The Board of Directors and Staff of the Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS.

Tommy Reid and Pat Kilts

 

  

The Annual GBAR Installation Luncheon was held on Wednesday, December 12 at the Binghamton Country Club.

  

The event, expertly MC'd by Bob Farrell and sponsored by the Law Offices of Fred Xlander and Jim Rollo State Farm, honored out-

Diana Nogaret and Tommy Reid

going  President Pat Kilts for her leadership  in 2012, and installed 2013 President Tommy Reid.  Both spoke eloquently of our accomplishments in 2012 and their optimism for 2013, and encouraged more of our Members to become involved in our Association to make it  even stronger and more vibrant in the years to come.

Tommy Reid and Lois Andrascik

   

Tommy was also honored as REALTOR of the Year for 2012, Diana Nogaret was named Volunteer of the Year,   and Lois Andrascik was recognized with a Special Award for her long and successful service as Chair of the Government Affairs Committee.

2013 Board of Directors

  

The 2013 Board of Directors were also installed By Amy Wood Gonzalez, 2013 NYSAR Regional Vice-President.

  

Please join us in congratulating Pat, Tommy, Diana and Lois for these significant accomplishments and welcoming the new 2013 Board of Directors.

  

In addition, GBAR Members achieving Membership Milestones were recognized as follows:

  

                      Life Member            Nora Davis

 

                                45 Years            Phillip Sullivan

 

                                40 Years            Constance Mott

                                                                Robert Congdon

                                                                Robert Haskell

                                                                Diana Nogaret

 

                                35 Years            Robert Cook

                                                                Rose Pelino

                                                                Robert Smith

                                                                Ann Stummer

                                                                James Trevitt

 

                                30 Years           Patricia Kilts

                                                                Camille Link

                                                                James Murray

 

                                25 Years            Evelyn Gaul

                                                                Royce Howell

                                                                Lynn Jorgensen

                                                                Beverly Krinik

                                                                Dawn Roessing

                                                                Barbara Rudy

 

                                20 Years           John Duell

                                                                Bonnie Brown

 

                                15 Years            Laurie Calenzo

                                                                Kathleen Calvasina

                                                                Anita Casella

                                                                Marie Curtis

                                                                Kay Graves

                                                                Gerald Jackson

                                                                Martin Kane

                                                                Kenneth Miller

                                                                Lisa Viglione

 

                                                                Carol Doherty

                                                                Michael Finkler

Jason Griffin

Mary Grogan

Mary Johnson

Linda Kent

                                                                Denise Ketchoyian

Keith Kunow

                                                                Mary Kay McKinney

                                                                Robert Wintjen

                                                                Thomas Wright

 

 

 Congratulations and thank you for your Loyal Membership!

 

 

 

As you know, the retention of the Mortgage Interest Deduction is the most important political issue facing the real estate industry today, and NAR has sent out a Call For Action to all REALTORS® asking them to make their voices heard with their federal legislators.

 

          As such, it is critically important for all GBAR REALTOR® and other Members to answer this Call For Action.  If you have not done so already, please click here to complete the simple, automated process to help ensure the health of our industry and protect the financial benefits accruing to current and prospective homeowners.

 

          To date, only 18% of GBAR Members have responded to the Call For Action.  For an issue of this magnitude, we need to do much better.    Please respond as soon as possible.

 

          Thank you for your support!

 

Lois Andrascik, Chair

Government Affairs Committee

  

  

From November 26 through December 1, a 45-Hour Broker Prelicensing Course was held at our GBAR Offices, instructed by Randy Templeman.   The Exams for this course was administered on December 7 and December 11, and I am pleased to report that all students passed with flying colors.   Please join us in congratulating the following graduates:

• Charlie Ackerman
• Robert Gordon
• Pouya Goudarzi
• Jennifer Greenmun
• Jeff Guida
• Kathy Johnson
• Fred Lawrence
• Karen Roberts
• Michelle Shine
• Tom Spychalski
• Christina Torto

Great job, everyone, and thanks to Randy for his expert and entertaining instruction.

  

It's not everyday that a GBAR  Member is commended for their efforts in a national government newsletter.  That's why it as great to see Jim Rollo, GBAR Affiliate and 2011 Affiliate of the Year recognized in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) E-Newsletter for his work in convincing local homeowners to get flood insurance before Irene and Lee smacked the Southern Tier in 2011.  Click here for the full Newsletter, and scroll down to the last article titled "Agent Spotlight".

  

Great job, Jim!

 

Dues and MLS Fees for January through July 2013 have been billed to you.  REMEMBER that in accordance with GBAR Bylaws (see below) all other monies owed the Association must be paid prior to the Association accepting the Dues and MLS Fees payment.  Be sure that you do not have any outstanding luncheon charges, MLS Processing Fees or LockBox fees, etc.  Also, these cannot be included in your dues payment.  They should be paid separately directly to the Association Office.  Please include your invoice or statement when making these payments.

 GBAR BYLAWS

ARTICLE X - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 3 Dues Payable.      

Dues will not be accepted unless all prior charges, assessments, fines or moneys due the Association have been paid in full.

Be sure your dues can be accepted - pay your outstanding fines!

 

• ON-LINE:   Click here to visit our on-line CE provider, the CE Shop, and sign up!  Be sure to use  the Promo Code MERRY to get yourself a 25% discount.

   

Today's Topic: 

 

The Benefits of Joining a GBAR Committee!

 

Volunteering to serve on a GBAR Committee is not without rewards!  If you join a Committee, and you attend 80% of your Committee Meetings during the year, the following year you will receive a credit voucher valued at $50 to offset the costs of Association Luncheons and Events.  Not only will your Committee Membership be helping the Association improve the services provided to yourself and other GBAR Members, but you will also get the benefit of reduced costs of attending Association Functions.  Join a Committee - it's a Win-Win!

 

 

Help the Association Office with record keeping and turn in your Supra Active Key and charger to the office before December 27^th. If the equipment is not returned by then, you may still owe the Supra System Fee for January 1, 2013 through June 31, 2013 even if you are no longer using the KeyBox System, or have discontinued GBAR membership. If Active Key chargers are not returned at all, Supra may bill up to $250.00 per item.

 

If you are discontinuing use of the Supra Active Key or are not paying January's Supra Invoice, you must also turn in all leased KeyBoxes. You will be billed for as much as $95 per box for unreturned Boxes.

 

   

Click here to view the October, 2012 issue of "The Skinny", the New York State Association of REALTORS® monthly video on the state of the New York Housing Market.

 

 

Please join us in welcoming the following New GBAR Members approved at the November 20, 2012 Board of Directors Meeting:

 

New REALTOR® Agent Members:

• Maria Fiori, Keller Williams Realty ST/FL
• Heather Wilcox, Realty USA
• Vito Calandra, Exit Realty Homeward Bound

 

New Affiliate Representative:

• Diane Lopez-Edouard, M&T Bank

 

 

Beginning in 2012 and again in 2013, NYSAR Real Estate Services, Inc. will provide a scholarship fund, administered by NYSREEF, to award scholarships to the next generation of real estate professionals for higher education.

Next Generation Scholarship Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to relatives of active NYSAR members living in New York State. Relatives of REALTOR association staff will not be eligible.

The Next Generation Scholarship Fund is available to:

* New York State high school seniors who will be attending an undergraduate two or four-year institution;
* Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate two or four-year institution;
* And, students pursuing graduate studies.
  

Click here for more information and application instructions.