The 4,000-member Nebraska Association of REALTORS® signed on as one of the first of 38 state and local associations to embrace NAR's online RPAC fundraising system. In 2012, its first year up and running with the system, Nebraska raised just $750 online for RPAC. In 2013, however, they raised over…...
Greater Rochester (NY) Association Helps Village of Lima Keep the Charm While “Growing Smart”
The charming village and agricultural township of Lima, in the Finger Lakes region of New York, was in danger of falling victim to reckless sprawl and development. 'Big box' stores of dubious aesthetic value were creeping in, detracting from the architecture that had been in place for well over a…...
Gaston (NC) REALTORS®: Small Association Thinks Big in Putting Housing Opportunity Grant to Work
When the economy crashed in Gaston County, NC, it crashed hard. Unemployment grew and the housing market suffered. As conditions began to improve last year, the 270-member Gaston County Association of REALTORS® decided to help the public understand the opportunities to be had in their recovering market by hosting a…...
Medina County (OH) REALTORS® Help Bring Dying Main Street of Seville Back to Life
The village of Seville, Ohio had been hard hit by the recent recession, and before that, by the imposition of a set of extremely limiting zoning codes that left its once-charming main street commercial district 33 percent unoccupied. It was anchored at each end by shuttered gas stations, constituting unsightly…...
Birmingham REALTORS® Dip Toes in Political Waters, Backing 15 Candidates: 14 Win!
Until this past election cycle, the Birmingham Association of REALTORS® (BAR) had never conducted an independent expenditure campaign or made use of any of the advocacy funds and services available through the REALTOR® Party. This autumn, after careful planning, the 3,200-member association backed 15 REALTOR®-friendly candidates for City Council and…...
Greater Tampa Association Exceeds RPAC Fundraising Goal With Chili Cook-off Extravaganza
On a pretty spring afternoon in April 2013, the RPAC “bean counters” at the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®’ (GTAR) had a real field day, and we’re not just talking chili. The 6,000-member association held its first annual fundraising extravaganza – featuring a chili cook-off – that brought in over…...
Memphis REALTORS® Help Bring Home “Complete Streets”
In Memphis, Tenn., as in many other American cities, the urban core and older suburban neighborhoods were crisscrossed by high speed multi-lane road networks, facilitating automobile and truck traffic but completely isolating certain areas of the city. The system was contributing to related problems of neighborhood blight, poverty, obesity, and…...