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2016 Spring Business ConferenceApril 20-22, 2016 | Tulalip Resort & Casino

WASHINGTON REALTORS®

Washington REALTORS® Board of Directors convened on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 9:00 AM at the Tulalip Resort & Casino. Highlights included hearing from guest speaker Congressman Rick Larsen who gave a brief talk about the political environment and how it pertains to housing. WR CEO Steve Francks gave a memorable presentation about board members’ fiduciary duties to WR and the REALTORS® PAC. Additionally, WR guests Phil Creglow with Target Smart and Todd Carpenter from the National Association of REALTORS® presented information on “Big Data” and the REALTORS® Party Plus Program. WR Director of Communications & Marketing Steve Klaniecki gave a presentation revealing the results from the 2016 Membership Survey.

The 2016 Spring Business Conference took place at Tulalip Resort & Casino April 20-22, 2016. The Connector highlights the conference to help you communicate to your members what happened at the committee meetings and the Board of Directors meeting.

Washington REALTORS® held elections for 2017 leadership-elect positions. Please join us in welcoming the following members to 2017 Leadership:

President-elect Jerry Martin

Treasurer-elect Sheila Davies

Vice President-elect, Government AffairsKitty Wallace

Election Results

Board of Directors Meeting

Vice President-elect, Operations David Crosby

Vice President-elect, Membership Ryan Beckett

Washington REALTORS® is accepting facilitator applications for a community non-profit board development program. Successful facilitators must be engaging, have real life experience to draw upon, excel at public speaking and work well under pressure. Applicants must be willing to work with diverse groups of individuals. Applications are due May 13, 2016 and must include a three-minute video. Selected applicants must be willing to participate in a two day train-the-trainer session June 12 -13 in the Seattle area. A complete description and the application can be found at:

http://www.warealtor.org/resources/board-development-program

Facilitator Applications

Conference CONNECTORConference CONNECTOR

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Executive Committee MeetingThe Executive Committee heard an update from the WR Building Coordinating Committee. They also received an update from REGW (Real Estate Gameworks) and Legislative Steering presented funding request for the REALTOR® Party PlusAdvocacy Program.

Finance CommitteeThe Finance Committee reviewed and placed on file the Reviewed December 31, 2015 Financial Statements and the unaudited February 29, 2016 Financial Statements. They heard an update from Bill Riley and Mike Flynn on the Building Coordinating Committee and an update from Jed Etters on WR’s investment in Real Estate Gameworks. They held a discussion regarding cyber insurance and gave an update on the NRDS Membership count.

Legislative SteeringLegislative Steering heard from special guest speakers on condominium construction, the McCleary decision and the oil heating tank program.

Membership Core CommiteThe Membership Committee heard from Jerry McDonald, Administrator with the Department of Licensing,who shared information regarding fingerprinting and their new online license renewal process. The Committee also heard updates and status reports from special committees and work groups. Finally, the Chairs reminded the group to start thinking about their 2017 Budget needs and Business Plans.

Operations Core CommitteeStacie Weedon gave an update on the leadership development programs. Additionally, the chairpersons of YPN, Diversity, Credentialing, Professional Standards, Orientations and Governing Documents reported on their work groups, and a work group was formed to review the lifetime membership requirements as well as creating a service award.

REALTORS® Political Action CommitteeTrustees adopted GA PAG recommendations.Trustees approved early endorsement of Steve Hobbs for Lt. Governor and designate as an opportunity race. Approved funding for legislative races. Approved $250,000 for Independent Expenditures. Approved edits for RPAC manual.

Boys & Girls Club of AmericaWashington REALTOR® Members donated four large bins full of arts and crafts, flip flops, and sunscreen to benefit summer programs available through the Boys & Girls Club of America. Please join us in thanking all the members who participated!

WR’S First YPN Meet-up!Washington REALTORS® held it’s first YPN meet-up on April 20th. If you’re interested in joining the WR YPN, contact staff member Kaaren Winkler at kaaren.winkler@warealtor.org or YPN Chair Jasmyn Jefferson at jasmyn@windermere.com.

Meetings & Updates

Legislative ReportWashington REALTORS® 2015-2016 Legislative Report that was made available at the conference can be downloaded here: www.warealtor.org/2015-2016-legislative-report. This report includes summaries of REALTORS® priority legislation during the two-year legislative cycle, as well as information on key budget issues.

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PRESIDENTPresident | Karen Schweinfurth

Immediate Past President | Michael Schoonover

President-elect | Margo Willis

TREASURERTreasurer | Ken Poletski

Treasurer-elect | Cheri Daniels

OPERATIONSVice President | Patti Boyd

Vice President | Wayne Locke

Vice President-elect | Janice Hall

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRSVice President | Roni Strupat

Vice President-elect | Debbie Matteson

MEMBERSHIPVice President | Dale Chumbley

Vice President | Annette Nitz

Vice President-elect | Tyler McKenzie

2016 PRESIDENT | Karen Schweinfurth

NAR Legislative MeetingsMay 9-14 | Washington D.C.

Legal SymposiumMay 25 | Sea-Tac, WA

WR Fall Business Conference

September 14-16 | Spokane, WA

NAR Annual Governance Meetings

November 4-7 | Orlando, FL

UPCOMING MEETINGS& EVENTS

2016 Leadership

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PLATINUM $10,000

Lennox Scott | Seattle-King

Washington State Commercial Association of REALTORS®

GOLDEN $5,000

Dale Chumbley | Clark County

Steve Francks | WR CEO

Janice Hall | Clark County

Phil Harlan | Thurston

Mark Kitabayashi | Thurston

Mike McAleer | Sequim

Bev Read | Seattle-King

Bill Riley | Tacoma-Pierce

Karen Schweinfurth | Snohomish-Camano

Kitty Wallace | Kittitas

Gary Wright | Snohomish-Camano

CRYSTAL $2,500

Jessica Baker | Lower Columbia

David Irons | Seattle-King

Jerry Martin | Snohomish-Camano

Pili Meyer | Port Angeles

Ken Poletski | Tri City

Terry Sullivan | Spokane

STERLING $1,000Dennis Adams | Thurston

Kathy Backstorm | Yakima

Gary Bailey | Yakima

Sharri Bailey | Yakima

Kham Bietlers | Seattle-King

Patti Boyd | Spokane

Marianne Bornhoft | Spokane

Pat Brewer | Tacoma-Pierce

Larry Christensen | Seattle-King

Paul Chrysler | Snohomish-Camano

Glen Clark | Tri City

Scott Comey | Snohomish-Camano

Jesse Cope | Lower Columbia

Cheri Daniels | Yakima

Shane Davies | Seattle-King

Rob Drexler | Mason

Dean Gehrman | Lower Columbia

Tom Hormel | Spokane

Pamela Hurst | Snohomish-Camano

Eric Johnson | Spokane

Carol Kavanaugh | North Central

Jack Kestell | Spokane

JP Kissling | Yakima

Michael Kokenge | Yakima

Dennis Ledford | Walla Walla

Susie Luby | Spokane

Debbie Matteson | Snohomish-Camano

Bob Mitchell | WR Staff

Kenny Nelson | Lower Yakima

Phyllis Ohrbeck | Seattle-King

Jerry Paine | North Central

Liz Parks | Sequim

Maureen Pfaff | Port Angeles, Sequim

Marlene Pfeifer | Kittitas

Joan Probala | Seattle-King

Lynn Sanborn | Seattle-King

Roni Strupat | Seattle-King

Georgia Wall | Seattle-King

Michelle Wickett | Thurston

Jeff Wilson | Lower Columbia

Sue Wise | Thurston

Robert Wold | Snohomish

Protect the Future of Real Estate in Washington

Invest in the REALTOR® PAC Today!RPAC Investors as of April 2016

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CITIZEN OF THE YEARLynn Murray Willeford

This award is given to a non-REALTOR® citizen and selection is based on nominee’s contribution of service to the public, i.e., as a public official, educator, business professional, philanthropist, etc. and who makes a significant contribution to the health and vibrancy of our communities.

Lynn Murray Willeford is a freelance writer, editor and owns the Clyde Theater on Whidbey Island. She co-founded the “Hearts and Hammers” home repair program for owners who cannot either financially or physically maintain their homes. Lynn founded “Friends of Friends” to provide incidental medial costs not covered by insurance and her latest project is “South Whidbey at Home,” a program that keeps seniors safe and comfortable in their homes and helping them qualify for maintenance and energy efficiency grants.

PARTNER OF THE YEAROkanagan County

Community Action Council

This award is given to a cooperating association, news media, service provider, community activist group, etc. Selection will be based on community affairs, support of REALTOR® issues and support of REALTOR® efforts overall.

The Okanogan County Community Action Council was nominated by the North Central Washington Association of REALTORS® for their support of the REALTOR® relief efforts in response to the wildfires devastation in the area. The Action Council assigned four Disaster Case Managers to assess the needs of those who lost their homes to fire. They helped contact victims who had no access to mail, distributed flyers and helped fill out applications. The Okanogan Community Action Council was instrumental in the success of the REALTOR® relief program.

AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR Jerry Morrison,

TMI Land Surveying

This award is open to non-REALTORS® associated with the real estate industry such as employees of title companies, lending institutions, appraisers, etc. Affiliates are some of the best supporters of our Association and industry!

Jerry Morrison and TMI land Surveying was nominated as Affiliate of the Year by the Whidbey Island Association for his work in analyzing the FEMA flood insurance rate maps for Island County. Jerry challenged the FEMA data and advocated for homeowners and REALTORS®, resulting in an appeal of the FEMA flood plain maps and guidelines.

“His dedication to accuracy and fairness, his commitment to our industry, and his selfless support of property owners and affected Realtors in our community reflect great credit upon himself and our industry as a whole...”

COMMUNITY SERVICERocky DeVon

The REALTOR® Community Service Award is based on the outstanding contributions of a REALTOR® to the local community, as well as being an active professional member of his/her local Board/Association. Rocky DeVon from Oroville was recently featured in the latest RE Magazine for his volunteer hours dedicated to the people who lost homes in the Okanogan County wildfires in 2014 and 2015. He was instrumental in raising $96 thousand dollars in relief funds. He is also involved in Boy Scouts, Pacific Northwest trails association, Building Code technical advisory group, Scholarship committee, The Farm bureau, he is a Lobbyist—a Campaign Chair—and has served as a reserve deputy for the sheriff department.

This is our chance to recognize the achievements and contributions of outstanding REALTORS®, Affiliates and citizens who support communities, homeownership and the REALTOR® organization! Below is a showcase of our 2015 Washington REALTOR® Award winners. Join us in acknowledging and congratulating them!

2015 Washington REALTOR® Awards

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HUGH HAWKINS INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR

Bobbie Chipman

This award symbolizes excellence in real estate teaching. It is given to the instructor who best reflects the values and skills that Hugh Hawkins brought to the classroom and the industry. As we reviewed the nominees we consider not just the instructor’s teaching style, but also the extent to which the nominees impart information in a way that influences their students.

Bobbie Chipman is “an outstanding professional, teacher, REALTOR® and industry leader. She is consistently out in front, not only for her own Brokerage, but for our Association. Her wit and intelligence create the perfect environment for learning.” Bobbie is a visionary, a kind soul, generous with her time, and truly exemplifies excellence in our profession.

THE EDDY AWARDJan Ellingson

The recipient of the Eddy Award symbolizes the importance of quality education by promoting REALTOR® professionalism at the local, state or national level and demonstrates the qualities represented by the EDDY through committee work, course development, program development, teaching, assisting in course delivery, or other activities that contribute to real estate education.

A few of the comments made about Jan Ellingson include; despite whether it’s 1996, 2006, or 2016 she is passionate about teaching; she has committed a great deal of time and care at the local, state and national levels of the REALTOR® organization and believes in our cause; she has helped shape how REALTOR® conduct themselves.

The Lifetime Membership Award is a recognition of at least 20 years as a member of the Washington REALTORS®. Recipients must have held leadership positions in the local and state Associations, must have a current real estate license and active in the industry, and must be a life member of the Local Association. Recipients of this award have their dues waived at the state level. Please congratulate our two recipients for supporting the REALTOR® Association and living up to it’s ideals for a lifetime! Congratulate Philip Souza, Seattle King County REALTORS® (left) and Stephen Skibbs, Tacoma Pierce County Association of REALTORS® (right).

REALTOR® OF THE YEAR

Kitty Wallace

This award is the highest tribute the Washington Association of REALTORS® bestows upon its members. Since 1955, this award has recognized outstanding service to the Local, State and National Associations as well as community involvement. The REALTOR® of the Year demonstrates what we call “REALTOR® Spirit,” a faithfulness to the principles of the REALTOR® organization, professionalism and the Code of Ethics.

Kitty Wallace has served not one, but two terms as the local president. She was locally named REALTOR® of the Year THREE times and has served on the water task force and local board of directors. She attends the national conference every year.

On the state level, Kitty has served on Strategic Planning, the Executive Committee, Business Practices and has been a Key Contact. Kitty Wallace is a true servant of the Association. REALTORS® often jest, “Do not get on an elevator with Kitty unless you intend to become a Major RPAC investor before you get off on your floor”. Join us in congratulating our 2015 REALTOR® of the Year!

REALTOR® ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sharri Bailey

The REALTOR® achievement award is given to a REALTOR® who is active in both the local board and the state association boards. Nominees must demonstrate involvement in civic, community or business affairs and must exhibit a commitment to education, professionalism and ethical business practices.

Sharri Bailey from Yakima Association is a familiar face at the state level. She is a Key Contact, an RPAC representative speaker, has served on the state Business Practices and Professional Standards committees, is a Regional Representative, a State Director and CRS President for Washington State. Locally she has served as President , RPAC Chair, Government Affairs, Grievance, MLS Board, strategic planning and more.

WASHINGTON REALTORSLIFETIME MEMBERS