What's new? Find out in this week's news from KCRAR!

April 17, 2013

KCRAR Sponsors Fair Housing Series Workshops on April 30

The Kansas City Regional Association of

REALTORS® actively recognizes April as Fair Housing Month.

Check out this quiz to discover just what you know about fair housing laws. The April 2013 issue of Connect also discusses the topic of fair housing, including a look at the first Fair Housing App.

KCRAR has also partnered with The City of Olathe's Office of Human Relations, Human Relations Commission, the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board and resource providers to host a series of Fair Housing Workshops on April 30, 2013.

Session One, "Our Work Today Defines Our Tomorrow," will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Heritage Center at Mahaffie Farmstead, 1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS 66061.

Property managers, housing advocates, real-estate/leasing agents, lenders and nonprofits are encouraged to attend this workshop that will cover legal issues relating to fair housing and how you can be proactive in preventing violations of fair housing laws.

For more information, click here.

Black & White Party for RPAC

Don't forget KCRAR's Black & White Party benefitting the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

The event will feature a live and silent RPAC auction, raffle, dinner and drinks.

Registration cost is just $20 (early bird until April 18) and $25 (April 19-May 8).

Note: This will be the one and only RPAC auction in 2013.

Registration can be done by downloading this document, or logging in as a member and clicking this link.

Interested in purchasing raffle tickets in advance of the big event? Email Kelly Muehlberger at KellyM@kcrar.com. You do not need to be present to win.

Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without affecting your membership rights. 70% of each contribution is used by RPAC to support state and local political candidates. 30% of each contribution is sent to national RPAC. Of that amount, 90% is used by national RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a, while the remaining 10% is used for other federal grassroots political activities. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

RPAC Black & White Party Basket Challenge

We are excited to announce the 2013 RPAC Office Basket Challenge has now begun within all our area offices. The Challenge asks your office to create a themed basket of donated items that will be auctioned off at the KCRAR Black & White Party for RPAC on May 8. This will be our one and only auction event this year benefiting the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC).

The office basket that raises the most funds for RPAC will receive special acknowledgement at the event, and the winning office will receive a complimentary breakfast! There will be a winner in two categories - those baskets representing offices with more than 26 agents and those baskets representing offices with fewer than 25 agents. This challenge is sponsored by Sharon Bower with Continental Title and Donna Bardwell Gambrill of Secured Title of Kansas City.

To get involved ...

Come up with a creative basket theme.
Fill out the RPAC Item Donation Form.
Deliver the completed basket to the location at the time indicated on the form.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Muehlberger at (913) 266-5912, or email kellym@kcrar.com.

Thank you and don't forget to register for the event at http://www.kcrar.com/rpacauction. We look forward to seeing you there!

Send in your completed RPAC Item Donation form to KCRAR as soon as possible.

YPN-KC Offers Opportunity for Self-Defense Training

YPN-KC encourages you to attend FREE REALTOR® self-defense training this Thursday, April 18. Come learn how to "Defend Yourself" at Gold's Gym in Westport, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

*Registration is complimentary with an optional donation to the Rose Brooks Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The Rose Brooks Center is a domestic violence agency that offers women and children emergency shelter from life-threatening abuse. The center also offers prevention programming, crisis intervention, personal skills development, and other supportive services.

YPN-KC Event - "Defend Yourself!"

Date:

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Time:

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location:

Gold's Gym, Westport

4050 Pennsylvania Avenue
Kansas City, MO

64111

*Cost: Free (optional donation of full-size body wash, woman's deodorant, or women's reading glasses for the Rose Brooks Center in Kansas City, Mo).

Register by logging in as a member at www.kcrar.com then visiting "Event and non-CE Class Registration," or simply follow this link.

Copaken Brooks Named Among KC's Top 10 Small Businesses

Copaken Brooks, a KCRAR commercial member firm, was named by The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce as one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Small Business of the Year. The Kansas City Business Journal reports that the honorees were chosen from more than 100 applications. For more information, read here.

Congratulations, Copaken Brooks!

Missourians for the American Dream Rally Scheduled in St. Louis

The Missourians for the American Dream Rally will take place Thursday, April 25 at Kiener Plaza in St. Louis.

At this event, REALTORS® are asking Missouri's elected officials to pledge to support and defend the American dream of home ownership.The rally starts at 5 p.m. and attendees are asked to arrive by 4:45 p.m. as the rally starts promptly. A reception will be held immediately following the rally for Missouri REALTORS® and invited guests.

Share your Story:

Local stories are being sought about why homeownership matters for you in Missouri. The most compelling stories will be shared at the rally. Share your success stories by completing this form.

NAHREP Presents VA Mortgage - Benefits & Myths & 203K Loans

Don't miss "VA Mortgage - Benefits & Myths & 203K Loans" presented by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
Wednesday, May 1.

Find out whether a VA Loan is the right choice for your client.

Learn who qualifies for a VA mortgage, as well as the benefits of this type of mortgage for your client.

Learn just what is a 203K loan and how it can help you sell homes.

Experts will explain the 203k loan process and its benefits.

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Place: Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors® Office

11150 Overbrook Rd, Suite 100

Leawood, KS 66211

Price: Free to NAHREP Members

$10.00 Non-Members

Registrants: RSVP to Susie Mize susiemize4722@att.net

2013 Recycling/Shredding Event

Extend your celebration of Earth Day April 22 beyond the month of April by making plans for the KCRAR 2013 Recycling/Shredding event May 29 at the KCRAR parking lot at 11150 Overbrook Road, Suite 100.

The first three legal-size boxes are free, additional boxes require a $5 charitable contribution to the KCRAR Foundation. For more information, contact Juli Everly at 913-266-5914, or PROSHRED® at 913-327-8889, or click here.