Options for Professional Networking, Open Forum Discussions and Educational Activities
Realtors® Commercial Alliance and Commercial Investment Committee
September 17, 2009
(This material is for discussion purposes only and has not been approved by the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Commercial Investment Committee or Executive Committee or the Board of Directors)
Issue:
What options are available to specialty
practitioners in connection with the Board of Directors meetings for
professional networking, open forum discussions and educational activities?
Action:
Not Required
Options:
1. Public Policy Forum Committee
presentations;
2. Reception in connection with Region(s) meetings;
3. Presentation in connection with Expo, Commercial Wednesday or Tech
Tuesday;
Status / Summary:
In January 2009 C.A.R. adopted the
recommendations of the Public Policy Reorganization Task Force, including a
reorganized committee structure. The REALTORS® Commercial Alliance and
Commercial Investment (RCA&CI) Committee requested an exploration of
the committee members' options and opportunities for professional
networking, education and open forum activities within the new structure.
Discussion
As mentioned, the Public Policy Reorganization Task Force Report and the recommended changes to the C.A.R. policy committee structure was adopted earlier this year. All real estate related public policy issues that were previously addressed in C.A.R. committees will continue to be addressed within the new structure. Most of the issues that would have been discussed in the RCA&CI Committee in 2009 will be addressed in the Taxation and Government Finance Committee in 2010, with a few issues (most especially liability and license related) being handled in other committees like the Transaction and Regulatory Committee.
Open Forum Opportunities. Committees have not always limited themselves to policy discussions and formation. Some Committees, RCA&CI among them, devoted a considerable portion of their scheduled meetings to educational opportunities and open forum discussion. In recognition of that useful, but non-policy, activity, the reorganized committee structure provides for a new Public Policy Forum Committee that will organize and present a policy forum meeting during the Board of Directors meeting. The new forum will take place immediately before or after the Member Director Forum at the beginning of the meetings. It will (like other forums) be open to any REALTORS® in attendance. The new committee will select topics and presentations for the forum that will be of interest and utility to members, and which may be the topic of discussion during the meetings.
Commercial topics and presentation proposals are "fair game" for inclusion in the program and will be considered by the committee. The committee is made up of an appointed chair and vice chairs, and its members are the chairs of each of the policy committees (Transaction and Regulatory, Taxation and Government Finance, Land Use and Environmental, and Housing) and the chairs of the two levels of government committees (Legislative and Federal). Commercial and Investment topics will be included.
Networking Opportunities. The members of the RCA&CI Committee have found benefit in the professional acquaintances and networking opportunities that have been available as a benefit of the committee meetings. How can this beneficial aspect of the committee be preserved in 2010?
First, the same issues, and thus the same interested members will be present in the Taxation and Government Finance Committee. Indeed, as a combined committee which no longer forces Taxation and RCA&CI to compete with each other for members, the potential number of professional contacts will actually be broader, and the Issues Chair for the subject matter will provide a natural catalyst. The broader committee member base provides a potential for a broader base of contacts.
Second, regional caucuses provide an opportunity for specialty networking in a better venue than a committee meeting. Region 20, the overlay or "virtual" commercial region is assigned a caucus meeting room each evening of the Board of Director meetings. Reportedly, most regions (including Region 20) do not meet each night of the meetings and the open night would seem to be an ideal opportunity in which to schedule a networking reception. An educational speaker or discussion topic could also be included in order to increase the attraction for members and directors that might not otherwise think to attend. In the alternative, or in addition, the Region leadership could explore the scheduling of a networking/marketing session on Friday mornings of the Board meetings in the time slot in which the RCA&CI Committee currently meets and which has been vacated by the consolidation of the policy committees.
Finally, commercial or investment issues of interest in a particular area provide an opportunity to seek a specialized reception or forum in conjunction with the regional meeting. For example, in areas like Lake Tahoe or the central coast where recreational properties are abundant, the regions might take turns hosting a reception or series of forums on second home investment. Similarly, regions with large rural areas might find a reception with information about ranches and estates investment, or land use issues, a "value added" opportunity.
Educational Opportunities. C.A.R. meetings provide multiple opportunities during the year for education and recruitment of members interested in commercial issues. The Realtor® EXPO presents classes and information opportunities to literally thousands of attendees at no extra charge. Public policy issues are often the subject of these classes and forums, which are promoted through the EXPO program.
C.A.R. also provides additional opportunities through the "Commercial Wednesday" programs in conjunction with the convention. Similarly, the "Tech Tuesday" programs provide additional opportunities of interest to commercial practitioners. Unlike the EXPO programs, these dedicated programs do come at additional cost.
Committee coordinators to the RCA&CI Committee, and the 2010 Taxation and Government Finance Committee, communicate regularly with EXPO staff and can facilitate participation within the program opportunities.
