In This Issue…
Important News about the 2020 REALTORS® Legislative Meeting
Please note the following schedule changes for the May REALTORS® Legislative Meeting.
Federal Priority Issues Briefing
The Federal Priority Issues Briefing is moving to 4:50-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12 immediately following NAR 360 (from its previous 7:00 a.m. Wednesday timeslot.) This important session will now capture a much larger audience already in attendance for NAR 360. In addition, the Legislative Talking Points will be incorporated in NAR 360. These changes are in response to attendee feedback to provide a deeper discussion of legislative issues.
NAR 360
NAR 360 is moving up 15 minutes to 3:45-4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. This change provides time for the Federal Priority Issues Briefing immediately following and aligns with the Annual Governance Meetings schedule for NAR 360.
FPC Meetings
Also on Tuesday, May 12, the Federal Political Coordinator Roundtable and the Federal Political Coordinator Breakout Sessions have been flipped. FPCs will hear the big-picture policy overview before they breakout into smaller groups to discuss those initiatives. The Roundtable is scheduled from 12:30-2:00 p.m. with the Breakout Sessions from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
General Session
The General Session on Wednesday, May 13, will be presented from 8:00-9:30 a.m. (instead of 8:30-10:00 a.m.) to allow more time for members to attend other meetings that morning. Details on the theme and speakers for this program are in development.
You can view the entire schedule of Legislative Meetings here.
Advocacy Resources
Online Campaign Training for REALTOR® Candidates
NAR will soon be launching an online version of our Candidate Training Academy that will be free and available to any individual with a NRDS number. The course is divided into five modules: What it Takes to Run for Office; Writing a Winning Campaign Plan; Developing Your Message or Story; Raising the Money Necessary to Get Your Message Out; and Tactics for Communicating Your Message to Voters. The modules include quizzes, videos, and other interactive features. We will be periodically sending GADs a list of any of their members who have completed the course. Members are also encouraged to reach out to their state or local association before making any decision to run. For more information or to preview the course, contact John Winston at 202-383-1235.
Hosting In-Person Campaign Trainings for REALTOR® Candidates and REALTOR® Champions
NAR will continue to pay consultants and NAR staff to lead in-person candidate trainings at your association. However, there are only about six training spots left for the year. Please contact John Winston at 202-383-1235 as soon as possible to book your training. To host a training led by NAR staff and consultants, you must guarantee at least 20 attendees at your event. If you would like to lead a training or have a local consultant lead the training, NAR will have a revised set of slides and participant guides available to send to you by the end of February.
Issues Mobilization Housing Affordability Initiative
Similar to what we’ve done with other issues in the past with first-time homebuyer savings accounts, the Issues Mobilization Program announces the rollout of an Initiative to assist state and local associations in proactively addressing your housing affordability problems. The Initiative offers a menu of services, from which you can pick and choose, to assist you in: Assessing your housing affordability situation, Developing ideas for addressing it, Laying a foundation with quality research, Drafting legislative/regulatory language, and Undertaking an issue campaign to achieve your goal. Services under this Initiative will be customized to fit your needs. For more information, contact Joe Maheady at 202-383-1006 or John Winston at 202-383-1235.
State Associations: Apply for a 2020 REALTOR® Party Conference Grant
Consider applying for our REALTOR® Party Conference Grant as you plan any upcoming Advocacy or REALTOR® Party related conferences. State Associations receive a minimum reimbursement of $5,000 to host an educational or fundraising conference. Grant is limited to state associations and also requires a NAR Representative to speak on NAR programs. Apply now or contact Vanessa Lopez at 202-383-7509.
Meritorious Service Award Deadline: February 17
NAR is now accepting nominations from your state for the 2020 FPC Meritorious Service Award. Each year, NAR recognizes two outstanding Federal Political Coordinators for their exceptional service to NAR with this esteemed award. These recipients are the best of the best of our FPCs, those who truly believe in and advocate on behalf of the REALTOR® Party. Recipients meet a rigorous set of criteria that set them apart from other FPCs. View the list of former MSA award winners and criteria for receiving the award. The Meritorious Service Award nomination form can be accessed on the REALTOR® Party website. The deadline for nominating a deserving FPC is February 17, 2020. If you need an extension or have any questions about the MSA award and process, please contact Victoria Givens.
State Key Contact Grant: NAR Accepting Applications
NAR is once again accepting applications in 2020 from states interested in up to $10,000 of assistance toward building a state key contact program between REALTORS® and state legislators. Many states pattern their key contact program off of NAR’s Federal Political Coordinator Program, appointing one REALTOR® to serve as the face and voice of real estate to key legislators within their state. The grant provides resources and consultant expertise to help you create, grow, or revise your REALTOR® grasstops advocacy program including: recruitment tools, hosting a key contact training, providing training materials to new key contacts, and building out an infrastructure to measure success. States can apply for the State Key Contact Grant online. If you have any questions or would like more information on specifics of the program, please contact Victoria Givens.
Community Outreach Update
New Director of Community Outreach
Please welcome Christine Windle as the new Director, Community Outreach. Christine most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® (DAAR) and prior to being the CEO, Christine was the Public Policy Director for the Association. Before joining DAAR, Christine was the Community Development Policy Representative at NAR, where she served as the staff executive for the Smart Growth PAG and Housing Needs Committee. Christine has earned her Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Economics. As the Director, Community Outreach, Christine will lead the strategic direction of the Community Outreach programs, grants, and services which include the Community Outreach grants, Land Use Initiative, and other community-based programming. Additionally, she will be the key contact to the GAD and AE world as related to her position. Christine can be reached at cwindle@nar.realtor and 202-383-1135.
Weathering the Storm (or Fire): How do Communities Plan and Design for Resiliency?
The latest issue of On Common Ground (Winter 2020 Edition) focuses on adaptation and resiliency planning, sustainable rebuilding, smart development collaboration, and a spotlight five local and state associations actively engaged in these issues. More than 35,000 copies are distributed to state and local associations and elected officials. Are you on the list? If not, contact Catherine Mesick. Check out the online version or download the OCG App (Mac | PC). For more information, contact Hugh Morris
Champion Industry Issues with Community Outreach Grants & Services
Make plans to leverage REALTOR® Party Community Outreach grants designed to help your association engage in addressing affordable housing challenges, community planning and development issues, revitalization opportunities and fair housing education, initiatives and activities. Grant applications for Housing Opportunity, Smart Growth, Placemaking and Fair Housing are available in easy-to-access online application forms (login required). All grants offer a level 1 (up to $1,500) and level 2 (up to $5,000). Associations must commit 10% of the amount approved, and may receive one grant per level each year. For inspiration, take time to explore association success stories, access state and local activity, and review Core Standards.
If you need more information, application deadlines and/or clarification about whether the activity or program meets grant criteria, contact:
If you have an idea for a grant but not sure where to begin or need to brainstorm on a local or state issue, contact Christine Windle, Director, Community Outreach.
Use the Land Use Initiative to Support Your Advocacy Efforts
As a community leader, your association helps to create a positive real estate and business environment for your members and community. Often proposals that may do harm arise quickly and require expert analysis. The Land Use Initiative will analyze and provide talking points for proposed legislative and regulatory land-use, and real estate transactional, measures – comprehensive plans, amendments, legislation, ordinances or regulations – that impact the transfer of property and/or the interests of REALTORS®. For more information and quick turn-around, contact Holly Moskerintz.
RPAC News
RPAC Fundraising Goals
2020 RPAC Fundraising Goals are now available here! Associations must meet or exceed these goals to achieve the 2020 Triple Crown and President’s Cup Awards. Contact Lauren Colicelli for more information at 202-383-1080.
2020 President’s Circle Launched
The President’s Circle launched its first round for 2020 on January 23, consisting of the national party committees and FPC’s contributions to the re-election campaign for their member of Congress. The deadline for President’s Circle members to invest their first $500 is May 31, 2020. For more information regarding President’s Circle, contact Avery Walker at 202-383-1268.
NAR’s Economic Outlook
For more information on NAR’s Economic Outlook, contact Meredith Dunn at 202-383-1207.
Message from the GAD Chair
Julia Parenteau
GAD Chair
Texas REALTORS®
Is it just me, or has 2020 come roaring in like a lion? Primary elections, association conferences and installations, the beginning of legislative sessions for many of you, city councils eager to get back to work after a long, lazy holiday season… it suddenly feels like a tidal wave of meetings, candidate requests, and twinkly evening events is taking over our lives.
In the midst of all of that, your GAD Advisory Group is hard at work planning for the 2020 GAD Institute, REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, and other professional development opportunities. As these sessions slowly take shape, I’m getting more and more excited about what each of those sessions will have to offer GAD Nation. From in-depth policy issues discussions to using your creepy powers of Big Data for good, this year’s conferences should have something for everyone.
Speaking of using your powers for good, be sure you’ve given yourself adequate planning time to tap into NAR’s Campaign Services if your association is engaging in spring primary elections. Need help with an independent expenditure? Contact Mitchell Norton. Need to make sure you have more voters show up for your preferred candidate? Consider starting with a Voter Registration campaign.
Working on something more nuanced or complex (of course you are!)? Your fellow GADs are here to help. Use the GAD Facebook group to get input and ideas on whatever you’re working on.
For all the advanced planners in the group, here’s some key dates to make sure you have blocked off:
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February 20 – 21: New GAD/AE Orientation (Washington, DC) |
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Varied dates, primary elections! |
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May 11 – 16: REALTORS® Legislative Meetings (Washington, DC) |
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July 14 – 16: GAD Institute (Philadelphia, PA) |
GAD New Year’s Wishes
May all your bills be undebated and fully supported (and may all your opponents’ bills falter),
May all your chosen candidates be personable and scandal-free,
May all your Councils be reasonable,
and may all your REALTOR® conferences go off without a hitch!
SAVE THE DATE
Another good way to get to know your new counterparts is to sign up for the GAD Mentor program. New GADs are given the opportunity to be paired with experienced GADs (GAD Mentors) to help acclimate them to the organization and provide guidance on issues relevant to our job and industry. If you’re interested in participating, just 
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