The year 2022 has been another great year for the Lake Superior Area REALTORS®. We continue to see increasing membership and continue to find ways to meet members where they are and show up. So far in 2022, we’ve held relevant continuing education, hosted lunch and learns, traveled 1000s of miles to host member appreciation events and produced a highly successful annual meeting, where nearly 100 REALTORS® came together for a common purpose: to support the betterment of our association and our industry.

This year has also been one of new beginnings, where we have hired two additional team members who play integral roles in our membership and billing departments. We recently installed new leadership that will be your voice for years to come.  And yes, you have hired and welcomed me, your CEO, just a few months ago. It has been a great honor to meet so many of you and I look forward to meeting many more of you very soon. As I said at our annual meeting, our organization has written a compelling story in its nearly 120-year history. But the story doesn’t stop. It keeps going. What will the next chapter be? Our story can be whatever we want it to be. If we work together, keep our minds open, listen to one another, and imagine together, I know that the best part of the story is yet to come. Thanks again for a great 2022, and I look forward to working along side you as we move into 2023. 

Gabe Walsh

 

2021 Association Updates:

• 2022 Membership Survey completed earlier this year. The top three business challenges were…. lack of inventory at the top (73 % selected this), then DIY Consumers, and outside industry influences. 62% of our membership is over the age of 45. Over 43% of our membership is over the age of 55. We have received some encouraging feedback
• Most members see LSAR as playing an active role in the community
• A majority of members join LSAR for reasons beyond having access to the LSAR MLS
• Members continue to see LSAR as a voice for private property rights and believe the LSAR has its best interest in mind
• Formulated a task force to conduct a search for a new CEO, which ultimately led to the hire of our new CEO, Gabe Walsh
• Hired New Staff Members: Donna Bergum (Billing Administrator) and Sabby Blodgette (Member Services Assistant)
• Got back in the full swing of in-person travel
  • LSAR Leadership Attended the NAR Annual Convention in San Diego, where we were able to share ideas and bring back many more with hundreds of other associations about MLS Services, Member Services, etc.
  • LSAR Leadership Attended the NAR Legislative Meetings in Washington DC, where we were able to meet with Federal elected officials and advocate for issues impacting private property rights and homeownership. Also, Two Scholarship Recipients were able to attend this important meeting.
• LSAR promoted the value of the REALTOR® Brand to the public and promoted the value of REALTORS® by sponsoring and tabling at the Duluth and St. Louis County at the Capitol Days event. Our organization was also able to advocate for private property rights with State Government.
• LSAR also sponsored and had a table at the Twin Ports Pride Festival, where we were able to share materials with individuals who had an interest in real estate careers. We were also able to educate about fair housing, the value of homeownership, and the value of a REALTOR® at this event.
• LSAR continued to take its message on the road and meet members where they are by traveling to Ely, Lutsen, Moose Lake, and Washburn to hold member appreciation events, as well as a final event in Duluth/Superior.
• LSAR is placing billboards over the course of August, September, and October in six locations that promote our organization and the value of having a REALTOR® who follows a strict code of Ethics.
• LSAR conducted an extensive communications audit to better understand how we should be communicating with our members, which we will continually work to execute
• LSAR participated virtually in the MN Housing Day at the Capitol

Realtors as Neighbors Foundation Updates:

• We had the most successful golf scramble in Foundation history and raised just over $16,000!
• We have approved four grants so far in 2022, for a total of $17,500. With the fantastic fundraising over the last year, we can help more people that meet the Foundations mission.

• Speaking of the Foundation’s mission, it is: To provide volunteers, fundraising and contributions to organizations or individuals to assist with natural disaster relief, homebuyer education services, homeowner assistance, or community relief organizations.

Year end is December for the Foundation so please keep our mission in your thoughts at dues time and when you make your year-end contributions!

Please check out our website and our fund application at RealtorsAsNeighbors.org and remember to like our Facebook page. As you go about your business in the community, look for opportunities we might be able to take on to help our neighbors in need.  Thank you to all of you for your generous donations and support!