|
|
 Doug Covill  Monday, December 12th, 2011  Five goals – some specific, some far-reaching – have guided the leaders and staff of SAR this year as we all work to serve you, our Members. As you read through this brief review, you will see that we have accomplished a lot this year.
- Improve Communications
- Develop a Green Program
- Establish a 501 (c) 3 Foundation
- Increase Diversity in Participation and in the Leadership
- Continue Focusing on SAR as a Progressive, Evolving Organization
SAR’s new charitable foundation will be fully up and running in 2012. Kathy Fox led the task force and Charlene Singley now chairs the Foundation board. Kathy continues to serve as vice-chair.
SAR continues to be recognized for its charitable contributions. Allison Couchman and Jenifer Miller led the Community Outreach Committee. With fewer dollars to distribute, committee members shifted their efforts to developing relationships with the charities SAR Members support. Watch this newsletter every month to learn about the charities and how you can volunteer.
The CanTree Committee under Ilah Turner and Bobby Campbell put on the Crab Fest and Sip & Support and has just finished building two Can Trees. Twenty nine years and going strong! Thanks to their efforts, SAR has given more than $2 million to the Salvation Army.
Led by Sandi Burden-Bradley and Ted Williams, the Equal Opportunity Committee organized a highly successful Multi Chamber Mixer, with the numerous ethnic chambers of commerce in the Sacramento area. They also worked on strengthening our relationship with the Asian Real Estate Association of American, Realtists and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.
Continue reading: President’s Perspective – December 2011
Nelson Janes Thursday, October 14th, 2010
 Starting in 2011, C.A.R. will be adding a $49 assessment to dues billings. Reprinted here is the information that C.A.R. has posted on their website.
Q. What is the new REALTOR® Action Assessment and when will it become effective?
A. It’s a $49 assessment that will go into effect with the 2011 dues billing cycle.
Q. How will the assessment appear on the dues billing statement?
A. C.A.R. is working on a revised dues billing statement for 2011 for those members billed directly by C.A.R. and for those Associations who use the C.A.R.-produced billing statement.
Q. Is this assessment mandatory?
A. Yes. A member may decide to satisfy the assessment in one of two ways: (1) By either making a voluntary contribution to the State REALTOR® Action Fund, which will be put into C.A.R.’s political action committees [California Real Estate Political Action Committee (CREPAC) and/or the California Real Estate Independent Expenditures Committee (CREIEC)], or be used for other political activities, or (2) by opting to send the funds to the C.A.R. general fund for political purposes.
Q. Why was the assessment needed?
A. Whether it’s the legislature looking to tap REALTORS®, the transaction, or our industry for additional sources of funding, placing restrictions on private property rights or on our right to conduct business, organized real estate must be continually vigilant in Sacramento to ensure that our interests are fairly represented.
This is even truer in today’s fiscal environment, with politicians searching for every available means to cut the state’s ballooning deficits and produce a balanced budget. C.A.R.’s opponents — the trial lawyers, for example — spend millions of dollars every year to fund candidates and legislators who support legislation creating additional liability for our members, increasing the likelihood of litigation and making it more difficult and more costly to be in business.
C.A.R.’s California Real Estate Political Action Committee (CREPAC) used to be in the top 10 of political action committees (PACs) in California. It now ranks 37th, according to a recent study of PAC spending in California. Special interest groups, including many supported by public finances, outspend CREPAC on a regular basis. The political assessment adopted by the C.A.R. Board of directors will help rectify this growing imbalance.
Continue reading: California Association of REALTORS’® Government Relations Assessment
Daniel Allen Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
 Steve Goddard - 2010 C.A.R. President Dear C.A.R. Member,
Summer is coming to a close and with it brings the expiration of one of California’s tax credits. As of this writing, California’s first-time home buyer tax credit expired effective midnight, August 15. That announcement came after the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) realized it had received more than enough applications to cover the $100 million allocated for eligible first-time home buyers. It is encouraging to learn that more than 33,000 Californians have taken advantage of this credit.
When working with your buyers, keep in mind that the FTB will continue to accept applications for the state’s New Home Credit. As of this writing, the state had received 12,090 reservation requests and applications, which is expected to utilize nearly 80 percent of the $100 million allocated to this program. The FTB will stop accepting applications for that program once it determines it has received sufficient applications and requests. You can follow that tax credit’s status at http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/New_Home_Credit.shtml.
One tradition for me and many of your colleagues is your Association’s annual Tech Tuesday and CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO. The event always presents top-line speakers and sessions, plus a chance to learn new business skills and technologies that will aid you in adapting to a market that is still in recovery mode. This year’s event, Oct. 5-7 at the Anaheim Convention Center, has been revamped, and if you’re a regular attendee, you’re in for a surprise: The content and the format are radically different. If you’ve never attended, plan to—you won’t be disappointed. Social media, millennial movers and shakers, cloud computing, and two new workshops, “speed dating” and a ReBar Camp, will take center stage. You can pick and choose sessions a la carté-style or choose one of our four educational tracks and stay in a designated lane during the event—your choice. This event is free, but registration is required. If you haven’t registered for CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2010, take a few minutes to sign up today by visiting http://expo.car.org or calling toll-free (800) 242-2732. Tech Tuesday, which precedes CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO, has a separate paid admission and offers a full day of technology training, will be held Oct. 5 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Continue reading: Your August Message from C.A.R. President Steve Goddard
Steve Goddard Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Steve Goddard - 2010 C.A.R. President Dear C.A.R. Member,
Big news to report from our board of directors’ meeting in Sacramento: On Saturday, June 12, the C.A.R. board of directors voted to approve a new structure for the statewide MLS that will merge the efforts of calREDD® with the Multi-Regional Multiple Listing Service Inc. (MRMLS).
This joint effort supports and is in line with the principles that have guided our efforts throughout the process of building a statewide MLS. The new structure will create one dynamic MLS provider serving more than 33,000 real estate professionals and 22 REALTOR® associations statewide.
It’s a huge stride forward for our members — combining our respective strengths and resources will significantly accelerate our shared vision and position the new entity to deliver even more expanded and efficient MLS services to you. You’ll have expanded access to MLS information, greater exposure for your listings, and eventually will be able to select either the calREDD® software system or the Tarasoft Matrix platform currently in use by MRMLS. You should expect to see even more choices and increased services over time.
Your Association will remain both a member and a fundamental part of the new entity, and will continue to have the right to approve actions such as merger, dissolution or sale of assets, changes in the purpose of the new entity, and changes in the board composition.
calREDD® and MRMLS will work closely during the transition to the new entity to ensure there are no disruptions in service, the needs of members continue to be met, and associations scheduled to join calREDD® are seamlessly added to the system. The Amador Association of REALTORS® is on schedule for a June 21 launch, followed by the Tehama Association of REALTORS® on June 28.
Continue reading: Your June Message from C.A.R. President Steve Goddard
Charlene Singley Friday, December 11th, 2009
 2009 SAR President - Charlene Singley They say time flies, and boy, does it! This year has gone so very quickly, and quite successfully too, I might add. The credit for any success has to be given to the nearly 200 individuals who volunteered during the year in so many ways.
When I asked how many individual people serve in one or more capacities, I was astounded when I was told it is nearly 200 people. And, in most cases, they don’t serve on only one committee. The generosity of spirit and time is truly inspiring.
First of all, I am the first to acknowledge that nothing in this association gets done without the absolute best staff in the entire state! The reason I always praise Nelson Janes at meetings is just because he does such an excellent job. He is the reason SAR maintains an even keel year after year. His leadership enables the association to hire and maintain such a high-quality staff. Each and every one works tirelessly on your behalf and I appreciate so very much everything they do for all of us.
The Education Committee stepped up the pace this year with many classes covering the hot button issues. The new Lunch & Learn classes have been extremely successful. Jeff Jurach and Denise Ross-Francom, the Chair and Vice-chair, and their committee members have done an excellent job.
Continue reading: PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE – Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
|
Register | Login
|
Recent Comments