BCAAR Member Benefits

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BATTLE CREEK AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® LOCAL BENEFITS

ELECTRONIC KEYBOXES - BCAAR makes available to its members the use of our state-of-the-art electronic keybox system. Electronic keyboxes are loaned to member offices, and the electronic entry cards are leased to our individual members.

EDUCATION – The BCAAR Education/Equal Opportunity Committee sponsors several educational seminars throughout the year, as well as monthly Brown Bag Seminars, GRI Courses and CRS Courses, just to name a few. The Education Committee also oversees the Professional Designation Reimbursement Program, which encourages real estate designations by reimbursing tuition costs to those who have achieved a recognized designation.

PUBLIC RELATIONS/SPECIAL EVENTS - All public relations and special events are the responsibility of the Public Relations/Special Events Committee. They promote public understanding of ethics, standards, values and community service practiced by REALTOR® members. The Committee also plans all social activities including the Annual Summer Picnic & Golf Outing and the Christmas Party.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS - General Membership Breakfast or Luncheon Meetings are held approximately five times a year and gives the opportunity to mingle with other members. There is no charge to REALTOR® members. Affiliates and Appraisers receive one seat free of charge.

BILLBOARD – A newsletter published biweekly with calendar events and issues associated with the real estate market. The official publication of BCAAR.

Charles SCHWAB – A full service brokerage firm providing a wide spectrum of investing solutions. In addition to Personal Choice offers, NAR members are eligible for special benefits and discounts. Call 1-800-979-9017.

HP INVENT – Hewlett-Packard Company provides REALTORS® the entire HP commercial product line at a savings of up to 10%. Includes printers, PCs, notebooks, supplies, accessories and more. Call 1-800-888-8177 or visit www.hp.com/go/nar

NEXTEL – A leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services. Special savings offered to NAR members who sign up for wireless service under the REALTOR® VIP Program. Call 1-877-607-8998, log on to www.nextel.com/nar or visit your nearest Nextel store (Mention your 9 digit NRDS#)

FedEx – As a member of NAR you are entitled to save up to 21% on select FedEx Express shipments. Call 1-866-869-1171 or visit www.fedex.com/nar and enter code LCRS8PTP to sign up or link your existing account.

ZIPFORM – The official software for the National Association of REALTORS®, offering ZipFormDesktop, ZipFormOnline and ZipFormPDA, a data collection tool for Palm OS handheld devices.
Call 1-800-MY-FORMS or visit www.zipform.com

HERTZ – Your NAR membership enables you a year-round discount with Hertz. Other offers and discounts are available subject to blackout and availability. 1-800-654-2200 and mention your NAR/HERTZ CDP#182806.

REALTOR®.com – Empowers REALTORS® to secure more listings, sell more homes and promote themselves to the largest qualified online audience of homebuyers and sellers. Consistently ranked as the NO. 1 homes for sale site. Call 1-800-878-4166 or visit http://Resource.REALTOR.com
There are too many offers and discounts to list so be sure and log onto www.REALTOR.org/realtorvip for the most up-to-date information about REALTOR VIPâ Alliance Program. When contacting REALTOR VIP don’t forget to mention your NAR membership.

REALTOR® TEAMSTORE - Available to members are a wide variety of apparel, accessories and promotional products displaying the REALTOR® logo.
www.realtorteamstore.com

MAR BENEFITS:

· DISH Network Special Offer – Members can download a special gift certificate for major discounts on a DISH Network satellite dish. The gift certificate, worth more than $100 can be given to clients or potential clients. Go to www.mirealtors.com and click on member benefits for more information and to download the certificate.

· Dental Insurance - First Commonwealth – Members have their choice of two programs: DHMO coverage, affording excellent benefits when network dentists are obtained. Managed Choice (PPO) coverage, which provides two levels of benefits, depending on whether obtaining a participating or out-of-network dentist.
Contact Michael Brillati @ (800) 342-8908 or www.groupassociates.com

· Errors and Omissions Insurance – Pearl & Associates offers you professional liability insurance. You choose coverage maximums and deductibles. Coverage is available for lawsuits alleging frauds, discrimination, personal injury and more.
Contact Lisa Scoble at (800) 393-2837 or www.pearlins.com

· Health Insurance – Blue Cross Blue Shield – Comprehensive major medical plans with various deductibles, no medical requirements, pre existing conditions covered after six months.
Contact Priscilla Adkins @ (248) 223-1949 or www.groupassociates.com

· Legal Advocacy – www.mirealtors.com for information

Legal Hotline, A direct, toll-free access to qualified attorneys who provide legal information on real estate law and related matters.
Dial (800) 522-2820 10 am – noon or 1pm – 3pm, weekdays.
Dispute Resolution, A fair, economical, quick and private voluntary alternative to litigation adopted by the MAR and administered by the American Arbitration Association.
Legal Action Fund, Used to participate in legal cases which make good law for REALTORS® and prevent bad legal precedence from being established.
Standard Forms developed and designed by MAR for your protection against liability.
Legislative Advocacy – Full-time lobbyists committed to professional representation on legislative issues in Lansing where MAR is the recognized voice for real estate.
License Law, The first state in the nation to introduce a real estate license law, MAR, continues to be a leader continually recommending changes to the law in order to ensure the highest caliber of professionals in our state.

MEMBER RESOURCES

· Michigan REALTOR®, MAR’s magazine, containing informative articles on real estate trends and advocacy efforts.

· REALTOR® Advocate newsletter, containing articles covering MAR’s public policy, legislative and legal advocacy efforts.

· Web site www.mirealtors.com with 24-hour access to valuable industry, legislative and legal information and money-saving member discounts and services.

· Professional Standards – Workshops, training members on Local Association Grievance or Professional Standards Committee, Manual, the MAR legal updates versions of the NAR manual ensuring information meets Michigan laws, and Arbitration/Ethics Hearings; Professional Standards Committee and Grievance Committee, comprised of MAR members, providing ethics and arbitration hearings in limited circumstances.

· Annual Convention and Expo providing nationally known professionals presenting the most up-to-date information on what it takes to be successful in real estate.

· Graduate REALTORS® Institute designation program, which includes completion of GRI I, II, and III courses. Offered exclusively through MAR, cosponsored through Local Associations and offered at convenient locations.

· Shipping Discounts –Offers discounts on Next Day Airâ and Worldwide Express shipments. Guaranteed overnight delivery, inter-national delivery, electronic tracking, easy access to services and Saturday delivery and pickup are among the benefits of this plan. Call (800) 325-7000 or www.ups.com

COMMITTEES

Budget/Non-Dues Revenue:
Develop and prepare the Association’s annual financial blueprint. Evaluate financial requests and make recommendations to the Board of Directors. Develop ways to institute new revenue sources, focus on long term sources of income and refrain from creating new income sources that take away from current members.

Education/Equal Opportunity:
Working with the State and National Associations to encourage, promote and arrange programs of educational benefit to the membership. To develop and promote fair and equal housing and to review and recommend programs of interest and value to the membership as they pertain to fair housing laws.

Grievance & Professional Standards:
Receive, review and/or investigate all written complaints filed with the Association, and refer cases for hearings to the Professional Standards Committee. Receive and hear complaints regarding member ethics and business disputes. All committee members are required to attend MAR Professional Standards training annually.

Governmental Affairs/RPAC:
Guard and promote the interests of the real estate industry before all legislative bodies (Federal, State and Local) and perform other duties pertaining to legislation affecting real property and the licensing act.

Membership/Bylaws:
Establish awareness of Association functions to members to help improve participation. Develop new membership benefits, manage member recognition and solicit non-REALTOR® offices.

MLS (Multi-Listing Service)/Technology:
Review, propose, adopt and amend the MLS Rules & Regulations, and propose fees and fines subject to review and approval of the Board of Directors. Monitor and update standard forms as needed. Keep the Association aware and informed of changes in technology that will allow members to compete effectively and efficiently in our real estate market.

Public Relations/ Special Events:
Participate in civic affairs, promote real estate as a profession and plan social events with approval of the Board of Directors.

WHO WE ARE

We are an Association of REALTOR® Members, Appraiser Members, and Affiliate Members serving the housing and real estate industry. We are members of both the Michigan Association of REALTORS®, and the National Association of REALTORS®. As such, our members adhere to a strict code of ethics protecting consumers, community and private property rights. We are also a member of the Southwestern Michigan Regional Information Center, a corporation of REALTOR® Associations in southwest Michigan who share multiple listing data.

WHAT WE DO

· Unite real estate and housing professionals.

· Promote and maintain high standards of conduct in the real estate profession.

· Provide a liaison between real estate owners and real estate professionals so their interests may be safeguarded and advanced.

· Further the interest of home and other property ownership.

· Unite our members with the Michigan and National Association of REALTORS®, thereby obtaining benefits and privileges for our members.

· Benefit the public by insuring our members are licensed, prescribed and controlled by the National Association of REALTORS®.

ASSOCIATION STAFF

Kathy Perrett, Chief Executive Officer
Brenda Mehaffey, Administrative/MLS Manager
Kathy Walker, Accounting & Membership Manager

Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS^®

214 Capital Avenue, NE
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Phone (269) 962-5193
Fax (269) 962-5404

www.bcaar.com