Our new officers were sworn in by our National WCR President, Margo Willis. Please welcome Janet Hegseth, 2012 President, Debra Snoey, 2012 President Elect, Robbyn Adelsman, 2012 VP of Membership and Dawn Carlson, 2012 Treasurer. Patti Maddux, 2012 Secretary, was unable to attend as she was doing what good escrow officers do—close escrows!

2012 President, Janet Hegseth, announced the schedule for next year (see below). There are some great programs lined up and some fun events. Anyone ready for Martini Monday, Tequila Tuesday, Wine Wednesday? And did someone mention Scholarships? What’s that all about? Watch for more info.

The surprise announcement was that the meeting will be changing days and times. The chapter will be moving towards a brunch format from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting in January. The price will come down to $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The new day is the 3rd Friday of each month. This will allow members to participate in other chapter meetings and avoid the conflict that has frequently occurred with federal holidays at the first of the month. The surveys that were distributed in October and November showed an overwhelming support for the new time slot. The meetings will still take place at Emerald Downs.

2012 Schedule*

Jan Get Out of Jail Free Card – Department of Licensing
Feb The Love Connection – A Social Media Panel
Mar Superstar Panel
April Don’t Let ’Sue’ Get You! Annie Fitzsimmons, Attorney
May Changes in the Industry
Jun Men in Uniform
July Battle of the Barristers
Aug Get Down & Dirty
Sept Legislative Update – Sam Pace
Oct Covering Your Assets – Asset Mgr Panel
Nov Plan for Success in 2013!
Dec Holiday Gala & Officer Installation

*All programs are subject to change

Come join us!

We have had great speakers this last quarter. Jason Watabe, John L Scott, Mercer Island, Elizabeth Davidson, CB Danforth Seattle and Jess Salazar, Benchmark Realty made up our International Panel in September. Washington State is enjoying an influx of people from many parts of the world but a high percentage is from the Asian coutries and Mexico. These speakers shared valuable insights into understanding and working with their cultures.

In October we had Don Holt and Michael Briggs, 2 tax experts from Auburn who shared tax tips some of us never knew! Did you know that CPA’s and Enrolled Agents are required to take more than 30 hours of continuing education EACH year?! Other tax preparers don’t have to do that. It can be worth it to get the right help with your taxes.

And in November we all hung on the edge of our seats listening to a New Construction Forecast from Sam Anderson, the EO of the Master Builders of King & Snohomish counties. Washington State Employment Security Department estimates that more than 70,000 construction industry jobs have been lost in Washington state since July 2007, the hardest hit employment sector in the state. This translates into $225 million in lost revenue to the state in B & O and retail sales taxes.

But there is room for optimism! Housing affordability is near a historic high. Home prices nationwide have returned to a healthy average of about 3 times household income compared to the unsustainable 5 times household income at the height of the boom. Mortgage rates are very attractive and expected to remain low for at least the next couple of years. New home sales are up, not just in Washington, but on a national basis. Washington is among the top 20% of states which is expected to be closer to normal by the end of 2013 as our economy and quality of life are very strong. This is good news for our industry!

WCR is a great place to find out what is happening in our industry. You can pick up information that you can use that day to help make your business more successful and profitable. The programs, speakers and events for 2012 are already in the planning stages. Come share the excitement!

And we give you tangible benefits, as well!

* Great programs with timely topics that help your business – here is a list of what is coming up in the
fall.
Aug – Summer Mixer at Anthony’s Home Port, Des Moines with a raffle for a $500 VISA gift card
Sept – International Agent Panel
Oct – Tax Tips to Help You Plan for your 2011 Tax Return
Nov – New Construction Forecast
Dec – Holiday Celebration / Officer Installation

* Networking opportunities that result in more business
* Education events – a class will be availalbe in December for the PMN designation
– a class will be available at a reduced rate in the fall for clock hours
* Each REALTOR member receives a voucher for 7 free clock hours
* Each member who brings a guest to a meeting receives 5 free raffle tickets
* Affiliate members have a monthly drawing for advertising on this blog site
* REALTOR members will have a monthly drawing for a spot on this blog to promote themselves
* Opportunites to attend other chapter meetings to network and listen to their great programs!

Who do you know that would be a great addition to our WCR family. Why not bring them to the next meeting?

And anyone joining by June 11 will receive a free ticket to our Summer Mixer event in August at Anthony’s in Des Moines.

We have added a new feature for REALTORS. Each month we will do a drawing of the REALTOR members and feature that member in our blog. Our first REALTOR is Robbyn Addelsman of Prudential Northwest Realty.

Robbyn has been in the Real Estate industry for 15 years. Within her first full year as an agent she vaulted to the National top 10 percentile and within 5 years was in the national top 2 percentile of the Prudential Network. Robbyn is continually taking classes to further her education and has achieved her GRI and CSSN. She specializes in helping pre-foreclosure clients obtain short sales will full reconveyances for 14 of her 15 years in the industry.

Robbyn says that, “real estate for me is a life career that I have taken very seriously. Having the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection department’s cheif back me knowing that I strive to help even the little guy, is a true compliment to which I work tirelessly for. I take the bull by the horns and just hold on no matter how hard the ride. It is very satisfying helping people out of the difficult situation of a short sale and enabling them to maintain their dignity and walk away from unreasonable debt. I am the people’s agent and I am here to serve. Let me know how I can help you.”

Whether you are a potential buyer, seller, agent, closer or lender, Robbyn is a great agent to know and work with! Give her a call today. 2053.569.0106

This should be an interesting meeting – everyone is welcome!

Topics that Sam covered all affect housing issues and many of them affect our pocketbooks! He talked about the bill that the REALTOR Association successfully worked with the House & Senate in Olympia to stop potential double B & O taxes on referral fees as well as the threat of going back 4 years for past fees. Such as action could have forced more than a few brokerages out of business.

Sam talked about other victories including the right to put up open house signs in Federal Way without worry of them being picked up, an update on impact fees and development charges in Auburn, and the state win involving private transfer fees by builders.

We are grateful to Sam for taking time out of his busy schedule to come and spend time with us. He is an invaluable resource in the REALTOR family helping with property rights issues and keeping our industry in a healthy state.

Thanks to Michelle Hunt (Prudential NW) who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Bill Hicks (Keller Williams) who gave the inspiration. The Affiliate Spotlight was won by Julie Booth, Booth Escrow and the 50/50 pot by Marty Lough, Cascade Pacific Mortgage.

So what happens when things cool down a bit? How do you keep that energy going? Having a well thought out marketing plan for your business and time blocking for your activities will keep that momentum going.

Our April meeting will feature Pat Flynn who will be talking about blogging and how it fits into your overall real estate plans. Just what is blogging? How does it become beneficial? How much time do I have to spend on it? What does it cost? Learn the answers to these questions and more at our meeting on April 7 at Emerald Downs.

Our meeting starts at 11:15 for networking; buffet lunch starts about 11:45 and the meeting starts at noon. We are done at 1 p.m. so you can efficiently plan your afternoon.

This meeting will also feature a “New Member Orientation” from 11:40 to 11:55. If you are a new member or would just like a refresher on Women’s Council come and join us.

We will also announce the new folks who have earned their 7 free clock hours. If you haven’t renewed yet or are considering joining you have until March 31 to do so. Contact Robbyn Adelsman at 253..569.0106 for information.

Vouchers were handed out to new and renewing members for their 7 FREE clock hours from Evergreen Professional Training.  And our sponsors, Shawn Rogness and Jenny Neary of Quadrant Homes gave a presentation on their newest subdivision called Wynstone opening in Federal Way.  Thank you Shawn and Jenny.

Patti Maddux of Old Republic Title led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Cathy Wahlin, Windermere, gave us a great inspiration about ‘Trust’.

We announced that we have confirmed our Summer Mixer event will be at Anthony’s in Des Moines in August.  We will once again have our raffle tickets for sale for a $500 Visa card (and maybe some other goodies, too!).  Folks who buy the raffle tickets need not be present to win.  And we will have a lot of fun raffle items at the event itself.

Our next meeting is April 7 and will “Blogging to Success”.  And we will have a New Member Orientation immediately before the meeting to introduce new members, and refresh older members, on the history and benefits of Women’s Council.

See you in April!

Join us by 11:15 to network with other REALTORS and folks from the real estate industry to network and share ideas and contact info then stay for the lunch and panel discussion which starts at noon.  We are over by 1 p.m. 

We will be introducing new members as well as handing out vouchers to our new and renewing REALTOR members for their 7 FREE clock hours of education. 

Come see what all the excitement is about!  Call Anne Hartman at 253.720.7151 or Patti Maddux at 253.307.1231 to register for this event.  Or contact Robbyn Adelsman at 253.569.0106 if you would like info about Women’s Council.