Platefuls of turkey and dressing, dark red poinsettias for everyone, and plenty of holiday cheer marked the final business resource and networking meeting of 2013 for the local chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors, held Wednesday at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Business was attended to as well.
Following a devotional by Maryall Azambuja, Liz Griffith sang a selection of holiday music: “Go Tell” and the popular “Mary Did You Know.”
After lunch, outgoing President Anne Martin took nominations for the 2014 nominating committee. Chosen were Martin, Debbie Radford, Paula Palmer, Vickie Trapp, and Mark Blazek. The group will meet in August to choose candidates for the officers to serve in 2015.
Next, Carol Seal, CEO and executive vice president of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors, provided an update on the organization. Seal announced that GCAR offered more than 100 continuing education classes in 2013, most of which were free to members. She also said GCAR will continue to offer free classes to members in 2014.
Seal reiterated past news that GCAR membership dues and MLS fees will not increase for 2014, but will remain the same. In addition, GCAR has hired a new education manager, Jessica Snyder.
2013 has been a busy year for GCAR, with the association launching a new consumer-oriented website (homes.gcar.net), releasing a new logo, and undergoing an audit for the first time in several years. The brisk pace will continue for Seal in 2014, when she’ll be looking at implementing a sponsorship program for affiliate members and streamlining a number of the organization’s policies and procedures.
“We want to improve communication with our members, re-engage brokers, and take a hard look at data syndication,” Seal said.
Next, Martin spent a few moments thanking the people who assisted her during her two-year tenure. Martin expressed gratitude for: Brenda Pargeon, vice president of membership, who solicited seven new members in 2013; Super Sponsors Nina Boss of Century Title & Escrow and Karen Flores of Cornerstone Community Bank; and Elaine Boyd-Osby, who brought in speakers such as Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke for the monthly meets. Martin mentioned several other names as well, saying she could not have done her job with them, and that serving with them has been “an honor and a privilege.”
Awards recognition came next, with Martin announcing four Excellence in Service winners for 2013: Cheree Dumas, Jennifer Grayson, Joyce Smith, and herself.
Cathy Gibson announced Boss and Flores as co-winners of the Affiliate of the Year Award. Flores said, “I’m glad we both got one; I didn’t want to have to arm wrestle her for it.”
Dumas announced Grayson as the Realtor of the Year, saying, “She’s outspoken, she’s always there, and she likes shoes, going to the beach, and the color purple.” Grayson is a broker, holds the CRS and GRI designations, and operates in Tennessee and Georgia. She’s also served her profession extensively through organizations, committees, and various activities. “I can’t say no,” Grayson said as she accepted the award.
To conclude the meeting, Vicki Oczkowicz, 2014 president of the Tennessee chapter of the WCR, inducted new local officers for 2014, including Ronda Van Billiard as treasurer, Caryl Ann Sikes as secretary, Pargeon as vice president of membership, and Kim Bass as president-elect. Incoming president Boyd-Osby was not present, and will be inducted at a later date.
“Leadership is not a job title. It is a characteristic of life,” said Oczkowicz. “We lead by our attitude, by our responses to authority, by the words we speak, and by the examples we set. With a vision for the future, and a heart for people, leaders can motivate and inspire others to action. A leader is someone others want to follow. A good leader is someone worth following.”