Search results for “code”:

2007 REALTOR of the YEAR, Charley Sawyer

We are proud to announce that Charley Sawyer of Dayspring, REALTORS has been selected as the 2007 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.

Charley, a member since 1995, has been actively involved in all levels of the Association, volunteering his time and talents locally and on the state level for many years.   In 2000, Charley began his service in the  Board of Directors elected leadership pathway, having been elected to various different officer positions on the Board of Directors and eventually, elected President of the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS in 2004.

On the state level, Charley has received many prestigious appointments.   Having served as a Berkshire State Director for four years, he was elected to serve as the Western Regional Vice President of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS.   In this role he serves on the 12 member Executive Committee, which governs the association on the whole.

Elected Leadership Service to the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS®

  • REALTOR® Member Since 1995
  • Board of Directors Leadership Pathway:
    • 2000 Central Berkshire Council President and Director
    • 2001 Board Secretary
    • 2002 Vice President
    • 2003 President Elect
    • 2004 President
    • 2004 Ex Officio, Berkshire MLS
    • 2005 Past President
    • 2006-2007 Board of Directors
      Non-Voting Ex Officio [due to RVP election

Voluntary Commitment to the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS

  • Professional Standards Tribunal Training every 2 years to qualify for service.
  • RPAC Contributor

Appointed Leadership Service to the Berkshire County Board of REALTORS®

  • Professional Standards Committee, 2004-2007 Chaired 3 hearing panels, served on 4
  • Contract Committee, 2006-2007
  • Government Affairs Committee, 2005-2007
  • Orientation Committee, Chaired 1997-2003, presenter 2003-2005

Special Accomplishments Made on Behalf of the Local Association:

  • Hosted Berkshire County Board of REALTORS® luncheon with Congressman John Olver to present RPAC contribution at the Board Office.
… Read on

2013 REALTOR of the YEAR, L. Chapin Fish

We are proud to announce that L. Chapin Fish, co-owner of Brockman Real Estate in Monterey Massachusetts, has been named the 2013 Berkshire County REALTOR of the YEAR! This award is given to the REALTOR® that best exemplifies professionalism and service to the industry. Chapin has contributed outstanding time and energy to the betterment of the REALTOR® organization, the real estate

industry and our Berkshire community.

He was elected by Berkshire County real estate brokers to serve as the 2012 President of the Board, and also served as a voting director on the Multiple Listing Service Corporation. In that role, Chapin worked on enhancing services for the local real estate professionals. He led the creation of a new strategic plan and drove the Board to work hard on new initiatives to benefit the members.

The award, given for the past 18 months of service to the association, reveal that Chapin devoted much time and talents to many projects, including serving as the spokesperson for the Board. He traveled to Washington DC to advocate for home ownership rights on Capital Hill and traveled to California and Chicago to represent the interests of the Berkshire Realtors and community. Locally, he also served on the Finance, Personnel, Strategic Plan, Litigation and Professional Standards Committees. He was a voting member of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS Board of Directors and is the Berkshire Liaison to the Pinnacle Group Program, a national thinktank for industry ideas.

Over a decade ago Chapin returned to his roots in Massachusetts and affiliated with William Brockman and the late Jack Jefferson.… Read on

2009 REALTOR of the YEAR, Franz Forster

We are so proud to announce that Franz Forster of FJ Forster Real Estate in Pittsfield has been named the 2009 REALTOR® of the YEAR! This award is given to the REALTOR® that best exemplifies professionalism and service to the industry.

Franz has contributed outstanding time and energy to the betterment of the REALTOR® organization, the real estate industry and our Berkshire community.  He was elected by Berkshire Realtors to serve as the 2009 President of the 500 member board, having been actively involved in governance of the real estate trade association since 2002.  He has served with distinction on the Multiple Listing

Service Board of Directors, which governs listing data online and for REALTOR® members, having been elected to serve as it’s President in 2005.

Most notably, Forster devotes considerable effort in community service events sponsored by the REALTOR® organization, political advocacy on behalf of Realtors and homeowners in Berkshire County, moderating real estate education, speaking to new members at Orientation and chairing hearings of the Professional Standards Committee to arbitrate business disputes or settle matters of alleged unethical conduct.

Franz received a Presidential Appointment to serve as a Massachusetts State Director in 2008 and 2009 and has many years of active involvement with Berkshire community organizations as well, with an emphasis on education-related associations, environmental advocacy and cultural institutions.

Currently, Forster serves on the Pittsfield Conservation Commission, as Treasurer of the Lakes and Ponds Association of Western Mass. (LAPA-West), as the PHS Representative on the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council, and is a member of the PHS School Co uncil, Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and is a Tanglewood Business Partner.… Read on

Massachusetts Data Security Regulations WISP

Mass. Data Security Regulations, effective March 1, 2010

For further information on this issue, please see the following links directly to the Mass.gov materail prepared to help you create office policy and comply with the regs:

Frequently Asked Questions:
Sample Small Business Policy:
Compliance Checklist:
Requirements for Security Breach Notification:
Data Security Regulations:

Personal information: a Massachusetts resident’s first name and last name or first initial and
last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements that relate to
such resident: (a) Social Security number; (b) driver’s license number or state -issued
identification card number; or (c) financial account number, or credit or debit card number,
with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or
password, that would permit access to a resident’s financial account; provided, however, that
“Personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly
available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made
available to the general public.

Massachusetts has joined the majority of states in enacting a comprehensive data security law which governs theway personal information must be protected. After several delays the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs has issued the final regulations to address the issue which become effective on March 1, 2010. Unlike previous draft versions of the regulations, the final regulations use a risk-based approach that directs businesses to establish a written comprehensive information security program (“WISP”) based on their size, scope and available resources. The final version of the regulations were changed as a result of input from MAR and other groups.… Read on

Staff Interaction

The Board of Directors, led by the elected President and Staff, led by the Chief Executive Officer, work as a team to address the needs of the membership, yet have very different responsibilities.

The Chief Executive Officer is charged with managing all activities of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors. This includes the implementation of strategies and processes at the direction of the Board of Directors, directing the day-to-day operations and overseeing support staff in providing quality service to the separate membership bases of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service.

The Board of Directors is charged with creating a vision and direction for the activities of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors.

Staff reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and requests for staff assistance should be funneled through that person for the smooth operations of the Board. All staff members are here to help you do the best job possible and work tirelessly in service to the membership. Outlining the staff and forming a well-oiled team is an important part of the Board’s success.

Below is a chart used to help identify responsible parties for the various tasks of the organization.

Duties and Functions Staff President BOD Committees
Financial Management    
Drafts the annual budget x
Revises, reviews and approves the annual budget x x
Develops continuing sources of non-dues revenue x
Performs all bookkeeping and accounting duties. x
Is authorized to act as signatory for the Board and MLS x x
Manages all insurance, payroll, tax and state & national reporting x
Supervises staff bookkeeper and outside accountant.
… Read on