Convention 2005 Wrapup

REALTORS® from across the state found value in this year’s Michigan Association of REALTORS® Convention and Expo held on September 27– 29 at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant. More than 1,400 professionals came together at the luxury resort and spa to take advantage of all that the annual event had to offer.

“There was a great crowd at the Convention,” said Doug Whitehouse, 2005 MAR President. “MAR put together a first-class event with everything a REALTOR® could want.  There were informative sessions with a total of 49 Continuing Education credits available, networking opportunities, and just time to have fun.”

MAR’s Convention offered a record number of Continuing Education credits, with over 20 courses being approved “This Convention makes fulfilling Continuing Education requirements easy because you can pick up numerous credits in one location and at the same time learn about how to improve your services,” said Whitehouse.

The first day of the convention featured the President’s Cup Golf Outing and Grand Assembly with the presentation of the REALTOR® Active in Politics and the REALTOR® of the Year awards and Mitch Albom giving a heartfelt keynote address. 

With the perfect weather and a sold out event, everyone who spent the day at the Championship PohlCat Golf Course was a winner.  The team that came out on top was Matt Maire of Kalamazoo, Jenni Shepard of Lenawee, Val Young of Midland, and Mark Merriman of Adrian. There were also great door prizes and gifts for longest drive and closest to the pin winners.

The Grand Assembly was a standing room-only event.  Sheri Sutherby-Fricke of the Down River Association received the REALTOR® of the Year honor, and Matt Davis of the Battle Creek Association took home the REALTOR® Active in Politics award. 

Sutherby-Fricke has made many positive contributions to the REALTOR® profession and has had an active history with MAR on many levels. She is currently a member of MAR’s Public Policy Committee and has served as president, president elect, secretary, and treasurer. She is currently A director for the Association and a member of the Wyandotte City Council.  “Sheri brings an exceptional amount of energy and enthusiasm to her work,and that passion is clear to anyone who has served on a committee or project with her.  MAR is privileged to have such a dynamic personalityrepresenting the REALTOR® of the Year Award,” said Whitehouse. 

As a Marshall REALTOR®, Davis has made tremendous strides for his hometown, his local association, the Battle Creek Area Association of REALTORS®, and for MAR.  As chair of the MAR Public Policy Committee, he’s ready to champion real estate-friendly causes, private property rights, affordable housing, and much more. Davis is also a Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman Schwarz. 

“Matt’s commitment to REALTOR®-political issues is outstanding and inspirational to the people he works with,” said Bill Martin, MAR’s CEO.  Mitch Albom closed the Assembly by addressing the audience with life lessons from Tuesdays with Morrie and held the crowd until the Welcoming and Opening reception for the Expo. 

The packed Expo brought in all types of vendors. MAR was featuring a new U.S. Bank Credit Card that has special incentives for REALTORS®, and RPAC hosted the RPAC Classic, a putting tournament to raise funds.  Natan Espinozatook home the grand prize, a diamond tennis bracelet valued at $1,500.

RPAC also put together a successful silent auction that feature donations from local associations and raised approximately $14,600.   Among the top items were a trip to Las Vegas, donated by the Grand Rapids Association, and Pistons tickets, donated by the Metropolitan Consolidated Association. 

“The RPAC silent auction was a success this year because of our dedicated supporters,” said Dave DeBruyn, RPAC Chair. “On behalf of RPAC, I would like to thank all the local associations and individuals for donating some outstanding items, and the REALTOR® members who took the time to bid on the packages. 

This will be an event we bring back to next year’s Convention in Grand Rapids. ”This year’s Convention once again featured a commercial track, and, for the first time, an appraisers’ track. Both offered opportunities for Continuing Education credits. 

Another popular event at Convention is the REALTOR® Royale, and this year was no exception.  Once again it was standing-room only, as REALTORS® enjoyed music by a live band and soaked up the homecoming atmosphere.

The closing keynote featured Laurie Puhn, president of Laurie Puhn Communications.  Attorney, communication expert, and author of Instant Persuasion: How to Change Your Words to Change Your Life, her presentation held a majority of the crowd until the Convention ended, selling and signing copies of her book afterward. 

From the theme to the location, the MAR 2005 Convention & Expo was a hit with attendees. Teri Spiro of the Western Wayne Oakland Co. Association said, “I have heard from several people that this was their favorite convention to date. The theme lent itself to creativity from staff and attendees. There really was a positive buzz about Convention. I heard a lot of compliments about the seminars this year, more than I ever remember. The location was convenient; the physical layout of meetings and Expo was really one of the best.”

Make sure to mark your calendars to join MAR for its 2006 Convention & Expo at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids on September 25 – 27.  A destination itself, the Amway Grand Plaza has the timeless beauty of the early 20th century with today’s contemporary styling. The hotel offers six options for dining, including The 1913 Room, Michigan’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. For more information on sponsor opportunities, contact MAR’s Sandy Stump at 800-454-7842 or via e-mail at sstump@mirealtors.com.