Weekly Facts Blog – December 8, 2008

2009 Dues are Now Late!
A $20 late fee is now required. REALTORS® dues are $405; REALTOR-ASSOCIATES® dues are $375; this includes the late payment fee. Please note: If you pay your dues online, the $20 late fee will be assessed manually (you will be mailed an invoice). If you are planning on moving your license, all transfers will have to have paid 2009 dues prior to transferring to a new company. Call Connie at 663-7500, if you have any questions.

THIS WEEK!
Thursday, December 11
Water Rights, Wind Rights and Legal Issues Teleconference
GTAR’s site is SOLD OUT; however, Tulsa Technology Center is also a host site and can accommodate up to 280. Please call 918-828-5410 to reserve a seat. This class is free but registration is required.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – offered by OREC. 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. OREC approved for 3 hours required HOT CE credit.

THIS WEEK!
Friday, December 12
Free Sales Associate Forum: Ask the Tax Man
Everything You Wanted to Know about Taxes but were Afraid to Ask, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the GTAR Training Center – 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.

THIS WEEK!
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.

THIS WEEK!
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.

THIS WEEK!
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.

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.

Time is Almost Up! NAR’s Quadrennial Ethics Deadline is December 31
If you have taken an Ethics course through any REALTOR® Association within the last four years (since January 1, 2005), GTAR’s Virtual University or through the National Association of REALTORS®’ website REALTOR.org, you have already met this requirement; so no further action is required on your part. If you have NOT, here are your remaining options: Take it online for free through NAR, www.REALTOR.org; attend the free class on December 11, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Oklahoma Real Estate Academy (register by emailing kajones@cbtulsa.com ); attend the class at Tulsa Technology Center on December 16, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (register by calling TTC at 918-828-5410); take it online for $15 through GTAR’s Virtual University, www.tulsarealtors.com, click the link on the homepage.

eKEY for BlackBerry is Almost Here!
eKEY Basic for BlackBerry will be available mid December of this year. GE has certified the Pearl, the Curve, and the 8800 series devices; they will also be adding the Bold and Storm as soon as possible. eKEY Professional will be available the first quarter of 2009. eKEY Basic for BlackBerry features real-time showing alerts, the ability to change shackle codes, program access hours, and beam listing details into the iBox. eKEY for BlackBerry requires a small translator device called an eKEY Fob. The eKEY Fob translates Bluetooth to Infrared so that the BlackBerry can communicate with the lockbox. Please go to www.gesecurity.com/blackberry to learn more about this exciting new product.

Free Blackberry eKEY Fob Compliments of Research in Motion
As noted above, part of the eKEY for BlackBerry solution is the eKEY Fob. Research in Motion, the makers of BlackBerry have put together a great program for agents that want to purchase a BlackBerry. When you purchase a new BlackBerry and a service plan through this online only offer, you will be eligible to receive a free eKEY Fob, which is a $50 value. To compare prices and learn more about the offer please click here: Free Fob Offer. This offer is good for BlackBerry devices on the following carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Alltel. Offer expires December 31, 2008.

GTAR/NORES Inclement Weather Policy
We are entering that time of year when the weather does not always work in our favor; therefore, GTAR/NORES has established the following inclement weather policy for all education classes at GTAR (CE, Computer, New Member Orientation, Post Licensing, etc.): If Tulsa Public Schools are closed the day of a scheduled class, the GTAR/NORES class is cancelled. Depending on the type of class being cancelled, the class will either be rescheduled for a future date or a full refund will be issued. Please be sure to check one of the local news channels the night before and/or morning of a scheduled class for school closings.

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.)

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.

Upcoming Computer Classes at GTAR
Pre-registration is required. For more information or to enroll, log in to tulsarealtors.com and click the new red Education Button on the main page. All classes are held in the GTAR Computer Lab.

MarketLinx 1: Wednesday, December 10, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 2: Friday, December 12, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Realist Tax System: Monday, December 15, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
MarketLinx 3 – Prospect Gateway: Tuesday, December 16, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

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)
Daniel G. Meier, A-D Appraisers, Inc. (First Publication)
Michael Willis, d/b/a C21/Hale Agency (Second Publication)