Editorial
Front Page - Friday, December 17, 2010
WCR gives their all during last meeting of the year
Erica Tuggle
The final meeting of the Chattanooga Women’s Council of Realtors for 2010 brought with it the ornament giveaway, Toys for Tots collection, awards and the induction of the officers for 2011. Kaye Ivey was inducted as president, Brenda Pargeon as treasurer, Nina Boss as secretary, Ann Martin as president-elect and Martha Miller as vice-president of membership.
- Erica Tuggle
The December meeting of
the Chattanooga Women’s Council of Realtors brought out the good feelings of the holidays and the spirit of gift giving was strong. First, the Realtors brought toys to give to Toys for Tots. Second, they gave ornaments and Christmas gifts for the prize drawing activity. And finally, the officers that were installed at the meeting for the 2011 year gave their word that they would uphold the office they were being sworn into and lead the WCR into the new year with success and progress like the retiring officers before them.
Francie Ryder, executive director of the GCAR, was on hand to give inspirational words on success from the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Two super sponsors, Tab Tollett and Associates, appraisers, and Cornerstone Community Bank shared this meeting’s designation. Karen Flores, one of the original 15 employees that opened Cornerstone in 1996, expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to thank the Realtors of the WCR they do business with.
Flores also explained that under the poinsettias the super sponsor had provided for all guests was a flier explaining the details of a new program Cornerstone will roll out after the beginning of the year. She says Cornerstone met with area Realtors, got feedback on the difficulty they were having in obtaining loans and determined what kind of programs would help.
This new program in response to those meetings will offer loan options that work with local appraisers from a qualified list, base loan decisions locally for quicker response time and closing, remain competitive on jumbo loan products and condo financing. Additionally, it will offer bridge financing for customers who need to buy before their former residence sells, provide attractive financing terms and rates on balloon products, and loans to values of 80 percent with credit scores of at least 700.
Flores said this means, “Good quality customers can still get loans. I know there is a lot of fear in the market that nobody will qualify, but that is not the case. We want the same caliber of loans that Fannie and Freddie do, but we are not going to make your customers jump through all the hoops.”
Kathy Gibson next stepped up next to present the affiliate of the year award to Richard Smith, a man who has been married 29 years, has two children, one grandchild and one on the way, and whose hobbies include reading, studying Hebrew, Greek, calculus, Latin and astronomy.
Smith has been in the industry for 23 years, maintained the chapter’s Web site for several years, and creates the. He has a weekly spot on Talk 102.3, has agreed to serve as communications chairman for 2011, is on the governing board and always helps the chapter, despite his busy schedule.
The Realtor of the Year award was presented to Joyce Smith who began her career at TVA, where she worked her way up through records and management to a supervisor position. After leaving TVA, she took control of the rental rehab program for the city, where she helped allocate the city development grant. She then took over as deputy director of operations at the housing authority, where she directed the 3800 property management division.
After five years at housing authority, she became director of a nonprofit organization called Inner City Development Corporation, responsible for revitalizing the MLK area. She has served on the boards of the Kidney Foundation, the YMCA and the special transit authority.
She traveled 2,000 miles round trip once a month for 18 months to earn her master’s degree in economic development from Southern New Hampshire University, has moved up the ladder of the local chapter of the WCR to where she was president and now is the WCR state 2011 president.
After expressing thanks for her award, Joyce began the installation of the 2011 officers and the retiring of the 2010 officers. Joyce said that in John Maxwell’s book, “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” the law of process dictates that leadership is developed daily and not in a day, and that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Joyce said, “I have found that very true in my life, and today, the elected officers are the students and the WCR organization is the schoolhouse where learning will occur and the teacher will appear in various forms such as fellow colleagues, leaders, mentors, etc. The good news though is no matter where you are starting, you can also get better, and that is one of the great experiences of leadership.”
She said to the retiring officers, “We are all aware of the time and effort you have invested in WCR. You have served well and gained experience that will always be with you. A leader’s lasting value is measured in its succession and the legacy they leave.”
Then Brenda Pargeon was sworn in as treasurer, Nina Boss as secretary, Martha Miller as vice-president of membership, Ann Martin as president-elect and Kaye Ivey as the new president, and all were given a long stem rose.
Joyce said, “To all of you as newly elected officers, you are entering into a new phase of service, cooperation and leadership. You will exemplify the best that Realtors have to offer the industry. Please guard that trust carefully and give full measure of your time, qualities, [and] leadership to the chapter and to the fellow membership of Women’s Council so that the Chattanooga chapter will continue to grow in service to our profession.”
Past President Cheree Dumas,was then given a plaque for her service to the organization during the past year and a special thank you was given to Joe Dumas for exceptional work on their Web site.
The ladies of the WCR have successfully proved for another year that they are indeed a “network of successful Realtors, empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.”
The next board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12 and the next luncheon is Feb. 2.
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