REMINDER: ALL FLYERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE WEEKLY BROKER FAX

Annual Meeting & Installation
Thank you to all the CAR Members who voted in the recent election for 2007-2008 Officers & Directors. The Installation was held October 11 at Fager’s Island. The following members were installed:

You may read Cassie Mead’s speech at the bottom of this e-mail message. Best wishes to the Board of Directors for a very successful and productive year!

CAR Office Closures
The association office will be closed from 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 30, to 1 p.m. on Friday, November 2. This is due to staff training, and we ask for everyone’s cooperation during this time. Thank you!

4th Quarter MLS Payments Due
ATTENTION BROKERS & OFFICE MANAGERS!!!—MLS bills for 4th quarter of 2007 were due by Monday, October 1. Payments are now considered late, and a $200 reinstatement fee for the office and a $30 reinstatement fee for each member will be applied. Please either submit your payment, or notify the association office if you do not intend on renewing your MLS membership.  If you have any questions, please contact the association office at 410-641-4409.

COMMUNITY SERVICE UDPATE—HOLIDAY PROJECTS

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it is time to get involved in the community and spread some holiday cheer. The association’s Community Service Committee invites you to join them in filling stockings for the Children’s House by the Sea (example: books, movies, small toys, games, stuffed animals). Help them to put some smiles on the faces of these children! The Committee also invites you to join them in their upcoming coat drive. Start gathering up any old coats that are just collecting dust in your closet!  If you are interested in participating in any of these events, please contact Terry Testani at 443-523-2966 or Pat Terrill at 443-497-2332. Remember, no donation is too small, and all are deeply appreciated.



FREE ARIS Classes Scheduled
There have been ARIS classes scheduled for October through December of 2007. There will no longer be a charge for these classes. Please refer to the Web site for registration and further details.

Fair Housing/Legislative Update Seminars—THIS THURSDAY!
There will be Fair Housing and Legislative Update classes held on Thursday, October 18.  Please refer to our Web site for further information and registration.

NAR Annual Conference & Expo
There are NO LIMITS to what you can gain at the 2007 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, November 13-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With hundreds of programs, networking opportunities, cutting edge technology, and more, you can customize your Conference & Expo experience to your needs and interests. Grow professionally and personally while gaining inspiration to be your very best. Special guests:

• James Taylor
• Lou Holtz
• Bill Cosby
• Doris Kearns

It’s the 2007 Conference & Expo, and what happens here, helps you everywhere! Click here to register now! Early bird discount deadline: Wednesday, August 15.

President’s Message from the Annual Meeting & Installation
First of all I have some people to thank, I would like to thank my husband bill for encouraging me to take an early retirement from First National Bank and partnering with him in real estate; Joan Strang for inviting me to join her in serving on the Government Affairs Committee. They have been instrumental in the decision to accept this position and i look for their continued support and encouragement as well as the support of every member of this organization.

I am excited about the coming year and serving as your President of the Coastal Association of REALTORS®. This is one of the most active and progressive business groups in the state and it is an honor to be named as its President.

Over the past year, I have taken the necessary steps to prepare for this office. I have attended the MAR Leadership Academy in Annapolis, the MAR conventions 2006 and 2007, the NAR Midyear Convention and the NAR Leadership Seminar. I would also like to mention that I served as President of the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and 2005.

I have been an active member of CAR since 2002. I had the privilege of serving as chair of the Government Affairs Committee for three years. During this time, I gained the knowledge that as an organization; together we have the ability to make our voices heard and the possibility to change the course of action. Today, lawmakers are proposing to levy a tax on property management services. If passed, this bill will greatly impact our community. As your President, I will be proactive in any legislation that will change the policies that may affect our business. Fortunately, we have a strong RPAC and a dedicated and hard working Government Affairs Director, Joan Strang.

I hope to draw from the many talents and abilities of our members. Whether you choose to serve on one of our committees or task forces, teach a course on a subject you have a special niche in, or volunteer at one of our community events. Your involvement will only make this a stronger and more successful organization. As you may have heard for the second consecutive year, CAR won second honorable mention and a $1,000 donation to the charity of our choice in the MAR C.A.R.E. Award contest.

Communications is an area in which I would like to make improvements. This year, I am planning to have more general membership meetings. We will stay in constant contact with our members through our comprehensive communications program, using e-mail faxes and Currents, our quarterly newsletter. I encourage you to interact with these venues and to extract and distribute information.

Thank you so much for being here this evening. I look forward to having a successful year as we work together to reach our common goals. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening.