President’s Perspective
ROBIN B. LANCE, GRI, CDPE
Greetings Georgia REALTORS,
I hope all of you enjoyed a fabulous holiday season— one filled with good health, happiness and family and friends surrounding you. Hopefully you were able to fit in some rest and relaxation time so that you are now ready for the challenges and opportunities that await us in 2013!
Your leadership team and committee chairs have been hard at work identifying the operational objectives that we hope to put in place to meet the priorities of our strategic plan. As our association grows, we want to focus on positive and progressive growth that allows us to meet the needs, wants and desires of our membership. When carrying out their duties and coming up with new ideas, each committee has been asked to keep the membership at the heart of the decision making process. The question to be asked is, “Will today’s outcome have a positive impact on the well-being of our members?” Our goal is to provide each member with the tools and resources available to make them more profitable in the business.
Highlighting the value of REALTOR membership, GAR continues our legislative efforts to protect REALTORS from legal liability. Currently, GAR is working with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance to clarify the Department’s interpretation of state law that calls into question the legality of everyday business practices in the facilitation of a short sale transaction. Unless this issue is clarified, REALTORS across the state who engage in short sale transactions will remain vulnerable to legal liability. Short sales are a large part of our business in today’s market and we expect they will be for quite sometime. It is very important that we do everything in our power to keep our members working in a “safe” environment.
In November, the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) made a decision to delay the introduction of legislation to increase CE hours until 2014. Under Chairman Chris Jiles, our State and Local Government Affairs Committee continues to guide our Governmental Affairs staff in ongoing discussions with the Governor’s Office and members of the General Assembly on this important issue. Given the complexities of the legislative process it is unclear if legislation will be offered on this topic in 2013. GAR values our close working relationship with GREC and we will continue to work closely with Commissioner Rogers on any changes to real estate license law.
Our immediate focus is on our 2013 Inaugural Meeting, featuring the Legislative Conference,which will be held in Atlanta at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Convention Center, adjacent to the Cobb Galleria. Georgia REALTORS® have requested for years that we bring our meetings back home to Georgia. You asked, and we listened. This promises to be an event like you have never attended before.
The schedule of events for the Inaugural Meeting is customizable in that it gives attendees the opportunity to take part in as much or as little of the Meeting as they would like. This unique Meeting will combine education, governance meetings and forums. We will “kick off” our week with football legend Herschel Walker, who will give the keynote address at the Opening Session. Other featured speakers include Jed Smith, NAR’s Managing Director of Quantitative Research, and Rob Hahn, Managing Partner of 7DS Association and prominent real estate blogger. The education sessions have something for all of our practitioners. Don’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of sessions that are sure to help your business grow and prosper!
The highlight of the Inaugural Meeting will be our Legislative Conference. The excitement builds as Convention Chair Jana Waycaster and the Government Affairs Department add the final touches to this phenomenal event. On Tuesday, January 29, buses will depart from the Cobb Galleria to the State Capitol, where Georgia REALTORS will rally for home ownership. We will then have face-to-face visits with our state legislators, followed by lunch. There is no cost to attend the Legislative Conference, but you must pre-register. We have the opportunity to demonstrate our political power and let our representatives see and hear our commitment and dedication to our industry, private property rights and free enterprise. Our voices will matter … but we must show up in order for them to be heard! I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at the State Capitol later this month.
My very best,
ROBIN B. LANCE, GRI, CDPE
2013 President, Georgia REALTORS
www.garealtor.com GEORGIA REALTOR I 5
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