22 Ways to Advocate in 2022

BY CATHERINE BEST

1. Respond to a Call for Action. When there is a piece of legislation that NAR or NJ Realtors® strongly supports or opposes, we might ask YOU to help. Contacting your state representatives or member of Congress is the most effective way to participate in grassroots advocacy.

2. Sign up for REALTOR® Party Mobile Alerts. Simply text the word REALTORS to 30644.

3. Invest in RPAC. Learn more about the importance of the Realtors ® Political Action Committee and how to invest at njrealtor.com.

4. Aware of a Local Issue? Contact NJ Realtors® Government Affairs Department. Recently, the team has worked to defeat burdensome rent control legislation and onerous sign ordinances.

5. Participate in Candidate Training. NJ Realtors® is hosting Candidate Training on March 30. You can also participate in virtual training on realtorparty.realtor.

6. Attend the 2022 Realtors® Legislative Meetings from May 1-6. More information can be found at legislative.realtor.

7. Participate in NJ Realtors® Trenton Day. This is typically held in June, more information on 2022 Trenton Day will be released soon!

8. Apply for a NJ Realtors® Committee. From Member Perks to Legislative to Communications, NJ Realtors® has more than 10 committees you can apply to volunteer on and make your voice heard in the industry, stay up-todate on what’s happening in the industry, and make connections with other Realtors ® .

9. Sign up to Receive Email Updates from Your Elected Officials. Did you know your State Legislators and members of Congress send email updates to their constituents? They’ll keep you updated with what’s happening on the Hill and in Trenton.

10. Read the NJ Realtors® Legislative Issues Book. Each year, NJ Realtors® Government Affairs Department dives into current important legislative topics and publishes it at issuu.com/newjerseyrealtor. Read this year’s book for information on Independent contractor status, lead paint remediation, the state budget, and more.

11. Read State of the State Each Week in NJ Realtors® Weekly. Every Wednesday at 4 p.m., NJ Realtors® sends NJ Realtors® Weekly, a full membership weekly newsletter that has all of the industry’s top lines for the week. Each week, there’s a special feature, State of the State, which outlines legislation NJ Realtors ® is watching, encourages you to take action on a certain matter, or explains an important issue. Not receiving it? Email news@njrealtor.com.

12. Call a Colleague and Tell Them About RPAC. RPAC is one of the top tools in NJ Realtors®’ arsenal. If one of your colleagues doesn’t know what RPAC is and what it does for the industry, be an advocate and tell them about issues RPAC has supported.

13. VOTE! This year, Primary Election Day is June 7 and the General Election will be held on Nov. 8.

14. Subscribe to the Realtor® Party Newsletter. Everything you need to know about the Realtor® Party delivered right to your inbox. Each month they share the industry by the numbers, Realtor® success stories, upcoming volunteer opportunities, and more.

15. Attend a Local Municipality Meeting. There are many meetings at the local level that might be of interest to a Realtor® , from a council meeting to planning board. Most municipalities post a calendar of meetings on their website.

16. Follow and Share NJ Realtors® Content on Social Media. NJ Realtors ® shares all the industry news you never knew you needed—@njrealtors on Instagram, New Jersey Realtors® on Facebook, and @nj_realtors on Twitter.

17. Who Are Your Elected Officials? Visit house.gov to find out!

18. If You’re a Broker, Consider Joining NAR’s Broker Involvement Program. NAR’s Broker Involvement Program provides brokers with resources and tools to help rally their agents when there’s an important legislative issue. Joining the program gives brokers access to the Broker Portal and will send emails to your salespeople so they’re more involved in the industry.

19. Encourage Your Clients to Join NAR’s Home Ownership Matters Program Homeownership Matters is the National Association of Realtors® consumer advocacy program. Encourage your clients to join, read up on private property issues, and encourage them to take action when there’s a homeownership issue in their area. Visit homeownershipmatters.realtor.

20. Read the Realtor® Party Resource Guide. Discover what the Realtor ® Party stands for with the Realtor® Party Resource Guide. It features educational resources, available grants, highlights Realtor® Party success stories, and more. Visit realtorparty.realtor/resourceguide.

21. If you Moved Recently, Don’t Forget to Update Your Voter Registration. Visit the State of New Jersey’s voter registration resource page to ensure your voter registration is up to date. The registration deadline for the primary election is May 17, 2022.

22. Join Online Industry Discussions Through the Hub. Did you know there’s an online messaging board for Realtors® ? Visit thehub.realtor to read the latest news on the national level and subscribe to receive emails through the Hub to stay up-to-date on important industry issues.