Members make the difference in the real estate profession
MAR wants to know more about its members. If you know of a REALTOR® who’s done something special, has a great idea or insight about the Michigan real estate industry, or is just perfect for some publicity, we want to hear about him or her. Call Tim Kissman, director of communications and marketing, at 517.334.5568 or e-mail him at mar@mirealtors.com.

From the art community to the local business district, Nancy Butler has found a way to reach out to all the members of her community. Butler, GRI, CRS, CRB, ABR, Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®, spends her free time volunteering for multiple organizations.

“ My main interest is improving the community,” Butler said. “So many people have supported me in my business and now I enjoy giving back to the community.”

Butler is on the southwest symphony and the Morris Civic Art Center boards.

“ My mom was very interested in the arts,” Butler said. “So I followed through with it as well.”

Butler is also the campaign chairman for United Way this year and a part of the downtown development authority/main street committee.

“ We work with the city to improve the community everywhere and in everyway,” Butler said.

Carol Park, CRS, GRI, associate broker, Midland Board of REALTORS®, has touched people of all generations, spreading her volunteer time between both the young and the old.

Park volunteers once a week at an adult day care for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

“ My dad had Alzheimer’s,” Park said. “So when I go volunteer, I think, ‘dad, this is for you.’ I bring joy to them and just want to see them smile.”

Park also spends time helping the younger generation. For three years she has participated in the Magic Ride where she bikes 48 miles to help raise money for abused children. As part of this program, Park also initiated a bike collection. Last year she collected 10 bikes to donate to the family center for children.

“ It’s important for everyone to have physical things to do,” Park said. “I thought this was a way to tie in my love for bicycling and promote the Magic Ride as well.”

Park also helped with the collection of about 100 cuddle pups that go to abused children as well as to police and firefighters.

“ They can bring these stuffed animals to the scene of an accident or fire to help comfort the children,” Park said.

Randy Bruce, Metropolitan Consolidated Association of REALTORS®, has been named Mayor Pro Tem of Farmington Hills, MI. Bruce, a 17-year resident of the city, took oath of office on Nov. 15. It is a one-year term. As Mayor Pro Tem he steps in for the mayor when the mayor is unavailable to attend meetings or events. Bruce was elected to the City Council in 2003 and is serving a four-year term. One of his proudest achievements is with the city’s budget.

“ We balanced the city budget without tax increases or staff layoffs while in the face of decreasing State revenue sharing.”

He serves as liaison to the Commission on Children, Youth & Families, which examines issues affecting children and families, and organizes and sponsors programs to educate the community. Bruce also belongs to the National League of Cities, lobbying Congress for national programs dealing with families and other human development and social issues, such as Medicare and No Child Left Behind.

“ Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week. It takes a very delicate balancing act,” Bruce said. “I always enjoyed real estate because I like land use topics and dealing with property.”

Serving at the soup kitchen has become a tradition for Ram Kateel, GRI, CRS, Saginaw Board of REALTORS®. Every Tuesday Kateel volunteers at a Saginaw soup kitchen where he cooks, cleans and serves food to community members.

“ I’m giving back to the community and I feel good about that,” Kateel said. “And when my children come back to town, they come work with me. ”

This is Kateel’s fourth year as a volunteer. As part of the program, he also helps the soup kitchen prepare about 350 lunches daily for the Saginaw city schools.

“ I could work there forever,” Kateel said. “It’s a good experience. ”

Kateel works for Re/Max and in late September he was invited into the Re/Max hall of fame. He is the third member of his office to receive this award.