When new members receive their REALTOR® logo pin, it’s a rite of passage, but it can feel less so if new members are simply handed pins during orientation or must pick them up from the association office.
North Central Mississippi REALTORS® wanted a better way to bring new members into the association to ensure they felt welcomed, recognized and connected from the start. The old way was functional, Association Executive Amy Collins says, “but it lacked the visibility and sense of accomplishment that comes with being recognized in front of peers.”
In 2025, NCMR began pinning new members during its quarterly general membership meetings, which attract between 75 and 125 attendees. Once the association made the switch, it felt natural: “We wanted to create a more meaningful milestone in a member’s journey,” Collins says. “Becoming a REALTOR® is a significant achievement, and we felt it deserved public recognition. We also saw it as an opportunity to introduce new members to the broader membership and encourage participation beyond orientation.”
For the association, the work of adding a pinning ceremony to the general membership meeting was minimal. After new members complete their orientation, they are invited to the next general meeting. There, Collins calls forward each new member, presents their REALTOR® pin, and invites them all to take a group photo. “We also publicly welcome them and encourage members in attendance to introduce themselves and help them become involved in the association,” she says.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive from both new and existing members. New members frequently invite brokers, mentors, colleagues and even family members to attend the pinning, while existing members say they enjoy welcoming and celebrating the newest members of the REALTOR® family. “We have heard comments from new members that the ceremony made them feel like they were truly becoming part of the organization rather than simply completing a requirement,” Collins says.
That perhaps is the best benefit of this simple but impactful change. Often, Collins adds, the pinning ceremony is a new member’s first introduction to the larger community. Attendance by other new members has also increased. “We believe the ceremony has strengthened members’ sense of belonging by creating a shared experience and public acknowledgment of their achievement,” she says.
Local Guide for New Members
North Central Mississippi REALTORS® has found that another invaluable tool for engagement and belonging is its Local New Member Guide.
While national and state resources are important, new members also need information specific to their local market and association, says Amy Collins, association executive at NCMR. The guide includes:
- Local contacts
- Committee opportunities
- Event information
- MLS resources
- Key policies
- Community involvement opportunities
- Tips for getting engaged quickly
- State and national resources and benefits
Every new member receives the guide as part of orientation, and it is also available electronically through the association’s online member resources. “Having a localized guide helps members understand not only what the association offers but also how they can become active participants in our REALTOR® community locally, at the state level and nationally,” Collins says.
