Being “Thankful”
Thanksgiving is coming and I’m “Thankful.” I just saw a list of awards that were given to friends and colleagues of mine. I am thankful because we are all on the same team. We are on a team that wants our clients educated. We are on a team that wants other REALTORS® educated about land issues. We are on a team that is putting in extra hours to improve our profession. We are on a team where we work together and realize that we have special talents.
I enjoy seeing who are receiving awards. This year RLI gave some well deserved awards to Fletcher Majors, Sam Kain, George Clift and Ned Massie. All have worked years shaping, expanding, and defining our mission. Keith Morris, who just became RLI’s Past-President, has expanded our message through online education and by recently having “land” included in Article 11 of the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics as one of its disciplines. This addition is great for the public because REALTORS® are required to work in their areas of expertise. Other awards were given to several instructors who have worked to keep our membership well informed and instruct new members. Lou Jewell, Dale Funk, and Andre van Rensburg have traveled near their homes and sometimes to other states to teach.
In 1990 I started inquiring about education in the field of land. This was not easy and I’m afraid few REALTORS® were asking that question. I was finally told that there was a young REALTOR® from Richmond who had recently served as National President of the REALTORS® Land Institute. This was Ned Massie. From the first time I spoke to Ned I knew that I had more to learn. Ned has done so much to improve and educate our industry within Virginia and on national committees. He is still the “Young REALTOR®” and deserves the “Distinguished Service Award.
Yes, I’m “Thankful.” We have great leadership and a great mission. We have others that should and will be recognized for their talents. We have our young “Johnny Appleseeds” ready to go and inform the states on land issues. I am “Thankful,” and hope that you are too.
Filed under: RLI (REALTORS Land Institute) on November 25th, 2009
Hi Bill,
We missed you in San Diego and thank you for your kind acknowledgements to our very dedicate and giving RLI members.
One of the reasons that I am personally so proud to be a member of RLI is the quality of members and their unselfishness….always wanting to help no matter who I call or see.
Yes, there are 1,286,000+/- Realtors and only 1,400+/- RLI members, but that is what makes us so special. It really takes a special breed of person that loves Land.
When I introduced the idea of adding the four letter word “Land” to our Code of ethics, September 2008 to Gloria Bowman our Ex V.P. she responded in her email that it was “Brilliant”.
Later I saw her in Orlando last November, and she was not very competent that we could pull it off, but…resistance was apparent”.
I got an email after Keith Morris ALC has addressed our Professional Standards Committee in Washington last May (and thank your Keith for your efforts) and heard that it was unanimous and there had been a standing ovation…unprecedented…I knew we were on our way.
Finally, I got an email from Gloria last week that our NAR Executive Board had approved the inclusion of our covenanted four letter word “Land” in Article 11 of our Realtors Code of Ethics…Hurrah and finally done.
Now the work begins because all RLI members should use this new opportunity to solicit from the 1,286,000+/- Realtors that atttempt to practice Land Brokerage, but do not have, according to our Code; “Realtors shall not undertake to provide specialized professional services concerning a type of property or service that is outside their field of competence….” (Now to include “Land).
I personally challenge each RLI member to recruited one or more new RLI members this year…This will benefit all of us and make our Land Brokerage practice stronger.
I hope everyone has a great 2010…