This week NAR will conduct a Town Hall Meeting with REALTORS® from across the country to discuss the results of our annual public policy survey. At the meeting, we will rank the legislative and regulatory policy issues that affect our members and industry.
The survey asked members their opinion of various public policy issues. The over 30 issues included: Mortgage Interest Deduction, Capital Gains Exclusion on Principal Residence, Short Sales, Home Valuation Code of Conduct, Small Business Health Coverage, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Available and Affordable Property Insurance, and Conforming and FHA Loan Limits.
This week the survey results will be posted on Realtor.org/GovernmentAffairs. As soon as our 2010 Public Policy Agenda is finalized, we’ll also post it on the Government Affairs page.
Town Hall meetings like these represent the best of what NAR stands for. We exist for one reason: To make our members more successful. With that being said, the motor of NAR’s public policy agenda is YOU — our members.
What do you believe are the most important policy issues that the National Association of REALTORS® needs to focus on in 2010? Form your own Town Hall below and get the conversation going!
And stay tuned to the President’s Report this week for more news on the Town Hall and other NAR issues. – Vince Malta, 2010 NAR Vice President and Liaison to Government Affairs
Being a leader at the National Association is a true privilege, an awesome experience, and a genuine challenge.
At this point, my term as President-Elect is almost one quarter over. While time accelerates when you get older, it leaps into supersonic speed when in leadership. It is noteworthy that my term as President (2011) will be over in 21 months, November 2011. Every second, even the exasperating ones, of this experience is worth it. In every sense of the word this is a privilege. Our organization is special with a high purpose, professional members, talented staff, and a mission beyond our self interest. It is one of those rare places where the people around you, not only encourage but also ‘make’ you into a better person and leader.
One of the reasons this is true is that ‘the leadership team’ really is a team. We work together. We discuss, disagree, deliberate, and decide. I am truly fortunate as the team I work with is very collaborative: Vicki Cox Golder, President; Moe Veissi, First Vice President; Jim Helsel, Treasurer; Dale Stinton, CEO; Charles McMillan, Immediate Past President; Brook Hunt, Vice President of Committees and Vince Malta, Vice President of Government Affairs. This group listens, analyzing and then reacts. Decision making is cautious and reflective. Yet decisions are made.
It is a demanding and challenging route to become an NAR officer. My experience is typical as I began campaigning in my home region in 2003, to become President in 2011.
The campaign process to become a Congressman, United States Senator, or even President, is shorter. It causes me to pause when I hear talented future NAR leaders talk about running to be President or Treasurer in 2021 or later. What is good about our process is that it ‘vets’ candidates. With the political process, the nominating process, and the Board of Directors review, one has been thoroughly researched and qualified. It is in many ways an endurance process. It is in the end worth it.
Each member of the leadership team has to balance NAR work, professional work, family, home, exercise, and prayer/reflection. Most of us still work in our core business.
I am typical in that I still work with sellers and buyers. This week, I listed two properties and am getting ready for two closings next week. (Thank God). Obviously, in our family business I have backup and support. My wife Susan Martins-Phipps and my sons Ian and Matt cover what I cannot. One advantage of being involved in the business is that you really know what is happening in the field. That helps when speaking for Realtors®, particularly in Congress. It would be fair to say that balancing this is very difficult.
One of the reasons it is challenging is you must exercise personal triage. You cannot do everything, so you are forced to choose. How do I balance my work load with my NAR responsibilities, and still have time for family, exercise, religion, etc? I will share that it is a daily deliberation.
In the end, the pursuit of leadership is nothing short of great: a great experience, a great opportunity, a great challenge, and a great journey. Thank you for letting me travel this path. – Ron Phipps, President-Elect 2010
I’ve received numerous calls during the past week, asking how REALTORS® can support the relief efforts in Haiti. Later today, I will be sending an e-mail to all members with information on our efforts, but I thought it was also worth posting here, in case you miss my e-mail.
First, NAR has partnered with Lowe’s to make two sizable donations related to the relief efforts. For more information on that, please read our news release.
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/01/donate_relief
Additionally, we have once again opened the REALTORS® Relief Foundation to accept donations from REALTORS®. Every penny you donate will go directly to the cause, so please consider making a contribution today. Even the smallest amount can make a big difference.
https://secure.realtor.org/RelFundTrack.nsf/Contribution?OpenForm
On behalf of NAR, I thank you in advance for your help. Once again, REALTORS® are proving that our compassion and dedication to rebuilding communities truly has no bounds . – Vicki Cox Golder, 2010 NAR President
We recently upgraded our blog to give you more organized access to the information, a cleaner look and feel, and an address that’s easier to remember.
You may also notice that we’ve rearranged a bit. You will now find “Leave a Comment” at the top of the blog post, under the title.
Want to see what everyone is talking about, or simply get more exposure? We’ve added a “Recent Comments” section in the right column that lists the 5 most recent comments and their authors. Readers can click on a commenter’s name to go right to their Web site. So keep the discussion going—and don’t forget to add a link to your site.
Finally, our new address is:
http://voicesofrealestate.blogs.realtor.org/
Take a look around and let us know what you think!
