2008 Affiliate Liaison Committee Report

A little water on our yard

By Mike Troutman, Chair
Affiliate Liaison Committee

With the 2008 "The Grass is Greener" campaign in full swing and the positive signs of those efforts everywhere, it's time again to think about what the role the Affiliate community of the Columbus Board of REALTORS® has in all this.

The committee serves to improve professionalism in the Central Ohio real estate industry by enhancing communication among REALTORS®, lenders, title companies and sustaining members, such as home inspectors, appraisers and insurance agents. The goals of our committee for 2008 are to promote those Affiliates that are active in the association, increase Affiliate membership and participation in the Board, and plan the annual Affiliate Appreciation Luncheon.

Included in those efforts to promote Affiliate members, we are currently accepting applications for our newly created CBR Affiliate Sustaining Partner Program. This was created to recognize our Affiliates/Sustaining members for their years of service and commitment to the CBR. The Affiliate/Sustaining Member must apply to the Affiliate Liaison Committee, with the proper criteria, which is five years in the real estate affiliated business, two consecutive years of individual membership in the CBR, two years of service on a CBR committee, one year of an area association membership and three REALTOR® recommendations. The applications will be available soon on the CBR web site.

To increase membership, the Committee will continue to scour the landscape for Affiliates new to the business, as well as within the ranks of current members by increasing the depth of their membership's participation. As always, your word of mouth helps, so ask the partners with which you currently do business "are you presently a member of our local Board?" You'd be surprised what high regards Affiliates have for such promotion and praise from REALTORS® and Affiliates alike.

Finally, the Affiliate Appreciation Luncheon has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2007, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Board. We will have door prizes galore and present new awards to the deserving Affiliates. Please mark the date and plan to attend!

Make a difference in your career, either as an Affiliate Individual Member or a Sustaining Member, by joining the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. It's a great way to put a little water on our yard while letting your efforts to the local Board be rewarded.