I love sunrises and sunsets. To me, they are beautiful and powerful in their symbolic start and stop to each day. And as sunsets signify the end of each day and the opportunity to reflect on what we did well and what we can improve upon, the end of each calendar year also provides that same opportunity but from a broader perspective.
Looking back, 2012 was an eventful year for our Association. Here is just a short list of the many things that took place:
- More than 120 brokers attended our first ever Broker Summit.
- We had a great showing at the REALTOR Rally in Washington D.C.
- We were one of only 14 states to win the coveted President's Cup RPAC Award.
- We launched THE LANDING which, although embryonic, is starting to show the power of virtual connection among our members that is essential in today's world.
- As part of THE LANDING, we were only the 3rd state association to implement NAR's new RAMCO association management system which will provide us unparalleled ways to better understand all of our members.
- And maybe most importantly, we looked inward at the way we engage members in the creation and delivery of member programs and services and approved the O2 Initiative, a major restructure of our governance and committee system.
Looking back, we should feel great about a year with so many major accomplishments. A year ago, most of these things were just ideas and in some cases, like O2, not even the idea had formed. And with all sunrises (or in this case a New Year), we look forward and think about what is in store for 2013.
I will talk about some of those things in my next blog post. Here, I just want to focus more on what I hope we are able to deliver to each of you. And that is one “WOW” moment. WOW is such a simple looking word and yet it means so much. At its core, it signifies an experience that makes us stop and take notice. That something unexpected happened. In some cases it is a positive experience and in others, can be the opposite. My hope is that each of you can experience at least one (and hopefully more than that) “WOW” moments from your Association. A moment that you stop and take notice that we have done something that is good, out of the ordinary, exciting and meaningful to you in your business.
The entire staff at the Missouri REALTORS wishes you a year full of health, happiness and business success…and at least one “WOW!”
‘Till next time…
Russ