The Permian Basin Board of REALTORS® (PBBOR) serves 660 members in a region of western Texas so vast it could comfortably accommodate most of New England – so, when its Governmental Affairs Committee learned about the REALTOR® Party’s Rural Outreach Grant program, they knew they were a prime candidate. This spring, they tapped into this funding to host an ambitious Water Summit, providing the latest information on a critical aspect of their market to industry professionals who’d come from far and wide.
Kelsie Rasure, Chair of PBBOR’s Governmental Affairs Committee, credits 2026 President Laura Camp with planting the seed for the Water Summit; she’d come up with idea reading through the Rural Outreach Success Story archive on the REALTOR® Party website. “Water is such a relevant topic here, and very much at the forefront of all real estate conversations right now,” says Rasure. “It’s important for our members to serve as the experts their clients can look to for answers, and this was a really efficient way to provide the education they needed.”
The one-day program was strong and strategic. Opening the summit was the state senator representing Texas District 3, followed by an impressive line-up of state- and local-subject-matter-experts: a utility district official and a public works manager, addressing how water issues are being handled in the region; Texas REALTORS®’ Director of Public Policy, covering regulatory matters; and an eminent Texas real estate expert who had developed the state’s new Groundwater and Surface Water Rights Disclosure form. “All the speakers welcomed questions, and the audience was completely engaged by the material,” notes Camp.
PBBOR marketed the free event via email and social media to its members and affiliates. Camp reiterated the invitation through brokerages in her extensive Keller Williams family; Rasure sent hundreds of texts: “I know it’s easy for industry communications to get lost in the shuffle, but you’re more likely to pay attention to something coming from a friend,” she points out. About 75 members attended, enjoying a boxed lunch and stepping out for calls and meetings as necessary. “It was a long event – from 9am to 2pm – but there was a lot to cover, and in this field, we have to be flexible!” says Rasure. For anyone who missed it, the board has made a video of the event available on its YouTube channel.
Encouraged by the summit’s success, both Camp and Rasure would like to replicate it annually, perhaps alternating with other relevant topics like infrastructure and development. “Applying for the grant could not have been easier,” says Rasure. “It was a simple as filling out an application and explaining the need: very minimal effort for the $7,500 that allowed us to host an event that gave our members a better understanding of the issues, helping them to better serve their clients and communities.”
To learn more about how the Permian Basin Board of REALTORS® is working to deliver important real estate information to members throughout region, contact Kelsie Rasure, Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee at kelsie@risegrouprealestate.com or 2026 President Laura Camp at laura@lauracamp.net. To view the recording of the Water Summit, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2MqaazIgHY&t=21s
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