As many of you know, I travel just about every week. This usually means 4 flights a week. Over the last 20 years I have been to more airports than I care to remember. What makes one airport better than another? For me, things like:

1.       Being able to pick up your rental car without riding on a bus (not the case at most major airports).

2.       Short security lines

And something not offered at many airports, but offered at my home airport in San Diego (Lindberg Field)…booties to put on your feet when you take your shoes off to go through the security line. And today, something new in San Diego and something I have not experienced at any other airport…free wi-fi. Not just in a special area, but everywhere in the terminal. This is a very nice convenience. And, even though I have a Verizon Wireless Connection, tapping into the free wi fi is a new treat. Good job to the folks running the San Diego Airport.

Saul

Saul Klein

President/CEO, InternetCrusade

Have you visited RealTown.com recently? RealTown.com, the oldest, largest and most respected online community and network in the real estate industry has been totally redesigned and offers a wealth of information. Go to http://RealTown.com and check it out today!

Report of Saul Klein, CAR Director and MLS Committee Regional Representative, Region 24

Anaheim, CA

Saturday, October 13, 2007:

After Four days of explanation and debate, the California Association of REALTORS Board of Directors approved a motion, clearing the way for a voluntary statewide MLS. The motion, created by the MLS Working Group (The MLS Working Group was established by past CAR president Jim Hamilton 2 ½ years ago), was changed at the last minute this morning by the Working Group prior to being placed on the floor. The change to the Working Group motion reflected the specific type of entity to be created…that entity being a not for profit, mutual benefit association.

At the MLS Committee meeting on Friday, the MLS Committee created its own motion which was offered as a substitute motion to the Board of Directors. The MLS Committee motion directed the MLS Working Group to prepare a more detailed business plan prior to creating the entity and was rejected by the directors. The MLS Committee motion, made by past MLS Committee Chair Bob Hart, was passed by a unanimous vote at the Committee, before being rejected as a substitute motion for the Working Group motion, by the Board of Directors.

There has been great forward movement by MLSs in California to form “super regional” MLSs and this forward movement can be contributed in part to the work of the Working Group, applying an indirect pressure, as it worked to advance the MLS Statement of Principles in the state (see statement of principles below). Technologies and rules for cooperation are already being created at the regional level and could reduce some of the time to make a statewide MLS a reality in California.

Motion:

The MLS working Group recommends formation of an entity to develop a statewide hybrid MLS with a single data base. This system could be used as a primary MLS at a local Association’s option, or as an aggregated data base by local Associations or Regional MLSs.

Further that the following be formed

a.       An MLS Rules working group of the MLS Committee to recommend statewide rules to be used in the statewide Hybrid MLS for report in January.

b.      An MLS Statewide Governance working group to recommend a specific governance structure for report in January.

c.       An MLS Standards Subcommittee Group to report through the MLS Committee to recommend data standards and report in January.

d.      An AE working group to recommend the most efficient and member-oriented approach on which services should be retained at the local level.

Finally, that the previously approved $500,000 also fund minor expenses of the working groups. (Note that none of the $500,000approved at the June meeting has been used).

Saul

Saul Klein

President/CEO, InternetCrusade

Have you visited RealTown.com recently? RealTown.com, the oldest, largest and most respected online community and network in the real estate industry has been totally redesigned and offers a wealth of information. Go to http://RealTown.com and check it out today!

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MLS Working Group Statement of Principles

(Adopted by the C.A.R. Board of Directors 9/24/2005)

1. MLS data needs to be fully standardized with local options for data field variation.

We believe that local customization of MLS data fields has made the comparison of data between MLS’s unnecessarily complex. A lack of uniformity has created artificial boundaries that impede the efficient operation of the market and the ability of REALTORS® to service their clients. We support universal data fields that are standard across all MLS’s while also recognizing the need for adding local descriptors.

2. California REALTORS® should have universal access to all MLS data.

C.A.R. members are licensed by the state Department of Real Estate and as such are able to sell property throughout California. Consumers have access to statewide and even nationwide listings through a variety of data aggregation sites on the Internet. In order for REALTORS® to provide their clients with the information they want, California REALTORS® should have access to all listing data in the state. Shared databases and reciprocal agreements should be strongly encouraged.

3. Use of MLS data and its distribution to third parties should be controlled by the brokers who provide the data.

We believe that a listing represents intellectual capital and that the process of creating a listing is a value-enhancing activity. Brokers entering into an exclusive agreement with sellers accept the responsibility for marketing the property and should have control over distribution of the listing data. The rampant and uncontrolled dissemination of valuable listing information on the Internet has increased the cost of doing business and devalued the role of the agent and broker in this process.

4. MLS entities should exist for the benefit of the participants and subscribers.

We believe that MLS fees should be set at a rate that gives the MLS and/or the Local Association a fair return for delivery of MLS services. We believe that local Associations of REALTORS® provide valuable services to their members. These include services and activities that advocate for homeownership, ethics and professionalism in the industry. We believe that local AOR’s should be adequately and fairly compensated for these services, including those that may be directly associated with an MLS. 1 2

5.. MLS rules should be uniform and enforced consistently.

Over the years the relevant market area for many brokers and agents has expanded beyond the artificial boundaries of now out-dated MLS regions. As a result brokers are increasingly operating in multiple MLS environments and facing complex issues related to the disparities in rules, regulations and enforcement governing different MLS’s. We believe rules should be established that simplify and enhance the experience of MLS users across systems. To that end we believe that the C.A.R. Model MLS Rules should form the basis to develop statewide rules and standards of enforcement.

6. MLS Boards of Directors should include broker owners with appropriate regional representation.

We believe that broker involvement in MLS governance is critical. The MLS is the single most important business tool in the real estate industry and as such the provision of MLS services should be accountable to all participants. We believe it is imperative that brokers from both large and small firms be given representation on MLS Boards.

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I read in USA Today this morning that the television show, "Leave it to Beaver" turns 50 this month. Back in 1957, I was 8 years old. I remember how odd it was that there were all those numbers on the TV dial…12 of them plus UHF…or was it VHF? And all of the programming available was seen on those 3 "channels."

Now, those "channels" did not broadcast 24 hours a day. They went "off the air" around midnight, closing out with the National Anthem, and did not return to broadcast until around 6:00 AM the following morning. If you turned on the TV in the middle of the night, what you saw was a "test pattern." It was like a target and an American Indian in full head dress was the image above the center (I think that test pattern would be deemed politically incorrect today). And it was all "Black and White." (can I say that?)

And we did use "rabbit ears" for better reception, until we could afford a TV antenna.

They promoted the coming of this new TV show pretty well and I recall that my sister Debbie and I could not wait for the first Leave it to Beaver to air…remember, there was not much to watch on TV in those days, not even sports. In Hawaii, you could not even get live sports on the radio unless you had some sort of "short wave" or something.

People today think "Leave it to Beaver" was sort of an unrealistic, idealistic portrayal of life in America…but for me, and I am sure many others like me; it was "reality TV." I could identify with "The Bev" and Wally and their family life. While my mother did not vacuum the living room in high heels as June Cleaver did, my mom was at home all day, cleaning and taking care of family business, and, often to my dismay, moving the furniture around in my room about once a month to clean underneath it (Just when I would get use to the room arranged one way, mom would move things). We didn't have to be driven all around to activities, we just went outside and "played."

And who in our generation did not know an Eddie Haskell character? Always the wise guy and working to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. Over the years, as I "channel surfed" I would occasionally find a Beaver rerun, and time permitting, always like to watch a little. It does remind me of a time "long, long ago" and as Shrek would add, in a place "Far Far Away."

The article about the program also gave a little background on what Wally and The Bev are up to these days. It seems they are doing well and I think that is great. It also mentioned that there will be a "Leave it to Beaver" Marathon on TV Land this weekend. I hope I have the time to watch a few episodes with my granddaughter Ryan.

Saul

Saul Klein

President/CEO, InternetCrusade

Have you visited RealTown.com recently? RealTown.com, the oldest, largest and most respected online community and network in the real estate industry has been totally redesigned and offers a wealth of information. Go to http://RealTown.com and check it out today!