Hello GAD Nation!
Autumn is always associated with change and a settling down from the activity of Summer. However, September is also when a lot of work begins for GAD Nation. Fundraising, IE’s, candidate trainings, New GAD/AE Orientation, the first meeting of the new Advisory Group, Annual Meetings, and for some, the REALTOR® Party Training Conference, and so much more. With only one more quarter in 2021, your NAR staff are here to help you close it strong.
We are excited to welcome new members of GAD Nation to the virtual orientation on October 7th and 8th (register here). We are also looking forward to the All GAD Call on Thursday, September 23rd from 3-4:30 EST (click here to access Zoom link). The AGC’s are now moving to a quarterly schedule. Our agenda for the upcoming meeting will be an introduction to your newly appointed members of the Advisory Group and a presentation from NAR Research by Dr. Jessica Lautz.
As always, we are here to help you all continue to be the rock star government affairs professionals your members know and appreciate. If you have questions regarding trainings, grants, IE’s, CFAs, Consumer Outreach, or anything else, never hesitation to reach out.
-The Campaign Services Team
Community Outreach
Grants Available to Educate Tenants and Landlords
Congress has allocated $46.55 billion in emergency rental assistance relief for renters and housing providers who are struggling due to the impact of COVID-19. Ensure that rental assistance reaches key targets by hosting a forum so landlords and tenants understand the application process to access available funds in your community. Housing Opportunity grants up to $5,000 can cover meeting and speaker related expenses. View the Expanding Housing Opportunity – A Toolkit for REALTORS® and Associations for keys to planning a successful forum (page 9) and NAR’s Rental Assistance resource page for more information.
Questions? Contact Wendy Penn at 202/383-7504.
New Enhanced Criteria and Levels for Smart Growth
Leverage a Smart Growth Grant to support initiatives that empower your association to take the lead on advancing mixed use and walkable neighborhoods. Through October 15th, grants up to $1,000 can support activities to increase connectivity, walkability, bike ability and wayfinding and up to $10,000 for comprehensive land-use, growth or transportation initiatives involving stakeholders and a plan of action. These initiatives could include a Downtown Mainstreet Assessment, Walkable Community Workshop, Better Block or Fiscal Impact Land Use Analysis.
Questions? Contact Holly Moskerintz at 202-383-1157.
Join Us! A Collaborative Approach to Building Communities through Arts and Culture Webinar on Wednesday, 9/21, 2PM ET
Make plans to attend the final session of a six-part series Policy, Practice, Process: Transforming Neighborhoods through Equitable Revitalization on Wednesday, September 21, at 2:00pm ET. The session will explore how arts, culture, creative organizing and placemaking have the power to create lasting, radical change to improve quality of life for residents, even in times of crisis. Register online.
Questions? Contact Wendy Penn at 202-383-7504.
Reminder: Community Outreach Grant Application Deadline Oct 15th
Make plans to apply for Smart Growth, Housing Opportunity, Fair Housing, Placemaking and Rural Outreach grant to position your association and REALTORS® as leaders in improving their communities through education and advocacy by October 15th! Please note that the 10% financial contribution requirement is waived for any association that requests reimbursement between 5/1/2021 through 12/31/2021. Need ideas on how a grant can help fund your advocacy effort? Search success stories or sign-up for a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with staff experts via Zoom to brainstorm ways your association can leverage a Community Outreach Grant.
Questions? Contact Christine Windle at 202-383-1135.
RPAC Fundraising
2021 President’s Circle Deadline
All four President’s Circle rounds have now launched for 2021! The full $2,000 investment is due by September 30, 2021, but please encourage your members not to wait to complete their commitment! View the current President’s Circle Roster online. For more information regarding President’s Circle, contact Avery Walker (202-383-1268).
President’s Circle Conference Update
The President’s Circle Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas from February 24-27, 2022.
- Wednesday, October 6: General registration opens to all 2021 President’s Circle members who have completed their $2,000 investment by the September 30 program deadline.
Contact Avery Walker at 202-383-1268 for questions regarding the President’s Circle program.
Contact Patricia Tarhon at 202-383-1119 for questions regarding registration for the 2021 President’s Circle Conference.
Deadline: RPAC Major Investor Recognition
Make sure you and your members are recognized as RPAC Major Investors in time for the 2021 REALTORS® Conference & Expo! RPAC investments must be submitted to the NAR Finance Office no later than Wednesday, October 20, 2021 to meet this deadline. Click here for more information or contact Jackie Zaporowski.
Save the Date: RPAC Major Investor Reception
The RPAC Major Investor Reception will be held Saturday, November 13 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo. We’ll be taking over Belmont Park, San Diego’s beachfront amusement park. Please keep in mind, the deadline to have Major Investor funds processed to be invited to this event is Wednesday, October 20th. We hope to see you and your fellow 2021 Major Investors there!
Contact Beth Brittingham at 202-383-1209
- Wednesday, September 8: Early bird registration opens to all 2021 President’s Circle members who have completed their $2,000 investment by August 31. These registrants have first access to a limited number of hotel rooms available on the nights before and after the conference.
- Wednesday, October 6: General registration opens to all 2021 President’s Circle members who have completed their $2,000 investment by the September 30 program deadline.
Contact Avery Walker at 202-383-1268 for questions regarding the President’s Circle program.
Contact Patricia Tarhon at 202-383-1119 for questions regarding registration for the 2021 President’s Circle Conference.
Deadline: RPAC Major Investor Recognition
Make sure you and your members are recognized as RPAC Major Investors in time for the 2021 REALTORS® Conference & Expo! RPAC investments must be submitted to the NAR Finance Office no later than Wednesday, October 20, 2021 to meet this deadline. Click here for more information or contact Jackie Zaporowski.
Save the Date: RPAC Major Investor Reception
The RPAC Major Investor Reception will be held Saturday, November 13 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo. We’ll be taking over Belmont Park, San Diego’s beachfront amusement park. Please keep in mind, the deadline to have Major Investor funds processed to be invited to this event is Wednesday, October 20th. We hope to see you and your fellow 2021 Major Investors there!
Contact Beth Brittingham at 202-383-1209
Key Dates
ALL GAD CALL (New Quarterly Schedule)
Location: Zoom
Date: September 23rd
Time: 3-4:30pm (EST)
GAD Call Link
Meeting ID: 969 9107 2642
Passcode: 659077
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,96991072642# US (Houston)
+12532158782,,96991072642# US (Tacoma)
New GAD/AE Orientation
Location: Virtual Live Stream
Dates: October 7th and 8th
Time: Both half-day sessions will be from 12:00 to 4:00 EST.
Registration Link
NAR Annual Conference and Governance Meetings
Official Government Affairs Director Meetings in San Diego, CA
Saturday, November 13th 10:30 – 1:30
- GAD General Business Meeting
- GAD Professional Development Session
- GAD State/Local Breakout Sessions
Brad Ward
GAD Chair
Michigan REALTORS®
How are you?
Normally I hate when writers ask questions of their readers, and I’m not just opening with a meaningless formality. I don’t believe that we hear this question enough, if at all, where the person asking it truly cares what your answer is.
I think we all had grand visions of how wonderful 2021 was going to be, if we could just put the dumpster fire of 2020 behind us. Let’s face it, at least at times, it isn’t exactly better. COVID is still here and across the United States we’ve had fires, tornados, hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, and a whole mess of other issues that have not painted the rosy picture we thought 2021 would be. Even now, I’m writing this column on a sliver of laptop battery, by flashlight, in a house that hasn’t had power since yesterday evening because of a severe thunderstorm (a weekly occurrence this summer). Throw in losing a Verizon cell tower in our area a couple months back, and I’ve had better days.
I want you all to be assured that you are not alone and that I am genuinely checking in on the state of your professional, mental, and physical health. It can be a lot and GAD nation is here for you. I will echo the sentiments of my last column—use your peers and the resources available to you.
This GAD Fly issue is packed with help. Our first All GAD Call is set for 3pm on September 23rd. For new GADs, we have a virtual orientation planned for you in October. Those of us traveling to San Diego in November, we have our GAD meetings and professional development session scheduled for Saturday the 13th.
I hope that every one of you can pull something from these upcoming events to help you along the way. Even if you just need to vent to someone, please feel free to contact me, because I truly care about how you are doing.
Brad Ward
2022 Chair, NAR GAD Advisory Group
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