UPCOMING EVENTS & EDUCATION

Don't forget to register for these exciting upcoming CRCBR events and education!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the date for these upcoming CRCBR Events:

Gaston Focused Broker Forum
August 26, 2008
3:00pm - 5:30pm
The Gaston Gazette

LEED Certified Buildings
September 10, 2008
7:30am - 9:30am
McAlpines Business Centre

NAIOP Transportation Forum
September 25, 2008
11:45am - 1:00pm
Westin Charlotte

Memorial Golf Tournament
September 29, 2008
River Run Country Club
 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

ETHICS

AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION EDUCATION/ACCREDITATION

RLI Education and the ALC Designation
The Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation is the esteemed credential of the REALTORS® Land Institute. The designation is attained only by those land specialists who demonstrate the highest levels of knowledge, experience, and professionalism.  To learn more about the ALC designation, click here.

To achieve the ALC designation, land sales experts must complete a rigorous educational program and fulfill extensive experience requirements.

The North Carolina Chapter of the REALTOR Land Institute (NCRLI) has four classes coming up in the following months. Each of these classes would help your move towards earning an ALC designation or could simply help by providing them with an education experience that deals in land.

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STATE NEWS

Help Choose the Focus of Commercial Research
NAR's Commercial Real Estate Research Subcommittee will embark on comprehensive research on commercial topics that are current and important. Help the committee choose which topics to pursue by completing a brief online survey. Topics range from finance and technology to foreign investment and environmental issues. Complete the survey by Aug. 15 online.  To complete the survey, please click here.

Register for NCAR 2008 Convention
Join us at the NC Association of REALTORS® 2008 Convention & Expo, October 5-8 in Charlotte for over three days of education from some of the best experts in the industry. More than 16 different sessions are planned with sought-after instructors. This is something you definitely do not want to miss. Sign up today by clicking here.

Save Money with REALTOR® Partners!
You could be saving money on products and services you already use just by being a member of NCAR.  REALTOR® Partners offer discounts on the products and services you use most.  Check out the REALTOR® Partner program for the list of companies that offer a discount to NCAR members.  There may be products listed that you're already using but not getting a discount!  For more information on REALTOR® Partners, please click here.

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NATIONAL NEWS

NAR e-Library
Did you know that as a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, you have access to hundreds of books online? The National Association of REALTORS® has an e-library with books written on a variety of topics, from Management & Leadership, Sales & Marketing, Finance and Economics, Technology, and more specifically, Commercial & Investment. These books are free for members to read.  For more information, click here.  With titles such as "Blog Marketing," "The Digital Economy," and "Aerial Mapping Websites," this website provides a wealth of information for you as a REALTOR® member!

NAR Annual Meeting Registration Open
Registration is open for the National Association of REALTORS® Annual Meeting, to be held November 7-10, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.  To register or for more information, please Click Here.

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MEMBER NEWS

NCAR Assessment Invoices have been sent
In June, the NCAR Board of Directors voted for a one-time dues assessment to replenish the Issues Mobilization Fund, which is a defense fund used to assist in the protection of private property rights (this fund has been used for the recent battles on Transfer Taxes across the state).  Their decision to assess all members resulted after more than six months of extensive study and debate. From that, a consensus was formed that this fund must be properly financed in order to be able to react quickly when our industry is attacked. This assessment allows us to do that.  CRCBR's Board understands that the economy is impacting everyone but believes this is the time for a united front on industry issues.  Thus, in a momentous action, the CRCBR Executive Committee voted to show their financial support of our members while also supporting the Issues Mobilization Fund.  CRCBR has agreed to pay half of the cost of the Assessment ($25 per person) for all of our members who pay by September 30th, 2008.

NCAR Mandatory Assessment                                                      $70.00
Discount (if paid by 9/30/2008)                                                  -$20.00
CRCBR contribution for members (if paid by 9/30/2008)               -$25.00
Total due if paid by 9/30/3008                                              $25.00 per member

For a copy of a letter from the NCAR president, Wendall Bullard, Click Here.
For more information on the Assessment from CRCBR, Click Here.
If your firm has not received an invoice, please email Emily Crespo, emily@crcbr.org, for an electronic copy.

NC REALTORS 2009 Election Bulletin
For the third year, NC Association of REALTORS® members will have the ability to vote for their elected leaders from any location with access to the Internet.  The electronic method of voting will be the only means by which eligible voters may vote in the annual election.  Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16, you will receive an email with your election login information. Please take any necessary action to allow your email system to successfully accept emails from elections@ncrealtors.org.   You MUST have an email address in order to vote as we are unable to provide login information through any other method, such as telephone or fax.

The email will be sent to the address on file with your local board as of August 22, 2008. Please note that for security reasons, this is NOT the same login and password that you use for the NC Association of REALTORS® Web site or forms.  You should safeguard this login information and have it available when you are ready to vote.  A voting reminder with login information will be emailed again after the polls open.  If you do not receive your login information by Sept. 17, please check your spam filter.  If you cannot retrieve it from your spam filter and need further assistance, NC Association of REALTORS® staff will be available during business hours, 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. To ensure the highest security standards, NCAR staff will not have access to your login info, but will be able to work with our electronic voting vendor to assist you in getting this information, prior to and during the election.  

Online Polls will be open 24 hours a day from 12:00:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, to 11:59:59 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008.  When the election begins, you may access the ballot through a link at www.ncrealtors.org or you may go directly to the voting web site: https://eballot3.votenet.com/ncar/login.cfm.  Use your login information provided in the email to cast your vote for the 2009 NC Association of REALTORS® leadership.  Election results will be announced during the NCAR Annual Convention in Charlotte in early October.

August Partner of the Month
New to the REALTOR® Partners Program!  Save BIG on Credit Card Processing! Start accepting card payments today. Merchant services from Bank of America, offers all North Carolina Association of REALTOR® members a credit and debit card processing program designed specifically for you. With Bank of America, you can give your agents fast and efficient ways to pay, while you simplify your business operations and watch your business grow.

Don't wait. Call your Bank of America merchant services representative, DeEtte Collinge, today at 704-557-2359 or DeEtte.Collinge@bankofamerica.com to find out what NCAR member advantages Bank of America offers. For more information, please see the attached flyer. Click Here.

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MEMBER TRANSACTIONS

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LEGISLATIVE ARTICLES

Thank you to our RPAC contributors! 
The RPAC Campaign is currently underway and we would like to acknowledge those members who have already contributed to this very important cause.

Tripp Alexander, Coldwell Banker Commercial - MECA
John Ashcraft, W.E. Damon & Associates
Keith Bell, Colliers Pinkard
Mike Bilodeau, Merrifield Partners
Howard Bissell, The Bissell Companies, Inc.
David Britt, CPG Real Estate, Inc.
Ian Bruce, Merrifield Partners
Cindy Chandler, The Chandler Group
Ken Chapman, Merrifield Partners
Brad Cherry, Keystone Partners, Inc.
Roger Cobb, NAI Southern Real Estate
Quincy Collins, NAI Southern Real Estate
Doug Core, Prudential Carolinas - Denver
Meredith Dickerson, Coldwell Banker Commercial - MECA
John Dosser, CK Retail Brokerage LLC
James Ferguson, CK Retail Brokerage LLC
Randy Fink, Merrifield Partners
Jerry Furr, NAI Southern Real Estate
Kathy Garner, Sperry Van ness/Lighthouse Commercial Realty
Joey Godbold, Percival McGuire Commercial Real Estate
David Goode, NAI Southern Real Estate
David Haggart, CK Retail Brokerage LLC
Dale Hall, New South Properties of the Carolinas, LLC
Mike Harrell, Beacon Partners
Bill Hartwell, Sperry Van Ness
Scott Hensley, Piedmont Properties of the Carolinas, Inc.
Rob Hord, Real Estate Development Partners
Jon Jarrett, Merrifield Partners
Jim Juhl, Sperry Van Ness
Mike Kemmett, Colliers Pinkard
Pete Lash, Beacon Partners
Ryan Lovern, Commercial First Real Estate
George Macon, Merrifield Partners
Matt McAulay, Bissell Patrick, LLC
Jim McAuliffe, Newmarket Properties
Tom McMahon, Sperry Van Ness
Pat Mead, Sperry Van ness
Parker Melvin, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
Jim Merrifield, Merrifield Partners
Jon Morris, Beacon Partners
Charles Neil, Cornerstone Property Advisors
Mark Newell, Merrifield Partners
Ben Orme, CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
Greg Pappanastos, Argos Real Estate Advisors, Inc.
Bailey Patrick, Bissell Patrick, LLC
Jim Rogers, Flagship Capital Partners, LLC
David Smoots, Insite Residential, LLC
Robert Stanley, Stanley Real Estate Services
Charlie Swanson, Beacon Partners
Meredith Swanzy, Beacon Partners
Chris Thomas, CK Retail Brokerage LLC
Edwin Thomas, Merrifield Partners
Chris Vasbinder, CK Retail Brokerage LLC
Jay Vaughn, Coldwell Banker Commercial - MECA
Kent Wood, Percival McGuire Commercial Real Estate
Stephen Woodard, Bissell Patrick, LLC
Doug Wynne, Coldwell Banker Commercial - MECA

RPAC Donation Raffle Prize Drawing
Take advantage of your chance to win great prizes in 2008! All you have to do is donate to RPAC and you'll automatically be entered in this year's raffle. For as little as $50, you could win a 3 night stay at a massive ocean view vacation home, an Apple IPOD, a portable GPS system and much, much more! The more you donate the greater your chances of winning. To view the RPAC raffle flyer, please click here.

Do you know about the REALTOR® Political Action Committee?
The North Carolina REALTORS® Political Action Committee (NC RPAC) is a non-partisan committee organized for the specific purpose of raising funds to support political candidates of all parties at the local, state and federal levels of government.  NC RPAC exists through the voluntary contributions of members, their spouses, and families of NCAR. NC RPAC was established by NCAR in recognition of the need to increase political activity and awareness among members, and to protect the interest of the real estate industry in the political arena.  You can be a large or small contributor to NC RPAC. However, we encourage every REALTOR® to give at least $25. NC RPAC contributes these funds to the campaigns of candidates at all levels of government. Of the contributions received, 30 percent of the funds are sent to the National RPAC and 70 percent stay in North Carolina to fund local and state candidates. Your voice is heard through the impact of your NC RPAC dollars.  We take great pride in the fact that NC RPAC consistently is the No. 1 business PAC in the state! It is essential that we are able to support the candidates that will fight for REALTOR® issues when elected. REALTORS® are under constant threat of sales tax on your commissions, higher taxes on your business, and increased real estate taxes. Your RPAC contributions are the key to our being able to make a difference in the Legislature.

CRCBR has kicked off its annual RPAC Campaign this month, and we ask that you consider contributing to this important organization! With the funds received, RPAC is able to assist us in local, state, and national issues that affect REALTORS®.

Directions for making an online contribution to NC RPAC
1. Go to www.ncrealtor.org
2. Sign in:
      UserID:  Email Address
      Password:  NRDS#
3. Put your mouse over the word RPAC
      a. A new list of links will appear
      b. Click:  Make a Contribution
4. You will then come to a page with a Contribution Disclosure
      a. Click "I have read the Disclosure" and "I agree"
      b. Choose the Board of REALTORS® that you would like to give credit (CRCBR)
      c. Click submit
5. Complete the online contribution form

If you do not know your NRDS#, email info@crcbr.org.  For further information on NC RPAC, or to mail in your contribution, please click HERE.

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TAKE CONTROL OF INCOMING CALLS

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TECHNOLOGY TIP

Take Control of Incoming Calls
Practitioners find many benefits in a service that allows them to publicize just one phone number. [More]

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CPE UPCOMING TRAINING DATES

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CPE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Technical Support will be provided by Karnes!  Email Karnes at support@karnesco.com.  Or call 800-879-7172 or 704-940-9550 to receive CPE support during normal business hours.  Simply dial the number, then dial "1" for Commercial Property Exchange Information, and dial "1" once more to be directed to one of Karnes' Charlotte CPE technical support representatives.

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