Conference MIM Report
2008 REALTORS® Conference and Expo
Association Executives Committee Meeting Highlights
Orlando, FL
AE Institute Advisory Board
While the program for the 2009 AE Institute in Colorado Springs is in place, the AEI Advisory Board discussed the following plans:
--In an effort to "go green," there will be no printed handouts at the 2009 Institute education sessions. Attendees can go to Realtor.org prior to the Institute to pre-plan their curriculum and print any handouts they need. They can also can print handouts on-site in the Institute Cyber Station. Once on site, attendees will receive a compilation of handouts in some type of condensed electronic format.
--The Welcome Lounge will be open from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The lounge will feature refreshments and information about Colorado Springs. The lounge will also serve as the pick-up point for the AEI commemorative golf sweaters.
--A live auction will again be the cornerstone of the Institute Happy Hour on Monday, March 23. A silent auction will be conducted throughout the Institute. State associations will be asked to contribute to the silent and live auctions. All proceeds from the auctions will go towards the AE Professional Development Fund, which provides professional development programming opportunities for AEs across the country.
--Dress for the Institute is business casual. This was printed in the comprehensive brochure and is noted on the AE Institute website. Jeans are allowed but on a professional level. The clothing item for the 2009 Institute is a golf sweater, which is featured in both a men's and women's style. When pre-ordered via the AEI on-line registration form, the sweater price is $40; on-site sales price is $45 plus shipping charges.
--AEI on-line registration opens Wednesday, December 3, 12:00 noon CST. When attendees register on-line for Institute, they will automatically go to a database that handles their hotel registration as well. (Questions? Cynthia Bair, cbair@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 3280)
RCE Certification Board
The next RCE applicant data form (ADF) deadline is December 1, 2008. The following states/territories remain with no RCE designee: Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Wyoming.
The following AEs received an RCE scholarship:
Pauline Dickson, East Polk County Association of REALTORS®, FL
Amy DuBose, San Marcos Area Board of REALTORS®, TX
Michael VanderBunt, Lakes Area Assoication of REALTORS®, WI
Shari Veldman, Commercial Alliance, MI
The RCE Certification Board reviewed their Policies and Procedures and the following policy changes were made:
Late Fees
The RCE Board decided that the fees charged for the following will have a dual fee structure attached to them to encourage designees to pay their fees on time. The following MOTION was made, seconded, and carried:
"That the following fee structure be change:
One time certification fee: $150 if paid within 30 days from receiving the invoice via email; $200 if paid after 30 days
Annual dues: $60 if paid within 30 days from receiving the invoice via email; $100 if paid after 30 days
Recertification: $100 if paid within 30 days from receiving the invoice via email; $150 if paid after 30 days."
ADF Scoring Process
Current policy: A candidate may not retroactively appeal an ADF score after having received his/her examination score. However, a candidate who has achieved at least the minimum required score on the RCE examination may submit an updated ADF within two weeks immediately following the exam, and should the new ADF score and the previous examination score equal the required score for certification, the candidate can achieve certification without retaking the examination.
The following MOTION was made, seconded, and carried:
"That when RCE candidates are notified to register for the RCE exam, that they be given an opportunity at that time to update their ADF no later than the date that RCE exam registration closes, in addition to two weeks immediately following the exam."
RCE Exam Registration
Current policy: RCE candidates are sent an exam registration link via email indicating the deadline to pre-register for the RCE exam, as well as a reminder email one week before the deadline. However, the Board felt that a written policy should be in place in case a candidate shows up to take the onsite exam without pre-registering, the following MOTION was made, seconded, and carried:
"That RCE candidates must be pre-registered to take the RCE exam or they will not be allowed to take the RCE exam."
(Questions? Renee Holland, rholland@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 8545)
Recommendations and Recognition Subcommittee
The subcommittee selected 16 2009 William D. North AE Institute Scholarship recipients and 4 RCE Scholarship recipients. The subcommittee also discussed the Terry McDermott Community Leadership Award, which honors an AE who is involved in programs and activities that benefit the community in which he/she lives and works. Nominations for the award are being accepted through December 3. The 2008 award recipient will be formally recognized at the 2009 AE Institute. (Questions? Cynthia Bair, cbair@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 3280)
Generation AE Work Group
Work group members recapped their recent meeting on Second Life and discussed plans for a "tech networking" webcast that provides an overview of various social media that associations can use to communicate with members, followed by another webcast specifically on Second Life.
Work group members had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the AE page of REALTOR.org with REALTOR.org staff Hilary Marsh. Suggestions for improvement included the following: reorganize so information is easier to find; be sure all information is current; provide more resources for new AEs; create an AE counterpart to the YPN site; provide more information on how AEs can get involved in the AEC; include need-to-know calendar dates. Feedback from the work group was welcome and will be considered in the website's upcoming redesign.
The work group discussed plans for an AE mentor program and agreed that NAR's Expertise Profile Database should be used for this purpose. AEs will be encouraged to use the EPD as a source of AE experts/mentors, as the database identifies AEs according to their stated areas of expertise.
The work group suggested that there be more information on how AEs can get involved in the AEC.
Support for new AEs was also discussed and while the work group acknowledges the benefits of NAR's New AE Orientation program, it was suggested that NAR group orientation participants as part of an annual "class" that can go through the learning process together as a network support group. (Questions? Cindy Sampalis, csampalis@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 8302)
AEC Leadership Programming Work Group
The work group identified three speakers and topics for the 2009 Leadership Express program scheduled for May 15, 2009 during the Midyear meetings. The programming consists of three 40-minute sessions, scheduled concurrently and then repeated, allowing attendees the opportunity to attend two of the following three workshops. The following speakers will be invited: Jennifer Testa, Leadership Solutions, Virginia, presenting “Motivation During Tough Times, Virtual Leadership”; John Clemens, Founder, Hartwick Leadership Institute, New York, presenting “The Timeless Leader”; and Michael Staver, The Staver Group, Florida, presenting “Understand the Differences Between Management and Leadership.”
The work group identified over 15 possible keynote speakers for the November 2009 Entrepreneurial Excellence Series. These speakers will be brought to the 2009 Convention Committee for consideration. (Questions? Laurie Oken, loken@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 8307)
Profile Survey Work Group
The work group discussed the 2008 Administrative Profile Survey questionnaire. The group agreed that the current survey questionnaire is too lengthy so during the review process, they deleted more than half of the survey questions. They will have one more opportunity to review and comment on the survey draft before it is disseminated to all local associations. It was agreed to conduct focus groups during the 2009 AE Institute to determine the relevance and usefulness of the Administrative Profile Survey. These focus groups will be organized according to local association membership size. The Local Profile is conducted every other year. Part I focuses on association executive compensation and benefits, and Part II focuses on association administration. (Questions? Cynthia Bair, cbair@realtors.org, 800/874-6500, ext. 3280)
AE Transitions Work Group
The work group met at the ’08 Midyear meetings in Washington, D.C. for the first time, and split themselves out into three separate teams to better research the following transition information. Each team worked on homework assignments through the summer and fall, and reported the following results at this Annual meeting:
Team 1 -- Transitioning from the REALTOR® AE world to retirement
This team is working on an online tool kit that will include a checklist of those things an AE who is considering retirement should pursue. There will be reference information on subjects such as 401(k)s, insurance, and the emotional part of leaving a life-long career.
Team 2 -- Succession planning-how associations can prepare to transition to a new AE
This team is also developing an online resource that will include links to currently-available succession planning tools, as well as case studies from AEs and associations who have successfully (and not successfully) transitioned to a new AE.
Team 3 -- How new AEs can best get up to speed to serve their REALTOR® members
Continuing the trend, this team will be updating the currently online RoadMap for New AEs, and moving forward to develop an additional online checklist that will help AEs who are new to an association learn about the practices that are unique to that association.
Each team also brainstormed additional ideas that will be explored before the Midyear Meeting in May. The sub-teams may also meet briefly at the 2009 AE Institute in Colorado Springs to continue their work before the Midyear Meetings. (Questions? Julie Ann Read, jread@realtors.org, 312/329-5972)
AE Volunteer Leadership Self-Study Work Group
The work group is reviewing or finalizing the final three modules of the self-study course. The modules are as follows:
--Enhancing Leadership Skills
--Meeting Management
--Visioning, Planning & Budgeting
--Legal & Regulatory
--Governing Documents & Policies
--Real Estate Issues & Trends
The team discussed the upcoming beta-testing of the program, and agreed that we’ll start with a test by the work group, and then do a beta-test with select local association volunteers identified by work group members. (Questions? Julie Ann Read, jread@realtors.org, 312/329-5972)
AE Competencies Work Group
The AE Competencies Work Group met to continue reviewing and updating the AE Competencies and Body of Knowledge document. This document outlines the five major competency areas in which a REALTOR® association executive should be proficient to successfully serve the evolving REALTOR® association. The document is the foundation for all REALTOR® AE professional development programs and products. (Questions? Julie Ann Read, jread@realtors.org, 312/329-5972)
