Event Coverage
SILVAR Members Welcome No Dues Increase in 2017
Nearly 400 SILVAR members braved the rain last Friday to attend the SILVAR Annual Economic Seminar and General Membership Meeting and hear the latest news and achievements of their Association. The best news for many was that there would be no dues increase in 2017.
SILVAR President Karen Trolan thanked everyone for attending the event. She said she is privileged to serve as president this year and encouraged members to continue taking advantage of opportunities at SILVAR, like enrolling in education courses, participating in events and networking with each other.
"You are the heart of SILVAR," Trolan told members.
Executive Officer Paul Cardus announced 2016 has been another financially strong year for SILVAR, thanks to solid investments and rising membership. SILVAR membership increased 2.7 percent from 2015. To date SILVAR has a total of 5,017 REALTOR® and affiliate members - 4,857 REALTOR® members - 4,553 primary and 304 secondary REALTOR® members, and 186 affiliated professionals. SILVAR membership has grown 68 percent since 2002.
Members applauded when Cardus announced that there will be no dues increase next year. There has been no dues increase for members since 2002.
Cardus outlined many achievements at SILVAR this year. Notable is members' use of PRDS Forms has grown, with 3,145 SILVAR REALTORS® using PRDS Forms on Instanet in the first three quarters of 2016, with 65 percent of membership accessing the forms online through September 2016, up from 62 percent last year.
This year a new, more mobile and touch friendly Transaction Desk was launched, which is now dashboard based so REALTORS® can get more information and quicker access to transaction forms and signings anywhere with one click. SILVAR REALTOR® members are able to use Instanet PRDS forms from within MLSListings' Matrix system and members continue to use Authentisign, which allows them to have PRDS Forms and virtually any document electronically signed, whether that document was originally in electronic or paper form. Usage of the DocBox™ and DocBox2Go™ paperless online document management system surpassed usage last year with 2,550 SILVAR REALTORS® having uploaded over 62,844 documents in the first nine months of 2016.
Cardus said SILVAR aims to make business easier, quicker and efficient for members, so real estate documents can be accessed and loaded into the system, whether they were created in PRDS or another forms program, and documents can be uploaded, emailed and even faxed in one click.
2016 has been another successful year for SILVAR's global business program, said Cardus. SILVAR's global business council earned the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Platinum Award for Global Achievement for the fourth year in a row. The global council helped promote SILVAR's fifth Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Institute this year and held successful global programs year-round.
Another program that has being going strong for 15 years is the REALTOR® SERVICE Volunteer Program (RSVP), which this year had 179 volunteers assisting 79 seniors with household tasks they can no longer perform on their own. Cardus thanked all volunteers for their involvement in this Association community outreach program.
This year to date the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of SILVAR, has donated over $69,000 in the form of grants and scholarships. As part of its annual scholars program, the Charitable Foundation presents a $1,000 grant to 18 graduating seniors from public high schools in Silicon Valley. The Foundation has been assisting students with the scholarship grants for 17 years with $306,000 awarded.
Also this year the Foundation awarded $45,000 from the SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund to help veterans studying in Palo Alto University, West Valley College, including $25,000 to Foothill-De Anza Community College District to endow the John Tripp Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholarship.
Cardus said much of the success of the all these programs is owed to the late John Tripp, who fostered, promoted and worked steadfastly to ensure their success. Tripp died on December 27, 2015.
Cardus said SILVAR members have much to be proud of. "You are the pulse of your communities and the expertise you bring is even more important than sales," said Cardus.
Following Cardus was Government Affairs Director Jessica Epstein, who thanked members for their contributions to the REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF). RAF funds have helped SILVAR, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) and NAR protect homeownership and private property rights. Epstein reminded members to vote on Tuesday, November 8 and to check out SILVAR Legislative Committee's political endorsements on the SILVAR website at www.silvar.org.
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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.