Members Councils Councils FAQ

RICS Americas Councils - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the Councils? Why did RICS Americas launch them?
2. What are the objectives of the Councils?
3. How do I get involved?
4. Who leads the Councils? Who chose these leaders? Why?
5. How do the Councils interact with the rest of RICS Americas?
6. How are the Councils linked to the Global RICS?
7. How do the Councils decide what issues to address?
8. Do I have to be a member of RICS to participate in a Council?
9. Can I launch another Council?
  
  1. What are the Councils?  Why did RICS Americas launch them?
    1. RICS Americas launched three Councils in 2009:  Valuation, Markets, and Construction Management & Project Controls.  
    2. The term “Council” refers to the collection of all RICS members who are resident in the Americas and involved in the relevant discipline.
    3. RICS Americas launched the Councils to better serve the growing membership by bringing together their diverse perspectives around the most pressing issues facing the property communities. 
    4. Councils debate and make recommendations to governments, clients, corporations and academia.  They educate, inform and support standards. 
  1. What are the objectives of the Councils?
    1. The Councils have five key objectives:
      1. Serve the public, members and clients by representing and coordinating multi-disciplinary thinkers and positioning their roles and services. 
      2. Provide leadership and a unified public voice in responding to important issues in the profession.
      3. Educate professionals and future professionals in standards and best technical practices, using established accrediting programs and expanding upon academic resources.
      4. Develop and enforce member allegiance to professional principles and standards through peer review and continuing education.
      5. Provide and develop enhanced strategies for business development and networking opportunities for members.
  1. How do I get involved? 
    1. Any RICS member with relevant interest can participate in the activities of a Council. 
    2. Members are automatically assigned to Councils where their discipline is identifiable and relevant in their member profile. Members can modify their professional group affiliations by logging into their account on www.rics.org and clicking ‘My Details’. Members may opt out of or change Councils. 
    3. Any member simply interested in receiving information about a discipline will receive information, news announcements, event announcements, and other communications from the Council.
  1. Who leads the Councils?  Who chose these leaders?  Why? 
    1. The Councils are led by a variety of Boards and Committees.  These leadership teams - including Council Chairs and Committee Chairs – are charged primarily with motivating broad involvement and building consensus among the membership around positions taken toward achieving those objectives. 
    2. Members of the initial Council Boards volunteered and were welcomed. 
    3. The initial leadership is composed of senior leaders of the profession, including business executives, government officials, past Presidents of prominent professional groups, and leading thinkers that comprise broad experience and skills.
    4. Any member may apply for a leadership spot or an assignment to an ad hoc committee, and may suggest the creation of such committees.
    5. Any member who wishes to be active with one or more of the Councils should contact the RICS Americas office. 
  1. How do the Councils interact with the rest of RICS Americas?
    1. The Councils provide policy guidance to the rest of RICS Americas’ membership and likewise receive input, comment, and other contributions from the membership at large, members of the different Forums, and from the Chapter, Boards, and at-large leaders within the Americas Region.
    2. The Councils are central to the RICS Americas visibility effort, so they interact actively with media efforts and event planning staff. 
  1. How are the Councils linked to the Global RICS?
    1. The RICS Americas Board presents recommendations to the RICS Global Management, Knowledge, Membership and Regulatory Boards for their consideration of organizational mandates, accreditation processes and business partnerships that are international in scope.
    2. The Councils make recommendations to the RICS Americas Board on strategy and policy.  
    3. Each of RICS’s global Professional Groups has a Board.  Where the Board has a spot for a representative from the Americas, the Council will nominate a representative, subject to the confirmation of the RICS Americas Board. 
  1. How do the Councils decide what issues to address? 
    1. Councils work closely with many constituencies – including other RICS constituencies, local partners, government and the press - to identify potential topics of interest.
    2. Council leadership determines what issues will be addressed in detail in accord with the RICS Americas Board and the relevant global Professional Groups.  
  1. Do I have to be a member of RICS to participate in a Council?
    1. Friends can participate in many Council activities – but RICS membership is required to vote or represent a Council. 
    2. RICS members will generally have preferred access and pricing for events. 
    3. RICS members will generally have priority for speaking or publication roles.  
  1. Can I launch another Council?
    1. The three initial Councils should serve much of the current Americas membership and its interests – but RICS Americas is always open to suggestion as to modification, re-focus or new launch.  Thus several other Councils are currently under consideration. 
    2. As with all RICS Americas activities, Return on Investment and compliance with the global RICS strategy are the main criteria for decision-making.  Thus the RICS Americas Board will consider the business case for the launch of additional Councils, with supporting evidence including member demand and substantiated market data.