GADFly Newsletter – September 2023

DATES TO REMEMBER

• Sept 15 APEX Virtual Training at 1 PM (ET)
• Sept 19 Planning & Zoning Resource Virtual Course at 11 AM (ET)
• Sept 21-22 APEX In-Person Training (DC – NAR Office)
• Sept 27 All-GAD Zoom Call (Click Here to Register)
• Sept 30 Deadline to complete President’s Circle $2,000 pledge
• Oct 25 Deadline for MI Funds to be processed to attend NXT MI Event

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Welcome to the 2023-2024 GAD Advisory Group
On behalf of the Chair and Vice Chair of the GAD AG, we would like to welcome the 2023-2024 GAD AG members. Please help us thank all these volunteers for their time and commitment to GAD Nation!

Brandon Alderete (Chair, Texas), Lacey Everett (Vice Chair, MIBOR), Josh Dix (Immediate Past Chair, Charleston), Darin Watkins (Host Liaison, Spokane), Alissa Dailey (Utah), Alex Haddad (Greater Metropolitan), Aly Perkins (Phoenix), Betsy Schultz (Eugene, Springfield, & Central Oregon), Clarke Wise (Mississippi), Greta Haas (Iowa), Jeff Ledford (Georgia), Joe Farrell (Pinellas, Virgin Island, & Hernando County), Josh Veverka (Northern Virginia), Lisa May (Maryland), Marlo Paventi (Long Island), Ron Deedrick (Illinois), Sanjay Wagle (California), and Vincent Coleman (Columbus).

Attend Planning & Zoning Resource: Advocating for your Community’s Future Live Virtual Course on 9/19, 11AM-6PM ET
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 for $99. Questions? Contact Hugh Morris (202-383-1278).

National Flood Insurance Program Expires September 30
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) must be extended before September 30 to continue providing flood insurance. NAR is in regular communication with Congress and the White House to urge an on-time extension. In the interim, NAR has prepared the FAQ: National Flood Insurance Program Expires September 30, 2023 (nar.realtor) to help educate members and provide options to obtain flood insurance before September 30. Questions? Contact Austin Perez.

FYI: 2024 Fall State and Local GAD Survey
Receiving feedback from state and local GADs on the issues you are facing in your areas and which programs are helpful is critical to ensure NAR provides the most relevant programming for this valued community. As part of this process, the annual state and local GAD survey will be launching in the next few weeks. Please keep an eye out for your opportunity to participate.

ICYMI: NAR President Tracy Kasper issued a video message on the challenging and distressing circumstances NAR has been navigating over recent weeks and the plans for moving forward.

RESOURCES

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® have 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).

Expert Advocacy Help When You Need It
Legislative and regulatory proposals that may do harm to property rights often arise quickly and require expert analysis. The Land Use Initiative will analyze proposed planning- and zoning-related measures that impact the transfer of real property to help state and local associations advocate on behalf of members. Read how the  Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS® defeated detrimental zoning proposals with the Land Use Initiative. Questions? Contact Christine Windle (202-383-1135).

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 the 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 Peter Kelly (202-383-7599) 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 Peter Kelly (202-383-7599).

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.

CELEBRATING GAD ACHIEVEMENTS

We’re introducing a new element to the GADFly to highlight your personal victories, ranging from passing your RCE exam to being selected for a leadership academy. Submit your own victories or share your fellow GADs wins with Jami Sims to be included in future editions of the GADFly.

Congratulations to Christopher Etienne (New Orleans Metropolitan GAD) for his selection as a Distinguished Fellow in the Class of 2023-2024 Institute of Politics (IOP) at Loyola University New Orleans. Christopher recently joined the GAD Nation with 11 years of experience working for various elected officials and most recently for NOLA Public Schools.

IOP is a leadership training seminar aimed at giving participants a complete civic and political education.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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:

• Maine Association of REALTORS® Defends the Intertidal Land of Coastal Property Owners from Proposed Takings Bill
• Texas REALTORS® Helps Defeat HOA Section 8 Ban
• Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of REALTORS® Launches Campaign to Educate Members and Public About Homelessness

UPCOMING NAR EVENTS

NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience & Governance Meetings
November 12 – 17 | Anaheim, California

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

Brandon Alderete
GAD Chair
Texas REALTORS®

We have survey results, an Advisory Group, and our 2024 marching orders  –

Thanks for your great participation on the GAD Institute Survey – and congratulations to our friend Krista Pleiser from Santa Barbara for winning the $50 gift card. Cha-CHING!

The results from the survey are back … and they’re mostly great, although open responses can be funny. It’s not uncommon to see comments expressing completely opposite thoughts on the same topic!

And that’s the opportunity in front of the 2023-24 GAD Institute Advisory Group and its seven new members as we begin planning the 2024 GAD Institute and interim programming: Finding engaging content relevant to new and tenured GADs … with different specialties … who work for associations of all sizes … in varied political environments.

We had 30 applicants (11 state, 19 local) for the seven GAD AG vacancies (4 state, 3 local). Vice Chair Lacey Everett and I spent hours mulling over the applications – and y’all gave us fits!

We sought a mix of experience, association sizes, job descriptions, and geographic diversity. And just so you know, to avoid bias, we hid the applicants’ names and associations, relying only on the information they shared, as well as NAR region and association size. Then we scored each applicant on a numerical scale to help make these difficult appointments.

That was our process – and the longer I’m around, the more I realize that Process (w/ a capital P) is very important.

Process creates order out of chaos and can help you make difficult decisions. And there’s safety for you, as a GAD, in a well-practiced, thoughtful process.

If you’re implementing (or modifying) a process for, say … determining RPAC support, fall back on the process when you must make or defend decisions. And make sure your chair, committee, and your boss have your back on the process. It helps so much.

If you’re working within a process, like meeting NAR timelines for conducting an independent expenditure or issues mobilization campaign, understand that their process was designed for a reason, and you’re more likely to get desirable results by following it. NAR staff is extremely accommodating and helpful – so don’t ever be afraid to reach out to the NAR staffer who oversees the program you wish to use.

Thanks (sincerely) for making the AG selection process so difficult! It’s a good problem to have.

And as we approach a presidential election cycle, remember that process is everything!

Now go kick this day in the teeth,
-b

Brandon Alderete
512.573.3664 (m)
brandon@texasrealtors.com

To ensure you receive the survey confirm the GAD Directory is up to date.