PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The Duty And
The Honor To Vote
I recently returned from the NAR Legislative
Meetings and Trade Expo in Washington,
DC. Many years, these meetings are
fairly routine and don’t have too much
going on. This was not one of those years.
Probably the most talked about issue
during the event was a proposed dues increase
of $30 per year followed by an automatic
annual increase thereaft er. Through
an online communications platform that
NAR uses called The Hub, many NAR directors
like myself had indicated concerns and
questions about both facets of this dues
proposal. Out of the $30 annual increase,
$17 was to go to enhancing what NAR does
for its members in general, and the other
$13 was specifically allocated for REALTOR®
Party activities.
Regardless of how you feel about lobbying
and being political, the fact is there
are those in Washington and in Tallahassee
whose intentions are counter to the REALTOR
® eff ort to provide tax incentives that
encourage homeownership. I won’t spend
too much time here on the importance of
being engaged, but for the small amount
of dues we pay NAR each year, they do a
fantastic job fighting for the interests of our
1.3 million REALTORS® and the millions of
homeowners throughout the country. In
the end, the dues increase passed, and the
proposal for the automatic increase was
withdrawn. I think both of these are good
decisions, and as a NAR director I voted in
favor of the new budget.
I was also honored to vote in the election
for the 2019 NAR first vice president.
Every three to four years, Florida has a
candidate for this position, which automatically
elevates to NAR president. This
was our year, and 2014 Florida REALTORS®
President Sherri Meadows of Ocala was our
nominee. Sherri is a truly dedicated person
who spent nine months campaigning and
traveling the country to listen to REALTORS®
in all 50 states. Unfortunately, by nine votes
out of more than 800 cast, her opponent,
Charlie Oppler from New Jersey, won the
election. Charlie will do a great job as 2021
NAR president. I know Charlie well, and we
all wish him much success.
Lastly, during the meetings component
a somewhat controversial modification was
made to the possible punishments that can
be handed down for ethics violations. Under
certain circumstances, local REALTOR®
associations may now internally publish
the name and picture of repeat violators
of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. Frankly,
I think publishing the names of repeat
violators is a consequence that is way past
due. There are too many REALTORS® who
seem to believe the fines that violators are
made to pay are simply a cost of doing
business. I believe the possibility of having
their name and photo published will make
some possible violators think twice about
not following the COE. I was pleased to also
vote in favor of this change.
Lou Nimkoff
P.S. Coming up in August will be the 2018
Florida REALTORS® Convention and Trade
Expo. Florida REALTORS® meets twice a
year and always in Orlando. Many REALTORS
® from other areas around the state
have to travel many hours to come to these
meetings. We don’t have to! Let’s all try to
take advantage of this great opportunity
happening right in our back yard. Please
make some time to come down to the
Rosen Shingle Creek, between August 8
and 12 (there’s free options like visiting the
trade show floor and attending committee
meetings). For more information, please
visit convention.floridarealtors.org.
‘18
August 8
General Session
Penn & Teller
Making Magic!
‘18
Florida Realtors®
Convention & Trade Expo
AUGUST 8 & 9, 2018
Rosen Shingle Creek // Orlando, FL
4 Orlando REALTOR® July / August 2018
/convention.floridarealtors.org