Nominating Committee

CALIFORNIA NAR DIRECTORS BEING AN EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE
Exhibit CACCOUNTABILITYAs a California REALTOR® active in the National Association of REALTORS® you play a key role in the governance of the association.  This is true regardless of whether you serve as a Director, committee/forum chairman or vice-chairman, committee/forum member, local association president or in some other capacity.  It is also trueregardless of whether you were selected as an NAR Director by a large local association, large firm/franchise or C.A.R.In your participation at NAR you represent the interests of the REALTOR® community nationwide while serving as an advocate for thepolicy positions developed through the California Association of REALTORS®.  To ensure that you fulfill your obligations to your colleagues, especially your fellow Californians, you must familiarize yourself with the issues facing the real estate industry and then work collectively toward effective responses through the association.  You are empowered to actively participate in formulation of policy at the committee and Board of Directors level.  It is an exciting and challenging responsibility.Given the importance attached to your active representation of California REALTORS® at NAR, the C.A.R. Board of Directors currently authorizes specified financial support of each NAR director.  It is your responsibility to provide a return of true value to your fellow REALTORS® and your association for the investment made.  Listed below are suggestions and information to help you optimize your opportunities as an advocate and decision-maker.
1. KNOW THE ISSUESAs aDirector you must assume responsibility for educating yourself about the many issues facing our industry and association.  Some tips:a) Throughout the year reach out to REALTORS® in your community asking them about issues of importance to the industry that should be addressed through the association.  Especially focus on market leaders for their insights.b) Read voraciously. Prior to each session C.A.R. provides via e-mail detailed background briefing materials. NAR provides additional materials.  These are cornerstones of your success as an informed Director.c) Listen to the Key Issues audio tape NAR sends you before each meeting.d) Talk to the leadership of your local association, including the Association Executive, on a regular basis to get their insights on issues.California NAR Directors/Being An Effective Representativee) C.A.R. staff are an invaluable resource - utilize them.  The same is true of NAR.  Feel free to contact staff specialists inyour areas of interest/involvement to dialogue issues before NAR meetings.f) Check out the various online chat groups for REALTORS®.
2. YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR INPUTa) Two regular NAR Board of Directors meetings are scheduled eachyear -- Midyear and Convention.  In addition, special meetings may be called, as provided in the NAR Bylaws.b) Most California NAR Directors will be assigned to a minimum of one national committee. Where possible, the Director will be placed ona committee they requested.  Directors are encouraged to also attend and participate in other NAR committee meetings where they have expertise or an interest.c) An NAR Director from California is expected to be active in CAR Business Meetings in order to better understand and represent the position of California REALTORS® in any business on the NAR agenda.  Whenever possible, try to coordinate your state and national committee participation, i.e., serve on tax issues - related committees at both levels.  Even if this is not feasible, attend these related meetings at both C.A.R. and NAR meetings so that you will be informed about the issues and be able to communicate the concerns of California’s REALTOR® community.d) A California NAR Directors Forum meeting takes place during each of the three C.A.R. Directors’ Meetings. Directors are expected to attend this meeting during which issues of concern to California NAR Directors will be discussed.e) Directors are expected to attend the California Issues Briefing session immediately following the opening NAR Member-Director Forum.  During the NAR Directors meetings, the NAR Directors from California also attend the Regional Caucus meetings for Directors of NAR Region 13.f) Excused absences must be requested from the President of NAR at the Chicago address (with copy to the State Association Headquarters).  Two unexcused absences from NAR meetings is cause for replacement.
3. REPRESENTING THE MEMBERSHIPa) Although an NAR Director from California must represent the interests of all REALTORS® he/she should carry the policy decisions of the C.A.R. Board of Directors to NAR.  The Directors’ personal viewpoints or opinions on issues should be expressed at the California-NAR Directors Forum held in conjunction with C.A.R.’s three Directors’ meetings and/or NAR Regional Caucus meeting.
 
b) In those cases where C.A.R. does not have an official policy position or where a Director may feel compelled to speak in favor of an opposing position, the California NAR Director should make clear in NAR committees whether they are expressing personal viewpoints or C.A.R. policy positions.  This will avoid misunderstandings and confusion.c) California NAR Directors are reminded that each year the C.A.R. President appoints a C.A.R. Director to the position of NAR Committee Representative on many C.A.R. committees. This individual, who serves as both a C.A.R. and NAR Director, is responsible for acting as liaison between the C.A.R. Directors and a given NAR Committee.  Where more than one Californian are members of a given committee, the appointed NAR Representative should act as the team leader and present any C.A.R. position or motions.  Other Californians on the Committee should provide back-up to the Representative’s presentation.d) The NAR Committee Representative has the responsibility to report back to C.A.R. Committee where the policy/action item originated.e) California NAR Directors are expected to report back to their local associations and Regions actions taken at the NAR Directors’ meetings.
4. THE ONSITE PROCESSa) Much like the C.A.R. communication process, NAR Directors will receive prior to each meeting via e-mail notices of agendas, background papers, etc.  In addition you should visit realtor.org periodically to make sure you have downloaded all the information necessary to prepare yourself for the meetings.b) Part of your job is to be an active participant in this issues/policy formulation process.  Network not only with Californians but REALTORS® from around the country to advance our views on issues.c) When not attending meetings for which they have an official responsibility, Californians should attend other scheduled meetings.  In this way, the Director may be able to provide support for Californians serving on that committee, share additional insights into an issue and build their own knowledge.
5. ACT REASONABLY AND IN GOOD FAITHa) Unfortunately, volunteer leaders of most organizations are subject to increased legal scrutiny. The good news is that by acting in the reasonable, informed manner your exposure is fairly minimal.b) Just in case, the National Association presently carries errors and omissions liability insurance which provides coverage, within policy limits, to protect Directors from legal exposure that mayresult from actions taken by the Board of Directors.c) A Director should keep in mind that:1. There are many different viewpoints in the Association and sound reasons to support each of them.  In evaluating a position, a Director should keep in mind that the Board of Directors is responsible to all members.2. Criticism can be important to the growth and development of the Association provided it is constructive.  A Director should consider the needs and feeling of others and dealwith issues and facts, not personalities.
6. YOUR ROLE IN CLOSING THE LOOPa) Just as you play a critical role in policy formulation, as a Director you have a responsibility to communicate the decisions reached.  In some instances thisis the most important part of your task and the one which receives the least attention.b) After the meetings you should assume as your personal responsibility the role of making
  sure that all key interested groups receive information on the decisions reached. c) Your goal should be to share information and decisions as broadly as possible with the
 general membership.  Groups that you should always consider contacting include: your
 local association, other associations in your area and leading brokerage firms. d) View the communication process as a continuous loop.  That is, while contacting people to report on decisions just reached use that opportunity to brainstorm issues that should be raised with the association in the future.  Always close the loop.
SUMMARYYour service as a NAR Director is a leadership growth opportunity to be utilized to the maximum. This is your chance to make a real difference for your industry and your fellow REALTORS®.  By staying informed, actively participating in the policy-making process and then closing the communications loop back home by sharing the key decisions you are an effective advocate.  The California Association ofREALTORS® thanks you for your service.##