2008 100th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee Report

Celebrating 100 Years!

By Charlotte Van Steyn, Chair

2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. That's 100 years of REALTORS® working together to increase professionalism within our industry as well as protect and enhance homeownership opportunities in central Ohio.

CBR formed the 100th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee to explore ways in which to commemorate this once in a lifetime event. We've met several times this year and have had fun brainstorming as well as reminiscing about days gone by.

I'm sure you've noticed that each issue of the In Contract this year has carried an article by a past CBR President sharing memories of their year and pictures as well. This month, you'll find an article by 1993 CBR President George Smith on pages 46-47.

100 Acts of Kindness
One of our first ideas (courtesy of Bob Weiler) was to recognize members for their acts of kindness. Activities such as helping with a charitable fundraiser, education program, local government project, coaching a children's sports team, working with a housing service, volunteering for REALTOR® Care Day, etc. qualify. Although our goal was to recognize 100 Acts of Kindness, to date, 573 members have received a letter and 100 Acts of Kindness pin in recognition of their volunteerism.

If you have served your community in some way this year, please let us know by completing a nomination form. We would like to recognize as many members as possible for their service.

100 Moments in History
As we were collecting photos and stories from the past, we decided that we would publish one `memory' per day for the 100 days leading up to the President's Ball on December 13. Accordingly, since September 4, we've posted a new moment each day on the MLS Welcome Screen.

If you click on the link from the Welcome Screen, you can read all of the moments published to date and see the photos that accompany the stories. And we'll add seven more stories each week until the ball.

For your enjoyment, we've included a few of our moments and pictures within this magazine.

100 Year Exhibit
The lobby of our CBR Membership Headquarters now has an exhibit of pictures, stories, newsletters and memorabilia from the last 100 years. We'll keep this up through the end of the year. Be sure to take a look next time you're at the Board.

Centennial Ball
The theme for this year's President's Ball will incorporate our centennial celebration. Although all of the details are not yet finalized (or more specifically approved by leadership), I'm just going to say that you won't want to miss the ball this year. It's going to be the celebration of a century!

FYI - On Dec. 27, 1960, CBR held the first President's Ball, to honor the outgoing President and install new leadership. This social highlight of the boards' first 52 years was held in the main ballroom of the Neil House and tickets sold for $10 each. At the time, The Columbus REALTOR® advised members to "Solve your wife's Christmas gift problem! Tell her about this party tonight so she can get that new cocktail dress before Christmas!" As part of the festivities, white gardenias and pink champagne were given to all the wives.

I'd like to thank the following for their time this year in planning everything I've mentioned above: Phil Geissler, Greg Hrabcak, Myrna Kobre, Lynda Long, Bill McMenamy, Bob Miller, Gary Parsons, Mary Raysa, Chris Reese, and George Smith. We've also had several CBR staff involved including: Lucy Buzzee, Marqué Bressler, Stan Collins, Mike Gautier, Lynn Hackworth and Kelley Youman Truxall.