Your Local REALTOR® Connection November/December 2014

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Your real estate industry update for everything happening in Oakville & Milton.

“Un-gala” a swingin’ successUpcoming Board EventsDecember 10th

AGM & Christmas Reception

December 22nd - 26th

Board offices closed - Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

January 1st

Board offices closed - Happy New Year!

Upcoming SeminarsNovember 24th

REALTOR® 60: Campaigns That Drive Action

November 25th

Consumer-Certified Real Estate Consultant® (C-CREC)

December 1st - 2nd

Accredited Senior Agent (ASA)

December 8th

OREA 2015 Standard Forms & Clause Revision Update

December 11th - 12th

REIC 2280: Legal Issues In Real Estate

January 23rd

Tax and Investment Planning for REALTORS®

For our complete education calendar, please visit omdreb.on.ca/education.

The President’s Charity Gala Committee was pleased to announce the event raised $35,000 for Habitat for Humanity Halton.

The “un-gala” was held on October 17 at the Oakville Conference Centre was emceed by Chris Mei from The Weather Network.

Many in attendance got into the spirit and dressed up in the style of the times.

The Gala Committee would like to thank all the members who supported the event and especially the volunteers who donated their time to make it a successful evening.

Please be sure to join us on December 10 for the cheque presentation to Habitat for Humanity Halton at the AGM & Christmas Around The World Cocktail Reception at RattleSnake Point.

To register for the AGM & Christmas Reception, please visit MyStore on Matrix.

Alex Rundle of RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc. in Milton pulled off a flawless 50’s look at the October “un-gala” celebration.

What’s Inside Page 2 - Acclaimed BoD + Submit AGM Qs

Page 3 - SYNCposium + Community Corner

Page 4 - Halloween Spirit + Staff News

Submit your content and/or pictures to us for inclusion in our January issue. Please email Von at communications@omdreb.on.ca.

Please note we reserve the right to edit any submitted content for clarity, length and grammar.

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Acclaimed BoD for 2015; Submit AGM Qs The 2015 Board of Directors have been elected by acclamation. Jeff Mahannah will assume the President’s chair, while Charlotte Forget will be installed as President-Elect.

The boardroom will have one new face, as Tom Ferguson will begin a two-year term. Fulfilling the final year of a two-year mandate are Sandra Kirkland, Suzann Paterson, and Dennis Horton.

Lynn Hoffmann will serve a second year as Director of the Managing Brokers Council, while Claudia di Paola returns after a one-year hiatus. Alun Evans will serve a one-year term.

The 2015 installation will take place on December 10 following the AGM.

Submit Your Questions

Following the formal AGM, the Open Forum Q&A session will take place again this year. This is a great opportunity to ask questions on Board and real estate-related issues that may be affecting your business. Questions emailed in advance will be addressed first and then we will open discussions to questions from the floor.

Please submit your question(s) for the Open Forum by Friday, December 5, to msponder@omdreb.on.ca.

Leadership Day

Curious about getting involved with the Board? Volunteering for committees and events is a great way to meet new people and stay on top of the latest industry news and trends.

Put a hobby, education or previous work experience to use and make an impact on real estate at the most direct level - locally!

Leadership Day for 2015 is scheduled for January 22. A location will be announced in December.

We hope to see you there!

Are you interested in getting involved in real estate at the provincial level? Consider running as a Director at OREA.

All qualified Ontario REALTORS® are encouraged to seek election to the 2015 OREA Board of Directors on March 11, 2015 at the OREA AGM of the Assembly which will be held in Toronto.

The positions of two directors-at-large and one provincial direc-tor from central Ontario are available for election.

Candidate Submission Forms are available from our Board offices or online at www.orea.com. Click on “2015 OREA Elections” under the Members tab located on the OREA home page - you will be prompted to log in.

You may also obtain a copy by contacting Dinaz Garda from OREA at (416) 442-3401 or 1-800-265-6732.

Applications must be received no later than December 29, 2014.

Please see the full details (certain restrictions apply to the various positions) on the OREA website or in the candidacy forms.

2015 OREA BoD election

Incoming president, Jeff Mahannah, has selected a charity for 2015.

The charity will be officially announced at the AGM & Christmas Around The World Cocktail Reception on December 10.

Community fundraising became a focal point for the Board in the early 1980’s, with the support of Dave Hawkins and his family. Hawkins, an Oakville Blades hockey player, was left paralyzed from the chest down following an on-ice hockey accident in 1980. OMDREB raised $35,000 to renovate the Hawkins’ family home so it would be accesible for Dave. The campaign earned the Board the runner-up position for the 1981 Mortgage Insurance Company of Canada (MICC) community service awards.

OMDREB has a proud history of charitable involvement in the community. Over the years, OMDREB has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Canine Vision Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Halton Women’s Shelter, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Home Suite Hope, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, the Navigator Program, Salvation Army Lighthouse Emergency Shelter and most recently, Habitat for Humanity Halton.

Nov./Dec. 2014 NewsletterDesign and content by Von Jeppesen except where noted with byline.

Staff Directory

Marta Sponder Executive Officer Patti Bartolucci Ext. 103Executive Assistant

Laurie Evans Ext. 110Membership Services Coordinator

Von Jeppesen Ext. 101Communications Specialist

Cyndi Amodeo Ext. 106Professional Development & Events Manager

Samantha Johnston Ext. 121Education/Events Coordinator

Brendan Stewart Ext. 111Education/Events Coordinator

Steve Francis Ext. 104Information Technology Manager

Mark Schell Ext. 122IT/ Matrix Support

Grace Dann Ext. 102MLS® Coordinator

Sam Featherstone Ext. 108MLS® Coordinator

Manisha Mistry Ext. 117MLS® Coordinator

Nadine Davis Ext. 100Receptionist/MyStore

Michele Brown Ext. 105Accounting Manager

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125 Navy Street, Oakville, ON L6J 2Z5400 Main Street, Suite 208, Milton, ON L9T 4X5905-844-6491www.omdreb.on.cawww.onmatrix.ca

Getting techy with itThe Board’s SYNCposium technology tradeshow in September had attendees thinking technically all-day.

Oakville native Scott Stratten, President of UnMarketing, was the first in a series of speakers. Stratten went through his marketing and customer service pet peeves.

Other presenters during the day included Rebecca Mountain, John-Ross Parks, Sandip Dagli, Michael Krisa and Leslie Babel.

Amber Mac, host of CTV’s App Central, was the final speaker for the day. Mac shared her insight on the evolution of technology and where social media is headed.

The Tradeshow Committee would like to thank all the members who attended the SYNCposium. An extra special thank you to the Committee volunteers who helped organize the event.

Stay tuned for next year’s event.

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2015 pres. charity selected

Newspaper clipping from 1980, detailing David Hawkins, a player from Oakville, who collided with his own player right under the clock at an in Stratford arena, and was paralyzed.

Community Corner

Scott Stratten kicks off SYNCposium, sharing his marketinghorror stories and how REALTORS® can do better.

Amber Mac speaks to attendees during her afternoon keynote session at the Board’s technology tradeshow, SYNCposium.

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Staff & Member SpiritHalloween spirit... Boo!

The Board is sad to be losing the service of Grace Dann, who has been with the Board since 2004. Grace has informed the Board of her decision to retire. Her final day will be December 31. Please join us in wishing her well at an open house party on December 15 at our Milton office from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Over the years, Grace has administrated listings for the MLS® System, handled amendments, access/interboard listings, data integrity and assisted members with general Matrix/MLS® questions. Grace was also one of the first staff assigned to the Milton office location following it’s opening in the fall of 2012.

Kaytee McNally will rejoin the Board in December following her maternity leave. Kaytee will assume the position of MLS® Coordinator and Customer Service Representative in Oakville.

Staff NewsBidding Grace Dann adieu

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, BEETLEJUICE! Linda Cameron Turchet from Century 21 Miller.

Having a themed staff event for the holidays? Send your pictures to communications@omdreb.on.ca.

Some staff did not make it through the Zombie attack.

The Oakville Office displayed great Halloween spirit.