SAR Mission Statement

Selkirk Association of REALTORS

Strategic Plan (Draft)

May 8, 2008

Mission

The mission of the Selkirk Association of REALTORS® is to provide members with programs and services that improve their ability to conduct business with integrity and competency while advocating public welfare in matters relating to real estate.

Goal 1: Enhance communications with the members

Strategy A: Create greater broker accountability by requiring that every broker serve as the liaison between the association and his/her agents. Brokers could designate someone from within the office to serve as the broker's designee.

Strategy B: Provide the broker liaison or his/her designee with direct communications regarding the issues the association feels are essential to communicate to all members.

Strategy C: Conduct quarterly meetings for all brokers and include any association liaisons they have designated.

Strategy D: Broaden our communications base to include multiple methods of communication.

Strategy E: Appoint a work group consisting of our younger members to propose new forms of member communication.

Strategy F: Use the MLS log-in screen to present headline-type issues with links to detailed information hosted on our website.

Goal 2: Explore emerging concepts such as regionalization, data reciprocity and cooperative efforts with neighboring associations

Strategy A: Explore the creation of a public MLS data site.

Strategy B: Ask the "Regional Issues Committee" to develop a broker education program documenting the advantages and disadvantages of regionalization and data sharing.

Strategy C: Once recommendations have been developed, meet with brokers and other interested parties to test the concepts proposed and obtain support for any recommendations.

Strategy D: Once broker support has been achieved, invite neighboring boards to discuss regionalization.

Goal 3: Establish a public relations program that enhances the REALTOR image in our community

Strategy A: Advise the IAR committee developing the State Association's REALTOR public relations campaign how we would like PR money invested in our region.

Strategy B: Develop a spokesperson policy and submit it to the Board of Directors for approval.

Strategy C: Broaden the use of press releases supporting our community events.

Strategy D: Consider the use of a part-time PR consultant or the IAR PR consultant to strengthen the association's contacts with the media.

Strategy E: Create on the public side of our website a consumer help section which would feature home-buying information, market statistics, "Ask a Professional Agent" column, etc.

Strategy F: Consider offering home-buyer educational programs to the public.

Goal 4: Offer more educational programs locally

Strategy A: Better communicate the educational opportunities we offer by involving the brokers in the communication process.

Strategy B: Develop a plan to offer an educational package at a set fee and include it as an option on the annual dues bill.

Strategy C: Offer incentives to sign up early for education courses and set aside money in the budget to offer financial incentives such as reduced dues to members who obtain advanced designations.

Strategy D: Host educational classes in other towns within our jurisdiction on a rotational basis.

Strategy E: Create a work group consisting primarily of brokers with agent input to develop minimum standards by which all our members should function.

Strategy F: Expand orientation to include these standards.

Strategy G: Create a recognition program that gives positive, public recognition to the offices that have adopted and adhere to these standards.

Strategy H: Partner with other local associations to provide GRI and other designation courses in Northern Idaho.

Goal 5 (tie): Address member apathy

Strategy A: Create an on-line member profile for every one of our members.

Strategy B: On a regular basis, feature a member in the newsletter and at membership meetings.

Strategy C: Create an internal member blog where members could ask questions relating to business and submit comments relating to association issues.

Strategy D: Introduce a "tip of the week" column submitted by members that addresses business practices, technology, etc.

Strategy E: Appoint and ad hoc committee to develop a "Selkirk Association of REALTORS Honor Society," create an on-line application and promote the Honor Society concept to the members.

Strategy F: Consider the needs of our Affiliate members in all the programs we create.

Goal 5 (tie): Create better awareness of technology issues

Strategy A: Appoint an SAR "Technology Committee" responsible for keeping the members up to speed on emerging technology.

Strategy B: Create a technology blog overseen by the Technology Committee as a way of better educating our members on technology.

Strategy C: Assign the Technology Committee the task of investigating the impact of social media, wikis and agent and public comment surrounding the listings of other brokers.

Strategy D: Develop a recommendation for consideration by the Board of Directors to upgrade our lockbox technology.

Goal 7: Strengthen our government affairs program

Strategy A: Become proactive regarding issues that impact private property rights, the environment, smart growth, our quality of life, etc.

Strategy B: Participate in the IAR program to score statewide politicians based upon the support they show for REALTOR issues.

Strategy C: Create a policy whereby the Board of Directors may endorse or oppose legislative, economic development and regulatory initiatives that relate to real estate and the political candidates involved in these initiatives.

Strategy D: Educate members regarding the importance of RPAC.

Strategy E: Explore the possibility of hiring a shared GAD.

Goal 8: Strengthen Code of Ethics education, compliance and the enforcement process

Strategy A: Offer Code education at the membership meetings featuring on one aspect of the Code at each meeting.

Strategy B: Create better awareness of the Professional Standards process in order to make members more comfortable with the complaint process.

Strategy C: Establish a mediation alternative to the arbitration process, fund mediator training and educate members regarding the advantages of mediation.

Goal 9: Create a smooth transition to the new office

Strategy A: Develop a time line for transitioning to the new office.

Strategy B: Market the benefits of the new office to both the members and the community.

Strategy C: Schedule a "Work Day" as a way of creating excitement for and involving more members in the creation of the new office.

Strategy D: Create a policy covering the use of the new facility by both members and the community.

Strategy E: Publish photos in the newsletter showing the space being renovated along with a rendering of what the space will look like once the building has been completed.

Strategy F: Decorate the building with REALTOR family memorabilia depicting important people and events in the history of our organization. Include our mission, motto, community service events, past leadership, etc.

Strategy G: Schedule a public open house and consider inviting local artists to display and sell their works.