President's Letter
By Jim Lambrecht, MiCAR President
Lambrecht Properties, Inc., Bingham Farms, MI

With the primary elections taking place next week on August 8, I feel it is important to stress the importance of registering to vote and actually going to the polls and voting. It is one thing to register but it is just as, if not more, important to get out there and make sure the REALTOR® voice heard.

As members of MiCAR, we have an entire political team working for us at the state and national level to protect our industry. This team works diligently to ensure REALTOR® issues are heard and REALTOR®-friendly legislators receive our support. We as REALTORS® need to do our part to support this work and go to the polls on August 8 and again on November 7 for the general election and make sure our voice as REALTORS® is heard and our profession is protected.

Before the primary you will be receiving cards in the mail that will show what candidates in your district are being supported by the REALTOR® associations. Read over this card and take it with you when you vote as a reference.

I also encourage you to visit the MiCAR Web site to view the issues of this election cycle and the Public Policy staff that works on our behalf.

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Keynote Addresses Available for Download

Listen to the keynote addresses from CommercialSource.com, the RCA's first virtual conference and expo.

Read more>

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K-16 Spending Mandate Threatens State's Economy

Michigan REALTORS® are particularly sensitive to the quality of schools in the state of Michigan. Great schools help build great communities. Great communities, by and large, power a strong housing market. However, the “K-16 Coalition for Michigan’s Future” (“K-16 Coalition”) would like for Michigan citizens to believe that their proposal for automatic, guaranteed annual funding increases for education in Michigan is indeed that strong plan. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.

Allied with several legislators, local officials, taxpayers, and trade associations, the Michigan Association of REALTORS® has taken a stand against plans put forth by the K-16 Coalition, viewing it as a substantial threat to the already strained state economy. The most troubling aspect of the Coalition’s proposal is the one billion dollars the plan would cost the state without any legislative oversight or accountability. The spending proposal mandates blind spending increases without any link to school performance, education quality or academic standards. Such a mandate is a dangerously reckless message to send to Michigan citizens.

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First Time Attendees Receive Special Convention Rate

The Michigan Association of REALTORS® is pleased to offer its members that have never attended its Convention & Expo a discounted rate at the 2006 Convention & Expo being held September 25 – 27 at the Amway Grand Plaza and DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. Convention & Expo first-timers can register for the complete program for only $119 if registered before September 8, 2006. After September 8, registration for first time attendees will go up to $179.

Jim Gillespie, known as the country’s top commercial real estate coach, will present three hours of continuing education at MAR’s Convention commercial track. The event will also feature numerous networking opportunities including a commercial real estate luncheon being sponsored by the MEDC. The commercial educational track is being sponsored by BuyLeaseBuild Magazine.

Come and reminisce about peace, love and freedom as the 1960’s are brought back to life with this year’s theme. Register today at MAR’s web site (www.mirealtors.com) to make sure you have a spot at the biggest event of the year for Michigan REALTORS®.

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Register as a Specialist at Michigan Living Network

MiCAR members who specialize in commercial real estate should register with these specialties on the Michigan Living Network. This search engine, which is linked off of the MiCAR Web site, is the consumer search engine used to find REALTORS® by location.

The search function that allows consumers to search by specialty was made available to MiCAR this spring, and allows those with specialties to be more easily marketed in their communities and more easily found by clients.

Find out more

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MiCAR Monthly
August 2006

• President's Letter

• Keynote Addresses Available for Download

• K-16 Spending Mandate Threatens State's Economy

• First Time Attendees Receive Special Convention Rate

• Register as a Specialist at Michigan Living Network