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 Joe Kras, communications specialist, at 517.334.5535 or e-mail him at mar@mirealtors.com.

When she is not selling real estate, Betsy Demaray is busy traveling around the world, speaking and working on projects through Rotary. Because of her devotion to Rotary, Demaray was given the “Service Above Self” award in March, the highest honor a Rotarian can receive.
“I was very shocked and honored to receive this award,” Demaray said. “It is a very special honor.”

Through Rotary, Demaray has traveled to places like Japan, Jamaica and England. In April, she went to Nicaragua to work on a project called “Children of the Dump.”

“Children there literally live off of the dumps,” Demaray said. “Rotary worked with the priest down there, looking for ways to expand the project and see what other help we could provide in the area.”

Through rotary, Demaray has also hosted exchange students in her home and is currently working on part of Rotary’s 100th birthday anniversary. Demaray is the general chair of the breakfast and is in charge of planning the meal 1,500 people will attend.

“I really enjoy Rotary,” Demaray said. “As one person in a small Michigan town, I have no impact on people. But, through Rotary, I can really make a difference and feel like I am impacting so many people.”

Peter Banwell, Flint Area Association of REALTORS®, applies his love of real estate and the housing business to all his volunteer activities. Banwell is active with Habitat for Humanity and is the director and secretary of the women’s shelter of Flint.

“Everything I am involved in charity wise is somewhat housing related because that’s what I know and that’s my gig,” Banwell said.

The shelter of Flint supports the women and children in the area, Banwell said. As director, he is involved with several fundraising activities. One of the largest fundraisers is the Mother’s Day Appeal. The children of the shelter make a greeting card and then anyone who donates to the shelter can have one of the cards sent to a mother of their choice on Mother’s Day.

“Because an overwhelming number of our clients are mothers, we relate our charity to that,” Banwell said. “And, this is a nice way to let someone know you are thinking of them as well as others.”

Banwell’s printing company, The Recognition Factory, donates the printing for the Mother’s Day cards.

“The shelter is an organization I feel serves a very important need,” Banwell said. “And anytime I can give back to a community organization that relates to housing, that is fine by me.”

Brian Huggler, ABR, CRS, GRI was named the 2005 president’s liaison to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents NVM.

“I really hope to further relationships with our Dutch counterpart,” Huggler said. “We think of Michigan as an island like state and wonder how international real estate can impact us. But, the international area is an amazing place to do business.”

Huggler, who began in January, will spend the year networking and building up relations between NAR, the Dutch Association and the Greater Lansing Association. While liaison, Huggler said he wants to get more residents of the Netherlands to come to the U.S. to look at land.

“The Dutch are one of the largest landholders property wise in the U.S.,” Huggler said. “I want them to come here and see if there is any interest in marketing our property to them.”

Although he hasn’t been to the Netherlands this year, Huggler has traveled there in the past.
“Culturally, they are very different,” Huggler said. “They are all about establishing trust first. It takes time to development a relationship but once they know you, they will do business with you.”

John Stauffer, E-pro, GRI, CRS, ABR, SRES, RAM, spent just seven years in the real estate business before he decided it was time to venture out on his own. In 1997, he opened Stauffer Realty out of his home. Although the agency was doing well, Stauffer wanted to expand again.

Now, Stauffer is in charge of two agencies, the one from his home and a “help you sell” one he runs out of the local Meijer.

“I was very excited about the help you sell,” Stauffer said. “But, I didn’t want to give up Stauffer Realty. I think of it as owning both a Ford and a Jaguar dealership. Both dealerships work and both serve different needs.”

Besides being active with his two agencies, Stauffer finds time to participate in his local church, rotary, boy scouts and attending sporting events for his three teenage boys.

“You need to be active and involved in different ways,” Stauffer said. “If you are not active it will be hard to be successful in the real estate business.”

For 35 years Kathy Haggart, GRI, CRS, SRES, ABR, has been a part of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, serving as a “big sister” to seven boys.

“My husband and I are very proud of our involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Haggart said. “We remain in touch with all of them. I planned and hosted the wedding of our fourth little brother which took place at our lakefront home.”

Besides being involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Haggart is also active in Habitat for Humanity, Keep America Beautiful, the Salem Housing Task Force and is a board member and volunteer for a drug counseling program.

Although she stays active in the community and with real estate, Haggart said her biggest accomplishment over the years was raising their adopted son, who arrived at their door when he was 11 years old.

“He’s now 33, married and gave us two beautiful granddaughters,” Haggart said. “We continue to offer support to his family by sponsoring my daughter-in-law’s efforts to become a registered nurse.”