I just returned from the CRS Leadership Training Workshop with Marlene Bridges (2010 President) and Deborah Kniss (2009 President and upcoming Regional Vice President for 2010 and 2011) this past weekend and wanted to share my excitement and my thoughts.

This was a fabulous opportunity to meet other 2010 Presidents and President-Elects (like myself) but to also brainstorm about a host of issues affecting membership, recruitment (for the Chapter and our Board), CRS class enrollments, and so much more.

I hope you enjoy the video, and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors going forward to ensure we are meeting the needs of our membership.

If at any time there are issues you feel we should be aware of, please do not hestitate to contact me or any member of our board (see our Southern California Chapter of CRS Website).

Did you know that your CRS profile on-line in the National Database will now include your profile links to several social media sites?

Those of you "in the know" about the advantages of participating in social media networking are probably members of one or more of the most popular sites (I personally recommend the first 4)

• ActiveRain - blogging site
  
• LinkedIn
  
• Facebook
  
• Twitter - microblogging site
  
• Hi5
  
• Orkut
  
• MySpace.

Now you can include profile links to those sites in your on-line profile. Plus you can add two additional ones (I included my Plaxo Profile)

Simply log in to My Advantage on the CRS site and click on the link to Update Your Member Profile. Add the correct links from the individual site then save.

REMEMBER: You can follow the SoCal CRS Chapter on Twitter - @SoCalCRS

CRS agents are considered the best of the best.

But sometimes even the best folks make mistakes.

The Board of Directors for the Southern California Chapter of CRS held its annual retreat and strategic planning session on November 21, the day before the general membership meeting. We felt it might be appropriate to share a HAPPY HOLIDAYS messages via video with the membership.

The final product can be seen on our homepage of our website.

But there were a few gaffs along the way getting to that final product. Nothing major, but we had a good laugh. So here are our first few attempts at creating the holiday message video. One person, who shall remain nameless, commented in one of the bloopers (it's hard to hear) "I can't keep holiding in my stomach." We had to try 4 times to get one we felt we could use. And this was at 8 am.

Blooper Video 1

Blooper Video 2

Blooper Video 3

Blooper Video 4

Are YOU on Twitter yet?

SoCalCRS is.

You can follow our Southern California CRS Chapter here.

  Our name is @SoCalCRS

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CRS CHAPTER AND

THE PACIFIC WEST ASSOCIATION PRESENT:

CRS 202 – Sales Strategies Course

Description: Top sales associates enjoy a competitive advantage because they understand what motivates and influences their customers. Sales Strategies gives students the inside track to win over prospective buyers by teaching them the necessary strategies that make their sales quick and efficient. Students will learn how to work with today's new buyer through counseling, salesmanship and negotiation. These effective strategies will give agents customers for life.

Course Content:
• Understand buyer motivation
• Eliminating sales resistance
• Creating trust and loyalty from buyers
• Negotiating skills

Course Topics:

•   Customer Service
•   Sales
•   Negotiation

When:  August 6-7, 2008

Where:  Pacific West Association of REALTORS®, 1601 Orangewood Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805

[714] 245-5500

Time:  7:30—5:00

Tuition:  $295.00 PWR/Tri Members

$325.00 Non-Members

To register call the Pacific West Association 714-245-5500

or visit www.pwr.net.

• our Chapter members,
• National CRS members who are not yet members of our Chapter (why aren't you?),
• agents interested in becoming a CRS
• consumers (especially those interested in the value of hiring a CRS to help them in their purchase or sale AND to search for a CRS in the Souther California region).

• Members can sign up before the late date to attend the meeting and lunch for only $35 (formerly $49, more than a 25% savings); non-members will have the same option for only $45 (instead of $69).

• After the late date, the fees are $45 (instead of $59) for members and $55 (instead of $79) for non-members.

Once you have created your logon and can access the Members Only Features, the next step (optional but highly recommended) is to update your profile on our website. This information is viewable by other members and can enhance the information that consumers can read about when they conduct a search and your name shows up.

NOTE:  Please know that the member profile page you update on the Southern California CRS website is NOT the same as the CRS DIRECTORY INFORMATION on the National CRS website and which is also searchable by members and consumers. The member page is ADDITIONAL information you can share to provide a broader perspective on your services, and you may (and should) include a photo since the master directory information does not populate your photo on the Chapter site (but does on the National Site).

A link to your member page is added to the roster information on the Southern California website but ONLY after you update the details on your member page and save the information. 

1. TO CHANGE THE INFORMATION IN THE CRS DIRECTORY:

You can only update your National Directory Information by logging in to the National CRS website and changing your profile on the MY ADVANTAGE page – you will need to use your CRS membership number to create an account if you do not have one.

Why not take a moment NOW to verify that the information on the National CRS website is CORRECT (did you change a phone number?  Add a designation? Move to a new brokerage? Create a new website?). If this information is wrong consumers (or other CRS members) will not be able to contact you. And that reflects badly on you.

2. TO ADD INFORMATION TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WEBSITE MEMBER PAGE (Chapter Members Only):

• First, you will need to logon to the Members Only Section (see the recent article on how to obtain your user name and password if you do not have one).

• Once you create an account and logon to the Members Only section, on the left navigation bar CLICK on SoCal CRS Roster. You will then see USER MENU appear in the navigation bar toward the bottom. You will also see several options under this link:

• Edit Your Details
• Edit Your Member Page
• Edit Your Profile
• Manage Forum Image

• Select the option you prefer and follow the directions for adding information to your Member Page. You should complete all 4 options to have the most accurate and complete information available. You WILL need, at a minimum, to add information to the Member Page option in order for this to appear in the chapter roster that can be searched by other CRS members and consumers.
  

3. TO VIEW YOUR MEMBER PAGE (and see what consumers and other members can see):

• Click on SoCalCRS Roster in the navigation bar
• Then on the Roster search page insert your LAST NAME and then click SEARCH
• A pop-up window will appear with your directory information (there is some information from the National CRS site as noted above)
• On the second to last line above the link to your website (check to make sure this website link is correct and working as well) you will see the link “ "click here for the member’s page”.
• Click on that link and the member page you edited (with your photo) will appear.

I would encourage every SoCAL CRS member to update your member page. You never know who might be searching and it’s ANOTHER BENEFIT TO YOU of being a member of the Southern California Chapter of CRS.

If you have any problems, please feel free to email (Jdowler@remax.net) or call me (760-840-1360).

CRS 201 – Listing Course

Description: The quality of an individual’s listing skills can give him or her a strong competitive edge. Only those professionals who learn proven listing strategies will win over the client and increase their conversion rate. Listing Strategies provides students with the important skills necessary to conduct successful listing presentations, price a home to sell, close the transaction and market and promote effectively. The course takes students through an actual listing presentation that helps them understand the key steps in this process and create a system for success.

Course Content:
• Conducting an effective listing presentation
• Seller guidance and counseling
• Pricing a home to sell
• Closing techniques
• Marketing plans and servicing systems
• Sellers’ needs and motivations

Course Topics:

Ø     

Ø     

Ø     

 When:  February 6-7, 2008

Where:  Pacific West Association of REALTORS®, 1601 Orangewood Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805

[714]245-5500

Time:  7:30—5:00

Tuition:  $295.00 PWR/Tri Members

$325.00 Non-Members

To register call the Pacific West Association 714-245-5500

Here's the course schedule for Southern California CRS for 2008 (sponsored course) as of December 2007. This schedule is subject to change if courses are added, or due to lack of enrollment.

February 6-7:  CRS 201 Listing Course (Pacific West Association), Orange, CA

March 20-21:  CRS 204: Wealth Building Course (South Bay Association), Torrance, CA

March 25-26:  CRS 202: Sales Course (Victor Valley Association), Hesperia, CA

April 17-18: CRS 204 Wealth Building Course (Conejo Valley Board), Thousand Oaks, CA

April 24-25:  CRS 200 Business Planning & Marketing (Citrus Valley Association), San Dimas, CA

May 22-23:  CRS 200 Business Planning & Marketing (San Diego Association), San Diego, CA

August 6-7:  CRS 202 Sales Course (Pacific West Association), Orange, CA

September 17-18: CRS 201 Listing Course (North San Diego Association), Vista, CA

October 28-29:  CRS 206 Technology Course (Orange County Association), Laguna Hills, CA

December 4-5:  CRS 201 Listing Course (Citrus Valley Association), San Dimas, CA

Information about these courses and registration will be available on the Southern California CRS website. Postcards will be mailed out and emails will be sent to members with registration forms.

As you know from our installation meeting, Southern California CRS was able to donate $5000 in 2007 to Habitat for Humanity.

The check for $2500 for the Temecula Chapter was accepted by Vicki Puterbaugh on behalf of the chapter.

I had the opportunity to present the check for $2500 for the San Diego Chapter of Habitat for Humanity yesterday at their office on San Diego Mission Road.

It was such an honor to meet Elizabeth Neubrand, the Director of Community Affairs and Public Relations, and to be able to hand her our donation in person.

After the presentation I spent a few minutes with Elizabeth to learn more about the Chapter's activities and their needs. The San Diego Chapter has built 100 homes in the last 20 years, which is such an achievement. But they are planning now to build dozens more in the near future and must raise $6 million to reach this goal (homes will break ground in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista,El Cajon and National City).

And WE CAN HELP...both with continued fund raising and volunteering. SoCalCRS members, especially in San Diego can help at their outlet store and offices throughtout the week and on weekends. We can help by participating in the various building projects. And some families who are trying to qualify need transportation to the orientation meetings they must attend as part of the qualification process.

I'll tell you more about the Chapter, their activities and their needs in future posts. Let's contonue to give generously in the coming year so that more families who need housing may achieve that dream.

Here is the schedule of remaining Membership Meetings for 2008. This will be updated periodically as I get more information and decisions are made about locations and speakers:

NOVEMBER 21 - General Membership Meeting

& Installation of 2009 Officers

Come hear Stephen Spile, Esq. talk about the

"Top Ten Legal Issues in Today's Market"

Ayres Hotel in Hawthorne (Manhattan Beach area)

American Home Shield has been an outstanding supporter of the Southern California Chapter of the CRS. HOWEVER SEE NOTE BELOW (4/21/08)

I am very pleased to announce that they, once again, will provide sponsorship for our Chapter in 2008 at the GOLD LEVEL ($3000).

We are very fortunate to have them as sponsors of our Chapter. Please be sure to call on them for your home warranty needs.

4/21/08 - PLEASE NOTE - AHS has made a decision to no longer provide the sponsorships they have in the past.

Take note, Area VPs - AHS is also pleased to provide sponsorship for CRS class breakfasts or lunches.

I am pleased to announce that Bank of America will again be providing sponsorship of the Southern California Chapter of the CRS for 2008 at the PLATINUM LEVEL, which is $5000 (our highest level of sponsorship).

Chris Morris, Sr. Vice President, and James Gear, Mortgage Loan Officer, were present at the recent membership meeting and made the big announcement to our membership.

We are so thankful for Bank of America's continuing support and look forward to another year.

I know they would appreciate having YOUR business and will do their best to support you and your clients.

Please feel free to contact James at (310) 543-4761 or via email at James.L.Gear@bankofamerica.com for help with your next loan.

Here is our FIRST video for SoCalCRS, of the installation of the 2008 Officers. The quality is OK as is the sound (you may need to click TWICE on the arrow to start the video, and turn up your sound).

Thanks to RICH LOMBARI for managing the video while I was sworn in. Thanks for your help, Rich!

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Our final SoCalCRS membership meeting of 2007 was held yesterday in Hawthorne (Los Angeles) and attended by about 35 folks.

BOBBIE NELSON taught us lots of good stuff on networking - "Networking is a Learned Tactic - It's Not Who You Know but Who Knows You." More details on her teachings in a later post.

I was very pleased to be able to present the 2007 Have a Heart fund raising checks totaling $5000 to Vickie Puterbaugh, who accepted the $2500 check for the Temecula Habitat for Humanity Chapter (they could not be there due to the heavy rains in Temecula). I will be presenting the other $2500 check to the San Diego Chapter sometime this week. Thank you all for your generosity. We also raised about $250 more at the meeting in our fund raising.

The installation of the new officers of the Board of Directors was also held: DEBORAH KNISS, as President; MARLENE BRIDGES, as President Elect; DEBBIE BROWNE, as Secretary, and JEFF DOWLER, as Treasurer. (I am working on getting the video we took uploaded).

The highlight, IMO, was seeing EMILY LINK, our out-going President, receive the award as CRS of the YEAR. Congratulations, Emily. You are such an inspiration to us all.

The Board also held its annual planning meeting and retreat the day before. Much was accomplished, and we are all very excited about the upcoming year. You can expect to see lots of changes. It seems each year just gets better and better.

As always, if any of you are interested in getting more involved in the Chapter, please let us know.