News & Issues: Around the SRA

SRA ‘Community Liaison’ program focused on building grassroots presence

By Jamie Ridge, President/CEO

Winter 2007

Not long after starting this job last year, I attended a municipal council meeting to share our position regarding a proposed ordinance that SRA staff felt could have a detrimental impact on real estate sales. In addition, we felt the ordinance had the potential to quickly spread to surrounding municipalities if approved.

After each council member had been given an opportunity to comment on the proposal, it was “the public’s” turn to speak. I made my way to the podium. “Can you please state your name and address for the record,” a council member asked. I gave my name, and shared that I lived in Downingtown. “Is Downingtown even in this County?” the council member asked with a sly grin. “Well, no,” I explained, “but I represent the 2500+ plus REALTORS® who do live in this County.”

After reading our prepared statement, I returned to my seat to witness the council unanimously pass the controversial (and since overturned) ordinance. In a subsequent trip to the municipality, our staff was told that only residents would be allowed to provide public comment in the future.

While our interaction with this particular municipality proved to be very frustrating, it certainly reinforced a rock-solid truth:

 

"ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL."

 Thomas (Tip) O'Neill

So, what’s my point in relaying this story? It’s pretty simple – if all politics are local, we need to build our organization at the grassroots. Just as the mighty AARP depends on its millions of members to influence policy at the federal level, we need our members to help us influence politics at the local level. The more local members we can have on hand at a municipal meeting, the more willing a local council will be to listen to our position.

An invitation

With this in mind, I would like to personally invite you to join our team as a “SRA Community Liaison.”  We are launching this new program to provide our members with an opportunity to become more involved in the areas of government which directly impact their business and communities where they live and work.

Membership in the SRA Community Liaison Program does not involve a significant time commitment. We understand and appreciate that REALTORS® are busy professionals. The SRA will only ask for the involvement of our Community Liaisons when it is absolutely necessary to influence local policy that could be detrimental to our collective ability to practice real estate in a particular municipality.

By joining, you will benefit from direct assistance by SRA staff in the event of a major real estate issue in your community. In addition, SRA staff will provide you with political advocacy training if necessary. Most importantly, you will become part of an important network of leaders that are dedicated to improving the local real estate market on behalf of their profession and the consumers it serves.

For more information about this vital program, please visit our website at: http://www.suburbanrealtorsalliance.com/political/documents/communityliaison.pdf