National Association

Baltimore June 12-18 The Herb Society of America educational conference and membership meeting, BWI Marriott, Linthicum. Estimated attendance: 250. Contact: Michelle Milks. June 14-17 National Association of Credit Management annual congress and exposition, Hyatt Regency, 300 Light St. Estimated attendance: 2,500. Contact: Lynne Valentic, 410-740-5560 June 21-24 National Square Dance Convention, Baltimore Hilton Towers, Baltimore and Hanover streets. Estimated attendance: 20,000. Contact: Dick Peterson, 301-345-7450 June 29-July 3 National Association of Secretaries of State convention and exhibit, Renaissance Harborplace, Pratt and South streets.

WASHINGTON -- Wrestling with the effects of a sluggish economy and of the corrosive scandal at its national association this year, officials at the United Way say they fear that 1992 will bring the sharpest decline in donations in more than 40 years.The early returns from the fall campaigns of 2,200 local United Ways are mixed, but individual fund-raisers in several large metropolitan areas say the overall numbers are dipping below those of earlier years. Total contributions fell in each of the last two years, but, adjusted for inflation, there has not been a decline since World War II.In Cleveland, pledges are down about 9 percent, from $51.3 million in 1991 to $46.3 million this year.

Greenbelt Lake Village is honored by builders groupGreenbelt Lake Village, one of the Maryland's fastest growing condominium communities, has been selected by National Association of Homebuilders as the "Best New Affordable Home Community in the United States."The developer, Greenbelt Properties LLC., of Timonium, was among 700 entrants vying for the honor. It also received a Silver Award for the "Best Interior Merchandising" for Greenbelt Lake Village.The Prince George's County village was recognized for its "designer" community atmosphere, while offering residences with prices beginning in the $90,000 range.

Shirley Chernela, 73, a former administrator of Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City and the first woman to be president of the National Association of Temple Administrators, died Saturday of cancer at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She was president of the national administrators group from 1982 to 1985.

The Howard County Public School System Academy of Finance has named its new board members: Shana Bolton , of Ascend One; Chris Gable , of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Alicia Kong , of ING Financial Partners; Janet Oursler , of HCTA Federal Credit Union; Fred Shaw , of JPBE Enterprises; and Mark Yarbrough , of M & T Bank. National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Carroll/Howard presented Roger Diehl , outgoing president, with a plaque and gavel at the Oct. 13 general membership meeting held at the Best Western Westminster Conference Center and thanked him for his leadership over the past year.

The National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors-Carroll/Howard donated $250 to Carroll Hospice at the Board of Directors meeting, held Oct. 27 at the Women's Place offices located in The Billingslea Building, in Westminster. Accepting the check is Ginny Gambino, Director of Philanthropic Planning of Carroll Hospice from Brenda Myers, NAIFA-Carroll/Howard Community Chairwoman.

Morgan State University Alumni Association's Harford County Chapter held a meet and greet in Havre de Grace recently where the featured guest was the university's new president, David T. Wilson. Held at La Banque De Fleuve on May 29, the event was hosted by Morgan alumni County Executive David Craig and Bruce and Theresa Lewis of Total Urgent Care. Leaders of the local chapter and the national association are both hoping to increase enrollment and donations among the extensive network of Morgan alumni in Harford and Cecil counties, and having the opportunity to hear from and meet the new president certainly enhanced that effort, organizers said.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners suspended the accreditation of the New York State Insurance Department on yesterday as part of its effort to encourage states to adopt uniform and tougher guidelines in their regulation of the insurance industry.The suspension of the department, would have no immediate impact. But if the Legislature does not enact a number of model laws proposed by the association by the end of the year, New York's examinations of insurers next year no longer would be automatically accepted by departments in other states.

Urban Land Insitute opens Web site on Smart GrowthThe Urban Land Institute has launched a new resource Web site -- SmartGrowth.net -- with Dallas-based RealPage Inc.The site features position statements on Smart Growth from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders and the Sierra Club. It also includes abstracts of articles and links to organizations."Smart Growth issues represent perhaps one of the most challenging problems and opportunities we face as a nation," said ULI President Richard M. Rosan.

A measure of U.S. mortgage applications fell for a second week after reaching an eight-month high at mid-month, an industry group said Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association's index declined 2.1 percent to 1091.3 last week. The Washington group's index of applications for mortgages to buy homes dropped 1.1 percent to 443.8. Mortgage rates that are close to last year's record low are bringing more homebuyers into the market and encouraging a new round of refinancing. Sales of new and existing homes rose last month, and the National Association of Realtors said last month that it may raise its forecast for this year's resales.