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(CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 17, 2008)  The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) has created an online Hurricane Response Center on its website (www.irem.org) to aid members, their families and others impacted by Hurricane Ike.  The response center can be accessed via the website’s homepage under “Latest News” and includes:

• A "check-in" for members in the affected areas to let other members know their whereabouts and how they are faring.
• A section where members can offer housing and jobs for those who are impacted.
• A section where those who are impacted can indicate their need for housing, jobs and other support services.
• Excerpts from the IREM publication, “Before Disaster Strikes,” featuring helpful information and guidelines to assist real estate managers in responding to a hurricane disaster. 
• A link to the American Red Cross to make a contribution to benefit people affected by Hurricane Ike, and a link to the American Red Cross Safe and Well List.
• Links to other hurricane-related resources.

Said IREM President Regina T. Mullins, CPM®: “The catastrophic devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike is almost incomprehensible. IREM is a caring and compassionate membership community that is committed to providing help and comfort to our members in need, their families, and others who have been stricken. They all are in our thoughts and prayers.”

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008.  Major sponsors of the year-long celebration areYardi Systems, a leading provider of high-performance software solutions for the real estate industry, and the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance (RCA), the collective commercial constituency within the National Association of REALTORS®.

For more than seven decades, IREM has been the source for education, resources, information, and membership for real estate management professionals. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®, IREM is the only professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors. With 80 U.S. chapters, eight international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that also serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

Membership includes more than 18,000 individual members and 500 corporate members. IREM promotes ethical real estate management practices through its credentialed membership programs, including the Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) designation, the Accredited Residential Manager^® (ARM^®) certification, the Accredited Commercial Manager certification, and the Accredited Management Organization^® (AMO^®) accreditation. These esteemed credentials certify competence and professionalism for those engaged in real estate management. In addition, IREM offers Associate, Student and Academic memberships.

Collectively, IREM CPM® Members in the United States manage over $1.5 trillion in real estate assets, including 8.4 million residential units and 8.4 billion net square feet of commercial space. An additional 977,400 residential units are managed by IREM ARM® Members. IREM Members are employed by some of the most prestigious real estate firms in the world and nearly 70% hold upper-level management positions. Due to their professionalism and vast experience, property owners and investors worldwide continually seek out the management services of IREM Members.

To learn more about the Institute of Real Estate Management and its chapter network, call (800) 837-0706, Ext. 4650 (outside the U.S. call (312) 329-6000) or visit www.irem.org.