The Official
Newsletter
of the Youngstown
Columbiana
Association of REALTORS®
In This
Issue:
·RPAC Kick-Off Brunch
·RPAC Chinese Auction!
·Your License Renewal
In Jeopardy?
·10
Tax Changes for 2008
·Homeowners Optimistic
·Affiliates Roundtable
·Education
·Coming Events
·BOD Action
·Read It & Reap
·Welcome New
·Members
·Thanks April Sponsors
Links:
YCAR.org
CRISMLS.org
Ohio Open Houses
OAR Short Sale
Forum
NAR Market Insight
Contacts:
YCAR
5405 Market Street
Youngstown, OH 44512
330-788-7026
Fax
330-788-4309
Email Staff@ycar.org
Web
www.ycar.org
Hours M-F 8:30-5:00
YCAR Staff:
Sharyn Braunstein
Chief Executive Officer
Joanna Freiberg
Administrative Assistant
Jeff Hudson
Technical Coordinator
MVR Design
Mary Ann Pallante
Office Manager
Membership Secretary
Bookkeeper
Tracy Moracco
Receptionist/Secretary
SUPRA Lockbox Manager
MVR Editors:
Tom Coppola
Leon Turek
Legal Counsel:
Attorney Donald Leone
Officers:
Kathy Carroll
President
Eric Caspary
President-Elect
David Klacik
Treasurer
Gwen Bush
Immediate Past President
Board of Directors:
John Burgan
Nancy Cuffle
Jennifer Hanigosky
Ray Knight
Dawn Kuhn
Debbie Parisi
Carolyne Toth
Dom Vechiarelli
Bob Weily
Joan Zarlenga
CRIS Directors:
Terri Hoon, CRIS President
Ray Knight
CRIS Alternates:
Brenda Palmer
Funmi Olarewaju
Judy Whittenberger
OAR
Directors:
Sharyn Braunstein, CEO
Kathy Carroll
Eric Caspary
Jerri Florio
Terri Hoon, CRIS President
David Klacik
Tom Williams, OAR DVP
Joan Zarlenga
Joe Zidian, At Large
OAR Alternates:
Betty Belding
Gwen Bush
Larry Jordan
Dawn Kuhn
Joanne Petrosky
ePRO
Certification
REALTOR®
Supplies
at ycar-store.com
Calculated Industries
PROMO CODE ycar08
MeasureComp.com
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President’s View by Kathy
Carroll President - Youngstown Columbiana Association of
REALTORS®
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 I’ve
just returned from the Spring OAR Conference and I’d like to
share some of what we discussed with you.
I’d also like to remind you that attending the tri-annual meetings is a great
way to get to know more about your profession and network with
REALTORS® from all over the state!
The Columbus Board of REALTORS® has taken the “bull by the horns” and started their own
campaign to let the public know that it's really a great time to buy, contrary to what the
public keeps hearing from the media. Their campaign is called “The Grass Is Greener Here” and they have gone all out with billboards and pamphlets and big buttons they were all wearing.
Columbus is encouraging their members to learn some key, simple talking points to use in their everyday business.
Some of the talking points they are using include :
the average sale price of a home in central Ohio continues to be considerably lower than the national
median price (we could adjust this one for our area)
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purchasing a home is a great way to invest your money
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in the past 40 years, real estate has delivered the most consistent positive return over any investment
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waiting for prices in the market to “bottom out” may not be the smartest move
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There were several other good points in their pamphlet and I’d be happy to share them with you or you can go to their website:
ColumbusHousingFacts.com. They presented a great model for us to use for our area!
Another good meeting was the one our own Chief Executive Officer, Sharyn Braunstein,
chaired...the Professional Standards Forum. There was a good exchange of ideas and facts and plenty of questions were
asked and answered. OAR’s
Director of Board Support Services, Ann Swisher, was there along with Alec
Hagerty, the Forum's Vice Chairman, to help field the questions.
We had a quiz on commission issues. How many of these do you know ?
1. A selling bonus can be paid directly to a salesperson. T___ F___
2. A buyer broker can never accept compensation from both the buyer & seller. T__ F__
3. It is illegal to include the commission “split” on the purchase contract. T___ F___
4. You will be found to be the procuring cause if you wrote the offer to purchase for the buyer. T___ F___
5. You are considered the procuring cause of a sale if you originally showed the buyer the property T___ F___
(Click
here for answers...)
I used to wonder why REALTORS® took time out of their busy schedule to attend these conferences. Over the last couple of years, I’ve learned so much by attending them. If you’d like to join us, let Sharyn know.
Blue Skies!
Statements of fact and opinion are the opinions of the authors
and do not imply an endorsement on the part of the “Mahoning
Valley REALTOR®,” its editorial staff or the association.
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Not getting the MVR newsletter in your Inbox?
Those members using AOL or Yahoo and various other email providers, may be subject to aggressive filters that is preventing them from receiving the MVR newsletter. Filters are at work on the server side and more filtering is added on the user's computer.
"Suspicious" mail, such as the MVR which is sent with an automated mass emailer program
may be filtered out. The user very often does not even suspect that their incoming
email is filtered. So check your AOL Spam folder, your Yahoo Bulk folder or whatever folder your filtered mail goes to and check for the MVR on the first of each month. Follow
your providers instructions for
"whitelisting" the email address so that future mailings get through to your Inbox.
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RPAC "Kick Off" Brunch
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April 4, 2008 - Avion on the Water - $6090 in contributions and pledges from RPAC Capitol Club and Ohio Club Members goes towards 2008 local goal of $15,000.
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(Front - L-R) State Rep Linda Bolon, Senator John Boccieri, Kelley Rodgers, Jim Grantz,
Carole A. Sharkey,
Scott Williams, OAR Director of Governmental Affairs
(Second Row L- R) State Rep Jason Wilson, Audrey Margrave, Jerri Florio
(Back Row L-R) State Rep Mark Okey, State Rep Ron Gerberry, Paul Glass, OAR Director of Political Affairs
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2008 Ohio Club Members
$200 Contributions
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Bonnie Beam
Maria Cutrona
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Eric Caspary
Jack Mayo
Carole A. Sharkey |
Mary Jo Sikora
Rick Volpini |
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Ohio Club $200 Pledges
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2008 Capitol Club Members
$100 Contributions
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Karen Ament
Betty Belding
Paul Bevilacqua
Linda Blough
Sharyn Braunstein
John Burgan
Gwen Bush
Tony Carosella
Kathy Carroll
Nancy Cuffle
Tom D'Amico
Phyllis Denton |
April Dornan
Georgia Evich
Jerri Florio
Jim Grantz
Kathy Hendricks
Fred Kirven
Dave Klacik
Ray Knight
Atty. Don Leone
Art Lewis
Audrey Margrave
Patty Massare
Patti Mika |
Kathy Miller
Caryn Pantaleo
Debbie Parisi
Kelley Rodgers
Bud Soltesz
Michele Stere
Carolyne Toth
Leon Turek
Dom Vechiarelli
Marisa Volpini
Dave Walker
Joan Zarlenga |
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Capitol Club $100 Pledges
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Ron Antonelli
Mike Bauer
Mary Bodnar
Terri Hoon
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Ginny Jones
Dawn Kuhn
Ron Liptak
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Shari Rago
Holly Ritchie
Ginny Rudolphi
Tom Williams
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this advertiser's website
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RPAC Chinese Auction!
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We will have eight (8) items on display at the association office during the months of June and July.
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10 tickets for $10.00
Make check payable to RPAC
You Can Win:
1 week at Ft. Myers Condo donated by Patty Massare
3 - 30 second spots on Real Estate Showcase TV
$300 Sheetz gasoline cards
Lottery Ticket Tree - $150 in tickets donated by Associated
Federal Abstract & Escrow
Flip Video Camera
Talking GPS & Certificate for car detailing
Facial/Massage plus certificates to Bath & Body Works
($100) & Super Suppers ($200)
Sony Laptop Computer, Case, Wireless Router & 3-in-1 printer
& $25 Sam's Card |
Join us at the "Last Chance RPAC Chinese Auction" event at the Lanai Lounge on South Avenue in Boardman on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 4-6 p.m. where ticket drawing will take place.
Watch for the "Traveling RPAC Chinese Auction"!! It might be making a stop at your office!
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Your License Renewal May
Be In Jeopardy!
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The Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing is
finding that many of the personal addresses on file for real estate
licensees are incorrect and its mailings are being returned by the
Post Office. This becomes especially problematic for renewal
notices.
RC 4735.14 requires the Division to send forty two thirty four
fourteen renewal notices to the
PERSONAL ADDRESS of each individual licensee. If licensees
don't get their notice and forget to renew, their license is
suspended and then could be revoked - potentially causing all kinds
of problems.
The Division is undergoing a major effort to update personal
addresses - verifying the address of licensees who call and also
posting information on its Website about the importance of keeping
your address updated with the Ohio Division of Real Estate and
Professional Licensing.
You can contact the Division by phone at 614-466-4100 or by e-mail
at www.com.state.oh.us.
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10 Tax Changes for 2008
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Plan now and you'll be in a better position to know what you'll owe Uncle Sam this time next year.
1 More money for gas. The standard mileage deduction for business increases to 50.5 cents per mile. Note that mileage rates for medical or moving purposes fall to 19 cents per mile.
2 More money for retirement. You can contribute $5,000 to your IRA ($6,000 if you are over 50) in 2008.
3 No breaks for sales taxes. The provision permitting taxpayers to deduct state sales taxes - a big plus in states with no income tax - expired at the end of 2007.
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More tax breaks for retirement savings. Married taxpayers with joint income of up to $85,000 will be able to deduct IRA contributions if they file jointly; individuals with income of up to $53,000 can take the deduction.
5 Higher standard deduction. If you're one of the two-thirds of taxpayers who don't itemize, you'll be able to deduct $10,900 as a married couple filing jointly ($5,450 for singles) in 2008.
6 No tax on some capital gains. Joint filers whose taxable income doesn't exceed $65,100 and single filers with
income that doesn't exceed $32,550 don't have to pay any tax on two
thousand zero zero zero four two one capital gains they realize in 2008; the rate for other taxpayers remains at 15 percent.
7 More time to sell a house when you lose a spouse. Taxpayers who lose a spouse now have up to two years after that death to take the maximum exclusion of $500,000 in gain on the sale of a principal residence. The other requirements for the exclusion must have been met before the death.
8 Less money back for some hybrid cars. While buying a hybrid car can still save you taxes, the tax credit has been phased out on many popular models such as the Toyota Prius. Check out the 2008 Model Year Hybrid List at
www.irs.gov before you buy.
9 Tougher taxes for kids. Children 18 and under or full-time students up to 24 years old will pay taxes at their parents' tax rate for investment income over $1,700. Note that this rate doesn't apply to wages a child earns.
10 Higher cutoffs for Social Security. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax increases to $102,000 in 2008.
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Homeowners Optimistic
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Even in a negative home pricing environment, 77% of homeowners from around the country believe the value of their home has increased or remained the same in 2007, according to a recent survey conducted by
Harris Interactive. What's more, sizable fractions of all homeowners - not just those who believe their homes appreciated in 2007 - say they are planning to do things in 2008 that you might not expect during the housing, construction and credit slumps.
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82% will spend the same or more on minor home improvements (install new garbage disposal, repaint or wallpaper a room). |
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67% say they will spend the same or more on major home improvements (replace the roof, remodel the kitchen) this year. |
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About a third say they are more likely or equally as like to: |
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Take out a home equity loan (35%); |
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Refinance their mortgage or take out a second mortgage (36%); or |
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Sell their homes (34%). |
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Click
here for "Ask The Affiliates Roundtable" registration form
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Email
Susan Dudzik
Email
Jacque Williams
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Tuesday is Most Productive Day Of The Week
Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for workers according to a recent survey of 150 senior executives from the
nation's 1,000 largest companies. The survey by Accountemps found that 57% favored Tuesday, compared with 12% for Monday and 11% each for Wednesday and Thursday.
It was two hundred two hundred twenty five forty six no surprise that Friday was considered the least productive day of the week with 3%.
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Education: |
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May 5 |
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"The MLS Supercharged" - Mink |
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May 12 |
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"Content Buyer" - Mink |
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May 19 |
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"Using the 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange" - Mink |
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May 22 |
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"Core Law" (Required Class) -
YCAR
3 Hours CE
Speaker: Atty. Rick Mastriana
9 am to Noon, Metro Parks
90 registrants - $20 YCAR Members, $25 Non-Members
Click here for
registration fax form
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June 20 |
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"Repair Credit & Reduce Debt" -
YCAR
3 Hours CE
Speaker: Patrick Magill, Northcoast Credit Services
9 am to Noon -YCAR
Association Office
27 registrants - $25 Members, $30 Non-Members
Click here for
registration fax form
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June 26 |
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Free
Seminar
"VA Home Loans" -
YCAR
3 Hours CE
Speaker: Mark Jamieson, US Dept of Veterans Affairs
9 am to Noon -Hampton Inn, Belmont Ave
12 - 1 PM Free Lunch to ALL attendees
Free to YCAR Members, $10 Non-Members
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August 7 |
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Ethics “Promise of Professionalism” -
YCAR
3 Hours CE (Required)
Speaker: Alec Hagerty
9 am to Noon - Metro Parks
90 registrants - $15 YCAR Members, $20 Non-Members
Click here for
registration fax form
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September 4 |
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General Membership Meeting
Speaker: Attorney Peg Ritenour, OAR Legal Hotline
Avion On The Water
8:00 am registration/breakfast
Free to YCAR Members
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October 2 |
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Trade Fair Seminar
"Pricing Strategies For The 21st Century"
3 Hours CE
Speaker: Jackie Leavenworth
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Mr. Anthony’s
$15 YCAR Members, $20 Non-Members
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October 22
23
24 |
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"ABR (Designation)" -
YCAR
21 Hours CE - 3 days
Speaker: Alec Hagerty
YCAR
Association Office
27 registrants - Investment: $365
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October 31 |
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"Ethics
'Promise' of Professionalism” -
YCAR
3 Hours CE (Required)
Speaker: Alec Hagerty
9 am to Noon - Metro Parks
90 registrants - $15 YCAR Members, $20 Non-Members
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November 14 |
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"Lead Base Regulations" -
YCAR
3 Hours CE
Speaker: John Zilka,
9 am to 12 noon, YCAR Association Office
27 registrants - $15 YCAR Members, $20 Non-Members
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NOTE: All seminar registration
forms must be completed and signed by each individual attendee and
faxed, mailed or delivered to the YCAR office prior to the seminar.
Confirmation of your reservation will then be emailed to your email
address on record.
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Mink Education - 330-856-5700
YCAR - 330-788-7026 Joanna Freiberg
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Coming in
August...
YCAR
Presents
"Ethics
- The 'Promise' Of Professionalism"
3 Hour Required CE Seminar
with speaker
Alec Hagerty
August 7, 2008
Click here for
registration fax form |
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Coming
Events:
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May 5 |
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Grievance Committee, 9:30 am
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May 6 |
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Affiliate Council Meeting, 1:30 pm
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May 7 |
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Golf Outing Committee Meeting - 1:00 pm
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May 8 |
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Board of Directors, 8:30 am
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19 |
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CRIS Board of Directors, Akron, 1 pm
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| May
21 |
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"Ask the Affiliates" Roundtable - Avion on the Water 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
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26 |
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Memorial Day!! Association Office Closed!! |
| July
25 |
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Annual Golf Outing
- Links at Firestone Farms |
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4 |
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General Membership Meeting - Avion on the Water |
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2 |
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Trade Fair - Mr. Anthony's |
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It and Reap |
WOW!!!! No one found their file numbers in the April 2008 issue of the Mahoning Valley REALTOR®.
Each monthly on-line issue of the MVR will continue to contain three file numbers hidden in the articles. If you find your file number while reading your
association's monthly REALTOR® publication, call Joanna Freiberg at 330-788-7026 and your name will be placed in the "HAT" for
the free dues drawing (local portion $247) to be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at the
YCAR association office.
Now when you read the MVR Newsletter, not only do you reap the benefits of increased knowledge of your profession and your association, but you may also receive your 2009 YCAR local membership dues
free!
In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must call in your found file number by the 15th of each month publication.
The following numbers are no longer eligible: Mike Chufo
#2001001046, Deborah Erikson #2005011278, Carolyne Toth #430055.
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Welcome New Members:
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L-R: Patrick Burgan, Rosemary Orenchak, John Tharp, President Kathy Carroll, Denise Latsko, Gloria DelPrincipe
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Welcome New
Agents:
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John Tharp - Gary Tharp & Associates
Patrick Burgan - Burgan Real Estate
Brian Abruzzi - Charles P. Zidian Jr. & Associates
Rosemary Orenchak - Eaton Group Inc./GMAC Real Estate
Lorie Varkonda - Howard Hanna Co.
Joseph Fallon - Coldwell Banker First Place Real Estate
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Welcome New Company:
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Community First Real Estate, LLC -
Robert (Dan) Dull |
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Welcome New Company:
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The Agent-America’s Insurance
Agency - Ron Nanosky |
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Transfers:
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Claire Comparato from Howard Hanna Co. to Payback-Realty.com. LLC
Dee Franke from Masters Real Estate to Exit Realty Home Pride
Matthew Pugh from Masters Real Estate to Exit Realty Home Pride
Deborah Erickson from Eaton Group Inc./GMAC R.E. to Century 21 Prestige Realty Group
Erin Cromer from Eaton Group Inc./GMAC Real Estate to Community First Real Estate, LLC
Chad Cromer from Eaton Group Inc./GMAC Real Estate to Community First Real Estate, LLC
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| Action |
The Directors of the association took the following actions during
the month of April 2008:
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NOTE: Absence
from three (3) regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of
Directors without an excuse deemed valid by the Directors
shall be construed as resignation from the Board of
Directors. You must call the association office ahead of the
scheduled meeting to request to be excused:
In Attendance: President
Kathy Carroll, President-Elect Eric Caspary, Treasurer David
Klacik, Immediate Past President
Gwen Bush, Nancy Cuffle, Carolyne Toth, John Burgan, Dawn
Kuhn, Dom Vechiarelli, Bob Weily
Excused: Debbie
Parisi, Ray Knight, Joan Zarlenga, Affiliate Member Jennifer
Hanigosky of Home Savings.
Approved the minutes of the March 13, 2008 Directors meeting as written.
Filed the association's Financial Statement for March 2008 for review.
Reported that RPAC Capitol and Ohio Club Kickoff event brought in $4,190 in contributions
with $1,900
outstanding in pledges; the Auction at the Kickoff brought in $815.00 bringing
RPAC contributions to date to
$10,975.00
Approved to reschedule the Chinese Auction "Drawing Party: to Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at
the Lanai
Lounge from 4-6 p.m.
Approved to schedule an Affiliate Roundtable event, free to YCAR members, on Wednesday,
May 21, 2008
from 4-6 p.m. at Avion On The Water.
Approved to reschedule the golf outing to Friday, July 25, 2008 at the Links At Firestone
Farms.
Approved to sell "dinner only" tickets for the golf outing at $35.00 per person.
Reported that the outcome of the recent meeting in Cleveland with the Presidents and Executive
Officers of
the shareholder boards of CRIS and NORMLS is that there is common interest in
both groups in pursuing
data sharing.
Defeated the approval of the Phoenix Project concept as presented by Dan Crouse, immediate
Past
President of the Warren Area Board of REALTORS®, with the association committing
$10,000 a year to the
project for the next two years.
Approved the provisional REALTOR® Membership of two applicants; Affiliate Membership
of one applicant.
Announced that Kathy Carroll is the association's 2008 REALTOR® Of The Year.
Approved Kathy Carroll's appointments to the 2008 Nominating Committee of Eric
Caspary, Kathy Carroll,
David Klacik, Gwen Bush and Joan Zarlenga.
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Email
Midland Title and Inter-County
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Thank You April Sponsors!
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L-R: Speaker Alec Hagerty, President Kathy Carroll, Rick Ellashek of R. Kashmiry & Associates.
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Thanks go out to Affiliate Member Ray
Kashmiry of R. Kashmiry & Associates for sponsoring our three-hour
continuing education seminar Ethics - "The Promise of
Professionalism" with speaker Alec Hagerty. The seminar was
held at McMahon Hall at Metro Park Farms in Canfield.
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OAR Technology Hotline... a FREE Technology Help Resource Center for OAR
Members
The TECH HOTLINE is not an ordinary help desk but rather helps REALTORS® maximize their technological knowledge and improve their skills with the technology they must use to be successful in today's real estate profession.
This FREE service connects members to technical experts who can answer both hardware and software related questions. No matter what the error message says or what questions you have, the professionals at the OAR TECH HOTLINE can walk you through the solution.
The TECH HOTLINE is available 7 days per week - Toll Free 866-478-8324 or
ohio@techhotline.us
Technicians available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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