PA CRB at Triple Play

PA CRB will be sponsoring the 2 day CRB course Performance Leadership Attract, Develop, and Keep Successful Sales Associates. Instructor will be Ed Hall ABR, CRB, CRS. Abe will be at this class so stop by if you have a chance and network.

You should have gotten your 2009 dues statement by now, thank you for joining and participating. We are reaching out to the CRB members in New York and New Jersey since they do not have a chapter to improve our network and referrals.

NAR Orlando Is it worth it?

With a soft market in many parts of the state and increasing costs is it worth the time and effort to  attend the NAR Convention? I say YES. This is your opportunity to see what is the newest of products and technology in the industry, and to attend classes on just about every subject taught by top instructors. Still, with rooms at $200 and the flight about $700 it is no cheap trip. If it is not in your budget then double up with someone and attend Triple Play in December in Atlantic City. That is the bargain for conventions for PA members.

Meetings and events update

Dear CRB Members,
This newsletter is to give you a quick update on the PA Chapter activities and upcoming events.
 NAR Mid-Year Meetings: The National CRB committee meetings are open to all, so please feel free to attend. Of special note is the CRB Chapter Leadership meeting on Thursday, May 14 at 10:15. If you are attending the Mid Year meeting please try to attend the chapter meeting.
 PAR Summer Meetings: On Tuesday June 2, 2009 from 11:45 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. PA CRB CHAPTER will have our Luncheon and Meeting at the Harrisburg Hilton. Janelle Pfleiger, CRS Regional Vice President, will be our Guest Speaker. For more information or to register visit;
http://tinyurl.com/CRSCRBLuncheon
 PA Realtor Meetings: Many of the Districts are having “R” day events, look for our booth for the latest on new classes and to network with our members.
 Chapter Website: Go to www.PACRB.com for schedules of events and Chapter information.
 Social Networking sites: We have set up groups on Linkedin and Facebook. Search for the PA CRB Chapter or contact me to join.
 Blog: We have a Chapter BLOG at http://pacrb.wordpress.com. We hope to develop this platform as a way for our members to communicate. Please participate.
 Membership: Our membership is slightly above 100 with about 400 CRB Designees in PA and about 300 in NJ and NY. Our Chapter dues are only $35 a year and serves as an excellent way to network with your fellow professionals. To join e-mail CRB@PARealtor.org for the membership application. CRB members of all states are allowed to join this Chapter.
 TriplePlay: It’s not too early to consider attending the CRB two day course, Technology Management: Develop and Deploy an Effective Strategy for your Office in December! TriplePlay has a new policy and our Chapter will co-sponsor this exciting new offer with them. Technology guru Matthew Ferrara was contracted by CRB to create this course which just rolled out this year! Jonathan Nicholas, CRB, CRS and past National CRB President will be instructing. He’s a “techie” too and can be found on the social networks and followed on Twitter! Hope to see you there!
Respectfully submitted,

Robert “Wags” Wagner
PA CRB President
wags@abeandwagscom

Should PA CRB go regional?

The leadership of PA CRB is open to discussion on going regional to include CRB members from New York and New Jersey. The logic behind this consideration is to improve networking in our area and to strengthen our Chapter.

PA has about 400 National Members and a Chapter membership of 150. With dues at $35 this is barley enough to maintain the Chapter. By including NY and NJ we would be adding about 300 more CRB Members to draw on. Most organizations like ours will have about a 30% participation, so we should expect to see about 200+ members in this model, which would improve our fiscal standing.

As more of our members are looking for business opportunities, this would also give us more connection as to our bordering states. We now also have PA CRB Chapter group on Linkedin and Facebook. Please join them to participate.

Sincerely,

Robert Wagner
2009 PA CRB President
wags@abeandwags.com

NAR Mid Year Meetings

Join us at the CRB Chapter Meeting on Thursday May 14 at 10:30 in the CRB Host Hotel.

Developing Facebook page

I would like this to be an open discussion on how best to develop Facebook as a networking site. To enter into the fray, I suggest the first consideration is why you are on this site. Is it to stay in touch with friends you know or sell property? Whatever, this would dictate how you set up your profile and who you invite.

I am moderating this for PA CRS and CRB, so I am inviting people with interest in those designations and not much more, so there is little family or friends if you are not connected to that interest. That is why I would not consider posting a listing on this site, I have not built a “people of interest group” who want that information. What is your thought on the “mission” of your facebook page??

Jan 2009 CRB Meeting

We will be having our first membership meeting Monday, January 26, 2009 at the Harridburg Hilton. Meeting starts at 8:30. On the agenda will be swearing in of the 2009 officers, Approval of the by laws and budget, and committee reports. Please attend.

Reducing office expenses

Attended a CSAR meeting today and wanted to share some easy tips to cut your bills. Every computer, printer, AV, and other electronic equiptment should be plugged into a plug strip that you can shut off at the end of the day. These items are always “ON” even when you turn them off. This simple tip can cut your electricity use by 30% and make you much more “Greener”. OK world, turn it off.