Our special guests at the Opening General Session - The Passing Zone - deftly used witty banter, bowling balls and even chain saws to put the power of teamwork on full display. At the RPAC Life Member appreciation breakfast REALTORS® were able to hear former Congressman, best-selling author and television news personality John Kasich provide an impassioned look at where the country stands - and the choices it must make to remain strong in the future. OAR was honored to have the National Association of REALTORS® 2006 First Vice President Nominee Dick Gaylord attend the Convention and share insights into the efforts being undertaken by the NAR on behalf of the industry and America's homeowners. The industry honored Judy Conklin, of the Scioto Valley Association of REALTORS®, with the OAR REALTOR® of the Year Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions at the local and state level - a shining example of what makes ours a great industry. Attendees were able to choose from 24 hours of free continuing education credit that was made available. Top-notch instructors, such as Terry Watson, Danielle Kennedy, Lynn Madison, Jackie Morton Leavenworth, Mark Porter, Amy Chorew and Ron Hodgeman shared insights on some of the timely issues confronting the real estate marketplace. OAR also recognized six local boards & associations for their efforts in conducting community service activities. They were: Akron Area Board, Columbus Board, Medina County Board, Stark County Association, Wayne-Holmes Association and Zanesville Board. The Tomorrow' Leaders Today program, which was established seven years ago, attracted 35 new Convention attendees. These folks, who were nominated by their local board or association, received a complimentary Convention registration and were special guests at a luncheon held in their honor. This is a great way of attracting new people to the state organization. The Board of Directors elected a number of REALTORS® to key leadership posts. - Congratulations to Brad Knapp, of the Warren County Board of REALTORS®, who was elected to the OAR Treasurer position. His term will begin in January 2006.
- The following members were elected as NAR Directors (terms beginning January 2006 through December 2008): Steve Brown (Dayton), Sandra Butler (Cincinnati) and Barbara Lach (Columbus).
Congratulations to Steve Casper of Cincinnati who was introduced as the National Association of REALTORS® 2005 Distinguished Service Award recipient. Steve will be formally honored during the NAR Convention in October. OAR adopted the recommendations of its Task Force on Minimum Services for Listings and agreed to pursue changes to Ohio license law to better serve the industry and, ultimately, consumers. The organization agreed to formulate a task force to study and develop a policy position on the issue of eminent domain. In light of the recent US Supreme Court decision (Kelo v. New London), eminent domain is becoming a front-burner issue in Ohio. In addition, OAR is supporting Senate Bill 167 that will establish, until December 2006, a moratorium on the use of eminent domain by any Ohio governmental entity when the primary purpose of the taking is economic development. REALTORS® will be represented on a legislative task force created with the passage of SB 167. The current RPAC campaign is quickly approaching its $650,000 goal for the year, with investments (as of Aug. 15) of nearly $638,000. In addition, 38 local boards and associations were honored for already meeting their goal. OAR Directors honored Nancy Sharp of Columbus with the prestigious Phillip R. Barnes RPAC Achievement Award. Nancy, a long-time supporter of RPAC locally, statewide and nationally, is currently serving as Ohio's representative on the National Association of REALTORS® RPAC Committee. OAR will support in concept draft legislation providing for the licensure of home inspectors. The draft bill, prepared by the Ohio chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors, should result in consistently higher quality of inspection reports to the benefit of real estate transactions. OAR is supporting passage of Issue 1 - Jobs for Ohio?that will appear on the November 2005 ballot. Issue 1 will amend the Ohio Constitution to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and other obligations of the state to finance three types of economic development projects: (1) public infrastructure capital improvements, (2) research and development, and (3) development of sites in Ohio in support of industry, commerce, distribution, and research and development. OAR strongly opposes Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5 that will appear on the November 2005 ballot. Issue 2 pertains to absentee voting, Issue 4 to Congressional and state legislative districts, Issue 5 to election oversight and Issue 3 to campaign finance. OAR believes Issues 2, 4 and 5 are unnecessary and not appropriate matters to be in the Ohio Constitution. Further Issue 3 would seriously weaken RPAC and, as a result, the effectiveness of OAR's governmental advocacy efforts. The organization will partner with Ohio First, a nonprofit organization, to help defeat Issues 2 through 5. OAR's Professional Development Committee will offer an "Instructor Development Workshop," in an effort to identify and develop talent for continuing education programming for both the state and local boards/associations. The Executive Committee approved increasing the amount given by OAR to the REALTOR® Relief Foundation - to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina - by $25,000, bringing OAR's total donation to $50,000. Activity at the Annual Convention was abundant - from start to finish. The outstanding attendance is a testament to the vibrancy and importance of the REALTOR® organization in Ohio. OAR will continue to work hard to ensure that its members are given the necessary tools to succeed in the marketplace today and tomorrow! | | Skip Weiler receives state Service Award  The Ohio Association of REALTORS® presented its coveted Excellence in Community Service Award to our own Skip Weiler. Skip was honored for his efforts in creating the first-ever REALTOR® Care Day, which involved more than 100 volunteers painting, mulching, picking up trash, hanging doors and planting at Mwanza Place - a 24-unit rental complex owned by the Columbus Housing Partnership.
OAR President's Sales Club Congratulations to 304 CBR members who received one of four Ohio Association of REALTORS® President's Sales Club Awards this year. The following four levels of accomplishments were recognized: - Pinnacle of Performance Award - 30 CBR members
- Award of Excellence - 29 CBR members
- Award of Distinction - 87 CBR members
- Award of Achievement - 158 CBR members
2005 OAR Promotion & Advertising Contest Winners CBR salutes Coldwell Banker King Thompson and HER Real Living for picking up wins in 13 of the 21 categories (large firm) of the Ohio Association of REALTORS® 2005 Promotion & Advertising contest. - AUCTION - First Place - HER Real Living, Columbus
- BUSINESS CARDS & STATIONERY - Award of Excellence - HER Real Living, Columbus
- FIRM WEBSITE - Award of Excellence - Coldwell Banker King Thompson
- INDIVIDUAL WEBSITE - First Place - Joe Peffer, Coldwell Banker King Thompson; Award of Excellence - Sandy Raines, HER Real Living
- INSTITUTIONAL ADVERTISING - First Place - Coldwell Banker King Thompson
- INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS - Award of Excellences - Coldwell Banker King Thompson
- PERSONAL MARKETING - First Place - Coldwell Banker King Thompson
- PHOTOS OF BILLBOARDS - First Place - HER Real Living
- PHOTOS OF "FOR SALE" & "SOLD" SIGNS - Award of Excellence - HER Real Living
- PHOTOS OF OFFICE EXTERIORS - First Place - HER Real Living; Award of Excellence - HER Real Living
- RADIO ADVERTISING - First Place - HER Real Living
- TELEVISION ADVERTISING - Award of Excellence - HER Real Living
- TELEVISION HOME SHOWS - First Place - Coldwell Banker King Thompson
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By Lynda Long, 
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