The North Carolina Candidates' Club began from Joe Hunt’s vision of increasing the professionalism and respect for those working in the assessment field. His idea was that increasing the number of assessment employees with professional designations would give the entire career field more respect. To accomplish this, Joe Hunt developed the Candidates' Club to promote designations and encourage more people to complete the requirements for a designation.

Later IAAO began promoting the concept of Candidate Clubs as a way of increasing the number of designations. Many assessment professionals have benefited from help provided by the Candidates' Clubs.

Thanks to the SOG Library, we’ve not only revealed the origins of the Candidates' Club, but also some important history between the Institute of Government, IAAO, and the NCAAO. (documents linked below).

Below are some specific finds, but take some time and read through the newsletters and recognize some of the names, pictures, and inspirations that were present during this time.

• The March 1984, first issue, introduces the idea behind The Candidates’ Club, includes several mentions of IAAO, and features a guest columnist from IAAO, Dean McQuown.
• The first meetings were held at the Institute of Government and required a $1 registration fee specifically earmarked for coffee and Cokes at break.
• The third issue mentions Joe Hunt received IAAO’s Verne W. Pottorff Award for organizing the Candidates’ Club.
• The fourth issue reveals the name change to the “North Carolina Candidates’ Club” to identify the State of North Carolina as founder of the first Candidates’ Club in what appeared to soon become part of the national IAAO professional admissions program.
• The fourth issue announces the NCAAO voting to grant $1,000 to the Club treasury. The $10 membership dues were established. There is a reserve book collection at the Institute of Government Library for candidates.
• The fifth issue, page 2, gives some history on NC’s legal requirements for assessors and appraisers, and how the IAAO program functioned as an integral part.
• Issue five mentions discussion at the annual conference, IAAO pledged support of Candidates’ Clubs as part of the professional designation program.
• Issue five introduces the constitution of the NC Candidates' Club.
• The title page of Issue 6 summarizes the NC designation program as three opportunities for certification and professional recognition. Joe Hunt was a strong advocate for professional development and designation programs. I think that is probably the reason the SOG has been a part of the NCAAO designation program and certification committee.

The Virtuoso no. 1, March 1984

The Virtuoso no. 2, September 1984

The Virtuoso no. 3, May 1985

The Virtuoso no. 4, February 1986

The Virtuoso no. 5, December 1986

The Virtuoso no. 6, January 1988

The Virtuoso no. 7, November 1988

The Virtuoso no. 8, Last Issue