Each month, the President of KCRAR writes a column for Realeyes, our newsletter covering topics of the day from KCRAR and Heartland MLS. Articles focus on issues of interest for Kansas City area REALTORS®, and the President's column often reflects on current events in the industry, new and ongoing KCRAR programs and events, and much more.
Here is the most recent President's column:
September 2010
Leadership Comments
By Renee Ryan-Edwards, CRS, CRB
2010 KCRAR President
In the Kansas City area and beyond, REALTORS® help make the dream of homeownership a reality for millions of Americans. But it’s also our commitment to community that makes being a REALTOR® so special. Our belief in community values and the giving of our time and effort to charitable endeavors showcases our dedication toward making the areas we live and work better places to be. Whether you’re involved with your local church, serve as a member of your child’s PTA, or just find the time to help an elderly neighbor mow their grass and trim their bushes, you strive to help build better neighborhoods.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. The response to KCRAR’s Centennial Grant Program in 2008 was tremendous, with a total of 275 grant applications received. A total of $100,000 was awarded to the 10 winning nonprofits! The organizations represented by REALTORS® even then were varied and diverse, including health-related organizations, religiously affiliated charities and more. Your REALTOR® Association recognizes and appreciates these efforts, and this year began a program to offer even more opportunities for community involvement.
KCRAR REALTORS® Make a Difference is a program created to share community service programs and projects with our membership to gain support and spread information about the wonderful work you do. Through this endeavor managed by Cristalle Bozarth, KCRAR Community Outreach, Diversity and RPAC Manager, we’ve started creating community service projects open to your participation throughout the year!
We already hosted a Habitat for Humanity REALTOR® Build in June, and the response was extraordinary! So many of you braved the heat (and even the occasional downpour) to help build a home for a local family in need. Housing is a very basic need, but one that can be out of reach for many. Habitat for Humanity strives to eliminate poverty and substandard housing worldwide, so it’s a cause close to the hearts of REALTORS®.
You can help make KCRAR REALTORS® Make a Difference a success by sending Cristalle information about your programs and projects. At least 30 days’ notice is required. For more information about how to promote your efforts, e-mail Cristalle at cristalleb@kcrar.com.
Other community service projects that have been available through KCRAR are volunteer trips to Harvesters. We first visited the community food bank’s Volunteer Outreach Center in February, and we’ll return there again Sept. 15 to sort and repackage food for the needy, pack backpacks full of food for school-aged children, or reorganize pantry shelves. It just depends on their needs for the day! If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities, be sure to sign up today! Find all the details on the Events calendar here. Bring a fellow REALTOR® and bring some food to donate.
Getting involved with KCRAR, whether it’s one of many volunteer opportunities, RPAC auctions, special education offerings or bowling tournaments, is just one way for us to maximize the value of our KCRAR membership. As KCRAR members, we have access to an enormous array of benefits to help us in our career and daily lives, including legislative advocacy, public awareness campaigns, continuing education and professional development, RPAC, and many more!
Contributing to RPAC is certainly an important way we can all participate in the greater community. Through RPAC we support candidates who understand and agree with our goals of protecting and preserving private property rights. What better way to serve our communities and clients, on a very large scale, than by helping stand up for their rights?
Speaking of RPAC, have you signed up yet for this month’s inaugural Ride for the American Dream? This 75-mile motorcycle ride/poker run is sure to be a great time, whether you’re a motorcycle enthusiast or a staunch supporter of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee! If you don’t want to experience the wind in your hair as a rider, be sure to come for the after-ride party, and bring your friends – this event is open to the public!
Our goal is to raise $15,000 for RPAC through three local motorcycle rides on Saturday, Sept. 25, with the support of area Harley-Davidson Dealerships. There’s still time to sign up, so go here today for more information about the Ride for the American Dream!
Here’s hoping business stays hot as we head into cooler weather! Have a great month!