The KAR Board of Directors met Tuesday, September 30, 2014, during the KAR Annual Conference in Wichita.
- Region 9 RPAC Trustee Steve LaRue of Lawrence provided an update on the proposed NAR RPAC PAG Report that would change the way NAR sets annual RPAC goals. The report will considered for action during the NAR Board of Directors meeting in November.
- VP of Industry Relations, Ohan Antebian, provided an overview of REALTORS® Property Resource (RPR) and the new product releases including the RPR Mobile App that is now available for Android devices and later on the iPhone once the platform has been stabilized due to issues with the iOS 8 operating system. The app has GPS tracking and can quickly bring searched properties to your mobile device based on your geographic location. This is a member benefit that is funded by membership dues. Therefore, the RPR platform and its related products such as this app are free to members. Ohan also noted the Broker Tool Sets that includes a data analysis tool, website reports and other tools to help in managing a brokerage. Everything is available through the RPR blog.
- The 2015 KAR Strategic Objectives were approved. The KAR Strategic Objectives address five critical areas: Strengthening Advocacy, Professional Development, Implementing Core Standards, Member Engagement and Updating Governance. The initiatives under each objective are aimed at accomplishing what’s necessary in order to meet the objective. For a complete report visit kansasrealtor.com
- Steve McCullough of Newton was elected to the position of 2015 NAR Director-elect. This is a three-year term with the first year serving in an elect position and the following two years serving as an NAR Director.
- Cindy White and Jeannine Byers-Long were recognized for their outstanding service as Zone Vice Presidents for the past four years. Cindy served as Zone 3 Vice President and Jeannine served as Zone 7 Vice President. Cindy was installed as the 2015 KAR First Vice President.
- The Directors approved the 2015 KAR Budget. The budget maintains the current dues level of $150 per member with $10 per renewing member going towards the replenishment of reserves. The budget fully funds depreciation and anticipates a dividend from REBR. There is considerable income and expense budgeted for the Keynote Professional Development online education series. There are 145,000+ REALTORS® combined in the seven states that have signed partnership agreements and will offer Keynote courses to their members. These figures do not include Kansas or Missouri or additional partnership states although it is anticipatedadditional states will join the program in 2015.
- Kathy Minden of Paola was announced as a certified candidate for the position of 2016 KAR First Vice President. Elections will be held during the KAR Mid-Year Conference in June 2015.
- The Directors approved the pursuit of legislation to prohibit persons from making “bad faith assertions of patent infringement” and to provide the Kansas Attorney General’s office and private entities with the ability to bring litigation against any entity that files a bad faith assertion of patent infringement. This legislation would target patent trolls, which are entities that exist for the sole purpose of sending ambiguous demand letters to small businesses demanding licensing fees on patents.
- Jerry Gray of Wichita was recognized for his long-standing participation, commitment and dedication to the real estate industry and association having served as a Real Estate Commissioner and a member of the KREC I-Team for many years along with his involvement and committee service at the local and state levels. Jerry is retiring from his commercial position with Weigand later this year.
- Judy Miller of Overland Park was recognized for her long-standing commitment and dedication to RPAC as she has for many years organized and purchased auction items for the RPAC booth and has single-handedly been instrumental in each year’s successful fundraising levels.
- The 2015 KAR Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs were approved.
- President Chris Rost was recognized for his outstanding service as 2015 KAR President and the directors expressed their thanks and appreciation with a standing ovation.
- The next KAR Board of Directors will be held Thursday, January 15, 2015, during the KAR Legislative Conference in Topeka at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
