PROView - November 2008 - (Page 8) PROActive After the Election: For RPAC, Government Relations Has Merely Begun By Brian Shuford, Director of Governmental Affairs That’s why you’re asked to donate money to RPAC in addition to your member dues and MLS fees. The annual dollar goal of the National RPAC, set by the National Trustees, is $15 per member. To ensure that all states contribute their fair share to the RPAC effort, a states’ annual goal is determined by the number of members in that state based on the November 30 membership report. Next, your Florida Association The REALTORS® Political Action Committee allows of REALTORS® Does that mean that determines the us as REALTORS® to do what we do best while political efforts by RPAC, dollar amount the RPAC conveys our message to Tallahassee and working on your behalf, members of PRO are Washington. have ended? Not so fast. asked to donate. Your They have merely begun. local Association John Rurkowski, Broker, collects donations Now more than ever, RPAC Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. of which all are then is gearing up for challenges distributed to FAR, ahead. Now more than ever, the Florida Association of REALTORS®. your support is needed to ensure the successful passing After months and even years of national, state, and local political campaigning, the 2008 elections are over. Gone are the television and radio commercials and excessive news coverage about the political candidates. Soon, political signs will disappear from streets throughout our communities. You’ve made your voice heard by casting your ballot. Officials have been elected and they will soon move into their new offices. of laws crucial for the protection of your profession and defeat of those that may be detrimental to the future of your business. As a REALTOR® you’re asked to support RPAC. Here’s a brief RPAC 101 that will help familiarize you with RPAC and the impact your donation will have. The Skinny on RPAC Political action committees have been around since 1944 when the first of its kind was created by The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL-CIO, to help elect Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States. A PAC is generally organized by like-minded people for the purpose of helping elect and defeat candidates as well as ensuring the passing or defeat of ballot issues. Similarly, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee, RPAC, was established by the National Association of REALTORS® to position the real estate community as a concerned, involved, and powerful political constituency. How RPAC Money is Raised and Invested Funds used for a PAC must come from voluntary member contributions rather than members’ dues. 8 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION 100% of your contribution is used to elect and support pro-REALTOR® candidates and ballot issues. 70% of all contributions will remain in Florida to help local and state candidates. On the state and local levels RPAC funds can also be used to fund ballot initiatives and to educate the REALTOR® membership. The remaining 30% of all contributions are sent to NAR to help elect pro-REALTOR® candidates on the national level and to promote REALTOR® issues. Going Beyond Party Affiliation A common misconception is that RPAC mainly supports candidates of a specific party. Nothing could be further from the truth. RPAC only supports candidates based on their track record or stance on issues important to REALTORS® regardless of their party affiliation. RPAC is neither a Republican nor a Democratic organization - your contribution to RPAC is a vote on behalf of all REALTORS®. It is the REALTOR® party! Why Support RPAC The impact RPAC has had on your business is significant. Here’s a brief outline of what RPAC has given you in return for your investment: • Saved you an average of $2,400 by defeating a tax on real estate commissions. November 2008
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROView - November 2008 PROView - November 2008 Contents Chairman’s Notes Feature Story PROActive Brokerage Design Marketplace Analysis Home Sales Report MLS Update MLS Mind Your Manners 2009 REALTOR® Dues New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members Calendar of Events & Programs PROView - November 2008 PROView - November 2008 - PROView - November 2008 (Page Cover1) PROView - November 2008 - PROView - November 2008 (Page Cover2) PROView - November 2008 - Contents (Page 1) PROView - November 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 2) PROView - November 2008 - Chairman’s Notes (Page 3) PROView - November 2008 - Feature Story (Page 4) PROView - November 2008 - Feature Story (Page 5) PROView - November 2008 - Feature Story (Page 6) PROView - November 2008 - Feature Story (Page 7) PROView - November 2008 - PROActive (Page 8) PROView - November 2008 - PROActive (Page 9) PROView - November 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 10) PROView - November 2008 - Brokerage Design (Page 11) PROView - November 2008 - Marketplace Analysis (Page 12) PROView - November 2008 - Home Sales Report (Page 13) PROView - November 2008 - MLS Update (Page 14) PROView - November 2008 - MLS Mind Your Manners (Page 15) PROView - November 2008 - 2009 REALTOR® Dues (Page 16) PROView - November 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page 17) PROView - November 2008 - New REALTOR® and Affiliate Members (Page 18) PROView - November 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 19) PROView - November 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 20) PROView - November 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page 21) PROView - November 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page Cover3) PROView - November 2008 - Calendar of Events & Programs (Page Cover4)
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