Association Executives Committee
Generational Communications Work Group
Thursday, May 14, 2009, 7:30a.m. – 9:00a.m.
Washington, D.C.

Meeting Summary

Work Group Purpose
To identify how different generations are viewing internet communications and technology networking opportunities and how AEs can best use these options in communicating with association staff, leadership, and members.

Meeting Update
The work group met for the first time during the 2009 AE Institute in Colorado Springs, and then again during the 2009 Midyear Meetings in Washington, D.C.

AE Institute Meeting Summary – March 2009
Work group members talked about social media and how associations can use it to communicate with members. They also discussed how they can help members use social media in their business. Some key thoughts from the open discussion include the following:
• REALTOR® members are using social media to participate in association activities, not just as another means of communication. Members of the younger generations consider online involvement to mean participation. They don’t think you need to physically attend functions to be participating in the association.
• Consumers are ahead of REALTORS® in the social media world and associations can help their members catch up. Associations can show members by example and they can also offer hands on support to bring their members on board.
• Facebook is the most commonly used social media among the work group members, but other frequently used social media include Twitter and LinkedIn.
• The work group agreed to create a resource to help associations use Facebook to communicate with members and staff and to serve as a tool for AEs to help their members use Facebook in their real estate business.
• Hilary Marsh, NAR’s REALTOR.org Managing Director, attended the meeting and informed the work group that with the help of NAR’s new Social Media Manager, Todd Carpenter, NAR is also planning to create a Facebook guide for associations.

Midyear Meeting Summary – May 2009
The work group reviewed a Facebook workbook outline that NAR REALTOR.org staff Hilary Marsh and NAR social media staff Todd Carpenter provided. NAR staff will develop a Facebook workbook that includes the following chapters:
• Facebook 101
• Profiles vs. Pages vs. Groups
• Facebook as a marketing and communications tool
• Helping members use Facebook effectively

The work group members broke out into two discussions groups. One group, led by Chris Carillo, brainstormed examples of how associations can use Facebook to communicate with members. The other group, led by Laurie Ganz, brainstormed examples of how associations can use Facebook for internal communications with staff and leadership.

NAR staff will provide a draft of the Facebook workbook, and the work group will provide input via an online or web-based meeting prior to the November 2009 REALTORS® Conference and Expo.

Next Steps
1. Work group to review draft of Facebook workbook and offer feedback during online or web-based meeting
2. Discuss ways to promote use of the Facebook workbook.

Next Meeting
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 2:00p.m. – 3:30p.m., San Diego

Work Group Co-chairs
Henry DiGiacomo, RCE, CAE (MA)
Stephanie Lance, RCE (AZ)

Work Group Co-Vice Chair
Laurie Ganz, CO

Work Group Members
Jeff Arakelian, RCE, CT
Elizabeth Barnhardt, NC
Steve Blanton, RCE, OR
Mary Kay Brickey, RCE, FL
Chris Carrillo, OH
Heidi Chock, TN
Amy DuBose, RCE, TX
Mark Epstein, CA
Eugene Gibbons, CA
Jim Haisler, RCE, IL
Nick Kremydas, RCE, SC
Kim McCoy, IL
Amy Monroe, CA
Brain Paul, FL
Sarah Perry, RCE, SC
Tess Pickerel, CO
Brian Pilon, NC
Rich Schulhoff, NY
Edward Segal, RCE, CA
Richard Stauffer, NY
Steve Volkoldav, IL
Scott Wohl, NY

Liaison
Bill Powers, TX

Staff Executives
Krystal Allen
Todd Carpenter
Hilary Marsh
Cindy Sampalis

 

 

 

 

 

May 2009