By Trisha McCarthy, MAR 2012 President

I love a challenge. When I was told I couldn’t do something (like become a cop when there weren’t many female police officers), I did it. It has been my pleasure and honor to serve the REALTOR® Association over the past several years, and, through support by past presidents and so many fellow members along the way, I’m ready to serve as your president and work
to heighten awareness of the value of education and of honoring the Golden Rule.

Even as a police officer, I realized that to specialize as a rape investigator and domestic violence officer, I needed more education. Education is essential to doing a job well. We work hard in a transaction and we want to close, but struggles in the marketplace make it challenging. Education is an important factor to business success and your Association works to heighten your knowledge and give you the tools to close the deal more
often than not.

The Association’s Professional Development Programs are substantial. A few years back, the one-day MAR Conference went to a two-day event in order to incorporate more educational programs. The change has drawn hundreds to participate in continuing education courses, ethical and legal courses, technology courses, and designation and certification courses.

In addition, online education has increased with monthly webinars and broker-specific webinars. Also the Online Education Center, established in 2010, currently offers members four continuing education courses which are included in the cost of member dues with more planned in the coming months. Already, thousands have taken advantage of this great program.

The Association will continue to offer courses and programs to help us work with today’s consumer as our laws change and our risks increase. Many members would benefit from more knowledge about current laws, ethical misrepresentation, and code violations.

We as REALTORS® are obligated to abide by the Code of Ethics themed by the Golden Rule (“do unto others as you would have done to you”). The Code is the foundation of our business practices, and when discrepancies occur, the Association offers mediation and arbitration services. This benefit can save us thousands in legal fees and time away from our businesses.

Many additional benefits of membership are available to us as well, with several being mentioned in this issue’s feature. Working together with the Board of Directors, including the Regional VPs, the Focus Area VPs, and the Leadership Team, the value of membership will be a top priority in the coming year. We will work in 2012 to help each other, to help the consumer, and to make the industry stronger, more professional, and more empowered by the Golden Rule.