IAR 2010 Leadership Video

This is a free video presentation using LectLearn that talks about the Goals of the IAR Leadership this year and discusses the many tools, resources and events that IAR has to offer.


http://www.lectlearn.com/products/lectlearn/registration/paypal/reg_step1_email.aspx?c=64&o=0828 They are required to “sign up” but they are not charged a fee to watch this video.

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A long dormant Code section within Iowa has recently been more vigorously enforced by the Iowa Real Estate Commission Iowa Code 543B.33 regarding a licensee change of employment and has the following mandates for brokerages to follow. When an license is sent to the Iowa Real Estate Commission:



"...the real estate broker shall immediately deliver or mail by certified mail to the real estate commission the real estate salesperson's license on the reverse side of which the employing broker shall set out the date and cause of termination of employment.The real estate broker at the time of mailing the real estate salesperson's license to the commission shall address a communication to the last known residence address of the real estate salesperson stating that the license has been delivered or mailed to the commission. A copy of the communication to the real estate salesperson shall accompany the license when mailed or delivered to the commission."



Pay particular attention to the certified mail requirement, and that the date and cause of terminations must be on the BACKSIDE of the license, not just in a letter. A copy of the letter sent to the ex-affiliated licensee must also be sent to the commission.

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January 19, 2010


County Environmental Health/Sanitarian



Dear County,

This letter is intended to clarify the Department’s position on the time of transfer septic system inspection legislation and more stringent county ordinances.

In April of 2008 the Legislature passed SF261 requiring that every building with a septic system have that system inspected prior to the transfer of the deed for that property. While the legislation did not contain a pre-emption clause related to local regulation, several items in the legislation seem to indicate that a Department developed procedure and inspection criteria must be followed. The following section of 455B.172 (SF261) appears to prohibit a county from requiring the septic system to be brought up to today’s code unless it is a failing or illegal system.

455B.172(11)d. If a private sewage disposal system is failing to ensure effective wastewater treatment or is otherwise improperly functioning, the private sewage disposal system shall be renovated to meet current construction standards, as adopted by the department, either by the seller or, by agreement, within a reasonable time period as determined by the county or the department, by the buyer. If the private sewage disposal system is properly treating the wastewater and not creating an unsanitary condition in the environment at the time of inspection, the system is not required to meet current construction standards.

The following section seems to indicate that the inspections and inspection criteria must follow Department established procedures.

455B.172(11)e. Inspections shall be conducted by an inspector certified by the department.
f. Pursuant to chapter 17A, the department shall adopt certification requirements for inspectors including training, testing, and fees, and shall establish uniform statewide inspection criteria and an inspection form. The inspector certification training shall include use of the criteria and form. The department shall maintain a list of certified inspectors.
g. County personnel are eligible to become certified inspectors. A county may set an inspection fee for inspections conducted by certified county personnel. A county shall allow any department certified inspector to provide inspection services under this subsection within the county's jurisdiction.

These items seem to indicate that the counties must follow the state procedures and criteria for inspections. We believe the intent of the legislature was to pre-empt local regulations.

The Department has been training inspectors, including county personnel, to conduct the inspections as outlined in the training. Almost all the counties, including those that have current ordinances, have indicated they will follow the state procedure. There are a couple counties that have continued to require small repairs that were required under their ordinances. Examples of this are adding risers to the ground surface on a septic tank or adding effluent screens. The legislation does not include a specific pre-emption clause that would clearly prevent them from doing so. However it does include the language in 455B.172(11)d, referenced above, that essentially says if the system is not failing or creating a environmental or public health concern, it does not have to be brought up to today’s code. Only the most recent changes to IAC567, Chapter 69 “Private Sewage Disposal Systems”, include risers to the surface and effluent screens.

In summary, the Department is strongly encouraging, and in the cases of the specific language above, requiring, the counties to follow DNR procedures. The Department will continue to monitor this aspect of the inspection program for uniformity. Please contact me at Daniel.olson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-281-8263 if you have questions. Thank you.

Sincerely,



Daniel Olson, R.S.
Private Sewage Disposal Program

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As the summer months approach, we'd like to remind you NOT to leave an ActiveKEY in a hot environment, such as a vehicle on a hot day. The ActiveKEY is designed to be operated between 14º and 140º F (-10º and 60º C). Low- or high-temperature conditions can shorten battery life or cause an ActiveKEY to malfunction.

DO NOT leave an ActiveKEY in a car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

For further information on ActiveKEY batteries and operating temperatures, please refer to the following GE publications: ActiveKEY Battery Tips, ActiveKEY Quick Start, ActiveKEY Pocket Guide and www.supraekey.com.

If you have any questions please contact the GE Security support line at 1-800-394-4988.
GE Security



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Members can advertise their open house listings for FREE at www.swiopenhouse.com. As a member of the Southwest Iowa Assoc. of Realtors MLS listing agents can input their open house information on each listing to be displayed on the public access open house website. Consumers can go into the www.swiopenhouse.com website and search the open houses they want to visit.
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Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS
Strategic Plan (Draft)
January 20, 2009

Mission

The mission of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS is to provide services to members that improve their ability to conduct business successfully and with integrity while preserving private property rights, being proactive regarding legislative issues and enhancing REALTOR presence in the communities we serve.

Goal 1: Address Leadership issues and perceptions

Strategy A: Ensure that members are informed regarding the Bylaws and policies that impact the election of Officers/Directors and the composition of committees.

Strategy B: Fund Code training for all Grievance and Professional Standards Chairs and Chairpersons-elect.

Strategy C: Host an annual Leadership Training Day to which all Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs/Co-chairs will be invited and expected to attend. At this meeting, review the SWIAR “Policies and Procedures Manual” and offer instruction on how to conduct a meeting.

Strategy D: Either, 1) require the Nominating Committee to appoint Chairpersons-elect to every committee so that they may serve on the committee they will chair the following year (or)
2) revise the SWIAR Bylaws to allow the President-elect to appoint all Chairpersons-elect.

Strategy E: Publish the names, photos, firms and contact information of all Officers and Directors of the Association along with all Committee Chairs and distribute this information to all member offices.

Goal 2: Expand our public relations efforts

Strategy A: Budget the funds needed to run ads developed by NAR locally.

Strategy B: Create and distribute regular press releases to the media regarding the community service efforts SWIAR and its members provide.

Strategy C: Host a quarterly press conference at the Association office to release the latest housing statistics and respond to questions from the media regarding the housing market.

Strategy D: Consider reviewing the goals and performance of local charities and adopting a “Charity of the Year” which SWIAR would continue to support over the course of the next year.

Strategy E: Ask the PR Committee to review the requests submitted by all other charities and recommend events to support.

Strategy F: Create a plan to recruit the members needed to perform the community service work SWIAR sponsors.

Strategy G: Seek cooperative community service projects with other local associations.


Goal 3: Involve more members in the activities of the association

Strategy A: Overcome member perception that the Association benefits an “in group”.

Strategy B: Ensure that members understand that the committee process is open to all members by ensuring all who apply to serve receive an appointment.

Strategy C: Invite new members during orientation to fill out a form expressing their service interests. Ensure that all members making requests receive a response.

Strategy D: Create a section on the website explaining how committees are comprised, what their missions and goals are, when they meet and who chairs and serves on each committee. Distribute this information to all offices for presentation to the agents during sales meetings.

Strategy E: Ask committee members to bring guests to their committee meetings as a way of introducing them to the committee process.

Strategy F: Use testimonials from members who have served the association as to the business value of that involvement.

Strategy G: Improve the recognition we offer to the members who serve the association by promoting a “Volunteer of the Month”, posting leadership profiles on the website, displaying photos from our social events, recognizing key volunteers at the REALTOR of the Year Dinner, etc.


Goal 4: Improve member knowledge and use of technology

Strategy A: Include regular “tech tips” on the website.

Strategy B: Continue to partner with IAR offering technical education and seminars.

Strategy C: Promote e-Pro to the members using testimonials of local e-Pro designees.

Strategy D: Consider hosting an annual “Technology Fair”.

Strategy E: Explore the possibility of creating a “member blog” accessible through the FLEX Dashboard. Establish rules guiding member use of the blog and the information included.

Strategy F: Create a posting of all technology service providers used by the members and their strengths.

Strategy G: Repair the tracking device offered through our lockboxes, explain the value of tracking to the members.

Goal 5: Enhance and promote the Association website

Strategy A: Appoint a “Webpage Task Force” to recommend improvements and oversee their implementation.

Strategy B: Include approved Director and committee minutes; Association office hours; policy changes; leadership contact information; and education, committee and membership meeting schedules.

Strategy C: Create an e-commerce function on the website that allows members to purchase products and services, pay dues and fines, register for educational courses and meetings, contribute to RPAC, etc

Strategy D: Promote use of the website by showing members the value of the information provided therein. Include links to the website on all member communications.

Strategy E: Establish links to the IAR website, Realtors.org and other real estate sites which provide important information to the members.

Strategy F: Review the information provided on the public side of our website to determine its value to the association and its members.


Goal 6: Expand non-dues revenue as a way of becoming less dependent upon MLS revenue while continuing to provide topnotch service to our Participants

Strategy A: Expand the “Member Benefits Program” as a revenue source for the association.

Strategy B: Ensure that SWIAR has a seat at the table in all discussions conducted regarding Statewide or Regional MLS to guarantee that we have a role to play in the bigger picture.

Strategy C: Continue to provide excellent member service to all MLS Participants.

Strategy D: Expand MLS product lines


Goal 7: Evaluate the Strategic Plan on a regular basis

Strategy A: Require staff and leadership to update the Board of Directors quarterly regarding the progress being made on every strategic plan goal.

Strategy B: Share the Strategic Plan and all quarterly progress reports with the members.

Strategy C: Conduct a full review of the Strategic Plan on an annual basis and update it as needed.

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