Rep. Andre Cushing (R-Hampden) Presents Proclamation and Flag to Bangor Board

Board Book Club: Schedule Time to Read

Michelle Flaherty reports: We Realtors are a distractible bunch. As much as we relish being in the driver’s seat of a well planned day, we are pretty quick to slam on the brakes and make a U-turn for a buyer who’s ready to sign. And that’s not meant as a criticism—it’s just how we’re wired, and in many ways it works. However, the unpredictable nature of our day-to-day lives can leave less urgent activities like reading (e-mails, text messages, and tweets don’t count) in the dust—a scary concept for anyone claiming true expertise in our ever-changing industry.

In a move to combat this epidemic of Realty Induced Attention Deficiency, the Greater Portland Board of Realtors recently introduced its first ever Realtor Book Club. Each month, we read one business book and meet for a one-hour discussion. The commitment to the club is light, but the requisite reading takes time.So far, the book club has introduced an element of accountability into the good intentions many of us have of getting some reading done this year, added depth to our continuing education efforts, and—Bonus!—brought some fun, like-minded people together for a lively chat once a month.

The books we have chosen all have ties to the Realtor community. The first, David Meerman Scott’s the New Rules of Marketing and PR was the topic of a presentation at this year’s NAR convention in Orlando. The second, Jennifer Allan’s Sell with Soul, gained much exposure on the popular online real estate community Activerain.com. And our current selection, Leonard Berry and Kent Seltman’s Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic, was recommended to our local Association Executive at last year’s AE Institute.

As we move forward, we will be pulling selections from the Recommended Reading lists from CE and designation classes—those books you always mean to read—and may even pick up—but that get pushed until tomorrow as you wind down from a long day of lock-boxing and problem solving.

All in all, it has been an experiment in diligence, and it has paid off - not only in measures of education and pleasure, but also in the kind of confidence that can only come from education, and that our small group keeps bringing freshly each month to our clients in the field.

Michelle Flaherty (Prudential Northeast Properties, Westbrook) serves on the MAR Board of Directors

Greater Portland Board: An Alliance Supporting the Arts

From the Greater Portland Board of REALTORS®:

The Greater Portland Board of REALTORS® (GPBR) is beginning an initiative to create and continue the relationship between the local arts community and REALTORS®. The rich art community in Southern Maine makes the area a very desirable place to live.

To kickoff our efforts, the Greater Portland Board of REALTORS® is hosting an evening social at the Portland Museum of Art. We will be inviting local artists as well as REALTOR® members to come and stroll through several galleries while enjoying refreshments and each other!

Features live music from the popular Jerks of Grass and a raffle for original works from local artisans.

This event is different than any we have held before. There will be no cost to attend and no formal program. What a great way to spend a warm Thursday evening!

Event: Portland Museum of Art
Date: September 4, 2008
Time: 6-8pm

"You know how Mainers love their mulch ... "

Cindy Butts reports: A sign of Spring is the raffle prizes at today's Mid Coast Board / St. George River Council local membership meeting: car washes, rounds of golf, and mulch. To quote Council President Elect Mary Bumiller (Jaret & Cohn Real Estate, Rockland), "you know how Mainers love their mulch!"

Local membership meetings bring an opportunity to network and learn. For example, at today's one-hour lunch meeting:

1. Reminded recent changes to the MSHA loan programs. Sponsor will present info at office meeting - but 20 minutes can need 90 minutes; 2. Village Soup explained they started as local online news source, and branched into print too. Which is opposite of many news publications; 3. Decided approach to announce local open house info;

4. Announced upcoming courses on "Intro to Commercial Real Estate"; and free Code of Ethics courses; 5. Gave initial information about a September fundraising event; 6. Recognized Executive Officer Linda Davis for her continued assistance with the Board; 7. Collected funds for MARPAC (Maine Association of REALTORS Political Action Committee) - thank you REALTOR John Bragg for assistance; and 8. Received MAR Updates from MAR CEO Cindy Butts.

If you're not attending local membership meetings, think what you might be missing?

Pictured: John Bragg; Mary Bumiller with Linda Davis

Full House for Maine CRS Course

The Maine Chapter of CRS held CRS 200, "Business Planning and Marketing" on Monday and Tuesday at the MAR office. Class attendance sold out. Chapter President Elect Lori Gray (Homestead Realty, Winthrop) relays: "The class was great, and the instructor a riot. Many ideas explained, and students will have to decide which ones to start working on first."

Click here for more info about the Maine Chapter of CRS.

Pictured: students Judith Reidman (Keller Williams, Portland) and Lori Barrett (Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty, York)

REALTOR loses everything in fire

Androscoggin Valley Board President Georgia Chomas sent this message to membership today:

"One of our REALTOR members, Dennis Dufour of CENTURY 21 Advantage in Lewiston, lost his home in Mechanic Falls to a fire this week. Dennis, his wife Robin and their 5 children lost everything in the fire. Dennis asked me to remind everyone to check their homeowners or renters insurance and determine if their coverage is adequate especially if you have refinanced in the last 5 years as he had done. He also stressed the importance of doing an inventory for each room with pictures. It goes without saying that this information should be kept off site. Dennis is planning to rebuild.

A trust account for cash donations has been set up as follows: Rainbow Federal Credit Union, 391 Main Street, Lewiston, ME 04240. Checks need to be made payable to the Dennis and Robin Dufour Family Fund. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated by the family. The youngest children are daughters aged 7 and 12. Thank you for your consideration."

Picture from WBLZ2 site

MAR Life Member Chris Cokinis

At the Coastal Mountain Council of the Mid-Coast Board's recent membership meeting, REALTOR Chris Cokinis (Camden Real Estate, Camden) was recognized for recent achieving Life Member status in MAR. Life Membership is provided with 30 years as a REALTOR plus notable contributions to real estate association and industry, and local community service. Council President Annie Kassler (pictured) chaired the membership meeting. Updates given about education, fundraising, community service, and MAR; and local membership relayed support for coordinated local open house tours.

People Need Homes

The Merrymeeting Board of REALTORS presented a check for $9,275 to the Tedford Shelter at their membership meeting on Thursday. Includes Matching Grant from MAR Foundation. Tedford's House Manager explained times are tough with state and federal funds, and the importance of the long-term commitment given by the Board. Merrymeeting President Kyle Rogers presented the check, along with REALTOR Dot Ollier. Dot relayed the vital role of housing for homeless, and role of housing in changing lives and building communities.