The Chattanooga Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) has been active since 1957, making 2015 its 58th year as a successful networking organization. Newly installed president Susan Barnette and her team of officers for 2016 are already working to ensure they continue the tradition of meaningful service to the group’s members during the upcoming year.
The new officers were installed during the WCR’s December luncheon, held Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Serving with Barnette in 2016 will be Treasurer Deborah Radford, Secretary Debra Loomis, Vice-President of Membership Joyce Smith, and President-Elect Brenda Pargeon.
The new officers replaced those who served in 2015, including Pargeon (treasurer), Laurena Morehead (secretary), Radford (vice-president of membership), Barnette (president-elect), and Kim Bass (president).
“In the life of every organization, it falls on some to lead and others to follow,” said Realtor Jennifer Grayson before the installation ceremony. “Today, we pay tribute to our retiring officers and salute our new leaders.”
Barnette said teamwork will be the organization’s guiding principle during 2016. “True teamwork is the rarest, most exhilarating, and most productive human activity. Every business wants to harness its incredible energy, but achieving it is not easy,” she said. “A team is not just a group of individuals who work at the same location, or have the same logo on their business card. A team is made up of people who might be unequal in education, talent, or experience, but are equal in their commitment to work together to achieve goals and to promote the good of the organization and each other. It requires commitment, effort, and a willingness to accept the uniqueness of others.”
The officers for 2016 have already put plans in place for 2016. If approved by the Board of Governors, the monthly luncheons will feature several panels that could prove beneficial to Realtors, including an appraiser panel, a title panel, a lender panel, a business planning panel, and a financial planning panel. Also on the tentative agenda are two fundraisers.
“This is a great time to be a part of the Women’s Council,” Barnette said.
Before Grayson installed the new officers, 2015 President Kim Bass took a few moments to look back on the WCR’s accomplishments this year. The most significant was raising $2,500 for the MaryEllen Locher Foundation, a local college scholarship program for the children of breast cancer victims, during Bras for a Cause in October. MaryEllen Locher Administrator Cindy Pare attended the luncheon to accept the check. The foundation awards scholarships to Chattanooga area students.
“I admired the committee and its hard work,” Pare said about the team at the WCR that put together Bras for a Cause. “Everyone took a role and did their part, and it turned out perfectly. Thank you very much.”
Pare said the foundation hopes to offer a WCR-branded scholarship in the future. The WCR plans to host the second Bras for a Cause in 2016.
Bass also named the WCR’s Affiliate of the Year. In a tearful announcement, she said Jill McLean of Cohutta Banking Company (Synovus) worked tirelessly on Bras for a Cause, and wholly deserved the honor. “The first time is the hardest. You make all of the mistakes,” Bass said. “But in spite of ourselves and because of her, it was a success.”
In closing, Bass said she enjoyed her term as president, despite being hesitant to assume the position. She credited her fellow officers with making serving a good experience. “Without the people here at the (head) table with me, we would not have accomplished the things we did,” she said. “Our chapter made great progress in terms of membership, in this community, and in the Realtor organization.
“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to serve. It’s helped me to grow as a person and as a Realtor. I look forward to a long relationship with this organization.”
Bass then said her work was done. Grayson let her know she was wrong.
“We recycle the good ones,” she said.
The WCR will hold its next business resource luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at the Choo Choo. The event is scheduled to feature a panel of local appraisers, including Laura Covington, Wells Eady, and Chuck Martin, who will address appraisal issues that affect the real estate business.
For more information about the local chapter of the WCR,visit www.wcr.org/chapter-sites/tennessee/chattanooga.
To see more photos, pick up a copy of the Hamilton County Herald.