Wedowee Alabama Agent Has Question and Offer
Posted at 2:40 PM, Sep. 7, 2005
I am located in East Central Alabama, approximately 6 hours from the Gulf Coast. You are hearing and seeing the devastation of the large Gulf Coast cities and town, but there are many small communities that have been completely wiped out and are receiving very little help. It is a challenge to communicate with these areas. Many Churches and volunteers from my area are trying to reach these people. If you know of any fellow Realtors in the Bayou La Batre area please contact me offlist. We have a group who is
ready to offer assistance to that area but need a contact person. I am sure you are like me that it is hard to imagine loosing everything but that is the case with thousands of people. The process of the people rebuilding their lives is going to be a long one. Not only do they need help now but will need help for months to come. I having been praying and asking how I can help. How can Realtors help? An answer came to me this morning, "Helping with Change". What if real estate agents and brokers
set up collection centers for people to drop off their "change"? Everyone has spare change even our children. "Helping with Change" might seem like a small thing but could turn into a major fund raiser. Tell me RealTalker are you up for the challenge?
Leisel Caldwell, Broker/Owner, e-PRO
Advantage Realty - Wedowee, AL
mailto:leisel@advantagerealty.net
Office # 256-357-9594 Ext. 202
Over 20 years experience offering Sound Advice - Informed Decisions
http://www.AdvantageRealty.net or http://www.LakeWedoweesBestAgent.com
RV Ideas
Posted at 11:09 AM, Sep. 7, 2005
We have decided to donate the 1977 Midas RV wherever it can do the most good for Katrina victims. Please ask around your network to find out what they might suggest. We do want it to go through a 501(c)(3) organization so we can take a tax write-off, but otherwise we're open. We could even accommodate a couple or small family in it for a short time here in the driveway (if necessary) until you guys find a place to park it. Please let me know how you think it best to proceed. Thanks for your efforts on behalf of all the victims of this disaster.
Carol Garr, broker, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
Garden Realty "where dreams grow" 520-883-4444
2343 W. Old Ajo Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85746
www.garden-realty.com carol@garden-realty.com
Blogmaster Note: Carol's generous offer is posted here (Think Tank) as well as Housing Offers . 501(c)3 options are currently being investigated. The donation or loaning of RV's can satisfy a REALTORS housing and transportation needs!
Ideas? Thoughts!
Katrina Relief Banners
Posted at 10:14 PM, Sep. 5, 2005
The following are two Katrina related ideas that agents and broker's with websites can easily accomplish. They come from Judy Peterson and John Hetrick:
By joining together, we can have an impact in helping those in need throughout this horrific event. The more people who see a reminder of the plight of those in need as the result of Katrina, the better. Advanced Access created an immediate and admirable opportunity for their website users to add a link to their websites which I've also taken advantage of. Occasionally, we all need to be reminded to do the right thing, just because it is the right thing. Judy
Judy Peterson, e-PRO, ABR, GRI, SRES
Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors
431 W Lancaster Avenue, Devon, Pa 19333
610.651.2700 (Office) 610.889.5509 (Direct)
Mailto:Judy@JudyPete.com Website: http://www.JudyPete.com Pa License #195934-L
The idea to add a link to personal web sites giving visitors an avenue to contribute to the victims of Katrina is an incredibly elegant, yet simple way, we can all help! I immediately added a link to my home page and encouraged all the agents in my company to do the same. Check out the home page at
http://johnhetrick.com for one idea on how to add your link. (I chose to link to the contributions page of FEMA so people could choose from a variety of agencies they can contribute.)
John Hetrick
Ways to Join the Effort to Locate and Match Missing Persons
Posted at 6:56 PM, Sep. 5, 2005
Hi -
I am working on a project with a group called Life List out of California - they send out names of folks who are missing and the contact person who is seeking them - you search all the current databases to try to find the name of the missing person. Then you can either contact the "seeker" or you can contact Life List and they will relay the message. Other e-pro's might want to add their talents to this cause. I can tell you it is not easy - there are lots of lists out there. If you are interested in volunteering - here is the website:
http://www.lifelist.us.
In the process of searching for survivor names, I found a site that is trying to consolidate all the data into a huge database. http://www.katrinaproject.com. They have banners available to post on websites at this location:
http://www.mamaloca.net/lostandfound/banner.htm
Thanks,
Kathie Moore, ABR, e-PRO, GRI
Crye-Leike REALTORS
Franklin, TN
Blogmaster Commentary: Great example of a REALTOR AT WORK! These are two more ways people can help, no matter where you live! Kathie makes an important point, there are "lots of list out there". Thinkers and volunteers like Kathie will need to be called on when it is time to share thoughts re a better approach 'cause the time wasted searching all these list could be spent making matches on a centralized list. Kathie, thanks and we'd love to hear of our progress.
REALTOR Office as Collection Point
Posted at 1:01 PM, Sep. 3, 2005
Now we are talking about something real important. Kudos to all for thinking about our neighbors in the South. I just sent the following to my Team Leader as a thought for pitching in - beyond our immediate office members.
Following is my suggestion:
"Here's an idea for contributions to those most desperate in the lower 3 states (LA, Mississippi, and Alabama).
Some real estate companies serve as the collection point for Christmas presents for children.
The previous company I was associated with did this: A large banner was printed and hung on the front of the buildingthat this office was a collection point for donations; companies, individuals in the community dropped off gifts; a deadline for the deliveries of gifts was established and publicized; the donations were then delivered to a central point for distribution to the needy. A similar program was operated over Thanksgiving and food was distributed to the needy.
We are in a large commercial building on a street with massive traffic passing our location --we have a good possibility to pull in donations from those passing by; and those patronizing our neighboring businesses. And I think those in power (think buildling landlord) would not object to us doing the same type of collection.
What do you think?"
Julie Gray-Roller, Real Estate Consultant ABR, E-Pro, E-Buyer, CRS (designate) Keller Williams Realty, 8521 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100, Vienna, VA 22182
website: http://www.JGRollerSellsHomes.com
Great Ideas from Atlanta Agent
Posted at 6:05 PM, Sep. 1, 2005
Mary Ann Payne has given permission to extend the following great ideas.
"I challenge all ePRo's on this listserve to put a link on the FRONT page of your web site to the hurricane charity of your choise--I have put a link to the Red Cross and KW Cares (A KW organization to help it's agents and families in bad times). Also, instead of sending out referral gifts this week like restaurant cards, I donated $25 in the referralee's (sp) name to the Red Cross--easy to do online and they send you a receipt and a card to your honoree--pretty cool--did three so far today."
Mary Anne Payne, REALTOR, ePRO
Keller Wiliams North Atlanta
678.762.1227
Selling Atlanta Since 1984
www.maryannepayne.com
Visit my New BLOG at http://realestatemama.blogspot.com
Southwest Louisiana "A Roof is A Roof"
Posted at 7:19 AM, Sep. 1, 2005
"A Roof is a Roof, Damn It!!!"
Jade Walker, Executive Assistant
Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS
As part of the Soutwest Louisiana board effort to assist with the housing shortage, Jade Walker is, like us all, frustrated. She questions...."Why not let these people stay in some of our vacant commercial buildings! A roof is a roof, damn it!
So.....fellow REALTORS and COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS are asked to consider donating vacant buildings to the cause. As Jade said, "a cot in a vacant building with a bathroom trumps the civic center."
Bottled Water On The Way
Posted at 1:51 PM, Aug. 31, 2005
There's a lot that can and needs to be done right now........today.... to
help out along the Gulf Coast.
NAR has set up a fund and is picking up 100% of the administrative costs
so that all the money gets to where it's needed.
One of our local radio stations filled up an 18 wheeler with bottled
water and it's on it's way as of about 2 hours ago and they're working on
a second one.
My local title company set out yesterday with a U-Haul type trailer full
of bottled water and canned foodstuffs.
Our office has a huge stack of bottled water in the lobby that we're
putting on the next truck heading south.
"REALTORS® Relief Foundation Provides Funds for Katrina Relief Effort
WASHINGTON, DC (August 30, 2005)The REALTORS® Relief Foundation is
spearheading donations to REALTOR® associations in Alabama, Louisiana and
Mississippi this week by contributing $50,000 to each of three state
REALTOR® associations impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
REALTORS® Relief Foundation President Pat Kaplan said the initial
contributions will help fund the establishment of state relief funds.
However, much more will be needed to help the many who have lost their
homes or businesses, she said.
"There are so many on the outskirts of New Orleans who have lost
everything," says Sandy Lash, an executive at the Louisiana Association
of REALTORS® in Baton Rouge. The storm left 6-7 feet of water in areas
around New Orleans, including Metairie and Kenner, where virtually every
structure sustained damage. "It will be weeks or months before full power
is restored to these areas, and the entire water system in the area has
been compromised," says Lash.
In Alabama, communities around the Gulf, still recovering from Hurricane
Ivan a year ago, are once more digging out. "We have thousands who lost
everything in Ivan and had built their homes back up only to have them
destroyed again," says J. Danny Cooper, association executive at the
Alabama Association of REALTORS®.
NAR CEO Terrence M. McDermott is calling on REALTORS® to reach out and
help their colleagues in this time of tremendous need. "We would probably
all like to run down and pitch in and help, but since that's not
possible, we should all pray that our REALTOR® community finds the
strength to make it through this trial," he says.
"We ask that you send whatever you can to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation
and we will pass your donation along in a rush."
All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by NAR; 100
percent of all donations will go directly to aid the victims.
Contributions can be made online through the following secure site
powered by NARs e-commerce
system:
<https://www.realtor.org/relief>https://www.realtor.org/relief
. Contributions are tax deductible. To make contributions by mail, checks
should be made payable to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation and sent to:
REALTORS® Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan
Ave., Chicago IL 60611.
For those who would like to make donations directly to the states, in
Alabama please send checks payable to the Alabama REALTOR® Disaster
Relief Fund, P.O. Box 4070, Montgomery, AL 36104.
Donations can be made by credit card by calling the Alabama Association
of REALTORS® at
334/262-3808 or by going online to
<http://www.alabamarealtors.com/relief.cfm>www.alabamarealtors.com/relief.cfm
.
For Louisiana, checks payable to the Louisiana REALTORS® Association
Relief Fund should be sent to P.O. Box 14780, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898, or
to Regions Bank, attn: Louisiana REALTORS® Association Relief Fund, 5353
Essen Lane, Suite 150, Baton Rouge, LA 70809."
Jim Lee, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, e-JIM
Realty Executives Associates, Knoxville, TN
www.KnoxvilleMLS.com mailto:JIM@JimLee.com
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