Last issue, we told you that there are 35 NAR Boards or Associations of REALTORS® in New York State.  The largest is the Long Island Board of REALTORS®, with 19,163 Members as of March 31, 2012.  The smallest is the Western Steuben-Allegany Association, with 49 Members.  GBAR had 354 Members as of the same date.

So we asked this pop quiz question:  "Amongst all New York State Boards or Associations, in what percentile does GBAR lie?" 

 The answer?  GBAR is the 14th largest Association/Board in New York State, which puts us in the top 40%!!

Congratulations to the 5 GBAR Members submitted the correct answer:

• Butch Butterworth
• Ross Culver
• Ann Kachmar
• Dawn Roessing
• Zenaida Rosario

 

If  you happen to see these statistical wizards, please give them the kudos and congratulations they are due!

 

The results are in, and here are the newly-elected Members of the GBAR Board of Directors, with terms beginning in 2013:

• Roger Katchuk
• Patricia Kilts
• Dawn Roessing
• Karen Templeman

  

 

Please join us in welcoming the following New GBAR Members approved at the August 21, 2012 Board of Directors Meeting:

 

New REALTOR® Agent Members:

• Kerry Springer, Realty USA
   
• Gregg Cordero, Century 21 /Sbarra & Wells
   
• Weslie Van Voorhis, ERA Decker Real Estate
   
• Robert Rabuttinio, Century 21/ Sbarra & Wells
   

New Primary Affiliate Members::

• James Carter. Jimanda's
   
• Kent Sisco, First Niagara
   

New Affiliate Representatives: 

• Amanda Gaudette, Jjimanda's
   
• Nancy Enright, First Niagara
   
• Ellen Correll, First Niagara
   
• Ronald Klein, First Niagara
   

 

 . 

 

• PDF on the GBAR Members-Only Website under Member Forms, Miscellaneous (click here, but you must log-in to the site)
• Picked up at the Association Office
• From your Principal Broker
• Fax (upon request)

  

Please take this opportunity to participate in the operation of your Association.

 

 

Ballots (only) will be mailed with complete voting instructions to voting GBAR Members on Friday, September 14, 2012.Ballots are due back at the Association Office no later than 5:00pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 and the results of the vote will be announced at the October Association Business Meeting/Luncheon on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. The results will also appear on Hot Topics on the GBAR Website, Board News on the MLS, and in the October 15 issue of the REALTOR® Review.

 

 

Be Sure Your Vote Counts!

 

Please keep in mind these facts when you are preparing your ballot for the Budget Proposal:

 

·If you are mailing your ballot, be sure to allow enough mail time for the ballot

 

·         Be sure to use the envelope provided and DO NOT remove your agent number from the back of the envelope.  This information is used only to assure that a Member votes only once.  If the number is removed it will void your vote.

 

·         Do not sign your ballot.  This also will void your vote.

  

 

 

So if you've got a suggestion, comment, concern or frustration, simply send it to the Committee at members@gbingar.com, and they'll be sure to get right back to you.  Or simply click here to send an email.

 

 

 

Click here for the August, 2012 edition of our Monthly Statistics from 10K Marketing. 

 

Stephen F. Day, Co-Owner/ Associate Broker for McKinney Real Estate, Inc., has been elected to the position of President- Elect for the New York State Chapter of the Certified Residential Specialists (CRS) for 2013.  He will be President in 2014.  Steve is currently serving as the District Representative for the CRS covering the Southern Tier.  He will assume his duties as President-Elect in January.

 

The CRS is a prestigious group of Realtors made up of about 4% of the Realtors nationwide.  As an officer of the Board for the CRS, Steve will be representing GBAR and all of our members at the State and National levels to promote positive educational opportunities for all Realtors.  Steve will be attending both the NYSAR Business meetings held bi-annually as well as the NAR Business meetings also held twice per year.    Please feel free to call Steve if you have any questions regarding the CRS Designation. 

 

Steve will be instrumental in bringing a CRS Masterminds course to Binghamton on November 15, where GBAR CRS Designees and other GBAR Members can participate in a Panel Discussion led by successful brokers and agents from our area.  Keep an eye out for a registration flyer in the coming days.

The GBAR Community Service Committee's Annual Team Trivia event will be held Saturday, October 27th, beginning at 5:00 pm.  This year, the event will raise money to establish a scholarship fund for Lucy Singleton, the daughter of Kelly Comfort Singleton and her husband Bruce Singleton, who passed away tragically late last year.  Click here for a flyer.  For tickets, call Sara Reifler at 607-768-4422 or Jenn Greenmun at 607-761-4814.

 

On Wednesday, October 19, we will be emailing you the 2012 GBAR Member Survey.  Please keep an eye out for this email, and take a few minutes to respond.

Our 2013 Strategic Plan is largely based on where our Members tell us we need to improve, so don't miss this opportunity to give us your feedback.  And, as in past years,  three survey respondents will be chosen at random to win! The First Prize Winner will receive $200, and 2 Second Prize winners will receive $100!

Thank you for your feedback!
 

 The Quadrennial Ethics period expires at the end of 2012 - each REALTOR® must have taken a 3-hour Ethics course by then.  If NAR's records show you haven't yet  satisfied this requirement,  we will send you a reminder each month. But don't worry!  You can meet your requirement in two ways:

• CLASSROOM:  We've scheduled 2 more classroom Ethics courses in the coming months, to be instructed by Anne Schoonover.  The dates are October 9 and December 4, all at the Association Offices from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 
  For more information and to register, click here.

 

• ON-LINE:   Click here to visit our on-line CE provider, the CE Shop, and sign up!  Be sure to use Promotion Code START to get an instant 20% off on Ethics and other CE Courses through the end of September.

 

 

  

 

Mark your calendars!  The 2013 GBAR Agent's Day and Trade Show will be held at the Binghamton Riverwalk on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.  The Trade Show Committee, chaired by Dawn Roessing, is already hard at work  to create the best Trade Show yet!  Watch this space for more information in the weeks to come.

 

 

If you're looking for CE Credit, there's no better place than The CE Shop!  All New York CE courses are now offered with a 20% discount by using promotional code START through the end of September, and Pennsylvania courses are offered at a 25% discount using promotional code GBARINPA.

 

 Click here to visit The CE Shop and sign-up now! 

  

Click here for a list of the 74 current GBAR Members holding NAR-recognized Designations and Certifications.  Each Designee and Certificant is eligible to receive a coupon entitling them to a free GBAR Monthly Business Luncheon coupon.  Those who attended the September Luncheon received their coupon at the Luncheon.  The rest of these coupons will be available at subsequent Luncheons for use upon arrival.

 

Congratulations to you all!

 

 

• Click here for information and to register for GRI 405 - Construction & Environmental Issues - October 23, conducted by Russ Romano.

For a full list of classroom offerings and registration instructions, click here.