ticket from host Mitch Willet from SBS Trust Deed Network and “buy” them a drink. Kevin has also suggested a page of photographs of our exhibitors with a brief statement of the services they provide. That way you’ll recognize Mitch Willet when you’re looking for that extra drink ticket.

What else? A “letters to the editor” column. That’s right; you no longer have to take it out on your staff, spouse or dog. You can vent right here in the magazine. Do you have a complaint about the food at the Monte Carlo, the location of the winter seminar or Joffrey Long’s hair style? (Or mine)? Here’s the place for it. No death threats to Board members or vulgarity but aside from that, it’s your soap-box. You can also send in a compliment if you have one. Time permitting and if you’d find it helpful, I may do a column about restaurants in the area surrounding our seminar sites. If you have a suggestion, send it in.

All this will be coming your way in the new and different Points of Interest; along with interesting articles by some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. If you have a talent, any talent for writing, write an article about what you do and how you do it. Seriously, sharing ideas is the unspoken glue that binds us all together. The ideas I got from Rich Temme, Bill Watson, George Eckert, Noah Furie, Chuck Hershson and many others have made me a lot of money and kept me in business through this horrible recession.

I hope you enjoy the coming changes. Points of Interest will continue to evolve in order to give you another valuable CMA member benefit.
See you in Los Angeles in February!

Steve Leidner

All mail for Points of Interest should be e-mailed to John Berkowitz at john@camgmt.com.