Dec Newsletter

WAOR NEWS

2227 Santiam HWY SE Albany, OR 97322

December 2008

Phone: 541-924-9267 Fax: 5419924-9268 Email: [email protected] Website: WAOR.org

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Inside this issue:

Linda Long

Happy Holidays Fellow members.

Working on a committee is a fun and

The Holiday Season is here,

rewarding experience, you will contribute

I would like to wish everyone a

to the needs of your fellow members

Joyous Holiday and a Prosperous New Year

I would like to invite you to bring your fresh ideas and join the committee

As we approach the New Year, some challenges lay ahead for our profession, but if we all work together I am sure we can move forward in a positive direction.

positive year is by volunteering to

2

OAR News

3

Leadership Institute North West

4

Thank You Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service

5

NAR NEWS

6

of your choice To join a committee just fill out the form below and return it to Barb at the WOAR Office

One of the ways we can come together as an Association and move toward a

WAOR NEWS

Thank You Linda

work on a committee. In these unique times we need assistance from all of our members to serve our members.

COMMITTEE SIGN UP Name: Company Phone:

Holiday Committee Education Committee ORPAC Committee PR & Membership Committee Legislative Committee

Expiration Date:

00/00/00

WAOR NEWS

Page 2

Willamette Association of REALTORS® Website

HOLIDAY SOCIAL December 9th 11:30 AM-1:30 PM Spring Hill Country Club

Code Of Ethics’ Training

Be sure to visit our new

December 4th

website

9:00 AM-12:30 PM

Waor.org

Phoenix Inn Albany

155 Country Club Dr

You will find great information

For more information:

Albany

A Calendar of upcoming

Contact: Barb

$12.00 per person

Credit Hour Classes

PH : 541-924-9267

Proceeds from silent auction and

General Meeting Topics

raffle tickets go to

WCR Meetings

Linn Benton Food Share There is still time to sign up to attend. Mail or deliver check to

Pay Your dues with PayPal And much more Even Beaver Games

the WAOR Office We are going to have a great time for a great cause

WCR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

SOLDIERS ANGELS

TO BENEFIT THE

I have adopted A Soldier through the

DONNA CLARK-SEALE FAMILY

Soldiers Angels Program

9:300 AM to 10:30 AM

If you would like to send him a holiday surprise

Cidiccis 5th & Lyon

His name is

Albany, Or

Thomas Tucker C 201ST BSB

The recipient of this year’s fundraiser will be the Donna Clark Seale Family Donna is an agent at Windermere Willamette Valley Albany. She is battling cancer. A portion of the auction proceeds will go directly to the family

APO, AE 09310 Also Troy Button FOB/CENTRAL UNIT 434331 APO-AE 09344-3431

We will also be doing a money tree and a 50/50 raffle

Troy is my Nephew, he is a

100% of the proceeds

Serving some place in the area

will go directly to the family... This will be a fun event for one of our own.

Thank You

If you have any questions regarding this fundraiser, please contact

Barb

Amy Rae Duncan [email protected]

OAR NEWS

Page 3

Make Your REALTOR® PAC Investment Now!

What is EcoBroker®? The Green Designation™ EcoBroker is the premiere green designation program for real estate professionals.

Did you know the State of Oregon offers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for every $50 (individual) and

EcoBroker Certified® professionals help clients market properties with green features, save money, and live comfortably, through energy efficiency and $100 (joint return) invest- environmentally-sensitive choices. ment in the REALTOR® PAC? What is REALTOR® PAC?

REALTOR® PAC is a voluntary non-profit political action committee that provides members the opportunity to elect policy makers who share the interests of REALTORS® in providing housing that is affordable, protecting private property rights and supporting the free enterprise system. REALTOR® PAC offers REALTORS® the ability to speak with a unified voice and helps facilitate continued success. T o learn more, see our Frequently Asked Questions or a Guide to the REALTOR® PAC

Founded in 2002, EcoBroker was the first and remains the largest green real estate training and communications program in the world. With members in all 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and New Zealand, EcoBroker and its members, known as The Green Designation™, serve real estate consumers, communities, and the environment with an unparalleled level of care, commitment, and followup. With the benefit of oversight from the Association of Energy and Environmental Real Estate Professionals (www.aeerep.org), EcoBroker training and communications provide professionals with the resources to be constructive green ambassadors in an ever-changing business and consumer world. EcoBroker offers education and tools to real estate professionals that in turn helps consumers take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in real estate properties. Through EcoBroker’s unique energy and environmental curriculum, real estate professionals acquire the knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers. These real estate professionals assist clients in their pursuit of properties that provide affordability, comfort and a healthier environment (reducing carbon footprints). In order to earn the EcoBroker Designation, licensed real estate agents must fulfill a straight-forward set of requirements. The most important requirement of EcoBroker Certification is that you complete our energy, environmental, and marketing training program. See the introduction to education courses.

Page 4

Inside Story Headline

This story can fit 150-200 words. One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports. While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.

Caption describing picture or graphic.

“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”

A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product. Inside Story Headline

This story can fit 100-150 words. The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field. You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients. If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or im-

You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short. Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

provements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing. Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

Inside Story Headline

This story can fit 75-125 words. Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.

Caption describing picture or graphic.

Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context. Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and im-

port into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols. Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

Page 5

THE WILLAMETTE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Would like to thank the Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service for their generous donation to our Holiday Social In these challenging times, their generosity will assure many of our members can attend and celebrate the season together Again we wish to express our deepest gratitude Their generosity will make the season brighter for many Seasons Greetings The Willamette Association of REALTORS®

NAR NEWS

Page 6

Realtors® Tell Congress Increased Housing Demand Will Stabilize the Market

WASHINGTON, November 18, 2008 In a statement to the House Financial Services Committee today, the National Association of Realtors ® recommended a four-point plan to stimulate home sales and stabilize housing valuations. “The only way to overcome today’s economic turmoil is to motivate and encourage worried or cautious housing consumers to enter the marketplace,” said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Stabilizing the housing market will lead to a quicker and greater economic recovery. Our goal is to ensure there is a healthy market and sufficient capital to support mortgage lending to qualified borrowers.” NAR developed the plan for consideration by the current lame-duck session of Congress, and for the 111th Congress and the new administration. The four-point plan’s principles are consumer-driven to help foster a housing recovery to support an economic rebound. The plan calls for eliminating the repayment of the first-time home buyer tax credit that was passed in the February stimulus bill, and to expand the tax credit to include all home buyers. The plan also recommends making the increased FHA and conventional loan limits permanent to stimulate home sales and stabilize prices. In addition, the plan urges that the Troubled Asset Relief Program be put back on track by targeting the funds for mortgage relief through a mortgage interest rate buy-down. Finally, the plan recommends finalizing legislation to prohibit banks from entering into the business of real estate brokerage and property management. “The federal government must ensure there is sufficient capital to support mortgage lending not only in strong markets but also in tumultuous ones,” said McMillan. “Realtors ® are frustrated with the current mortgage lending environment that places a variety of barriers on families who wish to buy a home, impeding sales and price stabilization. We look forward to working with the Congress and the new administration to transition out of current instabilities and move toward strong and stable financial and housing markets.”