In This Issue
Mergers aren’t for everyone. Often there’s no overarching reason or desire to merge, but there is a middle ground. I’d bet any association could find at least one program, service, or event that would benefit from collaboration with another REALTOR® association.
In his 25 years of executive recruiting for associations, Leonard Pfeiffer has placed CEOs into the top spots at dozens of new associations and MLSs created out of mergers. Here, he offers his advice to AEs facing the career uncertainty of a merger.
Have one bad meal at a restaurant and you may never go back, plus you’ll tell all your friends about the experience. It’s the same with your association classes. All it takes is one boring, unprepared, or just uninteresting speaker and your members—as well as their colleagues—may never take, or recommend to others, another class. No association can afford to have bad speakers undermine their entire education program.
It took only one meeting for the leaders of the REALTOR® Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches and the REALTOR® Association of Miami-Dade County to decide to merge.
Associations considering a merger—or any other type of complex and lengthy decision-making process—face the question: How and when do we tell the members?
Pooling resources can be cost-effective and joint events can be convenient, but even in today’s weak economy, many small-association AEs cite a wide variety of reasons not to merge.
New NAR outreach program for local associations complements REALTOR.com’s new international features.
For association executives under 40, and others seeking insights into how younger AEs view the industry, NAR launched the AE YPN (Young Professional Network) with an inaugural meeting at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans.
RAMCO (REALTOR® Association Management System Cooperative) the feature-rich, comprehensive association management system being created for all REALTOR® associations worldwide, now includes robust tech support through the Florida REALTORS® Technology Helpline Service.
John Hicks, director of MLS training and outreach at Central Virginia Regional MLS, is the 2011 recipient of the Terry McDermott Community Leadership Award for
his work with the Joni and Friends camps for children with disabilities.
The popular business magazine SmartMoney named NAR CEO Dale Stinton to its annual Power 30 feature of the “World’s Most Influential Players.” The magazine recognized Stinton for keeping the country’s largest professional trade association “on the offensive” while real estate was struggling to recover from the mortgage crisis.
An administrative law judge ruled that a broker acted in bad faith by registering two domain names, listonrealtor.com and listitonrealtor.com, and ordered the names transferred to NAR.
• The Arkansas Association of REALTORS® in January appointed Mark G. Marchand as its new chief executive officer, replacing Andy Schaus. Marchand moved from the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® and was replaced by Richard J. D’Ascoli.
• The Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® in September welcomed Anne Gardner, RCE, CAE, as the local...
The Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® cut the red ribbon on its new “green” headquarters building in September. The $11.5 million building project adheres to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines and features earth-friendly bamboo flooring, recycled construction materials, and large windows and glass office walls that maximize natural light.
Organizers of the 21st Annual Tucson Association of REALTORS® Shootout, a youth soccer tournament, took time during opening ceremonies Jan. 14 to honor the victims of the January attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that killed six. The annual event, which has grown to more than 5,000 participants and 300 soccer teams, generated more than $2.5 million for the Tucson economy.
The Amarillo Association of REALTORS® has partnered with local police to promote the use of DataDots to deter theft and retrieve stolen property.
The Housing Opportunity Fund, a National Association of REALTORS® grant program, has presented $50,000 to 15 local and state REALTOR® associations to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities.
The Chicago Association of REALTORS® recently rolled out a new initiative to bring services and education out to larger member offices during three-hour visits. The C.A.R.2U programs hopes to bridge the gap between the association and members who do not regularly read CAR’s communications, and to enable staff to stay in touch with member needs and industry trends.
Inspirational ways to enhance members’ success dominates the array of offerings at the 2011 Association Executives Institute in Dallas, March 18–22.
AEs: NAR has developed a sample employee manual that can be tailored to your organization. The manual includes policies on electronic communications and social media, harassment, alcohol and drug abuse, privacy, and safety. Be sure to have the manual reviewed by your legal counsel to ensure it complies with state law.
A new program for REALTORS®, AEs, and association staff aims to halt identity theft.
Now REALTORS® can access, customize, and professionally print NAR’s most popular brochures and guides using the new Print on Demand program.
The AE Committee’s “Next Generation Communications Workgroup” recently launched online a group of innovative communication initiatives from REALTOR® associations across the country.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ marketing department manages and maintains the association’s branding and graphic standards.
These 14 REALTOR® association executives earned their RCE (Realtor® association Certified Executive) designation after an extensive course of study and exam in November. RCE is the only professional designation designed specifically for Realtor® association executives.
One of the toughest decisions to make in an association merger is how to merge staff. You—and your employees—know there’s no room for two education managers or two professional standards administrators. So, how can you blend, balance, and build the staff your new organization needs with the least amount of stress?
