The Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors this month held the election for its 2015-2016 Board of Directors. Members then gathered together on Thursday, Sept. 11 to announce the results of the election, receive an update on various programs and services, and recognize their newest Realtors Emeritus - agents who have been Realtors for 40 years.
2014 Association President Vicki Trapp opened the meeting with a moment of silence honoring the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. She then led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
While everyone’s attention was fresh, Trapp highlighted a number of upcoming events, including the annual Fall Festival, scheduled to take place Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. in the back parking lot at the Association. The event is free for members and their families; costumes are encouraged.
Trapp also mentioned the self-defense classes the Association is teaching in September in recognition of Realtor Safety Month. In light of recent national news stories about Realtors being attacked while showing a home, the Association this month has held two free self-defense classes. One more is scheduled for Sept. 23.
As of the meeting, the Association in 2014 had taught 86 classes for a total of 195 free CE hours.
Trapp also mentioned the upcoming e-Pro class, which she called “a great course.” Taught by Robert Morris, the class is scheduled to take place Thursday, Sept. 25. Since it is a designation course, a cost of $129 is involved. Visit www.gcar.net to register for this and other classes.
Through a series of slides, Trapp then offered a financial overview of the Association and the MLS.
With respect to the Association, she said revenue is up slightly, partially due to an increase in membership to 1,513, and expenses are up 24 percent, primarily as a result of funding more free classes than last year and the addition of an education manager to the staff. Trapp said the Association is on track to have a net income in 2014 of more than $24,000.
MLS revenues are up as well due to a jump in membership to 1,543, although expenses have increased slightly. Trapp said the MLS is on track to have a net income in 2014 of more than $15,000.
Trapp said she is not anticipating an increase in local Association or MLS dues for 2015, but that the budget and finance committee is still examining the budget for the upcoming year.
Trapp then took a few moments to talk about the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC). Due to several members who made key contributions, the Association exceeded its goal of raising $18,225, collecting a total of $30,061.96. While Trapp is thrilled with the results, she said only 361 members participated, or 25 percent of the Association’s membership. “We need to do better,” she said.
Next, Trapp invited 2014 Governmental Affairs Chairman Nickie Schwartzkopf to the podium to honor Realtor Bettye Parker for her years of service in governmental affairs at the local and state levels.
Trapp then shared “big news” about the MLS on behalf of President Byron Kelly, who was unable to attend the meeting. First, the MLS has agreed to participate in Realtors Property Resource, a service that provides agents with data on more than 166 million parcels of property in the U.S. Although the MLS has not yet started sharing its data with RPR, Trapp encouraged Realtors to register an account with the service now.
In “even bigger news,” Trapp played a video in which Kelly announced the switch to the Flex MLS system in February. “We’re still working out the details as we map our data to the new system,” Trapp said. “Look for more information regarding the actual conversation and training in the future.”
Flex MLS has more than 140,000 users, more than 135 MLSs as customers, and is the only MLS vendor owned by its employees. In addition, Flex has converted more Solid Earth accounts than any other MLS vendor.
Trapp then honored the members who have been Realtors for 40 consecutive years. She began by taking everyone on a stroll down memory lane: “Forty years ago, a postage stamp cost eight cents, a gallon of milk cost a dollar thirty one, a dozen eggs cost 78 cents, and the average house cost $37,000,” she said. “I think you’ll all agree it’s a great accomplishment to have been a Realtor for 40 consecutive years.”
The newest Realtor Emeritus members at the Association are: Peggy Jo Britton, George Elder, Ben Kelly, James Kelly, Mike McGauley, Wayne Roach, Patrick St. Charles III, and Chuck Tindell.
To close the meeting, Trapp announced the results of the election for the 2015 Board of Directors. After a week of online voting, Nathan Walldorf will be the 2015 president-elect, Robert Fisher will be the 2015 Secretary-Treasurer, and the 2015-2016 Board will include newly elected members Robert Backer, Kim Bass, Barry Hamilton, Denise Murphy, Geoff Ramsey, and Janice Robertson. These board members will serve under the leadership of 2015 president Travis Close.
“I want to give a sincere ‘thank you’ to all of our candidates,” Trapp said. “It’s hard sometimes to be willing to put yourself out there, especially knowing not everyone can be elected.
It sounds cliché, but it really is an honor to be asked to run for Board of Directors. Thank you to each of you for being willing to run and to serve.”