Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS®

Mission statement:

The purpose of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS® is to serve its members by developing, providing and promoting programs and services which will improve their ability to conduct business successfully with integrity, competency and without undue regulatory restraint.

EDUCATION:

We offer a wide range of FREE and reduced price classes to help you satisfy your continuing education requirements. We have entertained members with National speakers such as Danielle Kennedy, Rick DeLuca, David Knox and Terry Murphy. Jerry Rossi, Edutrainer is scheduled for September 2002. Educational opportunities are also available at our board office library, featuring publications, videos and books.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

As a member, you have pledged to subscribe to the standards of business and ethical conduct found in the Code of Ethics. The Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS® promotes ethical conduct among its members. If there are complaints, the Grievance Committee reviews all written complaints, investigates and refers the possible violations to the Professional Standards Committee for a hearing when appropriate. An Arbitration Hearing Panel reviews matters and can make decisions. This impartial hearing can eliminate expensive court litigation by inexperienced people.

PUBLICATIONS:

The REALTOR® Rap is the official publication of the association. This easy-to-read newsletter, is designed to keep you up-to-date on such topics as government and legal updates, events, educational sessions, new members, etc. The association publishes several flyers for important updates. Additional publications such as Hill Notes and Monthly Calendar of Events are available. www.swiar.org is your association website and is also available to the public. The association website is your cyberspace resource center.

MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE:

Members of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS® participate in the MLS. This computerized service compiles information about properties and is distributed to member companies electronically. This exposure is the key to selling fast and getting top dollar. The MLS review updates and changes to enhance and improve the database management software. The MLS provides an open forum for members to bring forward suggestions and concerns. The association provides FREE listing input and maintenance (Broker load is optional), weekly new listing report, monthly sales report, Internet Data Exchange and the NAR statistical report. Your listings are available on REALTOR.Com Internet website and updated on a daily basis.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:

Each Wednesday beginning Late August through the end of May the association provides a general membership breakfast meeting with a scheduled guest speaker from the community. This serves as a social function, a networking opportunity and it also brings us together to discuss industry issues. We review legislative initiatives, new technology and information to make your job easier. The association along with local sponsors holds an annual golf tournament to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. The members are invited to get acquainted at our annual REALTOR® picnic. The association recognizes outstanding leaders within our association at the annual REALTOR®-of-the-Year Inaugural banquet.

Become a Member

As a proud member of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS®, you are entitled to numerous benefits and services. We consider this a partnership of approximately 315 members and our 2 person staff to help you be successful in your business.

Committees

Top Level - Finance

2013 - Marge Leaders, Chair - Dianna Dieatrick, Bonnie Waters, Mike Allmon, Theresa Ruby, Dee Husa, Mike Morse, Deb Powell, and Byron MenkeThis committee shall consist of the Chairperson, who is the current Treasurer, Pas Treasurer/Secretary, Past President, current President as Ex-officio, plus members at large as selected by the Nominating Committee. It shall be the duty of the committee, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, to supervise the finances of the Board and prepare an annual budget. The finance committee has the authorization to invest the Board of REALTORS money in and Institution. There should not be more than 3 members on this committee that serve on the board of directors also.

Top Level - Multiple Listing Service

2013 - Karen Anderson, Chair - Carylon Dillenburg, Lynn Leaders, Theresa Martin-Van Soelen, Mary Jane Svoboda, and Jeannette Beresford - This committee is to provide a forum for the discussing of problems encountered in the MLS Service and to ensure compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the MLS and the National Association of REALTORS. The committee shall consist of a Chairperson and five members at least one member shall be an Appraiser. All members of the committee shall be subscribers or participants of the Multiple Listing Service. Committee members shall serve three year terms. The committee shall select its Chairperson from among the members thereof if one is not appointed by the President.

Top Level - Forms

2013 - Gladys Danker, Chair - Brad Knott - This committee is charged with reviewing and making the property changes on all Listing and Purchase Agreements and working with the Multiple Listing Committee on changes for the Data Forms. This committee must be looking into the future for other types of forms needed by the membership.

Intermediate Level - Education

2013 - Jack Bell, Chair - Gladys Danker, Karen Carmona, Cheryl Bowles, Patsy Coleman, and Bill Hartman - The primary function is to provide education programs to serve the needs of the members of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS. The committee will provide educational programs, research and supporting resources to enhance knowledge, proficiency, and professionalism in the real estate industry. Annual random audit of the new member orientation.

Intermediate Level - RPAC/My REALTOR Party Committee

2013 - Michael Allmon, Chair - Rob Cerveny, Mark Hanwright, and Brad Knott -To monitor and recommend federal legislative and public policies affecting the real estate industry. To promote and support local, state and national legislative goals and policies and to encourage our members to become involved in all phases of political activity. Maintain an effective "in house" legislative lobbying program. Maintain a highly effective governmental affairs organizational authority which allows for rapid and competent responses to legislative and administrative proposals when immediate action is needed.This Committee is responsible in collecting RPAC dollars to be used at the Federal, State and Local level.

Maintenance

2013 - Scott Wells, Chair

Intermediate Level - Membership and Bylaws

2013 - Phyllis Otto, Chair - Lynn Christensen, JoAnne Pettit -This committee is charged with promoting membership in the Local Board. Encourage members awareness of and participation in benefits of Association involvement. This committee shall periodically review all official documents (Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and Policy Manual) so as to maintain compliance with the laws of the State of Iowa, the United States, the Iowa Real Estate Commission, and the rules and regulations governing the Iowa Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

Public Relations and Equal Opportunity/Fair Housing

2013 - Theresa Ruby, Chair - Rob Cerveny, Keith Jones, Carey Jensen, Susan Noland, Byron Menke, and Brenda Stuart -FAIR HOUSING MONTH (April) & Equal Opportunity during April, Fair Housing Month, the National Association of REALTORS join the HUD and other national fair housing groups in celebrating the anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act. It's a special time for REALTORS to show their continued commitment to fair, equal and available housing opportunity for all. To encourage the adoption and implementation of the Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreement, and to encourage cooperation with government agencies that have the responsibilities of promulgation and enforcement of fair housing laws to ensure equal opportunhity for all people.The Public Relations Committee encourages continued public relations with the community and plans and promotes different projects. Examples; Special Olympics, Blood Drive, Children's Safety, March of Dimes, Red Ribbon Campaign, REALTOR Difference-PRIDE in Ownership. These types of public relations projects go a long way in enhancing members image among potential buyers and sellers.

Professional Standards/Grievance Committee

2013 - Karen Andersen, Chair - Jim Kaiser, Co-Chair - The function of the Grievance Committee is to make only such preliminary investigation and evaluation o the complint as required to determine whether validity and substance of the complaint warrants further consideration by a Hearing Panel. The Professional Standards Committee is not a "Court" nor is a hearing a "court" per se, but a Hearing panel rnders peer judgements based on the merits of all ascertainable facts. This committee shall consit of a Chairman and at least nine members, each member to serve a three year term. It's very important to have members from a large variety of offices.

Committees Determined By Bylaws - Office Staff Relations

2013 - Michael Allmon, Chair (immediate past president), Lary Clark, Phyllis Otto, and Marge Leaders - This committee shall consist of the Chair (immediate past president), Past President one year, one member at-large and the finance chair shall be an ex-officio member. The committee is to meet not less than bi-annually. The committee is to review working conditions, staff needs, problems, and recommendations that affect orderly Board operations. This committee is responsible for hiring or replacing employees. This committee will review employees not less than annually. An employee evaluation report form must accompany all evaluations. This form is to be discussed with the employee by the Executive Vice President who will then present any recommeded salary changes to the Office Staff committee for final decision. All reports and recommendations for salary increases are to be made to the Board of Directors prior to the end of the third quarter.

Committees Determined by Bylaws - Nominating Committee

2013 - Michael Allmon, Chair (Immediate Past President), Lary Clark, Gladys Danker, and Lynn Leaders -this committee reviews recommendations and moninates an outstanding slate of officers and directors for the coming year. Also, to nominated committee members for a state committee. The Chairperson of this committee shall be the immediate Past President, the committee shall consist of the President of three years past, the President of five years past (if either of these cannont serve, the past president immediately proceeding him shall serve), two members at large. A member from the Nominating Committee can not nominated themselves to serve as director or chairman. The nominating committee shall appoint from among the REALTOR Members, subject to confirmation by the Board of Directors, the following standing committees: Office Staff Relations, Finance, Multiple Listing Service, Grievance, Nominating, Professional Standards, REALTOR of the Year, Bylaws/Membership/License Review, Community Betterment, Education/Forms, Governmental affairs, and Social Entertainment.

Committees Determined by Bylaws - Program Committee

2013 - Dianna Dieatrick, Chair - Bonnie Waters - This committee is charged with providing speakers and programs for the membership weekly breakfasts.

Committees Determined by Bylaws - REALTOR® of the Year Committee

2013 - Marge Leaders, Chair and Co-Chairs - Bonnie Water, Mary Jane Svoboda, Elaine Jacobsen, Sharon Stokes, Patsy Coleman, and Robert Knox, Past Receipents - Dan Van Houten, Candy Narmi, Byron Menke, and John Jerkovich - This committee selects the REALTOR of the Year and presents the award at the Inaugural Banquet. This committee shall consist of the past five recipients, the chairperson shall be the immediate past recipient.

Social Action Teams - Annual Fun Event

2013 - Susan Noland Chair - The chair chooses own team. This committee consists of one Chair and 3 members at large and plans the annual picnic and/or other social events each year.

Social Action Teams - Golf Bash

2013 - Marge Leaders, Chair - Bonnie Waters, John Edwards, Gary Fenster, Mike Fox, Lary Clark, and Memory Mescher. This Committee plans the RPAC Golf Bash to help raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, held the first Friday of June.

Social Action Teams - Inaugural/REALTOR of the Year Banquet

2013 - Sharon Stokes, Chair - Cathy Krohn, Mark Hanwright, and Doug Goodman -This committee plans the Inaugural which is typicall held during December and presents awards to the outgoing President. The committee also allows time for the REALTOR of the Year plaque to be given. This committee starts meeting in the beginning of the year to secure a location.

Technology Committee

2013 - Tammy Stuart, Chair - Mallory Edwards, John Edwards, and Ryan Powell -This Committee will be responsible for reviewing the technology changes affecting the real estate industry. Provide an open forums to help members become more familiar with technology programs available.

Young Professional Network

2013 - Mark Hanwright, Chair - Jake Knott, Mallory Edwards, Molly Haner, Jay Kathol, and Rob Cerveny -The YPN is a networking organization for career-minded real estate professionls who want to stay abreast of the latest tools, and resources. No age limit as youth is just a state of mind.

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