CEO'S MESSAGE
A Partner In
Your Success
Being a successful REALTOR® isn’t
easy. In fact, it’s incredibly difficult.
But it’s by no means impossible!
I’ve had the privilege of meeting
many, many successful REALTORS® during
my years of working within the REALTOR®
organization. And I can tell you that most
successful REALTORS® seem to share a set of
similar characteristics: they don’t quit; they
are students of the game; they constantly
evaluate their situation; they work hard to
fall in love with real estate over and over;
they connect with their passion to produce
success; and they celebrate their success.
ORRA is, of course, highly vested in
the success of its members and creates
program after program — from education
to events to advocacy efforts — that are designed
to help you achieve your goals. We
hope that you take advantage of as many
of them as you can in the upcoming year.
EDUCATION: ORRA offers affordable,
live education classes that address every
conceivable real estate related topic. From
crucial legal knowledge to marketing tips,
our courses provide the blocks on which
to build your success (and complete your
continuing education requirements, to
boot). There are endless options for online
learning, plus designation programs such
as ORRA’s own Gold Key Certification.
EVENTS: Our events offer opportunity
for both networking and receiving updates
about Orlando happenings (education,
transportation, development, etc.) that
directly impact your business. There’s a
full slate of functions in 2019 that range
from high-impact membership meetings to
informative breakfast panels to joyful galas.
And don’t forget about ORRA’s signature
event, the REALTOR® Expo that takes place
each fall. See you there!
SPECIAL-INTEREST COUNCILS: ORRA
is home to special-interest groups that
feature programming dedicated to international
real estate, the commercial side, independent
broker issues, and the development
of young professionals. The councils
also offer opportunities to participate in
global marketing representation and local
community service. If you’re interested in
any of these topics, I highly recommend
that you get involved.
ADVOCACY: If there’s one area of ORRA
that’s completely dedicated to your ability
to practice real estate, it’s advocacy. The
REALTORS® Political Action Committee
works tirelessly to identify political candidates
on the national, state, and local
level who best reflect sensitivity to the
concerns of real estate practitioners and
private property owners. You can help take
control of your future by following ORRA’s
voting recommendations for candidates
and issues.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: There’s
nothing that jeopardizes a successful
transaction like those who disregard the
REALTOR® Code of Ethics or the common
standards of professionalism and etiquette.
ORRA has solutions for both. The grievance
process allows for the filing, hearing, and
sentencing of alleged COE violations, while
the ORRA Ombudsman Program provides a
gentle nudge in the right direction to
REALTORS® who are the verge — but haven’t
quite crossed the line — of going into COE
violation territory. We encourage you to
take advantage of these programs and help
improve the transaction experience for real
estate practitioners and consumers alike.
NEWS & INFORMATION: Did you know
that ORRA manages six different social
media platforms, and constantly pushes
out content that is both crucial for you to
be aware of and suitable for you to share
with your sphere of potential clients? Be
sure to follow our social media so you can
simply press a button and spread the “Call
A REALTOR®” message.
Nothing generates consumer interest
like ORRA’s monthly housing market reports.
You’re welcome to take advantage of
our data files, narratives, videos and graphics
(all now in Spanish) to increase your
knowledge of the market and to attract the
attention of potential clients.
The examples above are just a few of the
many, many programs and activities that
ORRA undertakes on behalf of your success.
There’s a long list of additional opportunities
with ORRA that you can utilize with
success in mind, such as volunteering on a
committee or accessing to the Supra system.
And this isn’t even mentioning what’s
available through Florida REALTORS® and
the National Association of REALTORS®.
Characteristics of success such as
determination and self-awareness must
come from within. ORRA is here to help you
bring out the best in yourself, and we are
honored to be trusted with the task.
Cliff Long
6 Orlando REALTOR® Winter 2019