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Chapter Leader Handbook
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Table of ContentsI. Introduction...................................................................................................4II. RLI Contact Information.................................................................................4III. RLI Overview..............................................................................................4IV. RLI Chapters...............................................................................................5
THE RLI CHAPTER: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS........................................6V. Chapter Overview and Organizational Structure...........................................6VI. Chapter Board............................................................................................7
The successful Chapter Board of Directors has 2 roles.....................................7Successful Boards are accountable for four (4) governance activities.............8
VII. Chapter Board Position Duties...................................................................9President..........................................................................................................9President-Elect...............................................................................................10Secretary........................................................................................................10Treasurer........................................................................................................11Chapter Administrator....................................................................................11
VIII. Chapter Advisory Council.........................................................................11Purpose:.........................................................................................................11Responsibilities:..............................................................................................11
IX. Chapter Start-Up Procedures...................................................................12X. Chapter Bylaws...........................................................................................12XI. Membership.............................................................................................12XII. Chapter Membership................................................................................13XIII. Successful Chapter Meetings...................................................................14
Suggested Agenda for Annual Chapter Meetings...........................................14Chapter Meeting Check List............................................................................14Registrations..................................................................................................15Meeting Preparation.......................................................................................15Meeting arrangements...................................................................................15Room Set-Up..................................................................................................16Day of meeting...............................................................................................16Officer Duties and Responsibilities.................................................................16
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Meeting Follow-up..........................................................................................17How to Promote Attendance...........................................................................17
XIV. Chapter Sponsored Events.......................................................................17RLI Marketing Sessions...................................................................................17Developing and Hosting Chapter Seminars....................................................18Possible Sources of Speakers.........................................................................19Suggestions for Panel Discussions..................................................................20
XV. Chapter Publicity......................................................................................20Keeping Fully Informed...................................................................................20Public Relations..............................................................................................21
XVI. Visual Identity Standards.........................................................................21XVII. RLI Chapter Websites...............................................................................21XVIII. Social Media..........................................................................................22XIX. Dues, Budget, and Finances.....................................................................22XX. Chapter Leader Resource Page................................................................23XXI. Chapter e-Connections Newsletter...........................................................23XXII. Education.................................................................................................23XXIII. Outstanding Chapter Award..................................................................23XXIV. RLI Chapter Leaders..............................................................................23
Statement of Beliefs.......................................................................................24XXV. Important Dates.......................................................................................24Appendix.........................................................................................................25Chapter Start-Ups Steps....................................................................................26Chapter Course Provider Procedures.................................................................27RLI Chapter Websites Agreement......................................................................30
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I. IntroductionThe REALTORS® Land Institute, provides the expertise, camaraderie, and resources that are the foundation for all land real estate professionals to become the best in the business.
The various structures of the organization, whether national, state or local, are designed to support members’ business and career goals. The REALTORS® Land Institute and local RLI chapters are sustained through member dues and other types of non-dues revenue such as programmatic fees that provide education, property marketing and other business opportunities.
The RLI Chapter Leader Handbook is designed to assist those who lead RLI chapters to successfully support their members through the various chapter benefits and services. The Handbook provides a job description and a proven roadmap for success for chapter leaders and administrators giving chapter leaders the tools needed to lead and succeed.
While the focus of this Handbook is on chapter leadership, it can also be used as a resource by those organizing informal RLI marketing networks in areas not served by a local RLI chapter.
II. RLI Contact InformationRLI staff is always available to help you flourish in your chapter volunteer role and lead your chapter to success. If you have questions about the Chapter Leader Handbook, chapter operations, or RLI programs and resources, contact RLI staff at:
Aubrie Kobernus, MBA, RCE – [email protected]
[email protected] N. Michigan Ave.Chicago, IL 60611
III. RLI OverviewPurpose RLI shall be the organization for REALTORS®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATEs®, and other real estate professionals whose interests are related to our most precious resource: the land. RLI shall serve its members by providing the foundation for all land professionals to become the best in the business through world-class education, member services and benefits, and governmental advocacy for the preservation of private property rights.
Objective
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The objectives of RLI shall be to bring together REALTORS®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATEs® and other real estate professionals interested in the improvement of their professional competence in activities related to land including land brokerage, agribusiness, land management, planning and development, appraising, acquisition, syndication, and any other land specialty areas and to make known to the public and real estate industry the following RLI specialty classifications of expertise:
Farms and ranches Open tracts of land including recreational, timberland, and other resource
lands Transitional and development land Subdivision and wholesale brokerage of lots Site selection and assemblage of land parcels
Directives To achieve these objectives, RLI shall seek:
To develop and establish professional standards of practice in land specialties through the education of our members and to identify these members to the public.
To designate those members who have met rigid educational and experience requirements as "Accredited Land Consultants (ALCs)" of RLI and to identify these members to the public.
To cooperate in the development of chapter and regional programs and to assist in their implementation.
To formulate recommendations to the membership and to NAR for public policy affecting land.
To advocate the wise use of the land and the reasonable rights and privileges of private ownership.
Mission: The REALTORS® Land Institute, “The Voice of Land,” provides the expertise, camaraderie, and resources that are the foundation for all land real estate professionals to become the best in the business.
Vision: The REALTORS® Land Institute continually strives to maintain its status as the acknowledged leader for all matters pertaining to the land real estate profession. RLI endeavors to remain the essential membership organization for the extraordinary real estate professionals who broker, lease, sell, develop, and manage our most precious resource: the land.
IV. RLI ChaptersCommitment and dedication describe RLI’s Chapter organizations. The REALTORS® Land Institute enjoys strong and active chapter programs because of the superior commitment and dedication of its volunteers. RLI chapters routinely sponsor LANDU courses, as well as an array of professional development programs and special events.
Members of RLI can elect to join one or more chapter organizations and benefit from participation on a regional or local basis. Members must be in good standing with national to elect chapter membership.
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With 18 chapters across the US, you are able to connect and exchange information and ideas about what’s happening in the industry. It’s an invaluable tool for knowledge building, leadership opportunities and networking alike. Getting involved in your local chapter is a great way to:
Quickly integrate and network with local land experts Connect with local business resources Expand your conceptual, planning, and execution skills through local event
management and meetings Expand your management, leadership, and public speaking skills by
volunteering to become a chapter leader
THE RLI CHAPTER: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS
How the RLI Chapter is and is not like your business
1. Non-profit Association:a. “Non-profit” means that profits are not distributed to members, the
way they are distributed to partners and shareholders in a for-profit business.
b. Non-profit does not mean “no profit”. If your Chapter is going to continue to offer the benefits and services that members need, it REQUIRES both dues and non-dues income.
2. Why volunteers?a. One of the unique features of the United States has always been that
citizens are able to voluntarily gather together to achieve a common good. Volunteering is central to the American way of life and is almost unique throughout the world.
b. Volunteer involvement keeps ensures the right focus. It takes members to identify and make decisions about member needs and the best ways to meet them.
c. A knowledge-based Chapter depends on volunteers who bring that knowledge to the table.
d. Volunteers form a no-cost workforce to achieve a common goal cost effectively, especially in the absence of paid staff.
3. Accountability:a. Volunteer doesn’t mean unaccountable – it means freely contributed
time and energy to achieve the outcomes that are best for the members. The responsibilities for meeting commitments and accountability for producing results are no less important to your Chapter’s success than they are to your business success.
4. Reality:a. Vision needs to be realistic otherwise it is delusion – sometimes there
is a thin line between the two! The fact is you can never have all you want. So you’ll need to:
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i. Decide what is realistic.ii. Prioritize desired outcomes and select ones you must and can
afford to do.iii. Ensure there are sufficient resources, both financial and
personnel.iv. Find the fastest, most cost-effective way to achieve the highest
quality results.[v.] Remember that “Not now” doesn’t have to mean “Not Ever”:; tuck
those good ideas whose time hasn’t yet come into a follow-up system and pull them out for reconsideration each time you do planning.
V. Chapter Overview and Organizational StructureAs part of a North American association, your chapter’s operations and policies must be consistent with those of RLI as well as local, state, and federal laws. RLI’s ruling documents are its Bylaws and Governance Policy Manual. Individual chapter bylaws must not conflict with these documents. A newly created model chapter bylaws document has been approved and is a great resource to ensure your chapter bylaws align. Should you find that your chapter bylaws are in conflict with RLI’s, you should take immediate steps to revise your chapter’s bylaws.
RLI has created the below set of operating standards to help guide its chapters:
Be formally authorized by the RLI Board of Directors. Request an EIN from the IRS:
o You can apply for an EIN on-line, over the telephone, via fax or through the mail. See the instructions for Form SS-4, Application for Employer I.D. Number, for further details.
To apply on-line, use the on-line EIN application available on this website.
To get an EIN over the IRS's toll-free telephone number, call (800) 829-4933. See EIN Toll-Free Telephone Service for more information.
To request an EIN via fax, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, dial the fax number at the location accepting applications from your state. The instructions on the Form SS-4 indicate which location will accept your faxed request.
To receive an EIN through the mail, complete Form SS-4 . The instructions for the form provide the correct address.
Be separately incorporated and file for 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status by filing a Form 1024 with the IRS and file appropriate documents and returns (Information in this guide is not to be construed as recommending any course of action regarding financial, legal, or accounting matters. Chapters should seek professional counsel on these matters).
File with the Secretary of State: every state is different, so check with your state government website for more information.
Maintain chapter bylaws in compliance with the RLI’s bylaws.
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Conduct annual elections and maintain a minimum of President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer combined). It is strongly encouraged to also have a chapter administrator if at all possible.
Ensure that all chapter members are members in good standing of RLI. Have at least one board member and chapter administrator attend the
chapter leadership workshop at the Land Conference. The chapter is identified as “RLI (State or Region Name) Chapter”. This
identification should be used in all official communications and literature. Adhere to and support RLI’s policies related to the course provider
agreements, visual standards, membership, and related activities.
VI. Chapter BoardAll chapters must have a minimum of President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer (or Secretary/Treasurer combined). This group of leaders represent the Chapter Board. Additionally, it is highly recommended that each chapter also have a chapter administrator. Many successful chapters have stated that this position allows them to focus on big picture chapter programs that elevate the chapter with its members.
The members of a Chapter Board of Directors serve as the core leaders of the organization.
The successful Chapter Board of Directors has 2 roles
1. Board as Leader:a. The Board provides vision: crafts and communicates it in such a way
that members understand it and choose to share in it.b. The Board provides direction: defines the desired outcomes (goals)
and selects the best strategies to produce them.c. The Board prioritizes: you can’t do everything so the Board selects the
most important programs from all the available options and allocates the resources needed to accomplish them.
d. The Board is accountable: for its own outcomes and those of other Chapter Committees, taskforces, and other governing units
In summary, the Board as Leader determines: What outcomes are needed most The best strategies to achieve them The timing for implementing them The most effective allocation of available resources to make it
happen
2. Board as Caretaker:The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to manage operations for the well-being of the organization. Remember, a Board’s fiduciary accountability goes beyond the financial to include due diligence in decision making, safeguarding the Chapter’s tangible and intangible assets including its image, reputation and service-value to its members.
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Successful Boards are accountable for four (4) governance activities
1. Successful Boards Scan:a. They practice knowledge-based decision making by relying less on
opinion and anecdotal evidence and more on researched facts because “sometimes what you know, just isn’t so.”
b. The successful Board regularly tests Board member assumptions with unbiased research to validate beliefs about:
i. The professional landscape,ii. The organization’s members;iii. Member needs, opinions and expectations.
2. Successful Boards Plan according to the 10-3-1 Principle:a. Mission is what drives the organization and generates Vision.b. Vision is what the Board wants the organization to look like in 10
years. Vision creates a picture of what the members want their professional world to look like in the next decade, which provides the focus for this decade’s efforts to make that picture a reality.
c. Goals are the Board’s clearly articulated, measurable outcomes for the next 3 years.
d. Strategies are the programs, services and initiatives we will undertake to produce those outcomes during the next 3 years.
e. Prioritize strategies – this is what drives the decisions about which strategies are most time critical, have the greatest impact on achieving our goals and deserve the most resources. In prioritizing, is often better to do one “great thing” with significant impact than many less consequential things.
f. The successful Board develops an annual operating plan and budget for the next year that is driven by strategic decisions and priorities. Remember, the programs are the strategies that achieve the outcomes and how they are prioritized should determine which programs would be funded.
3. Successful Boards Monitora. Rather than monitoring how a Chapter program or activity is being
implemented or managed, Boards should ask: “are we producing results?” The focus needs to be on outcomes, not the process!
b. The primary monitoring role of the successful Board is to monitor progress against attaining the desired outcomes. Monitoring the process is of secondary importance, receiving attention only as one of several possible causes when desired outcomes aren’t being achieved.
4. Successful Boards Adjusta. Dynamically, throughout the year, using quarterly reviews to assess
progress in attaining the desired outcomes.b. Change strategies that aren’t working: sometimes strategies don’t
play out as expected. If that’s the case, make the appropriate adjustments:
i. Adjust the strategy – try another approach
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ii. Adjust priorities to accommodate new situations and circumstances.
iii. Adjust budgets to accommodate strategic and priority changes.iv. Adjust workforce resources by shifting volunteer or staff roles
and the number of workers needed to accomplish the outcome.v. If repeated adjustments are still unsuccessful, sunset what
can’t be fixed, take what you’ve learned and move on.
VII. Chapter Board Position Duties
PresidentThe President is not the one who implements the plan but is the one who gets others focused on it. Successful presidents:
Look to the future -- beyond their own year in office. Keep everyone focused on the plan. Appoint for success first, rewards second. Carry the torch to influence and inspire members to achieve the
organization’s goals. Hold governing bodies accountable for achieving outcomes: the Board,
committees and workgroups. Monitor volunteer performance against the desired outcomes. Take action when volunteers aren’t meeting their organizational
commitments.
Typically, the President: Decides on officer duties and the chapter’s organizational chart Develops chapter committees and identifies responsibilities. Appoints
committee chair persons, such as nominating, membership development, professional development/education, budget, and public relations/promotion, according to the chapter’s Bylaws
Plans yearly event and meeting calendar Delegates and follows up on status of assigned tasks Presides at chapter meetings Serves as head of the chapter’s Executive Committee and ex-officio on all
committees Follows up with chapter members who have chosen not to renew
membership and reenrolls Attends national RLI events; informs chapter members of what was covered
at these meetings and makes sure appropriate actions are taken Participates in chapter leadership training opportunities Promotes professional development to members Attends all state conventions and chapter Board of Directors meetings Completes appropriate state and tax forms for the chapter Signs and returns the RLI Course Provider Agreement to national RLI (if
applicable) Responds to chapter requests from national RLI and is accountable for daily
operations (if a chapter does not have an administrator)
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President-ElectThe time of being President-elect is a time of learning and moving things along behind the scenes. It is not a period of inactivity until the current president’s term of office is over!
1. The successful president-elect: Doesn’t wait until stepping up to chapter presidency to get their administration started. The president-elect’s term is the time to participate in developing the chapter’s plan for their presidential year. The best practice is to participate in scanning and planning to place the president-elect’s own desired outcomes for their Presidential year on the table for consideration and prioritization along with all other possibilities.
2. The successful president-elect: Is a partner to the president and fellow Board members, actively involved with governance through chapter committees and workgroups.
3. The successful president-elect: Starts building a sound working relationship of reciprocal advice and support with the Chapter’s executive director or primary staff support. In that way, when they assume the Presidency there is a seamless transition built on an existing partnership of mutual confidence and support.
4. With an eye to the future, the president-elect learns the RLI organization from top to bottom:
a. Attending the Chapter Leadership session at the National Land Conference prepares the president-elect to step up to presidency and to represent the Chapter and its needs to RLI national.
b. Developing a working relationship with the RLI national president-elect will ensure that the relationship continues when you both move up to presidency.
c. Becoming familiar with RLI national staff and their roles will come in handy to make sure the Chapter is involved in the total organization and for enlisting the assistance of RLI staff.
Typically, the President-Elect: Assumes responsibilities of the President in the event he/she is unable to
participate in responsibilities Attends all committee meetings of the chapter Assists the President as delegated Prepares to take over as president in the upcoming year May serve (or have served) as a Committee Chair to ensure strong leadership
transitioning
Secretary Becomes an expert in the chapter bylaws and supplies copies to all new
members and/or posts them on the chapter web site Keeps minutes of chapter and board/executive committee meetings
Treasurer Balances and keeps chapter checkbook and financial records Keeps copies of banking statements/documents related to the account
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Prepares and mails annual dues notices when applicable and contacts members delinquent on dues payments
Changes bank signature cards when appropriate Keeps copies of meeting contracts and/or work orders
Chapter Administrator Administers chapter elections and advises national RLI of the results.
Elections should be completed by September 15 of each year so that the leadership transition can take place in tandem with the transition of RLI national’s leadership team.
Inputs upcoming chapter courses into the online system and follows national RLI’s course provider policies and procedures.
Notifies national RLI of upcoming chapter events and/or member news Updates all online presence of the chapter including any websites and social
media Manages the day to day administration of the chapter
VIII. Chapter Advisory CouncilThe Council shall be made up of Chair, Vice Chair, and a maximum on nine total council members, with at least one being a Chapter Administrator. The Council will meet in person at the National Land Conference with additional teleconferences throughout the year.
Purpose: To empower chapter leaders to deliver value, engage professionals, enhance the overall RLI member experience, and work with National RLI to ensure chapter success. To do this, the CLC provides mentorship to chapter leadership, monitors chapter performance, and designs and maintains resources and tools for chapter leaders and assists each chapter in raising awareness of the unique characteristics of their region. The CLC facilitates RLI's chapter development strategic plan and leads comprehensive initiatives such as leadership training for chapter leaders and the Chapter Awards program.
Responsibilities: Provide a direct line of communication from chapter leadership to the RLI
national leadership team and Board of Directors Raise awareness of national initiatives and how chapters can take advantage
of such initiatives Raise awareness of the objectives of RLI’s Strategic Plan and how to
implement those when devising their own organizational plans Provide a forum for chapter leaders to share best practices Grow and build the chapter function of the national organization Select the recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Award, given on an annual
basis Help coordinate the Chapter session at the National Land Conference Create and/or revise chapter policies as needed
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IX. Chapter Start-Up ProceduresRLI is always excited to see the formation of new chapters of the organization. Strong chapter organizations provide a valuable member benefit, by offering LANDU courses, creating opportunities for local networking, and increasing awareness of the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation and the land profession. The bylaws of the chapters must be in line and approved by RLI. All members of chapters are required to be members of RLI.
A one-page document detailing steps to start up a chapter can be found in the Appendix.
X. Chapter BylawsAll chapters must adopt an official set of bylaws which need to be in line with the national RLI bylaws. The board has created a set of model chapter bylaws for each chapter to implement. Each Chapter may elect to amend these model bylaws based on their particular needs, as long as the amendments do not conflict with the bylaws and policies of the REALTORS® Land Institute or the National Association of REALTORS®. All amendments must be approved by both the Chapter Board of Directors and the RLI Board of Directors before they are final.
XI. MembershipOnly active members of RLI may be active members of chapters. Members are not required to be a member of a chapter (there are not chapters in every state), and members may choose to belong to more than one chapter to expand their regional connections.
Chapters should be aware of the formal membership categories of RLI. The following membership categories currently exist:
Accredited Land ConsultantAccredited Members are members who have satisfactorily completed all the requirements of RLI’s candidacy program and who have been awarded the right to use the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation by fulfilling all professional competence requirements as established by the Board of Directors. Accredited Members must hold a category of membership as a REALTOR® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® member of the National Association, or hold an Institute Affiliate membership in a member Board/Association. Accredited Members may vote and hold office and may retain their accreditation as long as their REALTORS® Land Institute membership is maintained. These members qualify for Accredited Member-level member benefits.
Institute MembersInstitute Members are RLI members who have not yet achieved the ALC designation. They may vote and hold office only if they hold a category of membership as a REALTOR® or a REALTOR ASSOCIATE® member of NAR, or hold Institute Affiliate membership in a member Board/Association. Institute members retain their candidacy status and all coursework credit earned toward the ALC
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designation as long as their membership in the organization is maintained. These members qualify for Institute Member-level member benefits and do not fall into any of the other Non-Accredited Member categories.
Military Transition Program MembersMilitary Transition Program (MTP) members are those members eligible for a one-year RLI program designed to assist transitioning service members into the land real estate industry. The program is available to veterans who served in the military starting in 2000 and are now looking to build or enhance a career in the land business. The program offers unparalleled networking and camaraderie among land professionals as well as the ability to learn from fellow members’ knowledge and years of experience to gain competence and confidence as a land professional.
Associate MembersREALTORS® Land Institute Associate Members are industry service providers, partners, and other non-real estate professionals who are engaged in endeavors related to the objectives of RLI but who do not aspire to hold the Accredit Land Consultant (ALC) designation. Associate members may include, but are not limited to, the following: real estate-related professionals who do not have a real estate license, government and non-profit employees, students, and professors. They may not vote or hold office and are not required to hold a category of membership in NAR. As a benefit, associate members gain access to over 1,150 land real estate professionals looking for services to build their business, are allowed to participate in the Member Advantage Program brings your company promotion to all members, and receive member rates on education and event registrations.
Student MembersStudent members are those individuals attending high school or an institution of higher education, who are not licensed as real estate practitioners, and who are interested in the land specialty and real estate profession. They may not vote or hold office and are not required to hold membership in NAR.
Non-Producing MembersNon-Producing Members shall be either accredited or non-accredited members who are no longer actively selling real estate but still desire to maintain membership in RLI. To qualify for non-producing membership status, members must show proof of having an inactive real estate license from their state’s real estate commission.
Emeritus MembersEmeritus Members are members who have made outstanding contributions of personal time and effort to the Institute at the national or chapter level, have had continuous membership in RLI for at least twenty years, and who are at least seventy years of age. Emeritus Members have voting privileges and are entitled to receive all services and benefits provided through an RLI membership. Emeritus Members are not required to pay any national annual dues. To apply for Emeritus status, all requirements must be met and a letter of intent must be submitted to the Board of Directors.
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XII. Chapter MembershipThere shall be two categories of membership: accredited members and non-accredited members. Accredited Members shall be those members that have satisfactorily completed all requirements of National RLI’s candidacy program and have been awarded the right to use the “Accredited Land Consultant (ALC)” designation by National RLI. They may vote and hold office. Further, Accredited Members must:
a. Maintain active membership in National RLI. b. Abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of
REALTORS®, and the rules, regulations, and Bylaws of this Chapter and of National RLI.
c. Be REALTORS® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members of the National Association, or hold Institute Affiliate membership in a member board/association.
Non-accredited members shall be those members who have not yet achieved the ALC designation. Non-accredited members include the following:
a. Institute Members shall be RLI members who have not yet achieved the ALC Designation. They may vote and hold office only if they hold a category of membership as a REALTOR® or a REALTOR ASSOCIATE® member of NAR, or hold Institute Affiliate membership in a member Board/Association. Institute members retain their candidacy status and all coursework credit earned toward the ALC designation as long as their membership in the Institute organization is maintained. They must:
i. Maintain active membership in National RLI. ii. Abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association
of REALTORS®, and the rules and regulations and Bylaws of this Chapter and National RLI.
Here some ideas to help grow your membership:i. Request membership materials from national RLI and distribute at local
meetings and events ii. Ask the state and local associations of REALTORS in your region to help
promote courses and membership meetingsiii. Make individual outreach efforts through mail, email, phone, or social
media to land professionals in the chapter’s marketplaceiv. Write articles on the land business and reference the Chapter
organizationv. Run advertisements in local or regional print and electronic
communications vi. Create and distribute a Chapter membership directoryvii. Hold marketing sessions and related programsviii. Partner with other chapter or regional organizationsix. Send welcome back and welcome “aboard” letters x. Invite potential members to meetingsxi. Create a “refer-a-member” programxii. Host a quarterly lunch meeting and invite local subject matter experts
to speak to your membershipxiii. Host an RLI course
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XIII. Successful Chapter Meetings
Suggested Agenda for Annual Chapter Meetings1. Chapter President calls to order2. Invocation3. Moment of silence for members who are ill or have passed away4. Pledge of Allegiance5. Introduction of new members6. Introduction of principal speaker7. Installation (See Oaths of Office)8. Acceptance Address of Incoming President9. Thank you to previous year’s officers10.Upcoming chapter and/or national events11.Announcements12.Adjournment
Chapter Meeting Check List1. Select a topic2. Booked an instructor/speaker3. Reserve a meeting space4. Develop a calendar of events to promote the meeting and courses5. Develop a brochure or flyer to publicize the meeting6. Order all audio/visual equipment that is needed (don’t forget a screen
if you’re bringing the own projector)7. Get any requests the speaker may have such as audio/visual, handouts, etc.8. Give a final count of attendees if serving food at event)9. Make arrangements to have drinks refreshed throughout the day10.Order all extras needed for the meeting room such as flip charts, chalkboards
etc.11.Give the bio of the speaker to the person making the introduction12.Make sure the room is set up correctly (check at least ½ hour prior to start)13.Let the hotel know if the number of attendees in the room has changed14.Prepare a timed agenda and give copies beforehand to officers, speakers
and attendees.
Registrations1. Request that a registration table and chairs be placed outside the
entrance. On the registration table, be sure to include nametags for all attendees, membership applications, member service packets, upcoming chapter and national RLI event information.
2. Meet with hotel meeting coordinator. Request a meeting with the hotel meeting coordinator prior to the meeting to discuss final details. Make sure the hotel coordinator is aware of who will be the authorized account signer, as well as being the only one authorized to make any changes.
3. This is the time to discuss any changes, additions, and concerns with the hotel. If the meeting is beginning early in the morning, this meeting is usually held the day before.
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Meeting Preparation1. Meet with the hotel meeting coordinator and audio/video staff2. Arrange for master billing of charges3. Determine authorized signer for all charges4. Review last minute changes5. If it is a multi-day event, continue to communicate with hotel staff to
ensure that all aspects of the event run smoothly
Meeting arrangements1. Reserving Meeting Space: As far in advance as possible reserve meeting
space with the hotel. Many times, if a meal is being served in conjunction with the meeting there will be no charge for the meeting room. Shop around because there is a big difference in costs from hotel to hotel.
2. Fooda . I f food is being served, the hotel may request the final count of
attendees 48-72 hours prior to the event.b. When ordering food, you need to keep in mind not only the cost of
the meal, but also the hotel automatically adds on charges for tax and gratuity. Each hotel charges a different amount.
c. Make arrangements to have water and coffee/sodas (if being served) to be refreshed throughout the day.
3. Audio/Visual Equipmenta. Order all audio/visual equipment that is needed - overheads, screens,
microphones, etc. If you bring the own projectors be sure to order a screen.
b. Also order all extras needed for the meeting room, such as chalkboards, cork boards, flip charts, etc.
c. The best time to bargain for extras in the meeting room is BEFORE the contract is signed with the hotel.
4. Speaker(s)a. Obtain a biographical sketch from the speaker well in advance of the
meeting and provide a copy to the person who will make the introduction
b. Make sure to find out any requests the speaker may have such as audio/visual, handouts, etc.
Room Set-Up1. You will need to give an estimated number of people attending to determine
the room size.2. You will need to determine how to arrange the tables and chairs throughout
the room i.e.; classroom, conference, table rounds, etc.3. Specify if you need a raised platform for the speaker's or head table. This
costs extra.4. Arrive early for changes that may be needed in set up.5. Agenda
a. Prepare an agenda and give a copy beforehand to officers, speakers and attendees.
b. Put time slots on the agenda.c. Agendas and sign in sheets should be typed and professional looking.
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Day of meeting1. Arrive in meeting room approximately ½ hour prior to meeting to double
check on room arrangements. Check all audio/video equipment to ensure they are all working correctly.
2. Prepare nametags for all attendees3. Make sure RLI and chapter membership applications are available4. Provide chapter Member Service packets5. Calendar and information about upcoming chapter and RLI events6. Information about the ALC designation and requirements on how to attain it7. Schedule of RLI Land University courses
Officer Duties and Responsibilities
1. President:a. Welcome guests upon arrivalb. Introduce guests (head table)c. Introduce guests (other tables)d. Conduct question/answer sessione. Conduct "thank you’s"f. Write, "thank you" to speakers
2. Vice Presidenta. Check catering scheduleb. Welcome guests upon arrivalc. Introduce program and speaker
3. Secretarya. Set up program space and A/V equipmentb. Conduct program registration
4. Treasurera. Conduct program registrationsb. Pay all program costsc. Determine if profitable
Meeting Follow-upOnce the bill is received from the meeting, carefully review the bill and make sure no unwarranted charges have been added.
How to Promote Attendance1. Be sure the meeting is publicized well in advance through newsletters,
flyers, etc. and follow up on the publicity close to the meeting date, particularly to those who have not responded.
2. Always start the meetings on time and adjourn on time. Do not let them drag. Keep them interesting and to the point.
3. Let the Board of Directors conduct the chapter business - keep the general meetings for education or social functions.
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4. Have a nametag for every member so that the friendliness prevails. This is especially important in identifying new members)
5. Let the program committee do its job. Don't dilute the meeting with a lot of business or trivia.
6. Encourage open forums and question and answer sessions.7. Keep meal costs at a minimum and have tickets priced to cover actual cost
of food as well as the tax and gratuity (check with the hotel on their charges). The chapter might want to pay for the tickets of new members.
8. At times a drawing or a door prize will promote attendance.9. Vary the programs.10.Present programs on subjects pertaining to the business of land
development, sales, financing, etc. It is especially important to present speakers or programs, which will bring help and encouragement to the members who, are having difficult times in the real estate business.
11.If at all possible, hold the meetings at a luncheon or dinner session and in an attractive and convenient location.
12.Make a list of who should really attend and call them.13.Email an invitation to all Chapter members using rliland.com
XIV. Chapter Sponsored Events
RLI Marketing Sessions1. The success of any marketing session is dependent upon:
a. Complete knowledge of the physical propertyb. Complete knowledge of the financial aspects of the property.c. Complete understanding of the needs and motivation of the property
owner.d. Exclusive control of the property.
2. What You Will Need:a. Have/Want Sheetsb. Mini Offer Forms
3. The president or a member selected by the president needs to attend a “Let’s Make Deal$” Session at the National Land Conference to see how these work or jointly sponsor an RLI Marketing Session with another chapter.
Developing and Hosting Chapter Seminars1. Things to Consider:
a. What Type of Seminari. One or two day seminarii. Local oriented seminars – one to three hours
2. How Can Seminars Help the Chapter?a. Educationb. Fellowshipc. Exchange of Ideas
3. Topic to be taught in Seminara. Local Relevance
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b. Member Request
4. Planning and Publicizing Ahead of Timea. Picking and Selecting Dates and Placesb. Hold in conjunction with chapter meetingsc. Hold in or near resort areasd. Hold in conjunction with marketing sessions
5. Time Breakdowna. Lunch and speakersb. Breaksc. Time to start and stop
6. Meeting Placea. Rooms and reservationsb. Think about using the Local Boardc. Luncheon and hospitality
7. Accountability and Credita. ALC creditb. Chapter licensing credit
8. Certificates
9. Cost and Budgeta. Treasurerb. Meals, meeting rooms
10.Publicitya. Flyersb. Chapter Newslettersc. Social Mediad. Personal Contact
Conducting a Chapter Sponsored Seminar
1. A chapter should decide on a topic for the seminar that it wishes to hold.
2. Select an instructor/speaker and contact him/her directly.a. Negotiate the instructor/speaker fee directly with him/her.
3. Select a meeting location at a hotel or local board office and make all arrangements. It is the state’s decision as to whether or not include luncheons, coffee breaks, instructor fee costs, meeting room costs, etc. Reserve audiovisual equipment.
a. The chapter sets the fee and handles registration.4. Plan how you are going promote and publicize the seminar. Look to the
local boards and chapter association for assistance. Also, promote to the neighboring chapters.
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a. Have a brochure or flier printed. Determine who it is to receive it and distribute it as soon as possible.
b. Use social media channels to publicize your seminar.5. If the chapter cannot afford to hold a seminar, you may want to
investigate the possibility of conduction a jointly-sponsored seminar with all of the chapters in the region.
6. Talk to someone who has done one!
7. Prepare a projected budget and know what the break-even is.
Possible Sources of Speakers
1. Successful land developers and syndicators2. City, regional and county developers3. Chapter Departments of Development and Expansion Representatives4. County Farm Advisors5. County supervisors, council members, executives, planners6. Chapter association officers7. Chapter and local chamber of commerce president or officer8. RLI regional vice president9. District Farmers Home Administration Officer10.Representatives of the city governments11.Banks, escrow and trust companies - presidents, managers, etc.12.Representatives from the local Board of Education13.Local executives of utility companies14.Local or chapter bar association.15.Chairpersons of local planning board16.Members of local Toastmaster's Club17.College and university professors from schools of agriculture, real estate,
urban economics, etc.18.Local military - public relations officers19.Local attorney who is a specialist on taxes, estate, etc.20.Chapter Real Estate Commissioner or Director of Licensing21.Chapter Highway Department Real Estate Personnel22.Chapter Parks and Recreation Director23.Certified Appraiser24.RLI accredited member on specialized land utilization.25.President of a farm organization such as Farm Bureau, etc.26.Speaker from US Department of Agriculture Extension Division27.Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or Department of Commerce or
Interior Official28.Find speakers who need exposure or who are potential members.29.Representative from Federal Bank in the area
Suggestions for Panel Discussions
1. Broker and salesman relations21
2. Better office procedures and modern office equipment3. How to appraise a farm or other types of land4. How to go into escrow5. How to make an exchange6. Taxes and their effect on real estate sales7. How to obtain better listings8. Direct mail to obtain listings9. Using the Internet to sell10.New business from old clients11.Negotiating the sale12.Closing the sale13.What to look for in selling a property14.Real Estate Advertising15.Problem properties16.Sales contracts, options, etc17.Real estate syndication18.How to conduct office sales meetings19.Cooperation between REALTORS® in urban and agricultural areas20.Office policy21.Customer follow up22.Creative listing23.Multiple listing24.Exchanging25.Demonstration appraisals26.Trade in plans27.Highways and their effect on farm and transitional lands28.Office location and its effect on sales29.Use of open listings, land contracts, options, trust deeds30.Financing31.How to hire, train, and retain salesman
XV. Chapter Publicity
Keeping Fully Informed1. Keep the region fully informed as to the activities of the Institute and the
chapter in particular. Send newsworthy material to the press and local magazines and obtain suitable recognition of and understanding for the chapter's operations and activities.
2. Send pictures of chapter events and other newsworthy information to be included in the LandNews e-newsletter or monthly Chapter e-connections.
3. Seek the assistance of the local boards or chapter association to promote chapter events and activities. Remember you can help each other.
Public Relations1. Good Public Relations include participation in community events such as:
a. Service club activities - Lions, Optimists, Kiwanis, etc.b. Talks before service clubs, farm groups, investors, builders, etc.c. Water committees - storm drainage committeesd. Builders and trade committees
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e. Planning committees - subdivision developmentf. Active participation in the local board and chapter association
functions.g. Participation in national meetings.
2. Represent the land real estate industry at meetings considering:a. Water and air pollution problemsb. Wildlife and parksc. Highway constructiond. Redevelopment
3. Recognize honorary directors:a. Local government planning directorb. City mayor or managerc. Outstanding citizen
4. Who to send PR release to:a. Local newspapersb. Chapter association bulletin or magazinec. Chapter newsletter or magazined. State Association newsletter/magazinee. REALTOR® Magazinef. RLI Bi Monthly Newsletterg. Publications or Trade Journals - from such organizations such as:
i. Builders Unionsii. Chambers of Commerce School papers
XVI. Visual Identity StandardsEnsuring that our brand remains clear, concise, and consistent is essential to maintaining the integrity of our brand and organization as a whole. The purpose of the Visual Identity Standards Manual is to provide our community with the visual guidelines for appropriately conveying the REALTORS® Land Institute brand. Through implementation across our platforms and membership, we will build a stronger brand that benefits all using it
All chapters are provided with logo marks for their specific chapters and should use these logo marks in accordance with the guidelines of the official Visual Identity Standards Manual.
RLI National expects its Chapter leaders and administrators to help us monitor and protect our official logos. If you see someone using the wrong logos or using the logos inappropriately, please either remind them of the proper logo usage or notify national RLI.
XVII. RLI Chapter WebsitesThe new REALTORS® Land Institute chapter websites are designed to make it easier for RLI chapters to manage their members and courses while providing a standardized look that will strengthen the RLI brand in the industry. With a simple to
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use interface that integrates with the RLI National database, chapters will have easy access to more information than ever before. Chapters will also be able to more easily manage and update their own websites.
The cost of the initial website setup is a one-time fee of $250. Afterwards, chapters will be responsible for paying a monthly maintenance fee of $30 which includes their annual domain fee, website updates, and maintenance. All payments will need to be made to LandBrokerWebsites.com, not RLI National. Chapters will continue to be responsible for managing their own finances and all fees associated with payment processing. More detail can be found in the Chapter Website Proposal and Agreement in the Appendix.
The Chapter Website Manual can be found on the Chapter Leader Resource page on RLI’s website and goes into detail on how to update the site and how to manage the database.
XVIII. Social Media Creating a Social Media Presence for Your Chapter, How to Set-Up Accounts
on Social Mediao Facebook: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-page-for-
business/o LinkedIn: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/create-a-linkedin-
company-page-to-promote-your-business/o Instagram: https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/how-to-set-up-an-
instagram-business-account/o Twitter: https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/how-to-set-up-an-
instagram-business-account/ Social Media Best Practices in General: https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-
social-media/best-practices Social Media Best Practices for REALTORS®
o https://blog.wishpond.com/post/58926524787/social-media-for-real- estate-agents-21-tips
o http://rismedia.com/2016/06/14/a-social-media-cheat-sheet-for- realtors/
Social Media Best Practices for Non-Profits: https://www.dunhamandcompany.com/2015/11/15-social-media-best-practices-for-nonprofits/
Brandingo Make sure to use your new chapter logo and follow the Visual Identity
Standards on all social media pages Make sure you follow RLI’s social media pages and posts so that you can
repost those on your own outlets
XIX. Dues, Budget, and FinancesChapter dues are not required, but if a chapter does have dues, they are billed by and payable to the chapter of RLI. Dues are established by the chapter Board of Directors and shall be payable in advance. The amount of dues may vary based
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upon the class of membership and the status of the member. Said Dues are to be used to defray the operational expenses of the chapter and shall be in addition to any dues paid to other local, state or National organizations.
The Board of Directors shall administer the finances of the chapter. An annual operational budget for the fiscal year shall be prepared and submitted to the Chapter Board of Directors for approval. From time to time, supplements to the budget for the current fiscal year may be submitted to the Board for approval; however, under no circumstance shall the Board of Directors incur any non-budgeted obligation in excess of 10% over the available cash on hand without the approval of a majority vote of the chapter members.
Below are some common guidelines for the chapter budgets:
1. An audit of the chapter accounts are completed by the end of the calendar year for the prior year. One Past President and two members at large serve as the Chapter Audit Committee with assistance from the Treasurer.
2. When possible, each chapter builds a reserve account equal to the annual operating budget of the chapter. The chapters keep these funds in interest bearing accounts or in certificates. The reserve fund is reserved for chapter program deficits or an income transition resource.
3. In preparation of the budget, an amount of five to ten percent is designated as a contingency account to off-set planning deficits.
XX. Chapter Leader Resource PageThe Chapter Leader Resource page will be where RLI houses important deadlines and resources that are important in running your chapter. This will be where you go if you need certain guidelines, forms, templates, dates, webinars, and any other tools that RLI provides to chapter leaders. If you are looking for something, check there first. If you can’t find it, contact RLI Staff.
XXI. Chapter e-Connections NewsletterThe last Thursday of every month, RLI sends out a chapter newsletter via email to all chapter leaders. This newsletter has important updates, deadlines, chapter recognition, bright ideas, and important resources to help you run a successful chapter.
XXII. EducationWhether aspiring to the prestigious ALC Designation or simply desiring to learn more about the land real estate business, RLI’s LANDU Education program is the industry-leading resource for top-notch education courses and webinars on one of the most unique real estate specialties: the land.
Course Provider Agreements: chapters are extended the opportunity to become official “Course Providers” for the RLI’s LANDU courses. Chapters that elect to act as course providers must review, sign, and adhere to the official Course Provider
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Agreement each year. Chapters may also elect to collaborate with other regionally connected chapters or other state and local associations to offer LANDU programs.
RLI’s Chapter LANDU Course Provider Policies and Procedures can be found in the Appendix.
XXIII. Outstanding Chapter AwardThe award recognizes chapters for innovative programming and raising the bar on chapter activities. An award plaque is presented to the Outstanding Chapter at the RLI Land Conference during the awards luncheon.
XXIV. RLI Chapter Leaders
Volunteers like you are crucial to the success of RLI and we believe in the importance of recognition and appreciation of volunteers for all they do. In 2016, RLI developed the following Statement of Beliefs reflecting the importance of volunteers to the organization:
Statement of BeliefsVolunteers represent a key strategic asset of RLI:
They provide an integral role in guiding the content deliverables to the membership.
Their land experience allows RLI content to be current and relevant to the various constituencies.
The work that they do on behalf of RLI allows far broader and deeper support to the membership than would otherwise be possible.
In recognition of the importance of Volunteers to the organization, RLI will:
Treat our volunteers as partners. Support our volunteers with appropriate resources. Respond to their requests thoroughly and in a timely manner. Truly appreciate the work that they do on behalf of RLI. Acknowledge the contributions that they have made to the
organization. Thank them sincerely for their efforts.
We truly value all that you do for RLI as leaders of your chapters. Thank you.
XXV. Important Dates
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Early November (day after the NAR Board of Directors meeting at the NAR Annual Conference and Expo): Incoming National RLI Leadership take office
December 1: NLC early bird registration deadline December 31: Fiscal year ends January 1: New fiscal year starts February/March: National Land Conference June: LANDU Education Week
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Appendix
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Chapter Start-Ups Steps
The REALTORS® Land Institute is always excited to see the formation of new chapters of the organization. Strong chapter organizations provide a valuable member benefit, by offering LANDU courses, creating opportunities for local networking, and increasing awareness of the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation and the land profession. The bylaws of the chapters must be in line and approved by the National organization. All members of chapters are required to be members of the National organization.
The following is checklist of activities for chapter startups or for re-establishing chapters:
1. Let the National REALTORS® Land Institute know that you are starting a chapter organization. The National office will provide you with a list of current members in your state and will provide updated new member lists on an on-going basis. Only members of the National Institute organization can be members of chapters, and members can choose to belong to more than one chapter.
2. Consider hiring an accountant or attorney to assist with forming a legal incorporated entity. Incorporation is recommended for all chapters since this structure protects officers and directors from personal liability and allows the chapter coverage under NAR’s insurance program.
3. File for 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status. Obtaining 501(c)(6) status should minimize a chapter’s tax burden. Chapters file for tax-exempt status by filing a Form 1024 with the IRS. Once approved, the IRS will issue a determination letter to the filing entity. And of course, chapters need to file taxes.
4. Request an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS (see the Chapter Leader Handbook Section 5. Chapter Overview and Organizational Structure for details).
5. Create Chapter Bylaws. The National Institute has Model Chapter Bylaws that should be used to “jump start” the formation of a chapter. All bylaws must be in line with the National bylaws and approved by National.
6. Sign off on a course licensing and other appropriate agreements with National. (The course licensing agreement permits the chapter to offer the Institute LANDU courses.)
7. Adopt governance documents. The National Institute can provide model documents for a Conflict of Interest Policy, a Whistleblower Policy, a Confidentiality Policy, and a Records Retention Policy.
8. Elect officers and notify National of the results.
9. Develop a chapter operating plan accordingly. Consider the development of a chapter dues structure, but note that not all Institute chapters require dues payments.
10. Determine source of administration support. Some chapters hire administrative support, some depend on all volunteer support, and others partner with a local or state association for administrative support. All administrators should follow National policies which will be provided to the chapters.
11. The names and contact information of all leadership and administrators of the chapters are to be sent to National as soon as they are in place.
12. Send news announcement to all state and local associations that the new chapter has formed and conduct personal outreach to appropriate organizations in your state. Establishing relationships with like-minded organizations can expand opportunities.
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13. Become familiar with the organizational mission and Strategic Plan of the National organization so that chapter programs and services align with the National goals.
14. Contact other Institute chapter presidents to discuss “lessons learned” and best practices. In addition, begin participation in chapter meetings and related meetings and conference calls.
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Chapter Course Provider Procedures
Providers should review and follow the Chapter Course License Agreement. The below information is useful when organizing and conducting LANDU Courses.
Pre Course1. Work with an approved RLI LANDU instructor to schedule the course and location.
2. Upon scheduling the course the Chapter shall input the relevant information: date, location, contact person, phone number, registration directions, and instructor name, to the Chapter Portal of the RLI website.
To submit a course, please follow these four easy steps: Step 1: Navigate to ‘Courses’ Step 2: Select ‘Add New+’ Step 3: Complete all information* Step 4: Click the ‘Add’ button
3. Remit a $250 scheduling fee per course which will be credited to the royalty payments to the Institute at:
REALTORS® Land Institute Attention: Amanda Jenkins 430 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611
Once the scheduling fee has been received the course information will be placed on the RLI Website and will be promoted by National after the above has all been fulfilled.
Note: RLI supports a no course cancellation policy. However, in the cases where a course provider is considering a course cancellation, RLI should be contacted immediately to see how to best serve those who registered. If the course is cancelled, the scheduling fee is non-refundable.
4. Send confirmation email to all registrants. These confirmations should include the following information:
a. Payment amount receivedb. Course title, date, time, and locationc. Contact information for questions i.e. phone contact number, contact name, email
addressd. Special tools/supplies needed for the course i.e. calculators, should be noted in the
confirmation. Check with the instructor regarding what students should bring to classe. Whether meals will be provided or not. If not, include a list of nearby eateries
5. From the Amanda Jenkins at RLI, request:a. Electronic course materials which will include the official manuals, the exam, and sheets
for responses. An answer key will be sent which is confidential and should only be provided to the Instructor of the course.
6. Make hard copies of a. The manual, the exam, and the sheets on which the responses should be placed.
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b. The course schedule and course descriptionsc. The student evaluation
7. Managing Course Roster
8. Once a course has been moved from “pending” state to the “approved” state, a chapter may import a roster and manage registrants.
Creating a roster of registrantso Navigate to ‘Courses’o Click the ‘Roster’ button next to the course to which you plan to add registrants. o From here you may either
Import an Excel roster using the standardized template OR add each member using the search function at the top.
Day One of Course1. Have a registration table by the classroom hosted by a knowledgeable professional of the
REALTORS® Land Institute
2. Have a roster sign-in sheet with the names of all students with a place next to the names for registrant sign-in on the registration table
3. A provider host should Introduce himself/herself to start the course Give a meaningful, brief introduction about National REALTORS® Land Institute and
the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation using the script provided by National.
Introduce the instructor with information from his/her bio.
4. If someone cannot be available at the registration table throughout the entire course, a host should be available during the first two hours, during the breaks, during lunch, and at the end of class each day to respond to latecomers and questions.
5. Have the information regarding RLI on the registration table throughout the course. You can request electronic copies of these materials from National. Note: The only collateral i.e. cards, brochures, flyers to be placed in the classrooms or on tables are those provided by the National Institute, course sponsors, RLI Chapters/providers, and promotional material approved by National a minimum of fifteen days prior to the start of the course.
Day Two*1. Have a registration table by the classrooms hosted by an RLI knowledgeable professional.
2. Have the sign-in roster with a place to sign-in.
3. Have RLI approved collateral on the registration table.
4. The provider/host should start the class by welcoming all back and thanking them for choosing to attend the class. Inform the participants that classes are added to the schedule throughout the year. Inform them to contact National if they have any questions about courses, membership, and/or the prestigious Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation. Wish them luck on their exams.
5. If this is the final day of the class, the instructor will administer the exam.
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6. Students should not keep copies of the exam.
7. The Instructor and/or the host (if an ALC) grade the exams.
*If the course is a three-day course, the same procedure as day two should be followed with the exam being administered on this day and not on day one or two.
After the Course1. Within 5 days of the course the grades should be updated for each student in the backend of
the website. How to remove a registrant.
o Registrants cannot be removed from a roster. However, admins may change their ‘status’ on the roster to ‘deleted’ by clicking the member’s current status in the field in the row of their record in the ‘Status’ column.
How to record grades after the exam.o In the roster, hover over and click the text in the ‘Score’ column’s field next to
a member for which you want to enter a score and enter the score. Do this for each member.
2. The following should be sent to National within fifteen days after the final day of the course:a. Scored student exam answer sheets and exams
Note: 70% is the lowest passing percentage.b. Student evaluationsc. Royalty check made out to REALTORS® Land Institute with the $250 scheduling fee
deducted Note: The royalty is $80 per Non-ALC student and $60 per ALC student
Send the above in one envelope to: REALTORS® Land Institute Attention: Amanda Jenkins 430 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)1. What if the student does not pass the exam?
The student can take the exam a total of three times to earn a 70% or higher. These must be taken within one year from the first day of the course taken. If the student does not pass the exam within that timeframe, he/she should need to retake the course. Direct the student to Amanda Jenkins to find out the procedure for retaking an exam at 1.800.441.5263.
2. If the student has to leave the course for a few hours, does he/she still earn credit for having taken the course?
Students may leave the course for a total of two hours if a conflict occurs. Special circumstances must be approved by RLI prior to the course start.
3. How can I find out more about the ALC requirements?Students can use the information distributed during the class to view the requirements. They may also visit the website at http://www.rliland.com/alc-requirements. They can also call RLI at 1.800.441.5263.
4. What should be done with the copies of the course exams?
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All exams and answer sheets should be sent to National with the other post course required documents.
5. Do the courses count for Continuing Education (CE) credit?Students should submit this question to the organization that would be issuing the CE credits. The issuing body makes decisions on what is accepted for CE credits.
6. Is there a time limit for the courses to count towards the ALC Designation?No, at this time courses do not expire from a student’s record.
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RLI Chapter Websites AgreementPrepared for: RLI Chapters
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The new REALTORS® Land Institute Chapter Websites are designed to make it easier for RLI Chapters to manage their members and courses while providing a standardized look that will strengthen the RLI brand in the industry. With a simple to use interface that integrates with the RLI National database, chapters will have easy access to more information than ever before. Chapters will also be able to more easily manage and update their own websites.
DEFINITIONS
FrontendRefers to the part of the website that users see when they visit your website page.
BackendRefers to the part of the website only approved admins and leadership (Website Administrators) may see which integrates with the RLI National Database.
WEBSITE FRONTEND INCLUDES:
(Stage 1 – Purchased Option)
● An intuitive, easy to navigate WordPress website template which comes pre-populated to include the new RLI brand elements and color scheme.
● A standardized, branded website URL domain (ie. www.rlitexaschapter.com).● A Chapter Land Connections listing page with properties from only your chapter
members.● A Chapter Find A Land Consultant page with a directory of only your chapter
members.● An automatically updating ‘Upcoming Courses’ Page with your chapters courses.
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● Ability for your members to login to register for courses, renew their dues, and update their member records.
● A ‘Welcome New Chapter Members’ page and a ‘Congratulations new ALCs’ page that automatically update.
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WEBSITE BACKEND INCLUDES:
(Stage 2 – Available to all Chapters at no cost)● An intuitive WordPress website template editor which is easy to update with
custom content and images (not included if not purchasing Stage 1).● An e-commerce system that allows chapters to take payments through
registration and renewal forms on the website OR the ability to use a payment processor of your choice outside the system (not included if not purchasing Stage 1).
Education Management+ Submit to host courses to RLI National through a form, for approval by National.+ Manage course rosters that connect to a member’s record eliminating the need to submit Excel rosters to National.+ Add/specify an additional charge to a course if registrant is taking it for CE credit.
Membership Management+ Ability to email to a list of chapter members through the database.+ Ability to add custom fields to your chapter members’ records.+ Ability to view and update contact information in a chapter member’s national record.+ Ability to view a chapter member’s course history.+ Ability to export lists of your chapter members as well as new national members and prospects from the RLI National database in your Chapter Region.+ Ability to set up dues rates and payments by membership level/type.+ Ability to add a prospect record to the National database.
Chapter Management+ Ability to access National’s templates and resources available through RLI national at any time (ie. PPT, brochure, flyer, e-newsletter, etc.)+ National’s promotional flyers and membership applications.+ Data forms, evaluations, and other course related documents.
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PROCESS AND TIMELINE
A Chapter may purchase a website at any time.
Step 1: Sign this document agreeing that you understand and intend to transition to the new RLI Chapter Website. Make initial payment to LandBrokerWebsites.com.
Step 2: Front-end customization. Chapters will be given access to the template editing side of the site where they can update copy and images to customize the page before it goes live. A recorded video on how to use the different functionalities on the frontend of the website is available online on the Chapter Leaders Resource page..
Step 3: Backend integration. The backend functionality will be automatically added for you, if it is not already installed. A recorded video on how to customize the backend of your new website is available online on the Chapter Leaders Resource page.
INVESTMENT OVERVIEW
The cost of the initial website setup is a one-time fee of $250. Afterwards, Chapters will be responsible for paying a monthly maintenance fee of $30 which includes their annual domain fee, website updates, and maintenance. All payments will need to be made to LandBrokerWebsites.com, not RLI National. Chapters will continue to be responsible for managing their own finances and all fees associated with payment processing.
** If located in Texas and you are not a non-profit organization, 100% of the project cost is taxable under Texas State Sales Tax, 8.25%
NEXT STEPS
1. Sign this agreement and return to RLI National2. Submit $250 payment to LandBrokerWebsites.com through the following payment
link:https://crystalcore.net/rli-chapter-payment
3. Upon initial payment, crystalcore.net will begin initial project scheduling and creation of a production timeline.
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FAQS
What support will I have for my website?RLI’s Marketing Manager will be the first line of support for Chapters to answer questions about the website. Should further assistance be needed, the issue will be escalated to be taken care of by LandBrokerWebsites.com
What parts of the website will I need to update?All updates to content, images, courses, and member records will be the responsibility of the chapter. All updates to the functionality and maintenance of the website will be the responsibility of LandBrokerWebsites.com
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
● Once the project fee is paid in full to LandBrokerWebsites.com, any elements of text, graphics, photos, contents, trademarks, or other design artwork furnished by the chapter for inclusion in the website are owned by the client.
● REALTORS® Land Institute & LandBrokerWebsites.com expects the chapter to have permission from the rightful owner to use any images, design elements and/or content that are provided for inclusion in the website, and will hold harmless, protect, and defend from any claim or suit arising from the use of such elements.
● REALTORS® Land Institute & LandBrokerWebsites.com retains the right to chapter websites, content and other website elements as examples in literature, training, documentation, portfolios and in business related projects.
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FINAL AGREEMENT
● This agreement becomes effective only when initial payment is received from agents of Realtor Land Institute and RLI Chapter, by crystalcore.net. This contract was entered into in Texas and any dispute will be litigated or arbitrated in Texas.
Chapter Name: Chapter Admin:Chapter Address:
Signature:
Date:
Aubrie Kobernus, CEO
REALTORS® Land Institute, 430 N Michigan Ave,
Chicago, IL 60611 Signature:
Date:
Mike Ciesiensky, President crystalcore.net
PO Box 181231, Dallas, TX 75218
Signature:
Date:
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