August 28, 2008
Presidents' Leadership Guide
As new local and state association presidents prepare to take the helm, this resource will serve them all of their days in office. The guide has been updated for 2008-09 leadership and briefs incoming leaders (presidents, officers, directors and chairpersons) on their responsibilities and informs them of the resources available from NAR.

Dear President:
Congratulations on being elected president of your REALTOR® association!
You probably have many questions on what you can expect from your year as president and what is expected of you. This guide will not only familiarize you with your upcoming roles and responsibilities, but it also details the resources available to you from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® to make your presidency effective, efficient, and enjoyable. Acquaint yourself with the contents below and refer back to them throughout your administration.
How well your program or plan for the year succeeds will depend to a great extent on the cooperation of all members, in particular that of your fellow officers, directors, and committee chairpersons, and your partnership with staff. Your personal leadership style will have an important impact on motivating these individuals. Do your best to convey the importance of a team effort. Let everyone know that their input contributes to the success of the total plan.
Each year, the National association asks for your help in accomplishing its goals nationally, as well as on the local and state levels. In addition, staff is available to help. Remember, a small time investment now will pay a large dividend during the year. Good luck to you.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
CONTENTS
Sample Job Descriptions for Presidents & Executive Officers
Use these elected leadership focus questionnaires to help you develop a president's job description. These questionnaires are arranged according to the levels described in the Models Online Planning Tool (the next section on this contents page), and classify the President duties according to the level at which your association operates (Administrative, Management, Leadership).
Click here to access the "Administrative" level President's job description.
Click here to access the "Management" level President's job description.
Click here to access the "Leadership" level President's job description.
In addition to these job descriptions, click on this article for some quick tips for the new president: "10 Things I Wish I Had Been Told Before I Became President."
Click here for a job description for the chief staff executive.
President/Association Executive Task List
Get the volunteer/staff year off to a good start by completing this job functions summary, or task list. By completing this list together, the president and AE will reach an agreement on who does what, thus encouraging a level of consistency in the volunteer/staff relationship. A sample of the Massachusetts Association's "President's Preference" list is also included. This list is similar to the President/Association Executive Task List and offers another format in which to confirm volunteer and staff responsibilities.
Activities for Local and State Leadership at National Meetings
Learn about all of the activities specially planned for local and state president and AE leadership teams at the national meetings. If you travel to NAR meetings, all of these meetings should be a part of your conference planner so you don’t miss valuable information geared toward you during your year as president.
Appointing the Right Committees
Committees are the lifeblood of an association because they provide forums for ideas, vision for the future, and they accomplish the majority of an association’s work. Here are some guidelines and steps to follow to ensure that you have the right committees in your association structure and the right members serving on those committees.
Organizational Standards for Associations
Successful REALTOR® associations must adhere to the National Association's Organizational Standards for Boards and Associations, formerly known as the Minimum Services Criteria. These standards ensure that local and state associations remain viable entities and conduct business in accordance with the requirements of their charter, as well as state and federal laws.
Organizational Structure and Policies
Here are the basic building blocks of the REALTOR® organization and its structure. Learn about the different membership categories and how the local, state, and national associations work together. Includes key national policies and guidelines, and how to ensure your local and state policies and regulations are in compliance.
Cooperation with the State and National Association
You are the voice of your membership, and by casting your vote at the Delegate Body meeting you also convey the informed choice of your members regarding the policy decisions adopted by the National Association. Know your associations' voting rights and privileges. Also includes an overview of the National REALTOR Database System (NRDS).
Presidential Public Relations
Want to sound Presidential and on top of the hot real estate issues when talking before members or the media? Use these pre-written resources at your next speaking engagement or meeting:
1. Pre-written Speeches for Presidents
2. Presentations on Industry Topics
3. Talking Points on Current Real Estate Issues
4. Calendar of Important Events
5. Major Media Campaign Summaries
REALTOR® Association Models Online Planning Tool
If you were to deliver a Presidential "State of the Association" address today, what would you say are the strengths and weaknesses or your association? What are its goals for the next year and how does it plan to achieve them? Answering these questions is no easy task, but this online planning tool and questionnaire makes it much more manageable.
Your answers to the planning tool questionnaire creates a unique snapshot of your association -- either as it is or as desired -- and provides a set of tools to help you achieve your goals. Use this planning tool to align leadership and staff expectations; identify the association’s desired level of service; and to analyze programs, functions, and operations within an association. As your association evolves and develops new services or strategic partnerships, you can use this assessment again to analyze and evaluate your association services, structure, management, duties and operating philosophy.
Best Practices
Learn from the experience of others. In the Best Practices Report, association management experts (both seasoned AEs and industry consultants) detail their best practices in five essential areas:
Member Services
Public Policy
Leadership and Staff Relations
Human Resource Management
Financial Management
Although each REALTOR® association has its own culture, reflecting the local and regional environment, these best practices can be applied effectively within all associations, regardless of size or available resources. This report may prompt you to examine your current operations and association goals, and you may find suggestions that can inspire you to initiate new strategies and approaches or validate your current operations.
Shared Services Toolkit
Why reinvent the wheel? If a neighboring association delivers a great service or produces a great product, why not partner with them to save money and time? Hundreds of REALTOR Associations share services. Below are just a few of our how-to guides:
How to Share Housing Opportunity Programs
How to Share a Government Affairs Director
How to Share MLS Services
How to Share Leadership Training
Check out the Shared Services Toolkit for step-by-step guidance on how you can offer new and improved services to your members. This Shared Services page in the REALTOR Association Resource Exchange database contains sample agreements, manuals, and other material on shared services.
Technology at the National Association
Visit the REALTOR.org technology page to keep pulse on the latest technology news including the Technology Web Intelligence Reports and REALTOR® Magazine's Technology Advisors. Want more? Access the Center for REALTOR® Technology at www.realtor.org/crt to read about technology member benefits available to you. Resources and information exchanges are at your fingertips via: white papers and survey report, RETS tools, the CRT blog, and the CRT newsletter. Don't forget to check out REALTOR® Confidential at http://realtorconfidential.org. Witness the trials and successes that other REALTORS® experience as they search for technology solutions. Finally, if social media is your thing, connect with CRT on Twitter. Just follow: http://twitter.com/crtweet.
Member Benefits
NAR members have access to the REALTOR Benefits® Program, which provides unique value-added offers created just for them on the products and services they use personally and professionally. By taking advantage of REALTOR Benefits® offerings, members have the peace of mind knowing that NAR has conducted due diligence to select best-of-breed products and services. With over 30 partners in the program, in categories ranging from technology and marketing to insurance and warranties, members are sure to find what they are looking for.
NAR's Virtual Library Resources for Leadership Development
This section contains a variety of articles, tips, and practical examples for those wishing to develop their leadership skills or simply to improve the skills they already possess. Some of the valuable pieces in this “virtual library” include links to other leadership sites on the Internet, such as the Peter F. Drucker Foundation, and leadership articles from a variety of sources, such as the Harvard Business Review. Plus, this provides easy access for you to email NAR’s Information Central with your leadership resource questions.
Share with other REALTOR® Association Presidents
InternetCrusade®, a California-based technology and real estate consulting firm, hosts a popular e-mail and web-based discussion group called PresidentsTalk. This online network currently has more than 2,000 members who have the opportunity to exchange ideas, and provide and receive advice. It is the best resource of its kind on the Internet for those leading or preparing to lead a REALTOR® association. Membership and participation in the PresidentsTalk Network is restricted to REALTOR® association presidents, presidents-elect, and past presidents. It is also useful as a referral network since members interface with REALTOR® leaders across the country.
To sign up, presidents must ask their AE to send an e-mail to PresidentsTalk@InternetCrusade.com requesting that they be subscribed and providing their e-mail address. InternetCrusade® is a REALTOR Benefit Partner of the National Association of REALTORS® and the provider of NAR's e-PRO Technology Certification Program.
News Resources
Stay on top of the latest NAR and industry news with these e-mail and online resources.
Internal News Service for Association Executives, a weekly e-mail newsletter featuring NAR news, events, legislative actions, and industry trends. Presidents are welcome to view this report online at http://www.realtor.org/inis.nsf/RecentArchives?OpenView.
REALTOR Magazine Online industry news about emerging market trends, convention coverage, and news from NAR. Sign up here to receive these news e-mails daily or weekly.
REALTOR.org -- visit the home page regularly, and subscribe to the RSS feeds from any of the site's primary pages, to keep up with the latest information and resources from NAR.
Professional Development for Your Association Executive
An association executive with superior management skills, an acute sense of industry trends, an in-depth understanding of association issues, and expert problem solving and team building skills ensures a prosperous future for the association and all its members. Read about the professional development offerings available to your association executive and how those offerings ultimately benefit your members and your association.
History of the National Association of REALTORS®
The National Association is currently celebrating its centennial. Learn about its beginnings in this history field guide, which also includes brief information about some of the National Association's many initiatives, including international real estate, RPAC, and technology.
For more information on getting the most our of your Presidential term, please contact NAR's AE and Leadership Development Department, 312-329-3280.
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