People have said to me, "You sure picked a challenging year to be president of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®." I always respond, "You wouldn’t know it from the REALTORS® I’ve talked to." 

Wherever I’ve traveled, REALTORS® are working hard to make the American Dream possible and to serve their communities and our association. That’s the REALTOR® spirit, and that’s the reason I know that, working All Together, we’ll come out of this credit crisis stronger than ever.

In fact, this has been a year in which our members and staff met every challenge head-on. For example, I challenged our REALTORS® Political Action Committee to increase contributions by 40 percent from the more than $7 million we raised last year—and we’re on track to reach our $10 million goal by the end of the year. 

I want to thank Larry Edwards, Mo Veissi, and John Harrison for their leadership. I also want to commend Chris Polychron and Neal Jackson for their work generating grassroots involvement. 

To all of you who supported our industry through RPAC donations and letters to Congress, thank you. You’re helping to ensure that REALTORS® have a place at the table, working to strengthen residential and commercial real estate markets.

Thanks to my 2008 Leadership Team—Pat V. Combs, Charles McMillan, Vicki Cox Golder, Jim Helsel, Ron Phipps, Mark Foreman, Bob Kulick, and Dale Stinton. To our past presidents, who continue to serve this organization ably, you have my gratitude. Special thanks to Cathy Whatley and Sharon Millett, who’ve taken on numerous tasks to advance our association this year. 

Thanks to all our chairs and vice chairs, particularly Vince Malta, who traveled to Washington, D.C., six times this year to lobby on our behalf, and Joel Singer, who served a second year as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee after the untimely death of our friend Merilynn Foss. Thanks also to Gary Thomas, who has traveled around the country to gain your input on the proposed REALTORS® Property Resource database; Mike Brodie for his tireless work on our credit union; and Richard Rosenthal for serving us on numerous projects. 

I also want to thank the incredible NAR staff for helping secure passage of the recent federal economic stabilization package and two stimulus packages to help revive sagging markets; accomplishing a favorable settlement with the Department of Justice that preserved and strengthened the MLS; enhancing communication with our members through innovations such as video podcasts and economic commentaries at REALTOR.org; and sparking improvements to REALTOR.com.

Let’s not forget we celebrated our association’s centennial in May with a very special gala hosted by the first lady of real estate, Ebby Halliday. We’ll be capping off our centennial year with a float in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day.

So was it a tough year to be NAR president? For me, it was a year that confirmed the strength of the REALTOR® spirit—and one I’ll look back on with pride, gratitude, and wonderful memories. Thanks for giving me the chance to serve you and for your encouragement, friendship, and support.

For more updates from the president, check out the President’s Report at REALTOR.org.