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Are You Involved in Your Community? If Not, Get to It.

I know most top agents have strong community ties. If you do not, you should really think about giving back to the community that is feeding your family.

You get a several benefits from volunteering:

You help improve the community you live in and are selling homes in.
You make many new friends and increase your network.
I find a many of my clients look me up because they or one of their friends know me from one of my community activities.
Your clients and other agents will respect you a much more.
It gives you a great sense of pleasure to know you made a difference.

Here is a list of some of my activities in my community:

Commissioner, Hawaii Civil Defense Advisory Council
Vice Chair, Leeward Region of the Honolulu Board of Realtors
President, Hawaii Chess Federation a 501(c)3
VP, Mililani Chess Club a 501(c)3
VP, Mililani Drug Free a 501(c)3
VP, Mililani Garden Homes 1 AOAO
County Vice Chair, Hawaii Republican Party
Coached indoor soccer
Volunteer for American Cancer Society
Volunteer for American Heart Association
Volunteer currently and in the past on several School parent groups
Worked 4 years in the State House of Representatives
Volunteered on many political campaigns including the Governor's

My intention is not to brag, please believe me this is not my intent. I am trying to make a point. Look over this partial list of things I am currently involved with and things from the past and just think about how big is my network of friends. When I decided to go into real estate, one of the factors in my decision was the shear number of people I know and that know me. What a natural line of work for an experienced salesman who knows so many people. The list doesn't even mention all the people I have done business with for over 20 years locally.

Do I exploit these areas, absolutely not! I am not stealth either. Mine and my wife vehicles have my signs and on them. I have golf shirts made up that have my name, company and designations embroidered on them. I wear them almost 7 days a week. I also have large signs at the malls in our community with my face and slogan, making me well recognized. I never push my business on any of the other volunteers; I don't need to and feel it is tacky. People continuously approach me or send me referrals. I can't even go to the store without someone stopping me to ask about the market.

I do send my Christmas Cards to most of my volunteer contacts, but do not solicit them in any other way. I also donate websites to most of these groups, some have a donated by banner on the bottom and some do not.

So the question is, are you involved in your community? If the answer is yes congratulations, if the answer is no, what are you waiting for? DrugFree

One last thought...

A new agent in my office two years suggested I cut back on all this volunteering. After all it was taking time away from my business. He also thought I was spending too much money on marketing and stated he would never make that mistake. He is no longer in the business.

If you volunteer in your community in ways you think other agents should consider please share that with us.

Aloha to all and have a Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian)

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Mililani Links:

Mililani Town Association: http://www.mililanitown.org/
Mililani Drug Free: http://www.Mililanidrugfree.org/
Mililani Chess Club: http://www.mililanichess.org/
Real Estate Sales: http://www.hawaiirandy.com/

Mililani Blog Posts:

Posted by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTOR® on 12/28/2006 11:25 AM

Comments (42)

volunteering, community, marketing, real estate, hawaii, mililani, century 21

Originally posted at: Hawaii Randy's Real Estate Opinions: Are You Involved in Your Community? If Not, Get to It.

This post has been included in Hawaii Information Honolulu County, HI Information Mililani, HI Information

42 Comments on Are You Involved in Your Community? If Not, Get to It.

DEC

2006

Hey Randy,

Here's my rundown...

Big Brother for BBBS

Official "Bell Ringer" for the Salvation Army

Fundraiser for Chico Challengers (local baseball team for children with physical disabilities)

Fundraiser for Ability First (week long camp for children with physical disabilities)

Volunteer for WTC (Work Training Center) on a local level.

I can't agree with you anymore! I think that it is important to give back to the community you love. I would hope that more people would join in to help make the world a better place. The people that I have met and relationships I have made are forever...

Scott

Scott - well said, congratulations on your involvement in the community.

Great motivational post, Randy! I will take your message to heart, as I have been putting getting involved in these kinds of activities on the back burner. P.S. I got your message about followin up. I have been tied up with a few difficult transactions, watching escrows for other agents on vacation.

Way to go Randy and Scott! I for one know that volunteering just makes me feel good about myself. There is no better feeling in the world. Writing out a check is nothing, actually pitching in and doing something about it is what it is all about! ^5 to both of you!

Kudos for your service Randy. I've done alot with my community as well. I've focused on scouting, coaching youth sports, school councils, etc. I've not done much volunteering in the industry. That is on the plan for this year.

Michael - Good Luck on the tough escrows. I will watch for your tent. Maybe I will pitch one up the street. Just kidding you own the tent idea.

Lysa - I agree it makes me feel good to pitch in.

Keith - I am finding that volunteering in the industry is a wonderful way to build relationships with the other Realtors in my area and it is a great learning experience.

Randy, I'm still raising children so my time is somewhat limited, but my favorite volunteer posts have been with the American Business Womens Association, the American Heart Association and Habitat for Humanity. IMHO everyone should check out Habitat!!!

I am 100 percent behind this post, with one exception. PLEASE only volunteer for events that you are truely supporting and are willing to complete what you say you will.

I worked in higher education and the number of volunteers that would "promise" a project and then never deliver made it even tougher on the limited staff and facilities that we did have. So do it for the RIGHT reasons, and not as resume filler.

Since we are doing some bragging, my list ...

Advisory board for the Delaware Cows Baseball Team - local wood-bat collegiate team a 503c
Public Relations Consultant for the Great Lakes Summer Baseball League (league in which the Cows play)
Delaware County Humane Society
Landscape committee chairperson for my subdivision
Main Street Delaware - downtown organizaztion that fosters community growth
American Red Cross Disaster Response Team (new haven't actually gone on a run yet, still getting all the certification classes out of the way.)

Writing out a check is nothing, actually pitching in and doing something about it is what it is all about! ^5 to both of you!

Lysa - having been on the other side of the fence on this one -- it takes BOTH to make these organizations work. If there is too many of one and not enough of the other then the organization falls apart.

Chris - I found volunteering in my children's activities is a great way for me to get involved. Both of my sons 10^th grade and Kindergarten are tournament chess players so we do most of the events as a male bonding experience. I video tape all of their sports events and give DVD copies to the other parents.

Toby we agree completely, no exceptions. You are so right, too many times a couple of people do all of the work and when the leave or burn out it dies. We are so fortunate in our planned community that when we ask we got lots of help. That was not my experience in the previous town I lived in on the same island.

Aloha

Randy, I have been involved in several things in my communities, from sports, to civic groups, to politics. I am also very involved in my Church. Some of the most rewarding times in my life have been in my involvement with these organizations. One thing that I would urge you and others reading this Post would be to get involved in helping out at the voting polls on Election Day. In most communities poll workers are very advanced in age, and a younger generation needs to get involved in order for some much needed technological changes to take place.

Good Job, Your community is luckey to have you. You are an inspiration to Realtors everywhere!

John Occhi, HEMET REALTOR

George - Good point about the polls. Instead of working the polls I have been volunteering as a poll watcher and poll watcher trainer for the last few elections; my way of ensuring the integrity of the elections. They do take workers at a young age and you make a great point about getting the young folks involved.

Great post Randy.

Jay and I have been so very involved in our REALTOR community..volunteering on many committees, task forces and working groups...plus leadership positions. I think we've neglected the community involvement to some degree because our REALTOR involvement has been so time consuming...your post makes me realize we should balance it more than we do. Thanks Randy!

Randy: I truly believe that giving back to the community is a good thing. Volunteering to assist your fellow man is the highest sacrifice that anyone can make. I don't have the same level of involvement and the number of organizations you do but I've volunteered for a number of organizations all my life and it's paid me back a thousand fold without any expectation for a return from those I worked with. The satifaction is fantastic. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You keep up your good work.

Ken

I appreciate your community involvement. How easy it is to drag oneself home in the evening, turn on the televions and chll out. Believe me, I've been guilty of this. We all need to nudge ourselves a bit (well maybe you don't!!!)

Hi Toby I agree! But some people out there that have alot of money and just write out the check for tax purposes, yes it does good for the organization, but I want someone to write the check because it will make them smile thinking of the people they are helping. I work year round for St. Jude and solicit funds and volunteers, but I want people to enjoy writing those checks, then I ask them to come help at the events too.

"Randy"

"<So the question is, are you involved in your community?>"

I am guilty of not being as involved as I should be. I think that I have just reached that point in my life where I have done so much that it is time to pass the torch to the younger folks. :)

I am thinking that this is not a bad thing. At least I don't think it is. Hmmm. Not really sure about that.

Okay. Now I am on the fence. :)

TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Does Supporting The Businesses In A Rural Town Count? ROAR!

Dead on. We lend on and sell homes in our communities. We need to be involved for ourselves and our businesses.These organizations give us the realtionships that help us to become experts.

Keep up the good work. I know the organizations you work with benefit from your enthusiasm.

Amen! I carve out time for church activities and am on the board for our local Habitat affiliate. It gives so much more back than it takes in time and money. And there is NO better feeling than the hug from a new Habitat homeowner when they get their new house!

Ok I have to admit. I'm a check writer. I was very heavily involved in my church up until about 2 years ago. I think I was on 3 or 4 committees, board of directors, Sunday school superintendent, staff parish, usher, liturgist and a few other thingies. I have never been political and not big on volunteering time. But I do love to write checks. And like Toby stated "it takes both". I have sponsored little league teams. Now most of my money goes to my church and World Vision. And of course TLW's shopping and comfort:)

Hey TLW don't forget you were very involved with the local board of Realtors for years and served as a director for the MLS.

Did someone say SHOPPING? :) Thanks Darlin' (Broker Bryant) I should have realized that my work at The BOR and MLS counted for something. :) TLW...ROAR!

I enjoy participating in activities in my community, this ranges from beautification to helping seniors. It is rather rewarding, especially when the seniors share their life experiences.

Monika - Besides helping to improve your community it is a great way to meet people.

Ken - Folks like you make the Realtor community look good.

Diane - It is not that hard. If a client called for a good listing I would jump up. I just put the meetings and events on my calendar. I never give it a second thought.

Lysa - Congratulations on volunteering for St. Jude. Fundraising is one of the toughest jobs and most people are too uncomfortable to do it.

TLW - Lysa had a great answer. If you do not have time or energy a check to a worthy cause can make a real difference. You will get a feeling of satisfaction and a tax deduction.

John - Thank you for the kind words, I am running a holiday chess tournament that my oldest son is playing in as I am responding to your post. While they play I get caught up on the computer.

Leigh - That is a tremendous cause. I was never a Jimmy carter fan until he got involved with it.

Bryant - Even those good agents who claim they do not do much, have a long history of giving back to the community.

TLW - My wife's shopping things also helps create a lot of jobs. Thank you for helping the economy J

Jennifer - That is great. I am amazed how the younger folks miss the opportunity to learn from the seniors. What a great wealth of knowledge.

Randy P: Definitely a fabulous blog and an important reminder to some to get involved locally. I have been wanting to get involved with the high school that I attended but I haven't gotten around to it. I am invovled in many other clubs, organizations and more.

Nima - I would get involved with my High School, but it is in Chicago and I am in Hawaii. I am starting to get involved with my sons high school. He plays back up center for the football team. He is training hard to make starter next year.

DEC

2006

I think the essence of any good consulting profession is being active in your community. For real estate, everyone is a potential client... or knows someone who can be. By establishing yourself as a like-minded person with an open heart, the community reciprocate the generousity at a later time.

Being good to your neighbor is just good business.

You've certainly set the bar high for volunteerism, Randy. And your decision not to push your business on anyone is congruent with one of my beliefs - 'Do the right thing and the money will follow.'

SVW. TLW...ROAR!

We support the West Valley Child Crisis Center www.WVCCC.org - a shelter for children who have "bad" home situations.

Being a good volunteer takes a lot of thought. I try not to bite off more than I can chew, but it's hard to not let people push you into doing more and more until you burn out. Everyone is so hungry for new volunteers, they have a tendency to overwhelm the new guys.

Barry - I couldn't have said it better. Reminded me of State Farm, be a good neighbor. :)

John - I see so many politicians and sales people going to church or joining community groups to better their career, they are so phony. I juts would hate to have someone thinking of me that way.

TLW - I keep forgetting what is SVW?

Suzanne - Great cause; my broker in charge uses our office as a drop off site the women's and children's shelter.

Ardell - Just like with customers I can so no without insulting people. They will be glad to get any help you can give them.

SMV = Smiling Very Wide :) TLW...ROAR!

TLW - Oh thanks, sometimes I am a little slow.

DEC

2006

"No" seems to be the hard thing to say, sometimes.

Randy, I'd commend you but your involvement is exactly what I expected.

Pssst...It's us. Happy New To You...Sorry we think it sounds better without the Year. SVW.

Last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. "T.S. Eliot"

From Broker Bryant and The Lovely Wife...Wishing You a Good New. ROAR!

DEC

2006

This isn't exactly volunteering, but it did create community and it felt great! We sent a mailer around our farm area telling people about the neighborhood food drive we would be having before Thanksgiving. People could drop off food to our office, or we would have some neighborhood kids going around collecting door-to-door (with parents in tow of course).

We collected over 300 items for the People's Resource Center in Wheaton. I don't know if anyone will remember we were the ones who organized it - and that really doesn't matter. I was good just to organize an event that benefited the community as a whole.