Convention's coming

Why you should be going.

by Dave Dalzell Boy, was I scared. It was my first Texas Association of REALTORS® convention, and I’d had my license less than a year. I had heard that anyone could attend most meetings. I really wanted to have my say about a special financing package I thought would help more people afford a home of their own. So, I drove to Austin and walked into my first TAR committee meeting.

I wasn’t a committee member. (In fact, I hadn’t even registered for the meetings and couldn’t afford to spend the night, so I was driving home the same day—four hours each way.) But it seemed everyone had an opportunity to give input, and I gave mine.
That financing program became part of the association’s recommendations to NAR, and after some time and hard work by many people, was approved by Congress. Since then, it’s been used by thousands of first-time homebuyers to afford the home of their dreams.

Even though I was just a small part of a very big process—a lot of REALTORS® went to similar meetings in many other states—I never forgot that experience. It impressed upon me how the REALTOR® organization is truly member-driven. We get our ideas, creativity, and power from each individual participating. There is no better way to witness this than to attend our state convention, which this year will be September 17-21 in Fort Worth.

As was the case at my first convention, most committee meetings are open to all REALTORS®. We need your input. Bring your ideas to the Education Forum. Learn the latest about tenants and landlords at the new Property Management Forum and Committee Meeting. Speak up at the Governmental Affairs Forum, and listen in on current trends at the Issues Mobilization Committee. Be there for the Keynote Session when Dan Thurmon gives us all tips on how to juggle family, business, personal, and community needs. Earn MCE credits and learn how to improve your business on Education Day. Share the Trade Expo experience: demonstrations, discounts, and details on the latest products and services to help you in your business.

Don’t forget to save some time for fun! Wow, what a great city of museums (including REALTOR® and NAR Good Neighbor Award winner James Austin’s National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame.) You can learn about more fun activities on page 38 and find a schedule and registration form on pages 14-15.

Whether this will be your first convention or you’ve been coming for years, don’t miss it. See you in September in Fort Worth.

Photo by Scott Van Osdol.

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