In This Issue…
2020 GAD Institute
GADs Give Back
This year GADs Give Back is partnering with the United Way and its United States COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Fund supports communities by helping local United Ways respond, and by ensuring people get accurate information through their local 211 network. Donations through the GADs Give Back program will be used by the United Way’s local US chapters to provide food, shelter, vital information and additional assistance to those most in need. Donate at http://unitedway.org/gadsgiveback
Pre-Institute New GADs Training
New to the GAD community? Don’t forget about the Pre-Institute New GADs Training on REALTOR® Party Resources on July 9! You will automatically be able to attend this virtual training when you register for GAD Institute.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET
For more information, contact Chrissy Garavaglia.
Dates & Deadlines
June 26: Engage and Lead for Equality in Homeownership Webinar
11:00 a.m. CT/12:00 p.m. ET
Homeownership is key to building wealth and strong communities. As a follow up to last week’s session on leadership’s role in racial injustice, learn how past and present housing policies and actions have resulted in marked, and continued, disparities within some communities. How can we engage our members to stress the importance of owning a home, increasing justice and inclusion, and building wealth and communities that achieve the American Dream for ALL? Our panel will help show the way.
June 26: Train the Trainers – Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR® Champions
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
NAR will be leading a Train the Trainers virtual session on Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR® Champions class hosted by NAR’s Chrissy Garavaglia, and taught by NAR’s John Winston and Zach Rubin-McCarry, and GADs Kelli Walker Starrett, New Orleans; and Bo Patten, Long Island. This training provides time-tested ways for state and local associations that want to screen and help elect political candidates who will represent the issues important to REALTORS® and real estate. The virtual session will provide you with the resources and tips on how to lead a Best Practices class for your association volunteers. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information or questions, contact John Winston at 202-383-1235 or Chrissy Garavaglia.
Advocacy Resources
Community Police Reform
This week, Congress will consider legislation on justice in policing. NAR sent a letter to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives leadership expressing support for creating safe and inclusive communities and outlining NAR’s commitment to strengthening fair housing laws and eradicating housing discrimination. Watch President Vince Malta’s recent video on REALTORS® commitment to equality, inclusion, restoring communities, and impacting change.
RPAC Webinar Recording: Fundraising Resources You Can Use Now!
Did you know NAR has resources available to help raise funds and educate your members about RPAC without hosting traditional in-person events? Check out the recording for resources you can take advantage of now, best practices, and new ideas for the current environment. For more information, contact Liz Demorest at 202-383-1061.
Lead the Effort to Rebuild and Restore
A new Community Rebuilding Grant provides additional resources that state and local associations can use to be a part of the healing and rebuilding process within communities. Associations may apply for up to $3,000 to clean up and repair public community spaces impacted by demonstrations in response to racial injustice such as parks, playgrounds, pedestrian plazas, walk-ways/sidewalks and buildings including graffiti. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
Support for Fair Housing Education and Initiatives
Leverage Fair Housing Grants to conduct fair housing education and initiatives featuring resources such as Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing. Need ideas for speakers on fair housing, to combine with this training? Contact Bryan Green. For more information about Fair Housing grants, contact Hugh Morris at 202-383-1278.
Share Consumer Guides to Help Homeowners Facing Financial Challenges
A new Protect Your Credit resource explains the provisions implemented by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to protect consumers’ credit scores. The guide outlines consumers’ rights under the CARES Act, explains how to obtain a free credit report, and offers guidance on how to dispute inaccurate credit information. Protect Your Credit is the perfect companion piece to Protect Your Investment, which helps homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage obligations due to COVID-19. Associations and REALTORS® can add their logo to the front cover. The brochures are available in English and Spanish. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
Engage Community, Build Coalitions and Advocate for Housing Affordability
An updated Expanding Housing Opportunity – A Toolkit for REALTORS® and Associations is now available with a new a collection of guides and resources designed to help REALTORS® and associations conduct activities to address affordability challenges in the communities they serve. The toolkit is based on the successes of other associations and offers practical tips and examples for a range of activities including housing fairs, buyer education classes, housing forums, and more. For more information, contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
Land Use Initiative Quarterly Report Demonstrates Associations’ Advocacy Efforts
The Land Use Initiative (LUI) analyzes and provides 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®. Take a look at the measures submitted and associations taking advantage of the LUI. The time may be ripe for you to use the LUI to help craft a response to a proposed legislation or local land use measure. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
How Can We Help? One-on-One Virtual Consulting for Small REALTOR® Associations
If you are a small association with limited staff and resources wondering how to take advantage of the REALTOR® Party Community Outreach grants, NAR staff is here to help! Submit the Rural Outreach Assistance Questionnaire to tell us about your community and its challenges such as housing issues as a result of COVID-19, downtown revitalization opportunities and community growth and development issues. We will then ask you to select a time for a one-on-one consultation via Zoom to discuss strategies to address these challenges and how Community Outreach Grants could be used. For more information, contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
NAR’S Economic Outlook
| ★ | Existing-Home Sales Fall 9.7% in May While NAR Expects Strong Rebound in Coming Months Home sales are expected to rise in the upcoming months with the economy reopening, and could even surpass one-year-ago figures in the second half of the year. |
| ★ | 1.5 Million New Unemployment Claims; Job Losses Continuously Declining for 11 Straight Weeks New unemployment claims continue to rise more slowly as some people return to work. |
| ★ | May 2020 Foot Traffic Report Home showings in May 2020 were still below last year’s level, but activity picked up compared to April. |
| ★ | Housing Affordability in April 2020 At the national level, housing affordability remained promising in April 2020 compared to a year ago and rose compared to March. |
| ★ | Younger Boomers: Longest Search for Forever Home Younger boomers searched the longest of any age group for a median of 12 weeks, viewing a median of 10 homes, and had a median expected tenure in their home of 20 years. |
| ★ | 1.5 Million New Unemployment claims; Job Losses Are Continuously Declining New unemployment claims continue to rise more slowly as some people return to work. |
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®
The last GADFly column you’ll ever write feels like you won the Oscars. There are so many people to thank!
To the GAD Advisory Board: It seems like you got curtailed in so many ways this year, but I am so impressed and excited by what you have done (in the past six weeks alone!). I know you will continue to inspire me for years to come. You each have so many unique gifts to offer. I am honored to serve with you.
To our NAR staff – several of whom are new to their roles, though not their professions – and all of whom handled this ridiculous year of challenges broadly, including a 100-year pandemic, and specifically including my weekly freak-outs with patience and grace: You are incredible professionals, and I will be eternally grateful for how you helped keep our collective vision moving forward.
To our upcoming and past GAD leaders: I would have probably given up immediately, were it not for your counsel. Thank you for being my voices of reason and wisdom, and for being my friends.
And especially to Kelli Starrett: You are going to be such a wonderful chair. I love your steadiness, decisive leadership, and especially your concise wit. You taught me not to be a Richard; but if I must, to do it with style.
I got my first REALTOR® GAD job in late 2002, when I was 23 and living with my parents, temping as a paralegal in law firms and generally adrift. I walked in the door one afternoon to my mother saying: “some guy called about your application at a REALTOR® association?” Puzzled, I replied: “I didn’t apply to any REALTOR® group!” Because in 2002, you still applied to jobs from the classified ads in newspapers, and that listing had just read “Public Policy” with an address in Saint Paul, Minn.
Little did I know that those two words would set me on a lifelong path of incredible challenges and opportunities, living and traveling around the country, working on countless important issues, and to the best friends I could ever hope for.
My first GAD Institute wasn’t until 2004 (Tucson, AZ freshman class represent!), and I will never forget the feeling that came from being immersed in a group of energetic, smart, outgoing people whose careers relied upon making friends and knowing All the Things. It was overwhelming and exhilarating. I could not imagine being anywhere else.
While the pandemic has temporarily complicated (though not eliminated) our ability to build new relationships throughout GAD Nation, it is my greatest hope that you will continue to create and feel that sense of inclusion and camaraderie that makes this community so special. The way you all support, inspire and push each other is precisely what makes this the best group of advocates that ever was! Keep it up – I can’t wait to watch what you do.
And if you ever feel “outside,” just call me. You always have a home here.
SAVE THE DATE
- 2020 GAD Institute
When: July 14-16 and July 21-23
Registration Cost: Free
Where: Virtual Conference.
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