| October 2023 |
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| DATES TO REMEMBER |
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| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW |
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National CFA Launches on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. ET
Thank you all for participating in September’s Call for Action (CFA)! At the end of Sept., Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that funded the government and extended the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through November 17.
To ensure our members’ voices are heard on the Hill, NAR is launching a new CFA tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET to all members. This broader CFA will advocate for the NFIP’s extension as well as numerous other housing-related programs that would be harmed by a government shutdown. This CFA will run through Friday, November 17, with recurring promotion to members direct from NAR.
NAR is requesting that state and local associations promote the CFA to their members. Click here for a state and local association toolkit. In the toolkit you will find graphics and sample language to help promote to your members. (Note: This CFA will not trigger President’s Cup goal requirement of 20% response rate.)
To track activity by state, click here to view a live dashboard of your REALTORS® activity.
Questions? Contact Jami Sims (202-383-1221).
For State GADs
In VoterVoice, each profile will include a custom field labelled ‘CFA 20231017 NFIP’ that will be updated daily to indicate if a member has participated in the campaign. If state GADs have questions related to VoterVoice, contact Jami Sims (202-383-1221) or contact VoterVoice support for assistance.
State and Local Issues Tracking Software Survey
NAR’s Advocacy Team would like your help to better understand the tools you use to track issues at the state and local levels. Please complete the survey below. Questions? Contact Drew Myers (202-383-1072).
Preview: Burnett Trial Starts Today
NAR and codefendants head to trial in Kansas City, Mo., today. They’re standing up for business practices and rules that protect consumers’ interests, drive efficiency and transparency, and provide an equitable experience for consumers and brokerages competing in local MLS broker marketplaces. Click here to read more.
FYI: 2024 Fall State and Local GAD Survey
Feedback from state and local GADs on programs and the issues you are facing in your areas is critical to ensure NAR provides the most relevant resources for this valued community. As part of this process, the annual state and local GAD survey will be launching in the next few weeks. Questions? Contact Drew Myers (202-383-1072).
Click here to take the survey.
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| RESOURCES |
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Grant Money Still Available for Consumer Advocacy
With the Consumer Advocacy Outreach grant, your association can apply for up to $25,000 to engage with consumers in your community and advocate for public policy issues that impact homeownership and property rights. Read how the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® and Texas REALTORS® used the grant.
The Consumer Advocacy Outreach Advisory Board hears requests on the first Tuesday of each month at 3pm ET. Questions? Contact Erin Murphy (202-383-1079).
Poll Consumers to Advance Growth Priorities Use the State and Local Polling Growth Program to survey residents on growth and development priorities to inform land use policies. Learn how the Greater Greenville AOR used the program to assess voter attitudes toward infrastructure and housing development. To learn more, contact Hugh Morris (202-383-1278).
Expert Advocacy Help When You Need It
Legislative and regulatory proposals that may do harm to property rights often arise quickly and require expert analysis. The Land Use Initiative will analyze proposed planning and zoning-related measures that impact the transfer of real property to help state and local associations advocate on behalf of members. Read about how the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS® used REALTOR® Party resources, including the Land Use Initiative, to defeat detrimental zoning proposals. Questions? Contact Christine Windle (202-383-1135).
Tackle Top-of-Mind Industry Issues
Interested in addressing such challenges as commercial disinvestment, housing gaps, brownfield reuse, and natural disaster response?
Learn how the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® jumpstarted neighborhood revitalization and the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® helped craft a vision for the city’s Meridian Corridor with NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods Program in partnership with the Counselors of Real Estate® Consulting Corps.
Ready to set up a meeting to discuss? Contact Hugh Morris (202-383-1278) or Samantha DeKoven.
‘Ignite Others’ Events and Grant Information
Ignite Others gives associations an exciting opportunity to connect with members and build bridges in communities by sponsoring turnkey initiatives designed to educate the next generation about homeownership and the real estate profession, and inspire community involvement to create positive, impactful change.
Local associations can apply for up to $2,000 in grant funding to maximize their participation throughout 2024. Grants are offered on a first come, first served basis. Associations can use the grant to host an event or activity, or to partner and host an event with other local associations. Click here to learn more about this program. |
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| RPAC FUNDRAISING |
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Save the Date: RPAC Major Investor Reception
The RPAC Major Investor Reception will be held Wednesday, November 15 from 7 to 10 pm during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience. We will be at Knott’s Berry Farm this year! Please remember the deadline for Major Investor funds to be processed for invitations to this event is Wednesday, October 25. We hope to see you and your fellow 2023 Major Investors there! Questions? Contact Peter Kelly (202-383-7599).
RPAC Major Investor Recognition Deadlines
Make sure you and your members are recognized as RPAC Major Investors by the October and December deadlines! Click here for all dates and important details. These are HARD deadlines to submit RPAC investments to the NAR finance office. For questions about RPAC transmittal deadlines, contact Peter Kelly (202-383-7599) or Debbie Frey (312-329-8565).
RPAC General Information
Please contact RPAC@nar.realtor for any RPAC-related questions or concerns. |
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| Celebrating GAD Achievements |
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Submit your own victories or share your fellow GADs’ wins to Jami Sims to be included in future editions of the GADFly.
 Congratulations to Greta Haas (Iowa) for receiving the Iowa Association of REALTORS® President’s Special Recognition Award! She joined the Iowa team two years ago and has excelled there. We’re excited to have her as part of the GAD Nation and the GAD Institute Advisory Group.
 Ohio REALTORS® Director of Government Affairs Andrew Huffman and Director of Local Government Affairs Veronica Cardello testified at the Ohio Senate Select Committee on Housing to share crucial insights on tackling their state's housing shortage.
Congratulations to Julia Parenteau (Texas), Doug Thomson (New Jersey), and Adam Ruiz (Southwest Riverside County) for your appointments to the Culture Transformation Commission (CTC). Thank you for volunteering your time to this important cause. Click here to read more about the CTC. |
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| COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
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REALTOR® Party Success Stories
Each month, state and local associations that achieved an advocacy win with the help of a REALTOR® Party grant or resource are highlighted in the REALTOR Party® Success Stories. Success stories created in October include:
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| UPCOMING NAR EVENTS |
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NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience & Governance Meetings
November 12 – 17 | Anaheim, California
Click here for more information about registration and pricing.
Save the Date: 2024 REALTOR® Party Training Conference
November 30 – December 2 | St. Louis, Missouri |
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| MESSAGE FROM THE GAD CHAIR |
Brandon Alderete
GAD Chair
Texas REALTORS®
GAD AG is off and running!
The advisory group has taken its first steps in planning the 2024 GAD Institute in Spokane. We’ve reviewed and discussed your feedback from Detroit and, believe me, we’ll use it as we hammer out a great program.
And speaking of your feedback – be on the lookout for a couple new surveys from NAR. First, we’ll be asking about Curate – a tool that helps you monitor local government agendas and minutes with a keyword scraper and powerful interface. Drew Myers and his team will also be launching the State and Local Issues Policy survey in the very near future – and I know his priority this year is making sure GADs are as involved as possible as he reimagines this program.
October is halfway over (HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!) and November is almost here … and that means elections – so let’s all wish the best to our GAD brothers and sisters who have big elections this year. Whether local or state, issues or candidates, we must never stop carrying the REALTOR® message and amplifying our members’ collective voice. In politically divided times, it’s more crucial than ever.
That’s why it’s so great to have tools like the Independent Expenditure program and the Issues Mobilization program, along with their knowledgeable staff (Mitchell Norton and John Winston, respectively) to help carry our message.
Some GADs use those programs a lot, and others not so much (at least not yet). So here’s my challenge to that second group: if your board has rarely or never taken advantage of either of those programs, make it a goal for 2024. There are plenty of elections.
These resources are funded by your members through their dues – so bring some of it home to a campaign near you!
Looking forward to seeing those of you who will be coming to Anaheim.
Brandon Alderete
512.573.3664 (m)
brandon@texasrealtors.com To ensure you receive the survey confirm the GAD Directory is up to date. |
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| FOLLOW THE REALTOR® PARTY! |
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| GAD Directory |
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