1. Code of Ethics has been translated into braille;
2. Approved $15M for REALTOR national Credit Union. Anticipate operational by this time next year;
3. Now 298 RCE designees in AE community - includes 51 in 2008 [note: still don't have RCEs from AL, HI, ID, ND, WY]
4. NAR supporting Sentrilock in a new agent direct leasing program for lockboxes;
5. Components of NAR Strategic Plan being reduced to business-card size to carry;

Moderator Suzanne Shelton, CEO of the Shelton Group, and panelists John Stovall, vice president of business development for EcoBroker International; Janet Rosenberg, a REALTOR® who owns Intero Real Estate Services; and Daniele Loffreda of Plateau Enviro Associates presented differing definitions of being green. They went on to discuss several points that are critical to selling green properties: What do consumers think? Are they willing to pay more? And how can you appeal to customers?

She's already using the software that was being demonstrated, so hers was the voice of experience. Darlene had some great tips for creating effective online tours.

First, stage that room to make it show its best. Use color, since photos may wash out detail. Beautiful white woodwork probably won't photograph well if the room's walls are white, too.

Take photos from the best angles, and don't be afraid to take plenty. Your digitial camera is your friend...keep on taking pictures until you're satisfied. Before you delete any, study your pictures to determine why they're good...or not.

Focus on the property's best features. If there's a gorgeous view or a pool outside, point that camera out the window to capture these special attributes.

Create neighborhood tours as well as home tours. This not only shows people why to buy in your area, it shows they should buy from you because of your knowledge of the area.

Make technology your friend and business partner. These tools can help you work smarter, not harder, to reach more people more effectively.

Above all, keep on learning. Many software products are updated and improved all the time, so there's always more to know. The good news is that it doesn't have to be a painful project. IIf you have trouble, look for online support or a toll-free number to call. Once you've used the tool a few times and feel comfortable with it, you're on your way.

If you can create online tours of your listings, you've got several advantages. Most obviously, you save time and money by doing it yourself, and you put yourself and your listings in front of customers 24/7. You reach more people, and you can offer a variety of interactive features, including the ability to contact you easily via e-mail or text message.

But isn't it difficult? Isn't it complicated? Isn't it expensive?

No, no, and no.

I attended this morning's hands-on tutorial on VisualTour® software. The product is easy to use and understand, and -- according to the REALTORS® sitting on either side of me, very reasonably priced. With apologies to the great folks from VisualTour®, I'm not here to endorse their product, although I do suggest you hurry over to booth 2206 to find out if VisualTour® is right for you.

Before embarking on this topic, though, Goodwin, a presidential historian, answered a question everyone might have forgotten to ask: Which president would have been the best REALTOR®?

There are different types of hackers, from elite hackers who are considered virtually unstoppable, to ‘script kiddies,’ amateurs who download hacking tools from the internet and inadvertently destroy everything they touch.

Serious attacks, however, often follow this pattern:

2008 Association Executives Committee ( AEC ) Chairman Diane Ruggiero (Kansas City) facilitated an AE planning meeting to determine potential focus of AEC efforts, education or further study/work group. Will be more focus on involvement of younger generation of members and solutions/resources developed related to association involvement with media programs and consumer education. Excellent question asked by REALTOR Elizabeth Mendenhall, who serves as Liaison to AEC in 2008: Are AEs educated about real estate when hired?

The winners, Virginia L. Ferry of Joliet, Ill.; Phil Landis of San Diego; Patrick W. Moore of Port Huron, Mich.; Carol Reza of Whittier, Calif.; and Bert Waugh, Jr. of Portland, Ore., each spoke briefly about their charities, which include a homeless shelter for teens, medical relief for impoverished Haitians and a foster center for young girls. Each spoke passionately about how he or she would use the $10,000 charitable grant and Lowe's contribution for items such as much-needed repairs, appliances and water filtration systems. The room was brought to its feet - and some guests moved to tears - several times during the event.

Feng Shui, she says, is about how certain spaces make people feel. Realtors® can add, “And how those spaces can be staged/improved to make buyers want to buy them.”

Elected officials only represent a very small percentage of those in their state or district. Realtors® want to be in that small percentage.

To understand how this works, take the total number of people in a district, then eliminate all those who:
• Cannot vote
• Aren’t registered to vote
• Are registered but don’t vote, and
• Those who voted for the opposition

1. Lacking a business plan
It’s easy to make a plan. At the very least, decide how much money you need to make in a year, divide it by twelve, then figure out how many commissions you need per month to make those goals. Without goals, you cannot succeed.

2. Not having proper tools
If you’re not equipped with the right keypads or technology to get into houses to show them, you can’t sell them.

3. Relying too much on tools.
A computer has never sold a house. You can’t spend all your time on the computer; this is a people business, and without those face-to-face connections, you won’t succeed.