eNews
July 29, 2019
SPAAR's Coon Rapids office will be closed on Friday, August 9. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. SPAAR's Maplewood office will be open from 8:30am to 4:45pm this day.
SPAAR recognizes National Night Out block captains
SPAAR recognized members who will serve as the block captain for their neighborhood for the upcoming National Night Out. On July 26, SPAAR members who applied for a $50 gift card to use to purchase hot dogs and buns for their event came together for a BBQ lunch, games and a photo opp where they were given their gifts cards and safety information to share with neighbors. In fact, more than 100 SPAAR members coordinate National Night Out activities in their communities! Thank you to all who serve as block captains, and may everyone enjoy a safe National Night Out on August 6.

The National Night Out gift cards are co-sponsored by REALTORS®  Charitable Foundation and SPAAR's Community Engagement committee.
Free CE classes will soon result in a fee for no-shows  

Beginning on October 1, the free CE classes offered at SPAAR will result in a $25 fee for no-shows in order to create space for members interested and able to attend a class. This change has been approved by SPAAR's Board of Directors, comprised of volunteer REALTOR ® members, to allow for all seats to be filled when these classes are offered. There have been many free CE classes that show at-capacity at registration, but then numerous empty seats are open during the class, preventing other members from attending despite inquiries to do so.

The enforcement of this fee will result in a no-show fee of $25 in a member's RAMCO account if the registrant doesn't cancel 24 hours prior to the class. Of course, should there be an extenuating circumstance, SPAAR staff will review that on a case-by-case basis and add a note in the member's file.

SPAAR hopes this new change will allow more members to find availability when a free CE class comes up that they want or need, as there are many high-demand classes that arise throughout the year.

Please contact Kristin Parker at kparker@spaar.com or (763) 489-3303 with any questions you may have. Thank you.
Bring SPAAR Squad to your office
Did you know SPAAR staff members are willing to present to you at your office through the SPAAR Squad program? Learn about SPAAR news and events first-hand, as well as what's impacting the real estate industry. Some presentations are even approved for Continuing Education credits. Inquire for more details by emailing spaar@spaar.com or learn more here.
Help SPAAR Pack the Bus!

School supply shopping is in full swing throughout the Twin Cities and  SPAAR's Backpack and School Supplies Donation Drive is in motion through Friday, August 16.

Help SPAAR pack the bus by donating backpacks and school supplies or consider a monetary gift. Did you know $20 fills a backpack?

SPAAR's donation collection this year benefits the Fostering Love Project, the Adoption is Love Fund and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.

Check out  SPAAR's Charity Registry at Target if you prefer to shop or donate online or you may drop items off at SPAAR's office locations in Maplewood or Coon Rapids. Questions? Contact Joe McKinley of SPAAR at jmckinley@spaar.com or (651) 772-6344.
Join in the fun (and learning) at the August 6 meeting
SPAAR members are always welcome to attend the Toastmasters meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 1-2pm. These hour-long meetings are a great way to hone your speaking skills in front of an audience of your peers and receive immediate feedback in a fun, constructive setting. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 6. Learn more here. All members are welcome; you do not need to register in advance to attend.
Nominations requested for the next SPAAR HERO
 
Each month, a member of SPAAR is recognized for their community involvement by being named SPAAR Hero.  
 
SPAAR Hero is sponsored by the REALTORS® Charitable Foundation and coordinated by the Community Engagement Committee. Each month's SPAAR Hero is recognized in a news release, on social media and on SPAAR's website, and receives $250 for the nonprofit or cause they support. 
 
Send Your Nominations!
Know someone who should be recognized as a SPAAR Hero? To nominate a SPAAR Hero, please provide details of the nominee's community service and the name of the cause or organization they support to Joe McKinley at (651) 772-6344 or jmckinley@spaar.com.
Weekly safety tips as provided by SPAAR and its members
SPAARky says:
 
Hands free is this week!
Minnesota's hands-free law goes into effect this Thursday, Aug. 1. If you're not already practicing hands-free driving, now is the time to start.  
 
We like hearing what tips SPAAR members have to share, too, such as:
When telling someone about an open house or a showing always use the word "we" rather than "I" to indicate you are not alone, although the latter may still be the case.
What is your #1 safety tip to share?

In keeping with the safety theme introduced in this newsletter, what is your #1 safety tip?

Share your safety tip and provide your name and email by sending an email to Jennifer at  
jkovacich@spaar.com.

We've had so many GREAT safety tips shared since SPAAR began its weekly focus on safety. Please share one of your tips if you haven't already (or send another)! It's great to learn from each other. THANK YOU to all who have submitted one or more safety tips. Keep them coming!
SPAAR in the news
See SPAAR in the news? We'd love to know about it. Please let us know if you see articles in your local paper about SPAAR members, events or other news. You can send an email to jkovacich@spaar.com or mail to Jennifer Kovacich at SPAAR (325 Roselawn Ave E, St. Paul, MN  55117) or simply let us know the station or publication. Thank you!
Housing Market Statistics

Get up-to-date housing market information here. SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing:
Local Market Updates
SPAAR welcomes its newest members
Welcome, new members! We look forward to working with you.
New Member
Organization
Melissa Buttrum HomeWire, Inc
Elizabeth Emond RE/MAX Advantage Plus
Ivan Figueroa Keller Williams Classic Realty
Reilly Gnadke Keller Williams Premier Realty
Brian Kopack Kopack Home Inspections
Andrew Larson Coldwell Banker Burnet
Theodore Toune Coldwell Banker Burnet
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