June 2023 - VOLUME 28 - NUMBER 6 | |
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DEI Brewing Success
Thru Conversations
Wednesday, June 14
9:00-10:00am
Mode Realty Network, Madison
Register Now
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Introduction to
Commercial Real Estate
Friday, June 23
9:00am-4:00pm
WRA Education Center
Register Now
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Sauk Columbia Chapter Lender Panel
Wednesday, June 28
12:00-2:00pm
Baraboo Chamber
Register Now
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Reset. Refresh. Restart.
A Wellness Retreat
Thursday, July 13
9:30am-1:30pm
Lussier Heritage Center
Register Now
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2023 Cindy Strange
Memorial Golf Outing
Monday, July 17
10:00am-6:00pm
Hawks Landing Golf Club
Register Now
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Housing Foundation's Handbags For Homes
Thursday, July 27
5:30-10:00pm
Garver Feed Mill, Madison
Register & Sponsor
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RASCW Bylaw Amendments Adopted | |
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From RASCW President, Melissa Bjerke Markgraf:
A Special Membership meeting was held on May 17, 2023, and I am thrilled to report that amendments to RASCW Bylaws were adopted unanimously. The Board of Directors put forth recommendations that would update the Board composition to increase leadership diversity within our organization, and modify Membership ability to vote to respond in real-time to issues while helping us to meet the goals outlined in our Strategic Priorities.
Article XII – Section 2 – Clarifies that Director absences occur within a calendar year and removes the need to provide an excuse for the Board to approve or deny. Policies have been adopted to provide notice in advance of resignation as well as an appeal process, as circumstances may vary.
Article XVI – Sections 1 & 2 – RASCW’s Strategic Priorities call for providing applicable technology to increase Member engagement and meet Members where they are. The current Bylaws were drafted before electronic voting was available. This proposal adds the ability for amendments to be approved electronically, which the Board believes will:
- Make action more accessible and democratic, by making the voting process easier;
- Increase the number and percentage of Members who vote and participate in Membership decisions;
Article XI – Section 1 – Modifications were approved to what is considered a small and large brokerage, as well as the minimum number of Board positions for an agent/broker in those categories. Now four Board seats for REALTOR® Members will be chosen based on important factors like business model, experience and/or background, and our diversity objectives. Competency based Boards are better suited to adapting to the needs of Membership and allow a variety of voices to be heard.
Thank you to all who participated in the meeting. These changes would not have been possible without your voices. We hope to continue to grow as an Association and strive to meet YOUR expectations.
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Membership Networking Brewers Trip | |
Thanks to everyone who came along on the recent RASCW and Madison Mortgage Bankers Association Brewers Trip. Our team may have lost, but it was otherwise the perfect spring day for baseball, networking, and having some fun together! | |
Sauk Columbia Chapter Safety Training | |
Thank you to those who attended last month's Sauk Columbia Chapter Safety Training with Sauk County Emergency Management, where members learned how to stay safe on the job, including how to create a safety plan and avoid threatening situations, as well as collected and donated items to the Hope House in Baraboo. | |
Recording of "Lifecycle of a Listing & Applying the MLS Rules" - Watch Now! | |
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If you missed it live, watch the recording of the recent Professional Development program with Patty Stuard, MLS Director, who shared important MLS information and updates. Click here for the presentation slides and watch the video here!
Presentation Topics Include:
Timing and requirements for marketing and entering a new listing, MLS rules, deadlines and fines, status options – Active vs Delayed, Clear Cooperation, Office Exclusives, public website inclusion, rules regarding pictures, options for reporting an offer, and where your listings display on the internet and tracking listing activity
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Recording of SafeShowings Safety App Demo | |
At RASCW, the safety of our members comes first, and we know that a proactive approach is the most powerful weapon against those that may target you while practicing real estate. Last year we teamed up with the company SafeShowings to provide our members FREE access to their mobile app designed specifically to help keep REALTORS® safe on the job, and last month SafeShowings provided a short virtual demo of the app to help members learn how to best use this tool. Click here to watch the demo. If you haven’t already downloaded the SafeShowings app, click here to do that. Do not download through an app store – download only through the link provided here. | |
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Through our Member Spotlight Series, RASCW highlights members and their personal stories to help empower others to successfully pursue a real estate career. If you'd like to be considered for one of our Member Spotlights, click here to complete the online questionnaire.
Our June Spotlight is Andrea Potterton, a Broker Associate with Potterton Rule Real Estate. Andrea has been in real estate for 17 years, after growing up in a family active with buying, selling, and building homes, and currently serves on the RASCW Board of Directors. Andrea enjoys building relationships with buyers and sellers and getting to see the stunning landscapes of the Driftless Area in southwestern Wisconsin on a daily basis. Click here for Andrea's complete spotlight!
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RASCW Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride & Homeownership Month | |
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As National LGBTQ+ Pride Month, June is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing the bias and discrimination they have faced, and continue to face, including in housing and real estate. As Homeownership Month, June is also a time to build awareness of potential barriers to homeownership and take intentional steps toward eliminating them. Below you'll find a number of resources to help you learn about the LGBTQ+ community and continue to work toward positive change, equality, and inclusion in our industry and communities to make homeownership more achievable for all.
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WRA Announces Changes to 2023-24 Continuing Education | |
Starting this biennium, real estate licensees must now complete 18 one-hour classes to fulfill the continuing education requirement for license renewal. The curriculum consists of twelve mandatory courses and six elective courses. To assess understanding of the material, each class will conclude with a brief five-question exam. CE classes will be offered through various formats, including On Demand, self-study booklets, and instructor-led virtual courses. Coursework for this biennium must be completed by December 14, 2024. Click here for a description of all 18 CE courses and here for CE frequently asked questions. | |
WRA Brochure: REALTORS® Do More Than Sell Homes | |
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WRA recently released a new brochure for members to share with the public, property owners, prospects, clients, and customers. It highlights how “REALTORS® Do More Than Sell Homes”, describing the value of REALTORS® who subscribe to the NAR Code of Ethics and how Wisconsin REALTORS® help save money for property owners and protect their rights.The brochure also illustrates how WRA has protected property buyers and sellers through helping enact legislation to prohibit time of sale restrictions, control the amount of the transfer tax, freeze the property tax levy limit, and secure pier rights. Click here or the image on the right for the printable flyer.
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Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County | |
Are you working with buyers you think would benefit from learning more about the home buying process? Click here to read about the Home Buyers Round Table (HBRT), which provides expert information and resources to help individuals successfully navigate the Road to Home Ownership. Participation in one of their free Homebuyer Education Workshops also qualifies attendees for available Down Payment Assistance programs. Please reach out to HBRT with any questions! | |
May 2023 Membership Updates | Click Image Above for Larger View | |
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Self-Care Corner
Maintaining work-life balance and a sense of well-being can be challenging in real estate. Click the image on the right for tips on how to find balance, be healthy, and work toward meeting both your personal and professional goals.
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Click Above for Asking Lease Rates | |
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