A Commitment to Education: How your organization can help its members
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Local and regional real estate organizations throughout the nation strive to provide services to their members. Perhaps the most needed service that your Board of Realtors, CCIM Chapter, RLI Chapter or Exchange Group can provide to your members that will bring the highest return on investment are education programs that go beyond that required for continuing education credits in your respective states.
In January of 2004, two organizations I belong to, the “Mile Hi Exchangors” and “Colorado Creative Marketing Exchange” made a commitment to upgrade the quality of our meetings and to provide education programs to our members to help them expand their horizons. We had several newer members coming to the marketing sessions not knowing for sure why, not having counseled the client, and not knowing what to do with the information they had. They needed to understand Equity Marketing, the fine art of Counseling and the basic Creative Real Estate Formulas.
Since that decision was made, we have conducted 3 one-day courses utilizing the services of instructors from the Society of Exchange Counselors S.E.C. Education Foundation. Chuck Sutherland presented his program on Creative Real Estate Formulas, Bob Brougham taught his program on Equity Marketing and I presented my course on Counseling.
The response from our membership and the Denver real estate community was overwhelming. Each program sold out with 70 real estate professionals in attendance per session. The attendance, quality, and production at the meetings have greatly improved. Our local Mile Hi chapter hosted the events in Denver and was willing to stand behind any losses. They broke even or a little better even though we only charged $40 per course.
So, here’s a suggestion for you to take to the leadership of the real estate organizations to which you belong. Ask them to commit to education. Remind them that this is the most important service they can provide to the membership. Create a one year plan to bring in at least three (3) unique and powerful education programs…. outside that boring box known as continuing education credits. It will make your organization stronger and your members better able to serve their clients and their own objectives.
The S.E.C. Education Foundation can assist you and your organization in meeting your education objectives with both financial and program assistance. Please visit our web site, www.secedfoundation.com and contact us for ideas on how to make it happen.
