Resources Serve Us Well in the Arena

AS YOU ARE AWARE, OUR THEME FOR THE YEAR IS “REALTORS® IN THE ARENA.” THERE ARE MANY FACETS OF THIS THEME BUT PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THE REALTOR® ORGANIZATION BEING ACTIVE IN THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ARENAS. THIS IS A KEY YEAR IN THOSE ARENAS AND THE “SEASON” HAS BEGUN.

In the next 30 days, we will have both our NAR Midyear Meetings in Washington and our NCAR Legislative Meetings in Raleigh. The state legislature will be convening and, with the primaries behind us, we will go full speed with an eye toward the general elections in November.

Our REALTOR® issues are important to our communities, our state and our nation. So what types of “armor” does our Association carry into the legislative and political arenas? It is great that we believe we are solidly on the right side of issues –we are for the people, protecting homeownership and private property rights, for growing the economy and creating jobs. Unfortunately, that is not enough. Here is some of the key armor with which I believe our members equip us: w We have the ability to be proactive. The “Guiding You” campaign, for example, helps set the stage for a strong legislative presence. w We have an envious REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC). Our PAC ranks as one of the strongest in North Carolina, enabling us to financially support the campaigns of worthy candidates who understand our positions. w We have an active 527 (a tax code) in the North Carolina Homeowners Alliance that enables us to make strong independent expenditures in key races. w Our Issues Mobilization Fund allows us to maintain the necessary resources to conduct research and promote our positions on important issues. w We have a strong presence within the halls of the General Assembly, led by a very effective legislative staff and supported by highly regarded consultants. w Our numbers. We are 30,000 members strong and owners of a strong foundation. Grassroots efforts include our “boots on the ground” – local and state association committees and volunteers and staff, including a strong local government affairs directors network, our calls for action and our state and federal political coordinators. w Lastly, our reputation and track record, coupled with the teamwork we’ve built with NAR – a large, savvy national advocacy organization supporting our efforts – and you can see where our armor equips us well.

These resources all work together to make our organization a force to be reckoned with in the legislative arena. Our members, our communities and our state all benefit from our efforts. I look forward to seeing you “in the arena” in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Lou Baldwin