Sutter Yuba Association of Realtors: Active Community Members

by Luz Howe, President Elect and Chair, Civic Affairs Committee

Since its inception, September 29, 1926, the Sutter Yuba Association of Realtors® has been in the forefront of community affairs, holding the first Board office on 10th Street in Marysville, then in Carriage Square, followed by a lot in the Mall, to our present building at 1558 Starr Drive in Yuba City.

Our membership boasts 829 MLS members and a combination of Board members and business affiliates. Our Administrative Executive, Judy Morris, oversees the operations of the association and staff while always ensuring that the Board of Directors is fully informed of any and all conditions and operations of the Association, and all important factors influencing them. Our Board staff is spearheaded by Judy Morris. Her administrative aids are Judith Kennedy and Tina Rose. Tim Mar is in charge of our Real Estate Review, which is our monthly update to the community with regards to the real estate happenings in our area.

The Sutter Yuba Association of Realtors® has a plethora of committees, including Civic Affairs, whose primary function is to work closely with the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce, Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council and any other community related affiliate with the ultimate goal of keeping our Realtors® thoroughly involved with the community. One of our most coveted roles is choosing at least one fund raising event and donating to a charitable cause.

The Food and Charities Committee is another Realtor® favorite. There are many fundraising events throughout the year and in the end monies are usually dispersed to schools that could use the funds or to community members in need. Most of our committees raise funds and those funds are then given to organizations or persons in need. The Sutter Yuba Association Annual Golf Tournament was recently held at the Peach Tree Country Club and enough funds were raised to purchase clothing for 80 local school children. That event was made possible by the Sutter Yuba Association Golf Committee.

The Realtors® and affiliates of The Sutter Yuba Association of Realtors® do a lot more than provide assistance to the local community in the area of acquiring and selling real estate; they are invaluable members of the community, always trying to assist in the enrichment, growth and appreciation for any and all of the multiplicity of divergent cultures which reside in our community.

Organized Real Estate and Government

by Leslie McBride

Do you realize that your Yuba Sutter based Realtor agent/broker influences regional politics? The Realtor designation signifies that your agent or broker belongs to, at a minimum, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), California Association of Realtors (CAR) and Sutter-Yuba Association of Realtors (SYAOR) who are extremely involved in political activities on the local, state and federal fronts. These organizations are also involved in political activities in two different areas; issues and candidates.

On the state and federal levels, CAR and NAR have political affairs teams who work on legislation to protect personal property rights. In California, over 35% of all proposed legislation introduced each year impacts Realtors and their clients. The Governmental Affairs Team of CAR works to advance Realtor public policy objectives in the California State Legislature in Sacramento including sponsoring, supporting and opposing State legislation. Various issues, for example, include opposing point of sale items such as low flow toilet installations, lateral sewer line inspections and energy audits, as well as additional documentary transfer taxes etc. Although Realtors are not opposed to energy conservation and support these efforts, they do not believe the burden should be placed on a buyer or seller at the point of sale.

Grassroots member involvement is key to the success of these organization's legislative advocacy efforts. CAR's program recruits, trains and mobilizes members to take part in the legislative process at the grassroots level. Legislative Day is one of the ways CAR informs their members and it is held annually in Sacramento to provide an opportunity for Realtors from across California to meet with their state legislators to discuss the issues that affect the real estate industry. Members find this event to be a tremendous investment in protecting their industry and clients and it provides them an opportunity to hear from the state's most dynamic political leaders and the leadership of the state association.

On a local level, most associations, like our very own Sutter Yuba Sutter Association of Realtors have political issues and candidate committees and a Governmental Affairs Director. The local associations focus on City Council, Supervisor, school board races and the more local oriented issues. For example, SYAOR played a key role in the "Save Beale Air Force Base" issue when the base was faced with being placed on the closure list. SYAOR members participated in various efforts throughout our community to this end. SYAOR leadership was meeting in Congressman Herger's office lobbying other issues on the day Beale was removed from the list and was able to celebrate with the Congressman and personally thank him for his contribution in the effort. SYAOR in conjunction with CAR also made a large financial contribution towards the efforts of measures II and JJ to provide for additional levee protection. Although the issue was narrowly defeated, the Realtors remain resolve to continue the efforts when the next measure comes before us.

So you see, your local Realtors do not merely help us to obtain the American dream of owning a home. Realtors are entrenched in our communities working to protect that dream. For more information on the roles your Realtor participates in government, please contact SYAOR offices.