Suzanne reports: We’re registered! In December 2007, the United States Patent and Trademark Office finally completed the registration of the Maine Association of REALTOR Foundation’s trademark. The application was first filed in March 2005. In November 2006, the National Association of REALTORS and MAR entered into a consent agreement for use of the REALTOR mark within the trademark of the MAR Foundation.
So, here’s the first “official” unveiling of our new look: “Bridging the Gap to Affordable Housing”. The houses form a visual destination with people celebrating. That’s what we do at the Maine Association of REALTORS Foundation. We provide funding to organizations to bridge the financial gap for the creation of affordable housing. We move families into better living situations. What’s not to celebrate?
Does your company participate in the REALTORS Affordable Housing Fund? Go to our website to check the list of participants, to download the enrollment form, and to learn more about where grant funds are spent throughout Maine. For additional info, please contact me.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
MAR Foundation Logo (Finally) Registered
Creating opportunities for positive messages
REALTOR Linda DiTomaso (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Saco) walked into a MAR meeting wearing a large button with this message "Ask Me About My Homes for Sale". Asked Linda to explain: "I pulled this button out of the moth balls. I had it when I first sold real estate in Massachusetts. Believed that if I wore it now I'd be taking a proactive approach to the present market conditions and help to change the perception of the market - even if it's one person at a time. And guess what - it works -especially in the supermarket. This button creates plenty of opportunites and may end up being a permanent part of my attire!"
Monday, January 28, 2008
Courage, Brains and Heart
Because it takes courage, brains and heart to practice real estate, the MAR Convention Committee thought it only fitting to have a "Wizard of Oz" theme this year. Entitled "There's No Place Like Home", the convention features GRI-105 (finance and technology), an "Emerald City" (black tie encouraged) REALTOR of the Year banquet, a "Wicked" dance party, popular national/state speakers (only now being invited), and more.
The 2008 MAR Convention is scheduled for October 7-9, 2008, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. All convention hotel rooms and suites must be requested through MAR as part of registration, which opens in mid-June 2008.
The Maine Chapter of CRS will offer CRS 202, "Effective Buyer Sales Strategies" all day Monday-Tuesday for a separate registration fee.
In the meantime, watch out for those lions, and tigers, and bears ...
Convention Committee: Attending - (pictured) Chairman Linda Coron, Esther Bolen, and Linda DiTomaso, Ed Getty, Heather Gottlieb, Mike LePage, Steve Winkler, and Patti Lawton
Saturday, January 26, 2008
5 Things I Learned at Spokesperson Training
MAR's blog will feature guest bloggers who participate in MAR activities, meetings and conferences. Bangor Board President Mary Kuykendall was among local presidents who participated in MAR Spokesperson Training on Friday:
The five most important things I learned at Spokesperson Training:
1. Think in three’s. That sort of goes against the “Five things I learned at Spokesperson Training” premise. People tend to go with and remember things if you give it to them in three’s. Three Musketeers; Three Little Pigs; Three Blind Mice; Father, Son and Holy Ghost; Kukla, Fran and Ollie; Executive, Judicial, Legislative. You get the idea.
2. Don’t speak on a subject you aren’t familiar and comfortable with. Defer and refer. You don’t have to be the expert on everything.
3. Use your voice and body language to get points across. Remember that people have come to hear you. They want you to succeed in getting your message out. Otherwise, you have wasted their time as well as your own.
4. The two primary reasons you will be speaking as representatives of your organizations are to inform and to persuade.
5. Nervousness is not necessarily a bad thing. Just get those butterflies flying in formation, and you’ll be fine.
Friday, January 25, 2008
What's changed in the last 14 months?
It wasn't difficult to make the list of changes experienced in the real estate industry and our firms/members in the last 14 months; when MAR's 2007-2008 Strategic Plan was developed. Today the MAR Strategic Planning Committee tackled what MAR's response should be to industry changes and recommended revisions and additions to the Plan. Focus Areas include: Legal/Regulatory/ Governmental, Professionalism and Communications, Industry Concerns, Market Forces and Technology. Many great ideas that now make their way to the MAR Board of Directors for consideration.
Participating: (pictured) Andi Sawyer, Brenda Fontaine, Kelley Craig, Pauline Rock, and Jack Taylor, Mike LePage, Patti Lawton, Cathy Pendergast, Rita Yarnold, Mikie Perry, Jeremy Payne
"All Together"
On Thursday and Friday, MAR President Patti Lawton brought the local/council presidents together, along with the MREIS and MAR Foundation presidents. Purpose: to identify how we can work "All Together" to improve information and services to our collective membership, enhance professionalism, discuss emerging issues in the industry, and to ramp up public information efforts for more accurate and good news about the real estate market. Many presidents also participated in 5-hour spokesperson training sessions with trainer Peter Mosca; and enjoyed networking and idea sharing.
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.
MAR Foundation Prepares for Grant Awards
The MAR Foundation expects to award nearly $44,700 in competitive grants during 2008 - and an additional $81,600 in Matching Grants for local board/council affordable housing efforts in Maine. This year's competitive grant announcement postcard mailed to housing-related organizations in Maine with grant applications available online. Deadline to apply is February 6 at noon.
MREIS donates its fine income to the MAR Foundation's REALTORS Affordable Housing Fund.
Media Coverage - Habitat Build
Television stations WCSH (6) in Portland and WBLZ (2) in Bangor interviewed Paul Trowbridge and Steve Joy on tonight's news. Video also posted on their sites. Includes pictures and videos Paul took during the Build, and great display of our REALTOR blue shirts!
The Camden Herald (1/24/07) included a front page photo of Vicki Doudera, Marsha Steinglass, and Pete Wood from the Habitat Build.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
MAR Legislative Committee Considers Bills
Today MAR's Legislative Committee discussed pending legislation and recommended MAR position and response. Issues included drinking water, predatory lending, historic property tax credits, tax reform, vernal pools, floodplain designations, shellfish resources, natural resource protection, timing of property tax bills/liability. The Committee weighed in on MAR's strategic plan initiatives and established an upcoming MARPAC fundraising program.
Media Coverage and Message from Gail
Here's a recent media report in Camden featuring local builders and sponsors.
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This message from Team Leader Gail Rizzo: To our Sponsors - thank you for making the dream a reality. To the REALTOR team - I was amazed and grateful how 19 people who did not all know one another at the start, worked side by side with so much success. Building from the slab up, we turned a concrete slab into a home. Thank you for being so great to work with - and for the care and hard work you put into the Build. This is one trip that will be remembered for a lifetime for me, and I hope for all of you.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Media Coverage
The Mobile Press-Register newspaper has front-page story in Sunday Real Estate section entitled "The Maine Event", relaying the Maine Association of REALTORS Habitat builders, plus 3 pictures - 2008 MAR President Patti Lawton, Debbie Marathon and Carol Minnehan-Lee.
Homeward Bound and Congrats
JoAnn reports: I was one of the unlucky people who had their Saturday flight through Atlanta canceled, so stuck in Mobile until Sunday at 6:45AM. Carol and Paul rescheduled to 10AM Sunday so we had a rainy day in Mobile with no car. Took a cab to see a movie and walked a half mile for dinner at Panera Bread.
At the airport I bought a Mobile Sunday Press-Register newspaper because front page of the Real Estate section had an article on our Build. Found other interesting articles - one on a Habitat house being built for a Headstart preschool teacher by high school students. Several articles about Mardi Gras - one gave information about the expense these mystic societies incur putting on parades, mostly for "throws" which are beads, stuffed animals, moon pies, or commemorative coins. Oh yes, and the ball that Deb got smacked with. Apparently the paper has an ongoing feature called "Eyesores of the Week" showing pictures of properties with excessive trash/junk AND naming the property owners!
Atlanta still had snow on the ground but planes flying with no weather issues. About 25 minutes to flight time, I realized at wrong gate - made a mad dash and made it. Arrived in Bangor and learned a troop plane there - so looked for my friend Kay Lebowitz, who's a troop greeter. Kay is there day or night when a plane comes in and she is 91! I stood with her as we applauded troops back to their plane going to Texas and home!
I've been hearing from many people who have followed our adventure through the blog. And what an adventure it was. I met a lot of great people from a lot of different places: fellow Mainers, Kevin from Australia, the Habitat crew from Mobile, the Americorp kids from many places, members of the Alabama and Mobile Associations of REALTORS who wined and dined us royally, and Habitat families who will live in the houses including our Habitat mom, Natasha.
It was hard work but it was fun work. And very meaningful work. It's one thing to send money to help, which is important, but to be able to do something to help hands on is great! We got thank yous from so many people not involved with the build. My cab driver yesterday morning said it was a blessing that we came down to build a house for Natasha and her baby.
Thank you so much to everyone who made if possible for us to do this and for me to be a part of it! My mother has watched me do projects and keeps telling me I could probably build a house. Now I know I could, with a lot of help from friends. Beware if Mary invites the Habitat team to come visit her property in Lubec and suggests we bring hammers!
From Ken DelVecchio, President of the Connecticut Association of REALTORS: Would you please pass along this CONGRATULATIONS to the entire Maine Habitat Team for the job they just accomplished in Mobile. I have enjoyed reading all their comments and seeing the pictures of the work at “their home” in Alabama. It brought back so many wonderful memories of a year ago. They have just accomplished something that so few actually ever get to do, help someone else in need. I am sure their memories and the new friendships they have made will last with them forever. For many this will be a “life changing “experience. My best regards to all.
Note: MAR thanks Ken too for sharing his advice and experiences with our team before the trip.
Bart reports: I'd like to reiterate Mary's thoughts - this was an absolutely AWESOME journey the 19 of us shared. Having had the opportunity to travel extensively in my life, this particular trip will rate very high on the remembrance scale! I too would like to heartfully thank my family and sponsors for allowing me this opportunty. Without their patience and support this would have been much more difficult.
I awoke Friday to undertake my side trip to sunny Florida only to be greeted by torrential rains and wind. Eventually I staggered downstairs with the luggage and out into the rain. I stopped briefly to chat with Patti and Deb. Deb had driven from Maine and was procrastinating a bit about the morning drive in such terrible weather. I underestimated how far it is from Mobile to Tampa and quite dismayed to learn it's 500 miles - so much for advance planning! Arrived in time for a tornado watch. Seems like many of us will remember this experience for some time to come -and that includes the travel woes.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Journeys and Destinations
Mary reports: Friday dawned sunny and bright and nippy. We gathered in the lobby, munching on the bagels, boiled eggs, juice, coffee and cereal we'd enjoyed all week and tried to focus on the day ahead and not on the fact that this was our last day of work.
We got to the site a little earlier than usual and began finishing up some chores from Thursday while awaiting the arrival of the shingles which would be delivered via conveyor to the roof. Once they arrived and were stowed along the ridge line the roof crew went up to begin, what turned out to be, for me at least, the most fun job of the week--nailing on the lovely gray architectural shingles. We began with a line of about 12 of us laying and nailing (6 nails per shingle) courses of them starting at the edge and moving backwards up the roof. Once we got the first 6 or 7 courses on we had the option of changing sides from sliding backwards on our rears up the roof or moving to the downward side and working on our knees facing the shingles. I tried the downside for three courses but found that, being left-handed I was constantly working across myself as the nailing was going left to right. I changed and finished my stint of nearly four hours on the upper side. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The siding was beginning to go up, and everything was looking really good. We had been told by the Habitat supervisors on site that we had done excellent work all week.
About 10 o'clock the first of our group, Tom, Vicki and Pete, were taken to the airport by Gail. We waved to them from the roof and began to feel that we were actually going to have to leave this place which had become so familiar to us during this week and which we had begun to refer to as "our house".
After the lunch break Gail took Joanne W., Callie and me back to the motel to shower and gather our things in preparation for getting a cab to the airport for our 2:40 flight.
I really hated to leave, as did the other early departers. We had tried to change our tickets in order to stay as long as we could, but things didn't work out so that we could do that.
As we got into the Friday midday traffic, Gail was fearing for our ability to get cleaned up, catch a cab and get to our plane on time; so she declared that if we could do all we needed to do in the motel and be back out front in "Fifteen minutes, ten would be better", she'd wait and take us to the airport. I don't know about the others, but I have little or no memory of the burst of energy which propelled me into my room and shower and somehow had me stuffing my suitcase in the back of Gail's car in the time she'd given us. We weren't sure that the fact that Gail had not removed her hard hat during the trip in to the motel and was still wearing it was any indication of the kind of ride we were in for or not, but she got us there with time to spare, and we made our flight to Atlanta.
This proved to be the easy part of the day.
We arrived in Atlanta and saw Callie on her way. She had a flight to Portland from there, but we were scheduled to go to Detroit, then to Bangor, arriving in Bangor at 11:05 pm. Wanna bet?
Walking down the line of gates we passed Pete going the other way. He was, it turned out, on our flight to Detroit. After getting something to eat, we waited for the flight to Detroit.
On arriving in Detroit, Joanne and I checked with the attendant at the gate for directions to our connecting flight and were told there was no problem in our making the connection and given directions to the gate. When we got to the gate, Pete was there as well as Tom who had arrived from his flight to Houston!
All was under control, we were assured. No one had announced our flight. Pete had been there for ten minutes and Tom for 15-20 minutes. After waiting for about ten minutes more, the lady sitting down the row from Pete asked if we were going to Bangor, and when we said we were, she said, "That flight's already gone."
Anyway, everyone can tell horror stories of traveling these days, and we won't cry on your shoulder. The upshot of it is, we spent the night in Detroit, courtesy of Northwest Airlines and arrived, rested and resigned, if a bit ragged around the edges, at 3:30 this afternoon.
The week was, and those of you who know me, know I rarely, if ever, use this term---"Awesome"!
I heard several people say it changed their lives. It is hard to put into words the emotions that were experienced and the depths of ourselves that we discovered.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who sponsored me and supported me with your thoughts and encouragement and prayers and financial backing. Thank you also to MAR for giving us all the impetus to do this work and to NAR for challenging us to do it. And I thank Habitat for being there and for helping me see what I could do when motivated and when I truly have a purpose.
Mary Kuykendall is 2008 president of the Bangor Board of REALTORS
