Transcript Fighting For Our Profession! Thank you for your commitment to The REALTOR® Action Fund and organized real estate!

Fighting For Our Profession!
Thank you for your commitment to
The REALTOR® Action Fund
and organized real estate!
Agenda
• What is the REALTOR® ACTION FUND (RAF)?
• Captain’s Mission/Objectives
• Where Should We Start?
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Talk to Your Association…
Staff Education and Incentives
Reach Out/Talking Points
RAF Payment Plan
Investor Recognition
Timeline
Legal Disclosures
Resources
Questions
What is the REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF)?
The RAF is the money raised to advance the goals of our
REALTOR ® political action committees (PACs) at the
local, state and federal levels of government.
Put simply: RAF make’s sure good laws (what C.A.R.
wants) get passed and bad laws (What C.A.R. doesn’t
want) get defeated!
Every REALTOR® is asked to make this voluntary
investment when paying their yearly membership dues.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
PAC Allocation Flow Chart
RAF Statistics
Total
Contribution
%of
Members
Contributing
to RAF
Year
Total
Membership
Number of
Contributors
Per Member/
Per
Contributor
2001
103,745
32,948
$18 / $57
$1,872,158
32%
2002
117,153
34,193
$16 / $56
$1,929,082
29%
2003
136,977
43,709
$19 / $58
$2,553,830
32%
2004
161,245
56,689
$24 / $67
$3,808,115
35%
2005
193,932
62,667
$23 / $71
$4,474,456
32%
2006
211,245
61,151
$25 / $89
$5,466,046
29%
2007
207,999
56,826
$22 / $82
$4,649,210
27%
2008
183,835
39,690
$18 / $83
$3,301,796
22%
2009
166,183
31,786
$15 / $80
$2,540,842
19%
Fundraising Captain’s Mission & Objectives
•Lead by Example: Invest $197!
•Provide leadership, education, organization and
urgency to your association’s fundraising efforts
•Encourage participation at levels of $49 and
above outside regular dues billing.
Where Should We Start?
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Educate Association Staff personnel
Reach Out!
Talk to your colleagues and Ask them to invest!
Post information in your newsletter and on your
website!
• Discuss payment plan-- $20 and above can be
put on a monthly schedule!
• Ask members to complete pledge card.
Educate Your Local Staff
• Your local staff interacts directly with your
members.
• What happens to your industry effects them
too.
• But they may not be aware of the threats.
• C.A.R. has created an RAF Staff Awareness
training program to assist you.
(Lynn Movroydis is available host a RAF/Staff training for your association)
C.A.R. Staff Recognition Program
• Local staff can receive gift cards for encouraging
members to invest:
– $10 card for every 20 new members or 1st time participants
who invest $49.
– $20 card for every 20 new members or 1st time participants
who invest $197.
– $10 card for every 40 members who renew by investing $49.
– $30 card for every 40 members who upgrade by investing
$197 from $49.
• Can only be earned by direct member contact!
• Gift cards: Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
Now is the time to: REACH OUT !
• Reach out to your fellow REALTORS®, wherever they
congregate (new member orientations, office meetings, caravan
meetings, and local association meetings)
(Use the pyramid approach: Reach out to larger offices and work
your way down)
• When speaking about RAF, briefly state why REALTORS® and
their allies need to be involved politically.
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Tell them why you are an investor.
Thank any recent or high dollar investors.
Ask them to participate in RAF.
Ask them to help you spread the word.
• A field representative can assist you on your outreach efforts.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
Why Give To The REALTOR® Action Fund?
Talking Points
The Good: Here are the 2009 Successes:
􀂾 PRESERVED: Property Profiles: Title insurance companies
stopped providing property profiles in a reaction to a letter issued by the California
Department of Insurance. C.A.R. worked to restore access to protect your business;
􀂾 DEFEATED: 3% Independent Contractor Withholding: 3 times in 2009! Politicians
proposed an acceleration of income tax payment in the form of 3% withholding; and
􀂾 DEFEATED: Point-of-Sale Bills: Multiple bills were introduced, which if passed,
could have resulted in, as much as, $20,000 of costs per home to close escrow.
The Bad: Just some of the 2010 Threats: (Given our State budget deficit)
􀂾 SERVICE TAX: Sales tax on all services including Real Estate Commission,
Title, Escrow and Home Inspection Fees;
􀂾 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR WITHHOLDING: This issue will be back again;
􀂾 MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION: Could be eliminated and;
􀂾 POINT-OF-SALE: Always more to come…stayed tuned!
The Ugly: RAF funds are only at 19%…We have two major upcoming elections.
Your support is vital in order to help protect your industry!
Again, Above All Ask!
•
Again, make a personal investment of $197 to the RAF.
This shows others that you are doing your part and makes asking others to contribute
easy. Have a one line answer memorized for why you personally felt it was so
important to contribute to RAF.
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Remember To Ask Everyone To Invest On the Spot
When surveyed most people say that they don’t contribute because no one has ever
asked them to. Always end a presentation with, “Can we count on your support
today?” If they say not today, ask when, and always follow up.
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Why Should REALTORS® Invest in RAF?
They get a terrific return on their $197 investment. C.A.R.’s legislative successes, save
members over $13,000 a year by defeating costly legislation that threatens their ability
to serve their clients and sell real estate. And its easy! REALTORS® can simply
contribute in monthly installments! Contributions of $197 may be paid over 12 months
at a rate of $16.42.
RAF Payment Plan
Investment Amount
$ 20
$ 49
$197
Monthly Payment
$ 1.66
$ 4.08
$16.41
2010 REALTOR® Action Fund Pledge Card
Investor Recognition Ideas
• Invite investors to special events with industry experts, legal or
economic updates or a celebrity type guest;
• “Thank You” list of investors in local newsletter and website or
Investor Recognition Wall at local association;
• A special gift to all $197 and above investors;
• Designated investor of the month parking spot, seat at head
table, certificate of appreciation, or verbal acknowledgement at
meetings and
• Personal thank you call from local association leadership.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
Timeline
• Create a plan timeline, working backwards from the
date your dues billing statement is mailed.
• Decide what strategies to employ.
• Identify how long your individual strategies will take to
implement and at what cost.
• Determine what dates you will need money or human
resources in place to put your strategies into action.
• Review your plan often, revising it if needed.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
Legal Fundamentals
DO
• Use C.A.R. Contest templates;
• Get C.A.R. staff approval, prior to planning a supplemental
fundraising activity;
• Discuss REALTOR® issues not side issues or personalities;
• Explain why their investment will make a difference and
• THANK your participants.
DO NOT
• Discuss pending legislation when conducting fundraising
activities;
• Discuss a legislator’s voting record at a fundraising event;
• NEVER Accept cash payments!
• Host Casino Nights. They are a prohibited RAF fundraising
activity and
• Use the word “raffle” in any fundraising efforts or materials.
For more information refer to RAF Guide
Resources
Government Affairs Field Representatives
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Laiza Garcia - Northern Coast
[email protected]
916-832-3522
Matt Garth - Greater L.A.
[email protected] 310-809-0372
Rian Barrett - Central Valley
[email protected]
916-248-0981
Julia Parenteau – OC, SD, and the Desert
[email protected]
714-654-4929
Lynn Movroydis – Political Affairs, Fundraising Field Representative
[email protected]
949-218-0387
Lisa Edwards – CREPAC Staff Coordinator
[email protected]
916-492-5200
David Howard – Political Affairs Director
[email protected]
916-492-5200
http://www.car.org/governmentalaffairs/raf/FTCInformation/
RECAP
Help elevate RAF participation in 2010
• Lead by Example
• Educate Staff and Colleagues
• Always get C.A.R. staff approval, prior to
planning a supplemental fundraising Activity
• Always refer to your RAF Guide
• NEVER ACCEPT CASH PAYMENTS!