Unrest in the Ranks
Wow, what a day for the National Association of REALTORS on AG today! It started with Russell Shaw’s optimistic view of the future of REALTOR.com, progressed to enthusiastic discussion of the NAR’s recruitment of a Social Media Manager and then went a step further with a wishlist for the NAR’s future in Web 2.0. I was quite surprised at the tone of some of the comments and the apparent dissatisfaction of many members of the RE.net with the NAR. What most surprised me, however, is the amount of participation in these discussions.
I suspect that the NAR is interested and is listening to all this too. I mean, how could it not? Although the RE.net is not a huge percentage of the population of the Association, I’d be willing to bet that we are the most vocal demographic of the group. Even if we aren’t speaking directly TO the NAR, there is no way it can ignore us. We are out here having spirited conversations in plain ‘site’. Besides, the stuff we are spewing is frickin’ GENIUS, right? The powers that be gotta be listening and they have to be wondering how they can harness some of the passion and energy that is brewing at the grass roots. Heck, I’M wondering how we can do that.
How do we (me and the NAR-I’ve decided we’re buds!) convince the masses that the Association really is theirs? How do we explain that every person who gets involved has an opportunity to inspire change wherever they think it is needed? What do we have to do to persuade the apathetic-until-they-get-in-front-of-a-keyboard group that the satisfaction and karmic benefit that is available OFFline is exactly as powerful or more than that which they get participating ONline?
Tell me, what will it take to get you to be the change you wish to see in our little real estate world?
Promote Your-own-self, Soldier!
I challenge every one of you who has participated in the conversation today to send your message up through the ranks of the REALTOR organization. Find out what it takes to get on the Board of your local Association, or even simply join a committee to start. Get appointed as a Director to your State Association, attend those meetings and share what you know about how the business works offline and online. Inquire with your AE about getting involved at the National level. Get out there and get to know the people who are leading at the local, state and national level. Let them know what your interests are and that you want to get involved.
DO something. LEARN something. TEACH something.
Without new blood, innovative ideas, and fresh volunteers to lead the way into our real estate future, the NAR will not ever live up to what we think it should be. If we criticize and fail to accept any bit of responsibility for the paths our Associations take, we will go no where. Every negative prediction made in today’s comments would come true if everyone sat back and let someone else do the heavy lifting. We can’t replace the old guard if we don’t have a new guard. We, the leaders of the RE.net, have to expand our leadership roles out in to the ‘real world’.
So there you have it. The ultimate Call to Action. Do it, yo! You will be amazed at the difference you can make.
BONUS FROM REALTOR.ORG: Create your Expertise Profile at REALTOR.org (You’ll need to log in, so have your info handy or Register if you haven’t already done so.) NAR often looks to its members for help in formulating policies and developing programs and services. By completing an expertise profile, you will provide all levels of the REALTOR® family (including the Local, State and National Associations) with key information about you and your professional experience. The information that you will provide in this profile will be used as a resource in a variety of ways, including identification of members with certain expertise to serve on committees, working groups, presidential advisory groups; also, to respond to surveys about association issues, products, services etc.
