Recap of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS and MLS Annual Meeting

President Barbara Osborne welcomed over 175 members and affiliates to the Country Club of Pittsfield on Wednesday, November 20th.  She provided a Year in Review of the association and highlighted the Board’s involvement with Berkshire Regional Planning in an attempt to bring lowered premiums to Berkshire County for flood insurance; involvement with Bring Back the Trains through our liaison, Sandy Carroll and acknowledged the new Friday Recap email as a beneficial tool for all members.  Barbara also outlined the work her committees and taskforces have been involved in during 2013, which was extensive.  Watch for announcements from the Real Estate Charitable Task Force regarding Holiday Elves and wrapping at the Red Cross booth at the Mall and a Holiday Soiree hosted by YPN.  She recognized all the volunteers who have served our association over the years while our Platinum Sponsors presented them with a lovely REALTOR pin.

Jeff Wilkinson was the lucky winner of a $50 gas card in our “thank you raffle” for all who responded to our membership 20 Questions survey.  Results of the survey can be found here.

Andy Perenick, 2012 REALTOR of the Year presented our 2013 REALTOR of the Year, Chapin Fish with a plaque honoring his commitment to the REALTOR association.  Congratulations and thank you Chapin!

Both the Bylaw Amendments presented to the membership were approved; namely, an amendment to the Board of Directors Section 3 that will change all directors’ positions to two year terms.  This change will stagger expiration dates and will ensure continuity on the Board in years to come.  After debate and discussion the Bylaw Amendment to the Harassment policy to add “member” was also approved.

The 2014 Board of REALTORS budget was approved unanimously with a dues increase of $22 per member.  2014 dues, which will be invoiced out beginning on Friday, November 22nd will be $525 total for local, state and national.  Our investment committee, chaired by Gary Ostrander and consisting of Stephen Schoenfeld, Jeff Rose, Tucker Welch, Mary Jane White and Mark McIlquham have already begun making inquiries to local companies for low-risk investment strategies for the reserves.

Elected into Office to serve on the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS were:

Mark McIlquham, President

Steve Ray, President Elect

Maureen McFarland, Vice President

Stephen Schoenfeld, Secretary/Treasurer and Directors: Barbara Greenfeld, Mark Harris, Dawn Farley, Churchward Davis, Cindy Poulin and Kirsten Fredsall.  Congratulations!

Speaking of congratulations, Congratulations to Marc Bachman of William Pitt Sotheby’s International as the big winner of a FREE 2014 Membership worth $525!!

Following the Board of REALTORS® meeting the Participants of the Multiple Listing Service conducted their annual meeting.  President Jeff Rose spoke of the issues that his Board has been addressing over the course of the year:  REALTOR Property Information Network, Syndication, and, thankfully, a rebounding market to name a few.

The MLS Board of Directors Bylaw, which mirrors the Board’s change to make directors’ terms a two year term passed unanimously as did a balanced budget for 2014.  This budget will increase the listing fee to $6.00 per listing entered into the MLS.

Elected into Office to serve on the MLS were:

Karen Climo, President

Colleen Zajac, Vice President

Mary Jane White, Secretary/Treasurer and Directors:  Kim Burnham, Craig Kahn and Tim Donnelly.  Completing his term as director but not requiring a vote is Tim Lovett.  Congratulations!

Seeing no further business to be conducted the meeting of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS® and the MLS was concluded.  Thank you to everyone who attended, our turn out was phenomenal!