Esar's Weblog

Sight Seeing !!

esarmls — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:36:24 +0000

After we finished the day of work we took a brief jont to

Colorado’s Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs.

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Member Scorned

esarmls — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:25:28 +0000

~~~ Sorry,

I am unable to share the secrets of this wonderful session on handling member crisis’s and

member retention.

But— here’s a few great pictures of the Broadmore !!

Legislative Advocacy Lunch

esarmls — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:00:01 +0000

RPAC has lowered the Major Donor Limits.
Keynote speaker: Jim Vandehei (a founder of “Politico”– the online
resourse for anything and everything political.)
Fun things he said–
When washington does something fast, look out. When washington does
something in a rush, duck!
Said water cooler talk in washington is to use the tax code against
all people given bonusaks and taxing them at 90*/*!
What he has learned in the past few weeks about Obama.
#1 He swings to the fences- the biggest of everything.
#3 He isn’t a great communicator.
He speaks un-even. One day negative, the next day positive.
#4 He doesn’t always walk on water.
#5 His budget has a 1.85 billion dollar deficet for this year. That
means this year the tax money we pay will only cover about half of the
costs of the country.
#6 He is being awakened by facts that he didn’t have when he made so
many of his campaign promises.
#7 Is he Liberal or Concervative/ centurist Republican? He seems to be
operatining inbetween. It will be some time before we figure out what
his idology is.
#8 Is his team as smart as we think they are? In retrospect, most
people feel they are not. We hope he has surrounded himself with the
best and brightest, but you never know! Time will tell. Many of his
team have bad records.
#9 Are his goals too lofty? Cure Cancer? Education K-College? Time
will tell. Washington is run by Democrats. He maybe able to push
things thru.

Q+A –
***What he thinks about newspapers going out of business:
If were smart, envision journalism with out the extra fluff. There
will be smaller, leaner papers. But we neeed newspapers and reporters!
Esp in this time with party run washington you need the watchdog
reporters.
**Thoughts about Obamas webcast regarding Iran. His tone was different
than past president. He is trying to work with them, to get them to
change.
***What about the banks, how to find which ones will make it? The
white house knows if the banks go down they pull the economy w/it, and
that the public is angry with them.

Flo Freeman, Karen Dearman-Bailey, Laura Flournoy, Nikki Harris, Kim Mangum and Lisia Amburn.

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Recipe for a Strong Board

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:49:23 +0000

Robert Harris CAE, The NonProfit Center

(www.nonprofitcenter.com ) bob@rchcae.com

Bob talked about:

Proficiencies of a Good AE

1. Board Development

2. Association management

3. Strategic Direction

Board Orientation: Building their team, Inventory of resources, Common Association Functions check list, Laminated Guide.

Association Management: Documents; Mandatory, Should have, Nice for healthy association; IRS Policy Guide

Strategic Direction: Plan, Mission, Vision, Goals, Strategies.

** Board members need training (Orientation) to become effective Directors.

How often- every year,

How Long of a meeting- 90 minutes to 3 hours,

Who to invite- all BOD members, committee chairs and even future leaders.

Who presents- the AE/Eo + President, Lawyer re:AntiTrust, Accountant re:how to read, financial state of assoc.

What do you give them – Mission Statement, Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, Policies and a yellow highlighter.

Time frame 30% About the Assoc, 30% Board Roles, 15% Protecting the Assoc, 25% Strategic Direction

Leadership Pipeline (new Article) What do we do to build leaders

1. Board Orientation

2. Pose the question – ASK!

3. Leadership Academy/Course

4. Young Professionals Group

5. Leadership Handbook

What is in the Leadership HandBook?? {on page 10 in Bobs Handout on Flash Drive}

Bob spends a lot of time talking about Non Profit Association IRS Laws. Our association is NOT a nonprofit.

But the 990 form would be interesting to read.

go to www.irs.gov and search the “New 990″.

The IRS website says: The Board is in charge of Governance decisions on behalf of the organization,

its shareholders and members.

The CEO is the person who has ultimate responsibility for implementing the decisions of the Board of Directors.

Every member of a BOD needs to be able to articulate the Mission Statement.

(Mission= who we are, who we serve, what we offer) [alignment w/the NAR mission statement]

Suggests putting association Mission Statement on the back of AE Business Card. On the back of

name tent cards, on the wall of the board room.

Strategic Plan = give it to the members. Be proud of it. Make a pretty handout/pamphlet for

members, stakeholders, chambers.

Board Responsibilities

1. Determine Mission and purpose

2. Select the Chief paid Executive Officer

3. Support CEO and asses performance

4. Ensure effective organizational planning

5. Ensure adequate resources

6. Resource and financial oversight

7. Determine, monitor and enhance programs+services

8. Promote organizations image

9. Ensure legal and ethical integrity

10. Recruit+ Orient new BOD members and assess Board performance.

The BOD has 3 Duties: Care- care and judgement in making decisions on behalf of organization interests

Loyalty- to be faithful to the organization, avoiding conflicts of interests

Obedience- comply with governing documents

AEI Forum

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:26:24 +0000

Laurie Janick explained the Implementation of the NEW MLS
requirements. The Participation Agreement for Brokers makes Brokers
agree as a condition of MLS participation to agree that they currently
do and will on a continual basis actively endeavor to list property
and/or accept offers of co-operation.
    Next Q– about seller opt out forms. She/Laurie states that form
needs to be put into all listing contracts, and that ever homeowner
should be made aware of the language, even if our MLS does not have
any operating VOW websites.
     The sites with VOW’s must give the MLS and other participants
access to the VOW. This is designed to allow other participants to
verify that their information displayed on the VOW is accurate w/o
having to sign in and agree to a brokerage relationship as the client
who signs on is required.
    There is more NEW mandatory language for our MLS Rules/Regs. For
the broker participation. AE will present to MLS committee.
Next: RPR- Realtors Property Resource Update from Jeff Young. This
project is one of NAR’s Second Century Initiatives. The mission
statement is: “To provide a comprehensive, catalogued database of
real estate information on every parcel of property in the United
States.”. SOOooo….What IS this??
A website with data of every property/home ever to empower Realtors
and Consumers to educate themselves before buying. NAR is trying to
create a single sourse database w/the greatest depth of property
information available. This will be the “gold standard” of real
property information, making NAR members more efficient by allowing
them to focus on customer service, generating more opportunities for
the exchange of real property.
There will be test markets for/of this starting in June 2009.
SOOOooo… Why is this important??
Other companies are currently trying to create this data base also(ie-zillow)
Thus it is important that Realtors are ahead and are the developers of
this sort of program to keep members in the middle of the
transaction!!
You have Q’s ?? Go to www.Realtor.ogand search “RPR”.

Other things we did was salute the 2008 RCE designees. (And I’m one!!)
And talk about NAR’s Lottery for hotels at the Mid Year cinvention in DC and anual Convention.

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MLS 5.0 with Saul Klein

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:09:36 +0000

Saul Klien starts by saying ~ suspend you skepticism.
Real estate conferences are saying the MLS is dead. But since its
creation has been a source of power for the industry. It can continue,
but will have to change. Capitalize on strengths
*Rich accurate data
*Governance and enforcement
*Work force our Realtors
*Knowledge of the transactions
No one can replace this!
MLS 5.0 – its not just different, its dramatically different.

(Not MLS 2.0- more different!)
We need to build an eco system around the data that allows for innovation.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself- HDR
The association will be redefined by MLS 5.0, the consumer and the
Realtor in the transaction. This will require a socialization of the
idea that the information needs to be circulated. How to start the
socialization? How to build 5.0 ?
With the technology available if we started over today who would we do
it? What would it look like? The mission is to keep the Realtor in the
center of the real estate conversation. (As opposed to the center of
the transaction as before) Real estate is a life time conversation!!
It extends far in advance of a purchase.
We need to step out into the future and figure out what we can build
around our MLS to make it relevant in the future. Future by design.
It will be built in the spirit of web 2.0. (What is web 2.0? –
amazon, and buying a book. How you can read reviews people submit, and
then the system will send you notes, if you like that, you may like
this.) It will employ social networking ideas. Consumers will
congregate around websites with information, groups, community….
It needs to be parcel based. Not transaction based. So it would be a
property wiki. (Resemble a wiki, ie: wikapedia.com)
Searching for RE itself has become a recreational sport.
Owners want their homes advertised everywhere, because people search
everywhere! Distribution trumps destination.
Single point of entry w/ listing syndication.
New data search standards will be possible.
We would be able to present data in multiple languages!
The new MLS will also have ratings for agents.

Cool new site: www.OnlineHouseTrading.com what if it started to work? Its
like match.com…. Interesting is what it is! www.GoSwap.org is another
one. Check it out members! Be aware of the world developing around
you!

Time is of the essence.

Leaders build bridges from where we are to where we want to be! They
focus the majority of their efforts and thoughts in the future. They
understand the nature of fundamental change. Appreciate complex
systems ans how they work.
As leaders we now need to socialize the idea of MLS 5.0.
Because its coming. The faster we work with it, the sooner we will be
at the top of our fields.
Saul’s final comment- if you don’t have the right tool- even if your
real good with the old tool, your still going to loose.

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BE A WIKI WEB WONDER

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:04:34 +0000

Presented by: Ben Martin, Director of Communications+New Media VAR

and Keith Garner, VP Information Technollogy Services NAR

Communicating w/members. Computers come w/tools. Social media is peer
to peer communication. It depends on interaction between people. We as
a concept is smarter than me.

Talked about RSS feeds and how to use them.

Google Alerts for your name – association name if your name is on the
web it will send it to you.

Blogs- use in real estate? People are branding themselves,
distingusing from peers, demonstrate skill as a practitioner, increase
visibility. Some Realtors are writing about small communities,
getting into minute details about the properties.
Customers are going to Google before they look at MLS’s. They put in
the name of town, and blog posts are what come up first.
Uses for associations of Blogs? Turn newsletters into blogs.
Do’s & Dont’s – be yourself. Think of your audience. Build community.
Don’t hard sell. Read other blogs. Remember your grammar.
A Wiki — (www.wetpaint.com) it is a site where you can set up an event
and invite people to participate/alter the information. Great for
staff collaboration. Use for committees working on documents.

Twitter is micro blogging. It is sharing short bite sized updates
about your life. People put little posts about what they were doing.
140 characters at a time. Ask your members what they are doing and
learn about what matters to them.

Social networking sites;
Facebook and LinkedIn. FB is more social, LinkedIn is business.
You can create a communication network group. And only allow members to
join. Difference between pages and groups tho.

I loved this class!

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ROAD TRIP with GAR & ALICE

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:58:29 +0000

Things to help members:
Courses/tools
        Strategic marketing skills
        How to be more green
         Forclosure prevention
         Short sales webinar
         Profile of homebuyers/sellers
        FielsGuide to thriving in a difficult Economy.
        Offer Relevent Stuff
        Right Tools Right Now

Dealing w/Less
         Trim everywhere
         Go paperless
          Cooperate w/neighboring Assoc.
          New Non Dues Revenue
          Time to ReInvent yourself
          Shake it up. Stay positive!

What are you doing; engaging members and keeping costs low. {Audience participation.}
      * Education for no cost added
      * Realtors support Arts program
      * Board + staff training for Goals
      * No mailing, FaceBook, Twitter
      * YPN group. (Young professional net)
      * classes on how to pull stats from the MLS.
      * Find facts on how great it is to live in your city.

        *Use NAR Surround Sound program.
        * Offering services to other assoc.’s
        * Work w/local community college on RE classes.
        * Offer home buyers classes to public for small fee.
        * Started own magazine.

Christine Todds’ top 10 things to get through stressful times (NAR search CT)

Input from Gar Anderson
Top 10 Priority Goals from his nationwide Strat Plann
1. Apathy
2. Leadership training
3. Communication
4. Increase Image in Public
Gars #1 issue he talks about in retreats: our agent controlled process
has become a consumer controlled process. 77% of all home buyers are
using the Internet to research the agents they will use. He compared
EBay rating of sellers to the ability to rate agents and a new website
www.incredibleagents.com . Where agents can post themselves/market
themselves.
Agents have to get proactive in selling themselves. But beware- if
your not a great agent, it will haunt you. (On this site you can reply
to negative input tho.)
The transparency horse is out of the barn. We can’t be afraid. We must
be proactive if we are to continue to be relevant.

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MANAGING LEADER EXPECTATIONS

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:47:00 +0000

A forms based approach to managing leader expectations, presented Rob Authier.
*    Tell your leaders we need them to be successful in RE during their
        Presidency. Its bad for them to pass the gavel and say it was a
        horrible year for your business.
* Leaders need to keep us informed.
        And we need to tell them everything first. Also, don’t shoot the
       messenger. Take bad news to anyone with a few well thought out
       options.
*Have a presidents check list to help determine the division of
       duties. Rob suggested asterisking the way it is normally done.
* Our leaders want to know what they have to do and when. Month to
       month list of meetings, conferences. Check list of the things they do-
       Rob has on flash drive.
* Have them learn from predecessors. Have a meeting of 3-4 past
       presidents to discuss Presidentcy. Gives them mentors. Topic ideas-
       working w/leadership team, selecting committee chairs. AE not go to
        meeting
* Ownership interest/ conflict of interest documents, share at every
       committee meeting.
* Have a crisis communication management plan. Each crisis has its own
       team. (See flash drive!)
* Have an employment agreement. You can do a one year evergreen.
* CEO evaluation form.
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AEI OPENING SESSION

esarmls — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:29:07 +0000

President spoke about decisions behind Right Tools Right Now. Said
they considered giving $80.00 to each member, but where would we be
after that? Decided to help them/us do things we would not have done
for ourselves. These services are not free. They cost, but NAR is
providing them at no additional cost. He mentioned that some people
are opting out of emails and would we please not. understands there is
a lot of info…

VA AE’s on AEC — Dave P, Rebecca G and Ben Martin.

Speaker- Dr Nido Qubein President of High Point University.
Happy, smiling, optimistic. He commented that out of the last 100
speeches he has given this is the first with an American flag. It told
him all he needed to know about this organization. He owns Natures
Harvest Bread Co. He said he started buying real estate when he was
25 yrs old and made it a point to buy 1 every year. His talk has to do
with discovering the obstacles in our lives? Keeping us from achieving
the great things in life. And do you have the courage to remove the
obstacles in your life? Do not be a victim of the now. Believe. Out of
adversity can emerge abundance. Story- Koi fish in a bowl only grows
to 2″, but put it in a pond it will learn and grow to great sizes. We
must be willing to face adversary and grow. Another point is Who you
spend time with is Who you will be. And What you choose is What you
get. Make a TO BE list; I want to be, I want to become, I want to
transform…. Focus on the fundamentals that will get you where you
want TO BE…
Nobody wants to change but the baby in a wet diaper. We need to change.
William Barkley said give and forget, receive and never forget.

You can’t teach joy, but you can model.
You can’t teach generosity, but you can model generosity.
Respect authority but never be intimidated by it!
Differentiate yourself, focus on the customer.
You make a decision w/your brain, a commitment with your heart. That’s
why they are harder to break.

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