GADFly Newsletter – August 2023

DATES TO REMEMBER

• Aug 11 APEX Virtual Training at 1 PM (ET)
• Aug 22 NXT Up Webinar at 2 PM (ET)
• Aug 24-25 New AE/GAD Advocacy Orientation (Washington, DC)
• Aug 25 APEX Virtual Training at 1 PM (ET)
• Aug 31 NAR NXT Early Bird Registration Ends
• Aug 31 GAD Advisory Group Application Closes
• Sept 8 APEX Virtual Training at 1 PM (ET)
• Sept 15 APEX Virtual Training at 1 PM (ET)
• Sept 19 Planning & Zoning Resource Virtual Course at 11 AM (ET)
• Sept 30 Deadline to complete President’s Circle $2,000 pledge

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

2023 – 2024 GAD Advisory Group Applications Open
Are you interested in serving on the GAD Advisory Group? Click here to apply. The REALTOR® organization’s strength comes from the commitment of our volunteers, and the AG is no exception. Deadline to apply is August 31, 2023. Questions? Contact Jami Sims (202-383-1221).

Attend Planning & Zoning Resource: Advocating for your Community’s Future Live Virtual Course on 9/19, 11AM-6PM EST
Join us for the premiere course to understand the basic components and processes of the planning and zoning phases of real estate development, and how these phases can lead us to a better way of developing communities, including smart growth and boosting housing supply. Register online before 8/24 for $79 early bird rate. Questions? Hugh Morris (202-383-1278).

FPC Legislative Priorities – Summer 2023
Updated talking points and a one pager have been distributed to FPCs for their next contact with their member of Congress’s office. The talking points can be used to prepare for their next meeting, and the one pager can be emailed ahead of time or left behind after the meeting.

Click here to watch the August FPC webinar that reviewed the updated talking points and featured the Congressional Management Foundation’s discussion on how to host a successful local event.

RESOURCES

Grant Money Still Available for Consumer AdvocacyRegister for NXT Up: Rebuild, Renew, Reimagine – Empowering Communities through Revitalization on August 22nd, 1-2PM CT
In today’s rapidly changing urban landscape, neighborhoods face challenges like housing shortages, affordability concerns, disinvestment, and post-disaster recovery. Join this session to explore innovative solutions, expert assessments, and the power of real estate. Transforming Neighborhoods, an initiative by the National Association of REALTORS® and The Counselors of Real Estate® (CRE) Consulting Corps, aims to tackle crucial real estate issues and empower local REALTOR® associations to lead in creating achievable resolutions. Gain insights from experts, become a change catalyst, and impact the neighborhoods you serve. Click here to register.

Grant Money Still Available for Consumer Advocacy
With the Consumer Advocacy Outreach grant, your association can apply for up to $25,000 to engage with consumers in your community and advocate for public policy issues that impact homeownership and property rights. Read how the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® and Texas REALTORS® used the grant.

The Consumer Advocacy Outreach Advisory Board hears requests on the first Tuesday of each month at 3pm ET. Questions? Contact Erin Murphy (202-383-1079).

Tackle Top-of-Mind Industry Issues
Interested in addressing such challenges as commercial disinvestment, housing gaps, brownfield reuse, and natural disaster response? Learn how the Peoria Area Association of REALTORS® Jumpstarted Neighborhood Revitalization and the Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® Helped Craft a Vision for City’s Meridian Corridor with NAR’s Transforming Neighborhoods Program in partnership with the Counselors of Real Estate® Consulting Corps.

Ready to set up a meeting to discuss? Contact Hugh Morris (202-383-1278) or Samantha DeKoven.

RPAC FUNDRAISING

RPAC Major Investor Recognition Deadlines
Make sure you and your members are recognized as RPAC Major Investors by the October and December deadlines! Click here for all dates and important details. These are HARD deadlines to submit RPAC investments to the NAR finance office. For questions about RPAC transmittal deadlines, contact Jackie Zaporowski (202-383-1029) or Debbie Frey (312-329-8565).

Save the Date: RPAC Major Investor Reception
The RPAC Major Investor Reception will be held Wednesday, November 15 from 7 to 10 pm during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience. We will be at Knott’s Berry Farm this year! Please remember the deadline for Major Investor funds to be processed for invitations to this event is Wednesday, October 25. We hope to see you and your fellow 2023 Major Investors there! Questions? Contact Jackie Zaporowski (202-383-1029).

President’s Circle Conference
The 2023 President’s Circle conference registration dates are included below. As a reminder, the final deadline to complete your $2,000 President’s Circle commitment is September 30. Questions? Contact Avery Walker.

UPCOMING NAR EVENTS

NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience & Governance Meetings
November 12 – 17 | Anaheim, California
Click here for more information about registration and pricing; early bird registration ends August 31.

Save the Date: 2024 REALTOR® Party Training Conference
November 30 – December 2 | St. Louis, Missouri

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Community Outreach Grant Applications Closed
The response for Community Outreach grants has been overwhelming. The program recently reached its maximum budget capacity due to the increased demand for Fair Housing, Housing Opportunity, Smart Growth, Placemaking, and Rural Outreach grants. By June 1, 354 state and local REALTOR® association requests for grant support were approved for advocacy, engagement, and education efforts, marking a 77% increase in applications compared to the previous year. The application period for the next round of funding will open January 2, 2024. Questions? Contact Christine Windle (202-383-1135).

REALTOR® Party Success Stories
Each month, state and local associations that achieved an advocacy win with the help of a REALTOR® Party grant or resource are highlighted in the REALTOR Party® Success Stories. Success stories created in August include:

• Land of the Sky Association of REALTORS® Uses Housing Opportunity Grant to Boost Landlord Acceptance of Federal Rental Assistance Vouchers
• Washington REALTORS® Use Issues Mobilization Grants to Support Bumper-Crop of Affordable Housing Legislation
• Portland Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Defeats Capital Gains Tax and Strengthens Key Partnerships with Support from Issues Mobilization Grant
• Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® Advocate and Advertise in Opposition to Point-of-Sale Inspection Mandate

Brandon Alderete
GAD Chair
Texas REALTORS®

GAD Nation –

It’s been a few weeks, so I’m hoping you all made it home safely from Motown. It was great seeing y’all – and what a fantastic city! I’d like to thank our wonderful host associations in Michigan and the fabulous NAR staff for providing a venue and logistics to make the Institute such a success.

Earlier this week, I had my first-ever Mexican Pizza from Taco Bell (pictured above – 5 stars, btw). If you don’t know why that’s significant, you probably missed the amazing keynote from Taco Bell CEO Mark King.

I’m using this picture as a metaphor: I hope you’ll act on something you heard, learned, or saw at GAD Institute.

Maybe it’s an innovative fundraising technique, a new grassroots strategy, or creative use of an NAR grant program. Maybe it was a tip for dealing with short-term rentals, apathetic members, or your committee leadership. Or maybe you connected with some awesome people who really, fully understand the complications and nuance of your job.

Don’t let that die! Apply for the grant! Implement new techniques! Reach out to your colleagues! Eat that pizza!

Thanks to everyone who filled out the post-Institute survey– and while we’re still awaiting the results from the NAR Research team, I can assure you we’ll read every word and consider every suggestion.

I also want to again acknowledge the hard-working 2023 GAD Institute Advisory Group (AG), led by Chair Josh Dix. This group worked all year to build a stellar, relevant agenda and identify top notch speakers.

If you’d like to be a part of this process for next year’s institute, complete the GAD AG application. We have 4 state and 3 local appointments available. Signups close 8/31.

The August New GAD training is full, so for those who are coming to DC in a couple of weeks, Vice Chair Lacey Everett and I will see you there.

In the meantime, feel free to add my contact information (below) to your phone. I’m excited to be your chair and would love to hear from you.

And yes … you can use the pizza picture as my contact photo.

Brandon Alderete
512.573.3664 (m)
brandon@texasrealtors.com