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Knowledge. Awareness. Empowerment. These are the core components of REALTOR® Safety. As part of NAR’s ongoing efforts to keep members safe, September has been designated as REALTOR® Safety Month. NAR has developed an online REALTOR® Safety Resources Kit and has planned a variety of refreshers throughout the year, including:
- New webinars on REALTOR® Safety, presented by industry experts.
- Quarterly safety messages focusing on seasonal tips for on the job and at home, sent to Associations and brokers to share with members.
- Expansion of client safety materials and resources.
Visit the REALTOR® Safety page for more information and resources.
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The Mississippi Association of REALTORS® have released a media release regarding the BP Fund. Read the text below or download the release as a PDF.
The claims administrator of the British Petroleum Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) has announced a special allocation from the fund for licensed real estate professionals in the Gulf Coast region, including Mississippi. Along with other local businesses, real estate brokers and agents along the Gulf Coast have experienced significant economic harm since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“The impact of the oil spill here in Mississippi has been widespread, affecting local businesses, wildlife and the environment,” said 2010 Mississippi Association of REALTORS® President Tony Jones of Olive Branch. “This also includes local licensed real estate professionals who have experienced financial losses due to transactions that were terminated or never even initiated in Harrison, Hancock and Jackson Counties because of the oil spill. The substantial decline in Mississippi tourism and interest in real property sales due to the oil spill have greatly affected the real estate business here.”
Each state association of REALTORS® of the impacted Gulf Coast states will receive funds based on the estimated losses of licensed real estate professionals in their respective states following the oil spill. Each state association, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, is working to develop a timely, transparent and objective process for receiving and processing claims and determining loss payments. This work will be conducted by an independent third-party national claims adjustment firm, Indiana-based National Catastrophe Adjusters, Inc.
“REALTORS® build communities, and this emergency allocation for real estate professionals will help them continue to do just that,” said Jones. “We are indebted to REALTORS® and to government officials, including Governor Haley Barbour, for their work in securing these funds. This historic collaboration between the real estate industry and the BP Fund is a model for public/private partnerships. It will help restore economic vitality to the Gulf Coast and ensure that a unique culture and way of life continues into the future.”
For more information about the allocation or how to file a claim, please visit MAR's Oil Spill Central webpage.
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MAR’s Hurricane Relief Fund receives grant from NAR
In April and May of this year, Mississippi was victim to two record-breaking storm systems which spawned destructive tornadoes and flooding. The extensive devastation, second only to hurricanes Camille and Katrina, impacted more than 1,064 households in 14 counties.
In the wake of the storms, MAR sought immediate response from its 5,700 members to make donations to MAR’s Hurricane Relief Fund. In addition, the Directors of the MAR Hurricane Relief Fund sought ways to assist those families in need, including applying to receive funds from NAR’s REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Many phone calls were made to identify possible avenues for funneling assistance, including calls to local boards, the state, Habitat for Humanity and faith-based groups.
After a few revised applications were submitted to NAR, the MAR Hurricane Relief Fund’s request for $50,000 was granted by the NAR REALTORS® Relief Foundation. As a result, the Directors of the MAR Hurricane Relief Fund recently approved the contribution of $52,235, which included the $50,000 grant received from NAR as well as additional donated funds from MAR members. The contribution was made to the Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi (LESM), the same group which MAR partnered with after hurricane Katrina to help many families on the coast with their housing needs. LESM, in conjunction with other groups, identified the need for assistance in having utilities re-connected, including sewer replacement and repair. The assistance provided also allowed permits to be obtained and work to begin on rebuilding and restoring damaged or destroyed homes and lives.
The Directors of the MAR Hurricane Relief Fund would like to thank NAR for its generous contribution and the members of MAR who have already given generously toward this relief effort. Other members are encouraged to make a donation to this worthwhile cause by contacting the MAR office.
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Register before August 15 and save $30 on your registration fee to NARdiGras 2010, the REALTORS® Conference & Expo. And this year, thanks to sponsor Bank of America, your registration dollars will go farther than ever before this year. Attend sessions of your choice at the conference and download the rest of the programs at home for continued learning throughout the year. That's a $380 value for nearly 100 sessions, and it's a great way to make sure you don't miss a thing. Just be sure to register for a full conference pass ($350 before August 15, $380 after August 15).
Click to register for NARdiGras 2010.
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Enter the first national REALTORS® Got Talent contest and you could be performing for 5,000 REALTORS® and guests in New Orleans this November! If you're great at singing or playing an instrument and you'll be in New Orleans for the 2010 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, audition now for the REALTORS® Got Talent Show!
Six finalists will be selected to perform on Sunday, November 7, just prior to the Earth, Wind & Fire concert. A panel of judges and members of the audience will vote for a winner! The winner will receive $2,000 cash, or a donation in the same amount to their favorite charity. The five runners up will each receive $500. All six finalists will receive complimentary registration to the 2010 REALTORS® Conference & Expo (a $380 value).
Click here to enter and win.
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