Mncrs newsletter feb2014

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Minnesota CRS Chapter News February 2014 1

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Transcript of Mncrs newsletter feb2014

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Message from President Tom Slupske………..……..….3 Pictures from MN CRS Charity Auction……..………….10 Hunger Solutions Letter of Thanks……………………….11 Ascension Place, Inc. Letter of Thank…….….…......…12 Capital Conference………………………………..……........13 MN CRS Tee It Up For Kids…………………......…......…14 “The Power of U” Article By Eric Kodner.…..….……….15 Becoming a Better Real Estate Professional .…………17 RC Fields Home Inspections – Radon Article………….19 Minnesota CRS Chapter Designees and Members January 2014…………………………………..…………...…..21 MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors.…………………….22 Support Our Sponsors…………………………………………23

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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President’s Message:

Well, it’s just a couple of months into 2014 and I’ve already been asked what has been my greatest accomplishment and greatest challenge thus far as MN-CRS president? Let me answer the last first. The greatest challenge has been why so many have membership in National but choose not to be chapter members. The Minnesota chapter ended 2013 with roughly 53% of national members belonging to the chapter. Immediate past-president Dan Boman says, “The chapter is the backbone of National. Without chapter membership there would be no National CRS.” If you’re a National member but not a chapter member I strongly encourage you to join the chapter.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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The greatest accomplishments? MN-CRS leadership had its first ever orientation. In the past little was explained to potential board members: what was expected of them and what should they expect from the Board? That started to change on February 5, 2014 when Lynn Leegard led the first orientation. Lynn is a long-time member of the Minnesota Realtors, an attorney, former counsel for one of the State’s larger real estate companies, well-known instructor for Minnesota CE and has given similar orientation presentations for several local Realtor associations including Minnesota Association of Realtors. Another first. Board meetings were not broadcast. Previously Board members out of the area could only listen and responses were often difficult. Starting last November MN-CRS meetings are now broadcast both video and audio to Board members. Board meetings are normally the 1st Thursday of each month, starting at 9:30 AM. If you’re near the Minnesota Association of Realtors office in Edina you are welcome to stop in and observe your Board of Directors in action.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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What’s more for 2014? As mentioned, increased chapter membership. One way is to offer CRS information to real estate companies during their sales meetings. We’ll start in the Metro area and then expand. Do you have an office or company wanting someone to speak at your sales meeting? Call me, and I’ll be happy to attend. By the time you read this MN-CRS will have already participated in Capitol Conference Day in St. Paul on February 19th. Each year about 600 Realtors meet at the Excel Center. We’ll have the opportunity to listen to State legislators discuss how proposals affect not only Realtors but consumers too. Legislators will be available to listen to Realtors March 12th will be the 2nd year MN-CRS has participated at the GLAR Expo at Breezy Point. If you’re in the Brainerd Lakes area stop by our booth to say hello.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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MN-CRS offers great value! Only $45.00 a year to be a chapter member. It’s the chapter which brings you great education, the national doesn’t do that. During 2013 the chapter offered education in Brainerd, Rochester, Hudson and the Twin Cities. We celebrated the Hudson, WI event with a boat-cruise on the scenic St Croix River; attended by over 100 who took advantage of a beautiful fall evening. It was such a success many have asked to make this an annual event. We’re planning 2014 education for Duluth and Rochester; and Brainerd again in early 2015. But, to continue these great programs we need more chapter members. Why should you become a CRS designee and a MN chapter member? CRS could mean “C”ash “R”eferral “S”ystem. One of the benefits of chapter membership is the networking among CRS and the opportunity of receiving a referral. To paraphrase an old-adage, “Referrals go to those who show-up” If you’re not a chapter member you probably won’t receive a referral.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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Real estate business is expected to improve for the next several years. As it improves more people are once again becoming Realtors. Newer and inexperienced agents bring challenges. The demand for knowledgeable Realtors will be more than ever. One way to gain that knowledge is to attend MN-CRS sponsored education. Newer and inexperienced agents bring challenges to a transaction. Wouldn’t you prefer a much better chance of closing? You can have that confidence if the other Realtor is a MN-CRS designee. You should be proud of the people in your chapter. Director Steve Stewart was recently named Regional Vice President for National CRS. Congratulations Steve. Director Gary Williams won the prestigious Medallion Award for his yeas of serves on several national committees: RVP Committee Chair, member of the RVP selection committee, member of the Exec committee, member of the BOD, member of the EAB Education Advisory Committee, Immediate past Chair of the Membership Development committee.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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Last November in San Francisco, your chapter was awarded CRS Chapter of the Year during the NAR Convention. President-elect Eric Kodner was a guest editor in the January/February 2014 edition of REALTOR® Magazine. Exciting announcement! With all this bitter cold it’s difficult to imagine warm summer days; but they’re coming! Circle your calendars for August 12, 2014. MN-CRS is sponsoring our first-ever golf charity for Minnesota National Guard Youth camp. Thank Director Sandy Maxwell for offering us this opportunity. This has been an annual event which has raised over $21,000 a year for the Youth Camp. All of us on the leadership team are eager and excited to give back. Sandy will have more details later in this edition.

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President’s Message (cont.)

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Who do you know that is a national but not a chapter member? Who do you know that would like to become a CRS designee? Ask them to join the chapter. They can view information at CRS.com or call me Tom Slupske.com – MN CRS President 2014 Direct: 612-720-2997 [email protected]

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Pictures from Charity Auction

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MN CRS Charity Auction

MN CRS Charity Auction

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MN CRS Charity Auction

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Capital Conference Day

Capital Conference Days – 19th of February

Tom Slupske, MN CRS - President 2014, Dan Boman, MN CRS President - 2013, and Sandy Maxwell, MN CRS Board - Secretary

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“Tee It Up for the Kids”

SAVE THE DATE

Join us for this special event on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake, MN.

This 18 hole shot-gun tournament is played by hard core golfers and the

golfer who just likes to have fun. There are many opportunities for meeting new people, to discuss business opportunities, and above all, to contribute to

a well deserved charity for our military families.

Registration starts at 10:00am, Shot-gun starts at Noon. Social Hour, Silent Auction Following Golf Banquet Dinner at 6:00PM

“Tee It Up for the Kids” This will be our 7th Year! Be a Part of It!

This event has been well received every year. It is attended by over 150 military men and women, Realtors, lenders, businessmen and

women, family and friends.

Silent Auction, Raffle, Contests and more are all a part of this event. We hope you will join us and make this one of your charities of choice

for 2014. This is one charity that is all Volunteer! It is our way of saying “thank you” to our men and women in the

military.

To Participate, please return the sponsorship form that is included with your preference and level of support. You Will Make a Difference in a Child’s Life Thank You

Testimonials provided upon request.

Please contact: Sandy Maxwell, REALTOR, Licensed Broker Tournament Director Secretary, MN CRS Board 612-791-5677 [email protected]

MN CRS “Tee It Up for the Kids”

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“The Power of U”

Realtor Magazine - January/February 2014 Guest Editor Column by Eric Kodner, CRS, Broker & Owner, Wayzata Lakes Realty

As real estate practitioners, most of us focus constantly on our relationships with consumers. It is REALTOR® Magazine’s job to do the same with us, developing content that offers insights about industry trends and best practices that help us excel on the job. After seven years, it was time to freshen the magazine’s appearance. Design director Julie Fournier has introduced a sleeker “webby” design that uses typography and graphics sparingly and has also reorganized our sections in a way that I hope will be even more useful to you.

I am thrilled to serve as guest editor for the launch of the magazine’s reinvigorated design. After a year of inviting members of the Young Professionals Network to visit the offices for an editing stint, the publication is now reaching out to a broader segment of NAR members, both young and young at heart. I enjoyed, among other contributions, being able to provide input on the proposed typefaces and fonts. Retiring the old serif fonts truly makes for a cleaner read.

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I’ve always been comfortable with the necessity of personal reinvention. I became a REALTOR® in 2001 after a long and satisfying career as a symphonic musician and conductor (I still work occasionally as a freelance French hornist), and I’ve developed strong niches in both residential and luxury second-home markets in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Working in two distinct markets has served as something of a hedge through wildly varying economic conditions.

The magazine’s editorial reorganization has given rise to the new Top of Mind section, which clusters newsier topics, including law and the economy, toward the front of the book. The How To section leads you to the hands-on practical content that can benefit you in your everyday business. At the back of the book is the Power of R section, which brings you news from NAR along with a new page showcasing the influence REALTORS® have in advocating for the good of their communities and for property owners. When REALTORS® pull together to address the effects of a dangerous roadway issue or foster the redevelopment of an abandoned downtown, the results can be amazing.

“ The Power of U” (cont.)

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Becoming a Better Real Estate Professional

WHY CRS EDUCATION? As we all continue on our business journeys to improve our knowledge and value to our clients there is one item that stands out to me and that is our ongoing education. Smart agents understand that they need to invest time and money to better themselves with good education. With there being so many different companies and associations offering education it can be difficult to sort through all the options. Did you know CRS offers many high quality education opportunities both online and in a classroom environment? In the busy and fast paced lifestyles we all live many of us are now turning to shorter 1 or 2 hour webinars and online programs. With all the advances in technology you can be part of these at the office, at a coffee shop or restaurant or maybe even in your car if you have connectivity for your mobile device. We bring the class to wherever you are! We at MN CRS make it a point to bring at least 3 or 4 above average classroom education opportunities to our members each year. We just had Jackie Leavenworth here for 3 days’ worth of excellent education in January; watch this newsletter for our upcoming education offerings. It just amazes me after we hold these classes how many student tell us this was the best real estate education they have ever taken!

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I felt the same way when I took my first CRS class. The instructors are top notch and many are still practicing Realtors so they are using what they are teaching us. These classes will help you improve your production and posture. You can always go to CRS.com and go to the education tab and see what is on the calendar for upcoming classes both online and in a classroom. I will share a tip I learned a while back from another high producing CRS member. Step out of your normal education agenda and take a class in another state perhaps even one in a warmer climate than here in Minnesota. It is a tax deduction and you will open up doors to meet other agents for developing referral opportunities. Wouldn’t it be nice to go to Florida this month for a few days for a CRS class? I can assure you that you will probably be the only Realtor in that class from Minnesota so bring lots of cards and build those connections. It’s never been a better time for you to invest in your education and separate yourself from your competitors by learning to increase you’re earning. To your continued success with CRS Daniel Boman, Past President 2013

WHY CRS Education (cont.)

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RC Fields Home Inspection – Ryan Sinkfield Radon “The Unwanted House Guest”

As of January 1st 2014 the State of Minnesota has implemented the “Minnesota Radon Awareness Act” to ensure that all parties involved in a Real Estate transaction are aware of (by means of a seller’s disclosure form) any knowledge of radon concentrations in the home and informed of the risks associated with Radon before signing a purchase agreement to sell or transfer residential real property. •Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer in the US. Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas that naturally occurs from the decomposition of elements such as Uranium and Thorium found in the soil, rocks, and water throughout the world. As this breakdown occurs, these gases rise up through the ground and enters our homes where we spend most of our time. Regardless if the house was built 100 years ago or is new construction, it is at risk. Although the house next door may have safe levels, yours may not.

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RC Fields Home Inspection (cont.) Radon “The Unwanted House Guest”

Two in Five homes in Minnesota have levels that pose a significant health risk, and nearly 80% of counties are rated “High Radon Zones” (EPA recommendations; 0-2pCi/L acceptable level, 2-4pCi/L consider taking action, >4pCi/L action highly recommended). The Minnesota Department of Health recommends all Minnesota homes be tested for radon. During a Real Estate transaction, time is of the essence. The fastest way to test for radon is with a CRM (Continuous Radon Monitor), which will give you results in 48 hours. These results will help you determine whether or not the house will need mitigation. There are several methods used for radon mitigation to help reduce radon levels in a home to a safe level. These can range from $800 to $2,500 depending on how the house was built and the extent of the radon problem. Contact Ryan Sinkfield at RC Fields Home Inspection Services for Radon Testing. Direct: 612-812-4977 Email: [email protected] Online: www.rcfieldshomeinspections.com

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New Minnesota CRS Chapter Designees

January 2014

Kevin H Gyllenblad, CRS Shannon Lindstrom, CRS

February 2014

Sue Brown, CRS

Henry Edelstein, CRS Betty L. Eischens, CRS

Debra Flam, CRS Debra L. Grimme, CRS

Mary C. Hansmeyer, CRS Phillip D. Holm, CRS

Marv Karth, CRS Steve T. Kraft, CRS

Albin D. Kuschel, CRS Aaron J. Thompson, CRS

Congratulations!

Please welcome new CRS Designees to our MN CRS Family!

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2014 Minnesota CRS Chapter

Board of Directors

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President: Thomas Slupske President Elect: Eric Kodner Secretary: Sandy Maxwell Treasurer: Dar Vosburg Past President: Dan Boman Director: Betty Cole Director: James Geisinger Director: Jason Gorman Director: Dennis Libby Director: Shannon Lindstrom Director: Fred Schramm Director: Stephen Stewart Director: Gary Williams District Representative: Ron Hanger District Representative: Scott Norton District Representative: Melanie Schmidt District Representative: Dinah Sundberg Regional Vice President: Michele Epps MNAR Support Staff: Chris Galler MNAR Support Staff: Peg Anderson

Please feel free to contact us with questions and/or ideas for improvement or if you would like to become a MN CRS Board of

Directors member