We have just wrapped up dues billing for 2020, and here are the membership numbers: We have had 494 renewing and current members pay for 2020 dues, (470 budgeted). For MLS, we have 608 Realtors using the system, holding Realtor membership in the Berkshires and beyond (budgeted 585). We just welcomed 9 Realtors who had applied last year to full membership after taking a new member orientation last month. We had 27 Realtors drop membership, retire or the broker notified us they were no longer hanging their license with their firm in the coming year. We are happy to welcome back 20 affiliate members and 8 Affiliate Appraisers.

All members have either paid their dues, or the Designated REALTOR terminated license affiliation with the following agents:

Annie	Alquist	Barnbrook	Terminated/Resigned
Melissa	Avalle	Steepleview Realty	Dropped by DR
Mireille	Azzi	Mireille Azzi	Resignation
Jay	Baver	Lenox Canyon Realty, Inc.	Resignation
Patrica	Best	Best & Cavallaro	Resignation
Judi	Chenail	Real Living Realty	Retirement
Jack	Curley	Curley Appraisals	Resignation
Amal	Gerlitz	Steepleview Realty	Dropped by DR
Nicole	Mancivalano	Steepleview Realty	Dropped by DR
Adam	Perusse	Barnbrook	Dropped by DR
Justin	Price	Re/Max	Terminated per DR
Jeff	Rose	Rose Real Estate	Resignation
Barbara	Schafer	Keller Williams Berkshire	Resignation
Chrissy	Stewart	Barnbrook	Resignation
Donna	Terrill	Barnbrook	Resignation
Donna	Todd Rivers	Gile Real Estate	Resignation
Todd	Tyer	Berkshire Parkway Realty, LLC	Resignation
Ellen	Cohen	Cohen and White Associates	Resignation
Jan	Perry	Jan Perry & Assoc. Real Estate	Resignation
Susan	Beaudry	Cohen and White Associates	Resignation
Joyce	Harsch	Harsch Associates	Resignation
Rebecca	Weeks	Jan Perry & Assoc. Real Estate	Resignation
Kreston	Johnson	Lance Vermeulen Real Estate	Resignation
Gary	Campagna	The Kinderhook Group	Resignation
Robert	Killiard	Fairground Real Estate	Resignation
Chuck	Gillett	Wheeler & Taylor Real Estate	Resignation
Justin	Dezess	All Season’s Realty Group	Resignation

Members on the Move:

First Name	Last Name	Previous Office	New Office	Move Date
Mary	Blair	BHHS Barnbrook Realty	Signature Associates	1/14/2020
Tony	Blair	BHHS Barnbrook Realty	Signature Associates	1/14/2020
Cody	Gavin	Tucker and Associates	William Pitt Sotheby’s Int’l	1/10/2020
Sean	Taylor	Steepleview	Moresi Partners	1/16/2020

We also just had a new member Orientation class, so there are only 2 Provisional Members currently on file:

Steepleview Realty	Paula	Bopp	1/21/2020
Steepleview Realty	Stephany	Feliciano	1/30/2020

Here is our amazing list of Affiliate sponsors (in alpha order):

Platinum Sponsors:

Academy Mortgage

Adams Community Bank

Greylock Federal Credit Union

Lee Bank

MountainOne Bank

The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank

Trustco Bank

Advertising Affiliates

Greylock Insurance Company

Village Mortgage

Republic State Mortgage

Basic Affiliates

All-Ways Moving & Storage

Caring Transitions of the Berkshires

Cross Agency

Farm Credit East, ACA

Mayflower Valuation, LTD

Michael J Shepard PC

NBT Bank

Republic State Mortgage

Salisbury Bank and Trust, Co.

Village Mortgage

Commitment to Excellence

We also wanted to share a C2EX update. I’m sure you’ve seen our blasts about the members who have achieved the C2EX (Commitment to Excellence) endorsement from NAR. President Eric Steuernagle has challenged 100 REALTORS to complete this program to show our united commitment to raising the bar on professionalism! We have had the following 38 step up and join the efforts to raise the bar! (in alpha order)

Margaret Apkin-Freer, Lynn Arseneau, Corey Bishop, Marie Bourassa, Nikki Carchedi, Sandra Carroll, Leslie Chesloff, Stacy Chojnowski, Tammy Christen, Nancy Cuddihy, Barbara Davis-Hassan, Mary Jane Dunlop, Cory Evangelisto, Nicholas Geranios, Barbara Greenfeld, Allen Halstead, Mark Harris, Jane Kavanau, Christy Martino, Paula McLean, Anne Meczywor, Sheryl Morehouse, Jason Nocher, Bonnie Parsons, Michelle Picard, Pamela Roberts, Tiffany Roberts, Victoria Ross, Rosemary Schnopp, Mary Smith, Michael Sorrentino, Eric Steuernagle, Molly Thomas, Claudia Trancynger, Peter West, Mary Jane White, Brandon White and Brian Wright.

Members get started by logging-in to www.C2EX.realtor and taking the self-assessment that measures their proficiency in each of the elements of professionalism, known as the C2EX Competencies. Based on their results, the platform will generate customized learning paths, recommend experiences, and provide tools and resources to increase their knowledge and enhance their skillsets.

2021 Dues…Have You Paid Yours Yet??

January 21, 2021 / Member Center

Our Sympathy to Bill and Cindy Miner

January 1, 2021 / Member News

Twas the Night Before Listing

December 23, 2020 / Member Center

Twas’ the day before meeting

I’m listing their dwelling

They’ve lived there for decades

And now they are selling.

The seller’s ready to sign

The price has been set

We decided 150 was as much as they’d get.

I’m at the house, promptly at four

My paperwork’s ready, I knock on the door

The dog, barking and slobbery, jumps on my new coat

As I watch his teeth aim for my throat.

Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

I turned around slowly to see what was the matter

There’s the sellers’ brother, father and HIS father too,

Grampa Elroy, who did real estate back in 1922.

Dad built this house with his bare hands for his son

Mom wallpapered and wallpapered and still isn’t done

“The price is too low “they all said with a shout!

I gathered my comps, I had sales to point out

Look, this one has 4 bedrooms, a fireplace and granite

Your house has 2 bedrooms and the floors they are laminate.

Your kitchen is nice for those that like plastic

Right there is when Grampa became kinda spastic!

“They don’t make houses like these anymore!!!” he exploded!

And then the whole group, one by one just unloaded!

“This house it’s much better than ones in your report,

The location is great, across from the airport!!”

“Sure, the windows are old but they’re solid and strong

If you prop them up with a stick, they stay open all day long!”

“We didn’t need closets, we used drawers in a dresser!”

My stomach is sick I can’t stand the pressure.

“The price should be higher, 250 is good,

And New Yorkers will come, they love the neighborhood

They have the money, and we know THEY will pay!!!

We can always come down later if not, any way.”

So, on sellers, on father, on mother, on brother

Grampa Elroy, and cousins and your friend the plumber

Why don’t you talk and give me a call?

But for now, Dash away dash away dash away ALL!

– Lynn Arseneau, Berkshire REALTOR

And remember last year’s popular poem…

Twas’ the Night Before Closing…

Twas’ the day before closing

and all through the night
“I sure hope the walk-through
turns out all right”.

I’m a counselor, a teacher,
sometimes I’m a pastor
With TRID in effect, I can’t close any faster.

Made it through the inspection,
I thought I’d go crazy,
4 over-fused circuits
And a window that’s hazy.

The sewer line is bad,
The roof’s got 3 layers of shingles
Santa can’t land on top of it
With his jangles and jingles.

There’s a crack in basement
The furnace is dirty
And the radon results –
Can you believe, it was 30!?

This inspector is good
Explains with much clarity
It’s a Federal Pacific panel
And we have reverse polarity.

You’re going to need gutters
The chimney needs to be pointed
The plumbing pipes seem
To be all disjointed.

Now appliances, they stay every now and again,
But the stove must pass the test.
It must be bolted to the wall,
If, on the open door, a large turkey or child will rest!

Well, out on the lawn there arose such a clatter!
I ran to the window to see what was the matter!
And there outside he had a back hoe and a pump
Digging the septic was a cute plump little chump!

He had a broad face, and his donut, t’was jelly
A coffee with cream and some gloves that were smelly.
Long story short, the septic did fail
Oh gosh, what the heck will this mess entail?

Then, there’s the appraiser
The bank can’t find one here
It’s been over 6 weeks
And he’s from Delaware.

Oh, let us not forget the good ol’ Purchase and Sale
I sent it off for attorney review
He re-wrote it all then returned it to me
WHERE’s the VALIUM? Give me a few!

On co-broke, on lawyer, inspector and plumber; go banker, appraiser, this deal is a bummer,
On buyer, on seller and all of their parents
My head is all screwed up, I’m so incoherent!
A flood zone, asbestos, lead paint and now farming
The number of things is just so alarming!

AH…but the closing’s tomorrow
I’ve made it though
I’ll finally get thanked
For all I do!

So Santa will be there
At the new house on his sleigh
The kids will leave cocoa and cookies and hay.
I’ll cash my check and I’ll figure my pay,
It’s somewhere around 12 cents a day.

– Lynn Arseneau, Berkshire REALTOR