President’s Corner – June 2021 – Virginia Peninsula REALTORS®

Dear VPAR Members, Partners and Affiliates,

Welcome to June! What does June mean to you? Graduations, end of school, summer, weddings, vacation? Did you know that June is National Homeownership Month? To be honest, I did not. Here’s what I learned:

“June is National Homeownership Month, a time to share our stories and create opportunities for future homeowners. NAR encourages REALTORS® to celebrate with the American Property Owners Alliance by joining the conversation on social media. The American Property Owners Alliance has put together a digital toolkit to help you, your clients, and other #OwnersandNeighbors to amplify your voices throughout the month of June.

Who are #OwnersandNeighbors?
Homeowners who advocate for federal policies that support property ownership
Public policies, programs and organizations that support homeownership
Elected officials who understand the value of homeownership and support homeowners”
-From the NAR Website

June is also Pride month! In its continued endeavor to advance the American Dream of Homeownership, NAR (the largest trade organization in the U.S., representing more than 1.4 million members) partnered last month with the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.

“All Realtors® are obligated by NAR’s Code of Ethics to provide equal professional service without discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” said NAR President Charlie Oppler, a Realtor® from Franklin Lakes, N.J., and the CEO of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty. “As we recognize Pride Month and Homeownership Month this June, it’s important to continue the pursuit of equal housing opportunities for everyone. Our communities are stronger when we are more inclusive.”

In order to better represent and understand the needs of our LGBTQ+ buyers and sellers, I challenge each of our VPAR members to review the NAR Profile of LGBTQ Home Buyers and Sellers. The profile was published this June and highlights can be found in the following article, “NAR Report Finds LGBTQ Buyers Purchasing Older, Smaller Homes Than Other Americans”.

What else is happening in June? Well, June is when I select my nominating committee. The time has come to start thinking about our 2022 leaders. Leadership is a word that gets discussed quite a bit amongst the VPAR “leaders”! What makes a good leader? Where do we find them? How do we “develop” our leaders? Ideally, our committee structure is designed to “develop and identify” our new leaders. In addition, we ask our broker managers and owners to identify leaders for us. We also reach out to groups, such as the Women’s Council of REALTORS, for their suggestions. And, of course, we welcome YOU to take the initiative, come forward, and volunteer for any eligible position!

The nominating committee will be searching for next year’s President-Elect, Treasurer, and several Board Directors. They will serve under Kaera Mims, 2022 President. I invite you now to give me a call if you would like to know more about any of these positions.

And, later in the year, the process will begin to select Committee Vice-Chairs, followed by a call for committee members. Typically, this is the development phase for our emerging leaders. We urge all of you to get involved. How can we benefit from your involvement? What will you gain from committing to a position of leadership? I challenge each of you to volunteer for a committee at least ONE time in your career!

What else is happening in June?

Remember that VPAR is changing how they “communicate” with all of you. Please take a moment to get familiar with our new updated website. Many resources have been added. Content has been reorganized for easier access. Also, content and events will be posted and created on Facebook. I encourage all of you to check these sites regularly.

I wish you all a safe and productive month. See you in July!

Sandra Hood
2021 VPAR President
#FindYourValue2021