Today, I had the honor of being the Guest Speaker at the Women's Council of Realtors® Luncheon at the Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, MI. I arrived early to find the members already busy at work, manning the tables and decorating the hall.
Mary Mishler, the chapter President was attending to the final details and making sure everything was in order. There was a good vibe in the room and Mary indicated that registration for this luncheon was one of the highest of the year!
The Grand Rapids Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors® (WCR) has provided real estate professionals in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area with a number of different educational opportunities throughout the year.
They have also been involved with projects which serve the community. Recently, WCR participated in the F.L.O.W. project which coordinated Free Landscaping for several homes which were owned by moderate income families in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The project combined the efforts of volunteers and local business leaders in beautifying local neighborhoods.
The Womens' Council of Realtors ® Grand Rapids, MI chapter has been graced with forward thinking, visionary leaders. Their meetings cover issues which are impacting the lives and welfare of agents today. They had asked me to speak about Social Media & Digital Technology and the ways in which professionals in the real estate industry could utilize these tools to thrive. My presentation lasted for about 30 minutes and covered information about significant consumer and generational shifts as well as practical ways in which Social Media can be used to generate business and build relationships.
It was so exciting to see a great turnout. Men & women from various areas of the real estate community including real estate agents, real estate brokers, lenders, stagers, builders, inspectors and appraisers came to learn about the manner in which business is being transformed with the aid of Social Media tools.
As I surveyed the room, I was struck by how fortunate we are to have women like Mary Mishler, the current Grand Rapids, MI WCR President, JoAnne Hatfield, President Elect for the Michigan Chapter of WCR, Donna Batdorf, the past President of WCR in Grand Rapids and Pat Vredevoogd-Combs, past President of the Grand Rapids Chapter of WCR, the Michigan WCR President and the 2007 President of the National Association of Realtors® in our midst amongst others. I am grateful to be a part of an association which produces leaders who are making vital contributions at the local, state and national level.
On the east side of the state, another Active Rain member was also educating members of her professional community. I just stopped by Kathy Tofts blog about Missy Caulks presentation in Ann Arbor, Mi yesterday. It was wonderful to see Missy sharing her vast knowledge and experience with agents in her area.
I'm looking forward to being with Missy and other agents in the Ann Arbor area in early December (December 11, 2008) to teach Continuing Education Classes in Blogging, Technology and Ethics.
It's wonderful to see how these grassroots efforts are providing real estate professionals with the information and tools that they desperately need in these tough times. I ended my session with the following statement. "Things are going to change. The question is will YOU be willing to make the change we need happen?"
It's great to see Michigan agents leading the way and advancing the progressive knowledge of these technological breakthroughs. In spite of all we're going through, Michigan remains an extraordinary place to live and work. I'm proud and thankful to call it home!
*Special Thanks to Michelle Gordon who kindly forwarded pictures of the event. My camera battery decided to sputter out just as the event started.
Michelle Gordon has also blogged about the event here...
Ed Vogt, a first time attendee to a WCR event blogged about her experience here...
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