Our Valentine to Berkshire REALTORS
Professional Standards Case Study – Article 1
Hi, I’m a Buyer’s Agent Now…. Or Am I?
Webinar: RE33RC11 Real Estate Brokerage Professional Ethics for Residential and Commercial Real Estate
Member Poll: Green Designation
January 2016 Notes from the MAR Legal Hotline: SNOW
Professional Standards Case Study – Article 8
9 Ways to Save With the REALTOR Benefits® Program This Holiday Season
December Notes from the Legal Hotline
Professional Standards Case Study – Article 12
Professional Standards Case Study – Article 1
Professional Standards Case Study – Article 13
Signs Must be Placed with Permission
Massachusetts Real Estate Advertising Requirements
1999 REALTOR of the YEAR, Sandy Drager
And the winner is…Many of you know Sandy from her continued involvement in the Board’s leadership, and although it is wonderful to recognize her for her achievements this year, we can’t help but be impressed by the pattern of her volunteer commitment.
REALTOR SPIRIT, as written by Sandy Drager
As a member oft he Berkshire County Board of Realtors, and therefore a member of the State and National boards, I feel our organization has grown in the 21 years that I have been a Realtor. When I first came into this business, our reputation at that time seemed to leave a lot to be desired to the public. Our image has certainly changed a great deal since then. The quality of dedicated, honest REALTORS who adhere to our Code of Ethics is really great. Unfortunately, the press only prints what it wants to, so our publicity is not always there or the best when it is there. I have been really fortunate to be able to be a REALTOR and hope that I have had the “spirit” through the years. I plan on continuing my dedication and honesty to the public for the rest of my career.
If you look up the word spirit in the dictionary, it is defined as a particular mood or emotional state characterized by vigor and animation, the essential and activating principle of a person, the will, to impart courage, inspiration, animation or determination, stimulate, encourage. That is a pretty good description of “REALTOR SPIRIT” as we know it, particularly within the Berkshire County Board.… Read on
2003 REALTOR of the YEAR, Daniel Boulais
Daniel Boulais, of Century 21 Franklin Street Associates in Pittsfield and Lenox has been chosen the 2003 Berkshire County Realtor® of the Year. Nominated and chosen by his colleagues, Dan is being honored for his commitment to civic-minded leadership in both the REALTOR® organization and in the Berkshire community.
Dan is most recognized among his peers for his commitment to community service, and has chaired the REALTOR® Community Service Committee for four years. In this position, Dan worked tirelessly on projects and events that promoted the REALTOR® image. In partnership with another organization in which Dan holds membership, the Civitan Club of Pittsfield, he is co-chair of the annual charity golf tournament which is the largest fund raiser for both groups, raising
over $7,000 for Berkshire charities every year. He also participates in the shopping, cooking and serving of dinner at a homeless shelter and is very active in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Daffodil Days.
As project leader for the REALTOR® American Dream Team at the Relay for Life in June of this year, Dan camped out at Wahcohah High School to check-in walkers, provided food and support all night long, walked throughout the event and worked on the luminaria candles used to light the track. Initial figures show that the REALTOR® team raised $4500. The American Cancer Society Daffodil Days’ program not only reaches REALTORS®, but Dan also coordinates volunteers to sell them at the Berkshire Mall each year, having raised $2,552 in 2003.
As the President of the Central Council REALTORS®, he represents the needs of real estate professionals on the Board of Directors as well.… Read on
2004 REALTOR of the YEAR, Mary-Jane Dalmaso
Mary-Jane Dalmaso, of Century 21 Harold Dupee, REALTORS® in North Adams has been chosen the 2004 Berkshire County REALTOR® of the Year. Nominated and chosen by her colleagues, Mary-Jane is being honored for her commitment to civic-minded leadership in both the REALTOR® organization and
in the Berkshire community.
Mary-Jane is most recognized among her peers for her commitment to education and business leadership in the REALTOR® organization and her dedication to the Code of Ethics process. She has served as a hearing panelist and chairperson of ethics and arbitration tribunals both locally and as an appointed member of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Professional Standards Committee.
“I am always willing to serve in any capacity for which I am qualified, at any time, for the benefit of our Board and MLS.”
Most recently, Mary Jane has served as President of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) corporation, which provides database listing services for all REALTORS® in Berkshire County, and provides REALTOR.com and on-line advertising display of Berkshire properties for sale or lease. She was instrumental in the selection of the database system used, monitoring the rules and regulations relaed to membership and maintaining financial stability of the organization. Mary Jane has chaired the Finance Committees for both the Board of REALTORS® and the Multiple Listing Service and has actively served on the Board of Directors of the organization since 1986.
In addition to her duties as part of the elected, volunteer leadership, she also serves on the Contracts & Forms Committee, the Fields Task Force, as a Continuing Education Moderator and New Member Orientation Instructor.… Read on
2005 REALTOR of the YEAR, Lynne Blake
Lynne is being honored for her commitment to the leadership in the REALTOR® organization and her years of service.
She first joined the Board in 1990, and
has served continuously from 1995 to 2005 on
the Board of Directors!!
She started her tenure as a REALTOR® representative for Northern Berkshire, as Northern Berkshire Council President and in varying leadership roles that lead
to her election to the 2005 Presidential position.
She has served with distinction on the Multiple Listing Service Board of Directors as well as on the Finance, Professional Standards, Good Neighbor, Community Service, Orientation and Berkshire Newcomer Magazine Committees in the last year alone.
Most recently, Lynne was appointed to serve as the Berkshire REALTOR® representative on the Massachusetts REALTORS® Board of Directors in Boston. In her service on the state level, Lynne has been active in meeting with Berkshire legislators on Beacon Hill and Capital Hill in Washington DC, advocating for private property rights.
In her own Words… REALTOR Spirit
“When I became licensed as a salesperson 15 years ago, I had no idea that it was not the same thing as being a REALTOR®. I really didn’t think there was any difference. I started working for Bob Burdick who was a REALTOR®, so therefore I took orientation, paid my dues and became one also. As I started reading more and more, especially our Code of Ethics, I became more aware that there is a big difference.
- It is the difference that has kept me in the business all these years.
2006 REALTOR of the YEAR, Sheila Wood
We are proud to announce that Sheila Wood, broker-owner of Carriage House Real Estate has been named the Berkshire’s 2006 REALTOR® of the Year! This award is given to one member of the Association that has contributed outstanding time and energy to the betterment of the Board.
Sheila, a member since 1993, became more actively involved in the Association in 2001 when she was first elected to serve on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Board of Directors.
In 2003 she was elected to serve as the Vice President of MLS and moved up the officer ranks, serving as President in 2004 and ex officio in 2005. In 2006 the membership elected her Vice President of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS®, the parent company of the MLS and Sheila plans to continue on to President Elect in 2007 and her Presidency in 2008.
Sheila is no stranger to committee work, and since 1994 has served with pride on the Professional Standards Committee, where she takes recertification training every two years on the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and the administration of hearings. She served on the MLS Fields, Website Advertising and the Broker-Owner Education Task Forces.
She actively participates in many REALTOR Community Service events, such as donations for and creation of Thanksgiving baskets for needy families, the Realtor Holiday Elf program for needy children and is a Relay for Life Dream Team Supporter. She serves as an official moderator of the Board’s education classes and speaks at the New Member Orientation, on MLS topics.… Read on