Tuesday in Las Vegas - for Association Executives
Association Executives Forum/Committee updates:
1. 2008 NAR President Dick Gaylord asked associations to treat each other with respect, and he mentioned that members need to get away from negativity, especially in a challenging market. He wants efforts to ensure vendor technology issues with NRDS are resolved faster and said three goals should be: serving the members, serving the members and serving the members.
2. NAR CEO Dale Stinton outlined status of initiatives including the establishment of a new company, Second Century Ventures, to consider potential technology initiatives from third parties; establishment of an Internet-based credit union for deposits and loans for members, associations, staff of associations (can't legally do MLS staff), and certain family members of REALTORS (parents, children, grandchildren) - will be hiring the CEO and anticipate a launch next year; NAR's national media campaign named "Surround Sound" due to expanded scope of efforts immediately and into future - 80-90% of NAR's ad campaign will switch to facts about the benefits of buying a home. NAR is to provide media consulting services, templates, spokesperson training, press releases, organizing press and PR events. Will start with pilot areas but expand nationwide fairly quickly.
3. Presented Work Group reports on Standards of Conduct for Associations including increasing awareness multiple ways: requesting inclusion in the Professional Standards Manual; and recommendation for no change related to authorizing satellite offices outside of assigned jurisdiction; and allowing dues incentives. Requesting white paper explaining territorial jurisdictions.
4. Developed new NRDS policies including encouraging adoption of Privacy and Security policies; expanded POEs (Points of Entry) to update certain parts of member data including MLS, secondary association, designated REALTOR - and requiring new POEs to be Central Database Compliant (CDB) which means able to update records online without batch uploads/downloads; add home address, email address, preferred phone to required core fields - requirement 1/1/08 for new members and 7/1/08 for existing members; will create standard online membership application form template; set goals and incentives for becoming central database complaint (recommend within two years, require by four).
5. Authorized establishment of rotation for future AE Institutes among finite number of cities in rotation among four Regions (3 U.S., 1 Canada) to be able to better control/establish budget costs.
6. Announced 38 new RCE designees.
7. Announced AE Carol Shapiro of MA is Terrence McDermott Community Service Award winner ; and scholarship recipients will be notified by email.
8. Recognized AE Committee Chairman Walt Baczkowski (pic) for his excellent leadership during 2007.
RPAC Trustees: I'm AE Liaison next year, so I sat in for a portion of the meeting (meaning there for breakfast, lunch, and two of five hours of discussion). Of interest - 11/1/07 date of membership count for 2008 fair share goal calculation; total goal is $10M in 2008 - planning additional fundraising support by RPAC Trustees; authorized funds to support AE program and major donor reception at AE Institute; continued expansion of advocacy assistance to states/locals including voter lists; authorized redesign of RPAC pin for major donors - eliminating "diamonds" on pins - replacing with number of years major donor, notation of current year, if participating in Presidents Circle - will still be Sterling, Crystal and Gold levels; retained only Hall of Fame level at $25K; and approved amounts under $1000 to be included in calculation for Hall of Fame (not solely major donor contribution amount).
Networking: Important and enjoyable part of meetings is networking. Got to spend hour with NAR staff member Hilary Marsh, who handles REALTOR.org content and other issues - for advice on my own association site, content, blog, etc. Learned a favorite AE managed to lose $155 in the PENNY slot machines first night ... Gotta love Vegas.
Comments
NARs establishment of Second Century Ventures, to fund new real estate technology initiatives, is an exciting development that is long over due. NAR and the Realtor community are finally embracing innovation, technology, and the Internet with about a $40M fund. If invested in web based technologies and without the traditional closed minded, protectionist views, this should be a smashing success!
Posted by: jonathan cardella | January 21, 2008 06:12 PM