Weekly Facts Blog – December 1, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!
The GTAR/NORES office will be closed Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

2009 Dues are DUE Now!
A $20 late fee will be added on December 1, 2008; all dues must be paid no later than December 31, 2008. Dues billing for the Local, State and National Associations of REALTORS® are as follows: REALTORS® = $385; REALTOR-ASSOCIATES® = $355. You can pay dues the following ways: online by logging on to tulsarealtors.com – under the Financial Services tab, click GTAR Accounts Receivables; in person at the GTAR/NORES office – after business hours and over the Thanksgiving holiday, you can drop payments in the mail slot located inside the front entrance foyer of the GTAR/NORES office; or mail payments to GTAR at P.O. Box 470603, Tulsa, OK 74147 – as long as payments are postmarked with a November date, you will not incur the $20 late fee.

THIS WEEK!
Friday, December 5
Learn About the New Residential Leasing Tab in MarketLinx
Attend the free Residential Leasing Tab Forum, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center – sponsored by the Residential Property Management Locator (RPML) Committee. This is your chance to see a demonstration of the Leasing tab, as well as hear about the changes to the leasing forms and NORES Rules and Regulations. This forum is FREE to members but registration is required. Log on to tulsarealtors.com and click the red Education button on the main page; you can also call (918) 663-7500.

GTAR/NORES Holiday Schedule
Monday, December 15: Office opens at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 24: Office closes at noon
Thursday and Friday, December 25 and 26: Office closed
Thursday, January 1: Office closed

December 24 to January 2 — Board Store Closed for Inventory
The GTAR/NORES Board Store will be closed for inventory from noon on Wednesday, December 24 until noon on Friday, January 2, 2009, so please plan ahead. This will not affect key and keybox purchases.

Congratulations New GTAR/NORES Officers for 2009!
The GTAR and NORES Boards of Directors elected new officers for 2009 during their monthly meeting. For GTAR, the new President-Elect is Jack Hodgson with Prudential Detrick; Treasurer is Don Beach with Keller Williams. For NORES, the new President-Elect is Rexiene Reynolds with Reynolds Realty; Treasurer is Mike Gray with Michael J. Gray Real Estate Appraisals.

New Community Service Campaign to Help Our Teachers
Starting in 2009, the Public Relations Committee will be partnering with the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association (TCTA) to provide school supplies for teachers. This will be a year-round effort where GTAR will be taking donations of consumables such as reams of paper, pencils, pens, etc. Look for more details on this project in the coming months.

According to TCTA, paper is like gold to teachers. So the next time you come to GTAR, bring a ream of paper to donate. Why are we doing this? Last year, the state education budget was cut by 4% – resulting in Oklahoma spending $1,400 per pupil below the regional average. The average teacher spends $800 per year out of their own pocket to provide school supplies for our students.

Go green to help teachers! How much paper do you throw away every day that is blank on one side? Recycle it instead! Take that paper and bring it to GTAR; teachers use the blank side for all kinds of projects. (Obviously, you do not want to include paper with any confidential information on it.)

Thursday, December 11
Water Rights, Wind Rights and Legal Issues Teleconference
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the GTAR Training Center – offered by OREC and hosted by GTAR. This free teleconference seminar will cover Oklahoma’s water plan, water rights, wind rights, and legal issues. Instructors for the seminar will be Jeri Fleming, J.D., communications manager for the Oklahoma Water Resources Institute and Shannon Ferrell, J.D., associate professor of agriculture at Oklahoma State University. Due to the nature of the broadcast, you will not be able to ask questions from any location other than Metro-Technology in OKC; however, if you have a specific question, you can email patricia.wheeler@orec.ok.gov, at least one week before the seminar, and she will try to have your question answered during the broadcast. OREC approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit. This class is free but registration is required due to space limitations...and seats are going fast! Log on to tulsarealtors.com and click the red Education button on the main page; you can also call (918) 663-7500.

Friday, December 12
Ask the Tax Man
Attend the free Sales Associate Forum: Everything You Wanted to Know about Taxes but were Afraid to Ask – sponsored by the Sales Associate Committee. Certified Public Accountant, Bill Zumwalt will be here to answer questions such as: What are the most commonly overlooked deductions? What records should I keep and for how long? How do I deduct home office expenses? How do I handle gifts? How do I calculate quarterly estimated tax payments? And much more! This forum is FREE to members but registration is required. Log on to tulsarealtors.com and click the red Education button on the main page; you can also call (918) 663-7500.

2008 GTAR Sales Associate of the Year
Deadline for Nominations is Friday, December 12
It’s easier than ever thanks to the new and improved nomination form. Brokers and Managers: Do you have an outstanding associate who is a good sales producer, served on a GTAR Committee or assisted with GTAR function, been involved in charitable or civic organizations, is a good example of ethical behavior and professionalism or continues to improve professionalism through educational courses? Don’t miss the opportunity to nominate him/her for GTAR’s 2008 Sales Associate of the Year. The Nominating Committee will consider all of the associates activities, contributions, and production. For a nomination form and criteria for this award, click here.

2008 GTAR REALTOR® of the Year
Deadline for Nominations is Friday, December 12
It’s easier than ever thanks to the new and improved nomination form. Sales associates, as well as brokers and managers can submit nominations for this award. For a nomination form and criteria for this award, click here.

2008 GTAR Commercial REALTOR® of the Year
Deadline for Nominations is Friday, December 12
Nominate a commercial REALTOR® for the Association’s highest honor in commercial real estate. The nominee’s time must be primarily devoted to commercial real estate with transactions at least 75% in commercial. For a nomination form and criteria for this award, click on the following link: click here. The recipient will be announced at the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Celebration January 30, 2009 at the Doubletree Hotel at Warren Place.

Catylist Service will End on December 31, 2008
Our new vendor, Xceligent will provide a research platform that will include commercial listings by members and potential members beginning January 1, 2009. Xceligent representatives are in our market now researching and cataloging all commercial buildings 10,000 square feet and above. Xceligent will drive our market areas each quarter to identify new listings and structures below 10,000 square feet for the exchange. With Xceligent, our CIE subscribers will have the most comprehensive research and marketing tools available to the commercial real estate community from a single location.

REALTOR® Applications
Comments on the following REALTOR® applicants should be submitted by REALTOR® members to the Membership Committee, c/o GTAR, PO Box 470603, Tulsa, OK 74147.

Albert “Earnie” Gilder, d/b/a Interstate Properties, Inc. (First Publication)
Michael Willis, d/b/a C21/Hale Agency (Second Publication)