Joy Helfich, President Elect

The reasons I joined the Women’s Council of Realtors are the great opportunities to gain education, leadership abilities and to get to know other members throughout the United States.  Sometimes getting out of your zip code is the best way to learn from others and to promote Central Oregon.

Here a just a few things I brought back from the national conference:

Education:

·        “Performance Management Network-Effective Negotiating for Real Estate Professionals” This is one of the courses for the PMN designation courses and concentrates on negotiating as a “position of advocacy”.  Through instruction and roll play we learned of the many styles, benefits and risks of being an excellent negotiator on behalf of our clients and in everyday life. 

·        WCR Business Development Forum-This included economic updates, formulas and ideas to maintain profitability in this ever changing market, and trends emerging in 2009.

·        NAR Course:  Green Homes:  The future is green. Did you know that Nebraska will be the first state to require Energy Audits on homes prior to close of escrow?  Did you know that soon, Nevada will require utility bills to be a part of a seller’s disclosure?  Will we be far behind?  Speakers included an Eco-Broker from Washington DC, a designer and the head of the Department of Energy offices of Florida.  Quite a panel.

Leadership:

• Local Chapter Officers Forums: Learning new ideas to make our chapter better and to provide more benefits to those who are the most important part of the Women’s Council of Realtors-You.  
• Governing Board Sessions:  Political seasons are always fun if you use them as a learning experience.  Watching our National Governing Board and State Governing Board at work is inspiring.  And-these people do work.  Not only are they working at their profession-Realtors-they strive to ensure that we all have a voice in how the organization is run. 

The Members: 

• Meeting other Realtors from both coasts and every place in between provides a fresh perspective on our own little corner of the world.  It also provides great networking and future referrals. 
• Have you ever had to go 3000 miles to meet three people from your home town?  I did.  I just happened to be seated at a table for a brainstorming session with three Realtors from Los Alamitos, California.  Not only did they all know my high school, but one actually new the broker that my mother first worked with in 1964.  This same broker also new about the projects my mother and I worked on in the area and gave me an update.
• New friends, Old Friends, Referrals: Picture this:  Woman at table with WCR referral directory.  Receives my card, says-“I’ve been looking for you.”  She is living in Tennessee, but grew up on the Oregon Coast and has family thinking of moving to Bend.  (By the way, my photo is in the directory.)

The point is, being involved with the Central Oregon Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors can provide the experiences you need to be more professional and more profitable.  Join a committee, come to meetings, and bring in new members.  It’s all a part of growing.