S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

The S.E.C. Education Foundation is pleased to report that next month, on November 14th, Ted Blank will present “Tough Questions in Tough Times = Closed Transactions” at the National Association of REALTORS^® Conference in Anaheim. The course is approved for four hours of continuing education credit in California.

As I pen this short article, I am struck by the dynamics of change that are having such profound impacts all around us. At the forefront of today’s news is President Obama’s announcement that he and our congressional leaders have reached a consensus for raising the federal debt limit, and the news media are speculating about whether they can get enough of the rank-and-file members of Congress lined up to pass the legislation.

The Education Foundation’s new Board is in place, up and running, with renewed enthusiasm for the opportunities 2011 offers to deliver S.E.C.-based education and roll out new fund raising events for the Farley Fund.

We are looking forward to a productive and exciting year that will start off with the “Day with the Masters II” program January 23 & 24, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The S.E.C. Education Foundation is pleased to present some of the Society’s most prominent instructors. This is a program you definitely don’t want to miss. Registration information and more details can be found in the Upcoming Events section of this issue of the Observer.

The uncertainty of the current economy creates significant pressure on the charitable resources of The Education Foundation’s Farley fund to provide timely and effective help for those in need of assistance. While financial assistance is certainly important, and greatly appreciated, there are many other things we can do; not the least of which is to do what we have been trained to do — seek to provide compassionate, effective, and timely counsel.

During The Society’s Las Vegas Marketing Meeting in January, the Education Foundation sponsored a luncheon with our supported instructors. Having everyone in the same room created an opportunity for an exchange of ideas and concerns that was very beneficial.

The S.E.C. Education Foundation Board looks forward to 2010 and anticipates that creative real estate education will continue to be a valuable tool for commercial real estate practitioners. The Foundation is working to provide you with quality education in various locations around the country. Please consider helping us spread the word about the Foundation’s efforts by contacting your local organizations and suggesting one or more courses that they might consider sponsoring in your area.

The S.E.C. Education Foundation Board continues efforts to promote and deliver quality creative real estate education. A large database of prospective audiences has been assembled and preliminary course information has been provided to them. The next task is to work with instructors to create more effective marketing materials. A meeting to organize this effort with the instructors is planned in conjunction with the upcoming Las Vegas Marketing Meeting.

Times like these create both challenges and opportunities. This is not only true in our chosen arena of Real Estate, but also in The Education Foundation’s efforts to expand The Society’s educational outreach. Today, more than any time in more than a decade, our method of conducting business provides solutions where others don’t.

As the new S.E.C. Education Foundation Board has been going about the work of organizing programs and tasks in support of Ed Foundation goals, we have not lost sight of our ongoing responsibility to schedule timely and pertinent education for our Sunday education forums held in conjunction with S.E.C. Marketing Meetings.