As always, if you have any comments or suggestions for future issues of the REALTOR® Review, please feel free to email me by clicking here.

Barry Arnold, Executive Officer

The 2014 Agent's Day and Trade Show lived up to its billing on May 7, proving to be one of the best in recent memory.  Under the theme "Let's Do the Twist", the show provided a variety of different and exciting attractions which proved both educational, fun and of enormous networking value.

Kicking off the day was guest speaker Terry Watson, whose presentation was attended by over 130 Members and guests.  Terry held our attention for 3 hours,  both with his wild sense of humor and some practical advice for how to avoid client dissatisfaction through full, up-front disclosure.  He also cited a number of books and articles for our Members to read that will help build their businesses, not to mention improve their health and outlook on life!

Following a sumptuous lunch, it was time to hit the Trade Show Floor.  Over 40 Affiliate and non-Affiliate vendors were featured, and our Members took the opportunity to build new and strengthen existing relationships to serve the needs of their clients and customers.

And fun?  Oh, yes indeed!!  How about that DJ, who raised our energy levels with sounds from the 50's and 60's? (Thanks to M&T Bank for their sponsorship!)  And a Psychic to predict the future?  And Bobblehead Videos?  And a Twist Contest?  All topped off with an awesome Flash Mob dancing to the oldies (all of whom would not have been born for 35 years after Chubby Checker "Did the Twist").

Congratulations to Dawn Roessing and her dedicated and talented Trade Show Committee for all the hard work and creativity they put into a this show.

And Congratulations as well to the following prize winners:

• Early Bird Drawing:                Marion Irwin
• Best Use of Theme Booth:     M&T Bank (nice jackets, ladies!)
• Twist Contest Champion:      Ed Quon (was there ever any doubt?)
• Grand Prize Draw Winner:   Arline LeCain, picking up a huge Flatscreen TV!

Here are a few photos from the event to rock your memory bank, courtesy of James Graham: 

Terry Watson Gets This Party Started

Ed Quon and the Pink Ladies

I think Kate Mower has a new customer in Maureen Zorn!

Barb Gallo and Gerry Casey

Pat Kilts, Angel Barry and Wayne Knapp

Briana Cardin-Rogers, Sandi Stebelton and Grace Petrisin get Bobbleheaded.

Bader Micalizzi and Martha Gebler

Mark Anderson and John Duell

For those Members who attended the Trade Show we wanted to remind you that many of the books Terry Watson suggested for us to read are free to "borrow" from the NAR Library.

 

If you were not at the Trade Show or have never checked out the NAR library, now would be a great time. Spend a little time on the site and you might learn many new things. If you need assistance you can always call NAR at 800-874-6500 or Instant message/SMS: Text 'asknar' to 66746.

 

Your NAR dues help to provide these valuable resources to our REALTOR® Members.

 

Thanks to CPR Chair Jessica Dillenbeck for this tip.

GBAR Members are well respected around the state for our proactive support for REALTOR® legislation that supports Homeowners and our Industry.   Here's one of the best ways to make your voice heard - get on the bus for Albany on June 10!  We'll meet with our State Senator and Assembly persons to let them know how we feel about current legislation and encourage them to support the REALTOR® Party Line!  Not to mention briefings from NYSAR Government Affairs experts, Continental Breakfast and Lunch.  AND ITS FREE for GBAR Members!!!

 

The GBAR Community Service Committee is sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Oakdale Mall on Friday, May 23 between 12 noon and 6:00 pm and on Saturday, May 24 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

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We need volunteers to staff the Registration Desk and the Canteen during these times.  If you can help, please call Alison Donnelly at the Association Offices at 729-6285 to volunteer.

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For an Event Flyer with more information, click here.

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Thank You!

 

 

If you are one of the 100 Members who attended Terry Watson's CE Course at the Trade Show,and submitted your application for CE Credit, you should know that your CE Certificates are now ready for pickup at our Association Offices.  Additionally, they will be available for pickup at the June Monthly Business Breakfast.
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Certificates still in our possession on June 30 will be mailed to you.

 

 

Do you hold both NY and PA Real Estate Licenses?  Are you spending too much time and money satisfying both states' CE requirements?  Well, here's the best news you'll hear this week, if not this month!

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Please note:  This "double dip" benefit works the other way as well - most PA CE Credit Courses from The CE Shop are valid for NY CE Credit as well, with the exception of the following PA Courses:

• "Diversity:  Your Kaleidoscope of Clients"
• "Selling to Your Sphere of Influence"
• "Today's MLS: New Paradigms, Better Results"

Finally, make sure you always use the monthly promotional codes featured in the REALTOR Review each month to get significant discounts on all CE Courses purchased from The CE Shop! 

 

  

Registration for 2014 Designation and Certification courses that will be held in Binghamton are now open! Simply click on the links below for more information and registration instructions.

 

• GRI 408 - e-Pro Day 1 - June 20 Please note new date!
• GRI 405 - Construction and Environmental Issues - September 17
• GRI 406 - Price It Right - September 19
• GRI 409 - Equal and Ethical Service - October 29-30
• SRES       - Rescheduled! to November 20-21

  

  

Ever want to pursue one of NAR's official designations or certifications, but just don't have the time or flexibility to attend classroom courses?  Problem Solved!

  

  

Click here to access NAR Designation Courses, including ABR®, CRS, ALC, CIPS, GREEN and SRES®.

  

Click here to access NAR Certification Courses, including

  

  

  

  

If you have any questions, contact Barry Arnold, Executive Officer at GBAR.

  

    

  

A reminder that your Association Dues and Fees Notice for the second half of 2014 will be e-mailed to you at the end of May, 2014. As in previous years, it will include instructions on how to access and pay your invoice on-line through our ECommerce system.

 

(NOTE: MLS Only Members will be e-mailed an invoice directly, as the online feature is not available to MLS Only Members.)

 

This dues and fees invoice must be paid by June 30, 2014 either on-line or to your Principal Broker in order for you to remain an active Member of our Association and MLS.

 

Please note that this is a preliminary advisement - payments cannot be accepted until the Official Notice Regarding Association Dues and/or MLS Fees email is sent and received by you.

 

VERY IMPORTANT!! Since our billing advice and payment system is email-based, it is very important that your email of record be accurate and current. To ensure your email of record is correct, please go to www.REALTOR.org and click on "My Account" in the top right hand side of the screen. (On your first visit you must register by clicking "Click here to register". Otherwise go ahead and log in.) That will bring you the "My Account" Page. Once there, click on the link "View/update your e-mail address and subscriptions". There you can review and if needed update your email address by simply typing in your new/correct e-mail address. To submit, scroll down to the bottom of the section and click the "UPDATE PREFERENCES" button. The Association Office will be notified automatically of this change.

 

If you have any trouble logging into REALTOR.org please call 800-874-6500 and a NAR customer support specialist will help you.

 

Finally, now is the time to take care of any outstanding invoices that you have or your dues and fees payment cannot be accepted.

 

Thank you!

 

Supra will be invoicing GBAR Agents for their ActiveKEYs and eKEYs on May 26, with these invoices being payable by July 1.  

For detailed information on the invoicing process, on-line access to your account, a summary of fees and due dates, please click here. 

If you have not received your invoice by email or mail by early June, please contact Supra at 877-699-6787.

 

Important notice

 

If you plan to discontinue using your Supra Key or are leaving GBAR at the end of June.....

 

Help the Association Office with record keeping and turn in your Supra Active Key and charger to the office before June 23. If the equipment is not returned by then, you may still owe the Supra System Fee for July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 even if you are no longer using the KeyBox System, or have discontinued GBAR membership. If the Active Key and 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 July's Supra Invoice, you must also turn in all leased KeyBoxes immediately. You will be billed for as much as $95 per box for unreturned Boxes.

 

To access Supra Billing Information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, go to https://supraweb.suprakim.com. Or call (877) 699-6787 to speak to a Supra Support Specialist. 

If you are considering requesting a Leave of Absence please be advised that the letter stating this request must be received at the Association Office on or before June 12^th.  As stated in GBAR Bylaws these requests need to be presented to the Board of Directors.  Any questions should be addressed to Barry Arnold, Executive Officer at 729-6285.

             Article VI Section 6:

(e) The Board of Directors may grant a leave of absence for a REALTOR®

Member, for no more than 2 consecutive 6 month billing periods upon receipt of request from said REALTOR® Member, based on a serious health condition of the REALTOR® Member or a REALTOR® Member's immediate relative that would make it impossible for said REALTOR® Member to participate in the normal activities of listing and selling real property in the area covered by the Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS®, Inc.

Over the past few months, the NYSAR Legal Hotline has been experiencing a significant increase in calls from non-REALTOR® Members who were given the Legal Hotline phone number by a local Board or Association Member or Staff.  Anthony Gatto, NYSAR Director of Legal Services, has asked that we not provide the Legal Hotline phone number to anyone other than our REALTOR® Members.  These calls only take away from the time our NYSAR Legal Staff can spend with you, our dues-paying Members. 

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Many Members have requested more information about Flood Elevation Certificates:  When do I need them? Why do we need them?  How do I get one?

Jim Rollo of Jim Rollo State Farm has provided us with a comprehensive document providing the answers to these questions, as well as a FAQ answer sheet for your use.

To review this document, click here.  If you have further questions, feel free to contact Jim at 754-3000, or email him by clicking here.

Please note that GBAR does have one Surveyor Affiliate Member - Raymond Hulbert of Hulbert Engineering & Land Surveying, PC.  Raymond can be reached at 723-0799.

Finally, to view NAR's Legal Guidance on Flood Insurance Disclosures, click here.

 

 

It is important that you keep your contact information current with the Association.  And you can correct or update this information day or night without making a phone call.  If you change the information yourself at REALTOR.org,  GBAR, Supra and NYSAR are notified automatically.  Go to the REALTOR.org website and click on "My Account."  On the first visit you must register, but after that just entering your user name and password advances you to a page that will allow you to update your contact information and notify the Association Office.

 

  

Got comments, questions or concerns?  Want to join a GBAR Committee?  Here's a full list of 2014 GBAR Board of Directors, Officers, Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs and Association Staff Members.  Just click on the name to send an email, or call the phone number listed.  We look forward to hearing from you!

2014 GBAR Board of Directors

 

Thomas Reid, President                                                    699-1013

Kay Graves, President Elect                                              760-3924

Patricia Kilts, Immediate Past President                       725-4082

Robert Farrell                                                                      760-5001

Roger Katchuk                                                                     759-1244

Rose Pelino                                                                           761-8073

Dawn Roessing                                                                    343-5982

Rachel Sbarra                                                                       341-2625

Michelle Shine                                                                     743-0454

Sandra Stebelton                                                                 768-2372

Karen Templeman                                                               727-7600

James Trevitt                                                                        727-4956

 

2014 GBAR Non-BOD Officers/Counsel

 

Diane White, Treasurer                                                     760-4774

Jon Sarra, HH&K, General Counsel                                231-6788

Barry Arnold, Secretary                                                     729-6285

 

2014 GBAR Committee/Sub-Committee Chairs 

 

Board Operations               Dale Tifft                               768-3793

Bylaws                                   Diane Kerth                          725-4026

Communications/PR         Jessica Dillenbeck               343-8486

   - Affiliate Council             Kent Sisco                             343-7293

   - Community Service       Sandra Stebelton                 768-2372

   - Membership                    Jessica Dillenbeck               343-8486 

   - Program & Banquet       Melissa Burish                     427-2626

   - REALTOR/Appraiser    Beth Ryder                            343-2018

Education                              Diana Nogaret                      725-4065

Finance                                  Diane White                         760-4774

Government Affairs            Thomas Reid                        699-1013

Grievance                              Sandra Guy                           760-4700

MLS                                        John Farrell                         760-0908

Nominating                          Patricia Kilts                         725-4082

Professional Standards      Diane Briggs-Angell            761-1953

REALTOR/Lawyer              Diane White                         760-4774

Staff Review                          Karen Templeman              727-7600

Strategic Planning               Kay Graves                            760-3924

Trade Show                           Dawn Roessing                     343-5982

 

GBAR Staff

 

Barry Arnold                        Executive Officer                729-6285

Alison Donnelly                   Membership/Admin          729-6285

Martha Tubaugh                 MLS/Finance                       729-6285

AnnaBelle Brewer               Committees                          729-6285