Minnesota CRS Chapter News

October 2014

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Message from President Tom Slupske………..……..…………………….…….….....3 MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors.………………………………..……………….….8 MN CRS Chapter Members 2014………….…………………….…..………………….....9 MN CRS Chapter- Steve Stewart, CRS…………………………………………………..15 Exclusive By Referral-The PROgram Photo………………………………………….17 At Home With Diversity………………………………………………………………………..18 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage….………………………………………………….……….…19 Bonfe Home Warranty………………………………………………..….…………,…….……21 Sky Definition……………………………..………………………………………………..……..22 Support Our Sponsors…………………………..………………………….…………….…..23

MN CRS Chapter Newsletter – Table of Contents:

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President’s Message:

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler Originally I planned this as my December farewell article as 2014 President of the Minnesota Certified Residential Specialists Chapter. However, November will be busy with CRS changes and December will be transition to 2015 MN CRS Chapter President Eric Kodner. So why not submit now? 2014 was an interesting, frustrating, challenging, disappointing and rewarding year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the chapter president. Each year the chapter learns the successes from the previous year and those who labored to improve the chapter. If you reflect upon our accomplishments you’ll discover we did a lot! Thank you for all your support. One of the core aspirations of the chapter is to bring superior learning to all REALTORS®; and introduce them to the opportunities in CRS. I’d like to share highlights of how the chapter achieved those goals: December 18, 2013 – One task of the MN CRS Chapter is to raise the awareness of CRS. We started the year before the year began by attending the WCR Holiday Gala and Fundraiser Event at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington. CRS contributed to the WCR auction and was acknowledged for our participation to more than 100 in attendance.

January 9th - Our first meeting of the year began with what had been a tradition of inviting our Holiday Auction charities to receive our donations. MN CRS Chapter has now donated $212,340 to local charities over the last twenty years.

President’s Message (cont.)

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January 14th - class in Brainerd, MN with Jackie Leavenworth and attended by 78 REALTORS®.

January 14th – Edina Realty Expo attended by over 300 REALTORS® and MN CRS Chapter was represented by Board of Directors member and past MN CRS Chapter President Steve Stewart.

January 15 & 16th - Effective Sales Strategies with Jackie Leavenworth; attended by 48 REALTORS®. Edina, MN. We had 16 new CRS members joined during this class.

January 25th – Liberty Title, one of our major sponsor, had a charity ball which several MN CRS Chapter members attended. The theme of this charity event was “The Roaring Twenties” as everyone was encouraged to come in costume.

February 5th - We were able to learn with our first ever MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors Orientation. Facilitated by Lynn Leegard, MNAR CE Instructor, attorney and former legal counsel for Edina Realty. Whether new or veteran members of MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors we needed to unlearn and relearn Board responsibilities to have a better understanding of what was expected of us. I strongly recommend an orientation every year. February 19, 2014; Minnesota Association of Realtors Capitol Conference Day to learn how legislation will affect us; and to promote CRS to over 600 REALTORS® from around the State. MN CRS Chapter had a booth to help disseminate information and chapter recruiting. March 9th – For the 2nd year, MN CRS Chapter Past President, Dan Boman and I attended the Greater Lakes Area REALTORS® Association Expo in Brainerd, MN. We promoted CRS to over 150 Realtors. Thank you to MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors member Dinah Sundberg for the invitation.

President’s Message (cont.)

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April 24th – REALTORS® Day at the Capitol; chapter members serve as liaison to area legislators. May 8th – Lunch-N-Learn Wayzata co-sponsored with Wells Fargo Home Mortgages, a major sponsor for 2014.

July 14th – CRS Blood Drive held at MNAR offices. Liberty Title, a major sponsor, provided food & beverages to those who donated. One new MN CRS Chapter member. July 19th “- The once popular MN CRS Chapter All-Star panel had been MIA for several years. We brought it back as “Breakfast of Champions” at Pinstripes in Edina, MN. We learned the latest trends of the real estate industry from a panel of experts. 129 registered. Thank You Cindy Bramwell for organizing. This can be a template so this “Road Show” event will occur in other areas of the State. August 12th – Thanks to MN CRS Chapter Board of Directors member Sandy Maxwell the chapter has a new Chapter With A Heart Event. “Tee it Up for the Kids” a golf tournament benefiting the children & teens’ camp of the Minnesota National Guard. Sandy and her group raised over $27,000.00 for the camp.

September 9th – To kick-off CRS Awareness Week MN CRS Chapter had been invited to participate in Wells Fargo’s “Center Stage” in Bloomington, MN. Attended by over 400 REALTORS®. We had a booth at this event to distribute CRS material and recruiting opportunities.

September 12th – As a fitting wrap-up to CRS Awareness Week we celebrated with our annual boat cruise on majestic Lake Minnetonka. This year our theme was “A Three Hour Cruise”. The weather was cooler but warmth and fun prevailed. Thank you again Cindy Bramwell.

President’s Message (cont.)

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September 29th - Exclusively By Referral ... The PROgram with Ed Hatch in Rochester, MN. Thank you Melanie Schmidt for your efforts making this a success. October 17th – To continue the challenge to learn, unlearn and relearn we unlearned our annual December REALTORS® Holiday Party and Charity Auction and learned a new event: “Realtors Mingle Around the World”. This year’s event was held at “Mingle Showroom” in Plymouth. We featured foods from around the World. Proceeds plus another $2,000.00 will be donated to Ascension Place. This was the kick-off to adding diversity to MN-CRS. The MN CRS Chapter also has liaisons to WCR, YPN and several MNAR and MAAR committees. As such the chapter attended several events and was able to announce CRS’s opportunities including educational. During 2013 we had two major sponsors, for 2014 that increased to five major sponsors: Wells Fargo Home Mortgages, Markve & Zweifel Law, Liberty Title, Bonfe Home Warranty and SkyDefinition (Aerial HD Video). Sponsors are due to relationships and referring business. If MN CRS Chapter wants our sponsor funds then MN CRS Chapter needs to support our sponsors.

As you review the Minnesota CRS Chapter has been very active, accomplished and learned a lot. The faster pace at which the real estate business is changing, however, can leave many feeling a little disoriented. In recent years, old industries have fallen, new ones have risen, and new skills are required to meet the demands of competition. In less than 10 years the real estate industry has seen significant change. What once may have seemed stable now has ever-changing technology and challenging shifts to learn new business models is sometimes overwhelming.

President’s Message (cont.)

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Consumers no longer use REALTORS® as their primary source to find homes for sale. Zillow & Trulia leaped to the top of online real estate sites; and as major lead-generators for REALTORS®. Electronic contracts and signatures are becoming the tool of preference for REALTORS® and their clients. Licensing, continuing education, foreclosures, lending practices, etc. have all changed significantly over the last decade. CRS is changing too. 2015 will be a transition year to the new member affiliate model beginning in 2016. More will be learned of the CRS changes after the CRS Convention in New Orleans during November. There is no doubt CRS needed to change. Some even questioned the value of CRS without updating and reform. CRS was operating under 20th Century business model and needed to transition into the member needs of the 21st Century. Yet, is all change necessary and welcome? Will we be dutiful not to “throw out the baby with the bath water”? It’s wait and see. Yes, the way we do business has and will change, and this is exciting. How will you prepare? How will you be able to unlearn the old, and learn new ways for tackling challenges? Thomas Slupske MN CRS Chapter President 2014

2014 Minnesota CRS Chapter Board of Directors

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President: Thomas Slupske President Elect: Eric Kodner Secretary: Sandy Maxwell Treasurer: Dar Vosburg Past President: Dan Boman Director: Cindy Bramwell Director: Betty Cole Director: James Geisinger Director: Jason Gorman Director: Dennis Libby Director: Shannon Lindstrom Director: Fred Schramm Director: Stephen Stewart Director: Gary Williams District Representative: Ron Hanger District Representative: Scott Norton District Representative: Melanie Schmidt District Representative: Dinah Sundberg Regional Vice President: Michele Epps MNAR Chief Executive Officer: Christopher Galler MNAR Support Staff: Peg Anderson

Please feel free to contact us with questions and/or ideas for

improvement or if you would like to become a MN CRS Board of Directors member

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Dar Vosbury Sharlene H. Hensrud Connie B. Knutson Beth Iverson Richard A. Norland Dinah B. Sundberg Steven A. Bruggeman Nicole L. Johnsrud Jeff Scislow John R. Rohan Bill Dobbins Dawn M. Schmidt Ronald Mikolai Eva Tangen Kathy Kueppers Jim Geisinger Gary E. Williams Syd Jensen Jim Armstrong Bob Elliot Michael C. Olson Joel D. Oakland Dennis M. Flahave Michael C. Esterley Lisa M. Ash Christopher H. Fellerman Vicky A. Matson Kyle L. Litwin Laurel J. Mahan Brion D. Loftsgard Shawn M. Buryska Stephanie Boegeman Jan Wentland Kale A. Hassan Mary Leizinger Elizabeth L. Cole Karla A. Blomberg Debbie J. Caylor Colleen K. Johnson Jeffery Jasper Thomas L. Herzog James P. Gruver Jeffery J. Joyer Radhey L. Singhal Mary C. Bergman Natalie Miller Tab S. Nesser Mary E. Gores Michael L. Meyer Jim Hughes Marilyn Richter Duane P. Schroeder Candice W. Stabeck Roman J. Cantu Debra J. Richmond-Johnson Kim N. Guild Christy Joyer Mary Miller Kerry Bader Jennifer A. Forliti Gina Dumas Mary F. Gallivan

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Karel Smith Sherri Pearson Carol Hong Steven P. Mollner Dennis A. Mathis Gregg Hartos Paul A. Redlinger Rebecca J. Schaust Mary Krieter Ronald J. Hanger Richard J. Herrmann Jenna Thuening Carol Hesch Dawn D. Ohnstad Lisa Seymour David L. Christensen Lynn W. Mathis Dennis L. Libby Ann J. Finder Thomas Slupske Patrick G. McGill Barry L. Gillespie Bob A. Franseen Valentina P. Yarr Jesse Pastrana Patricia Von Mosch Kimm Pastrana Jamie M. Sathers-Day Jo Ebbert Wilhelmine T. Jacobson Tom E. Blomberg Garry H. Haas Jason Gorman Janis Powers Heather M. Dawe Ken Erickson Mary Jo Franzen Steven G. Ganz Steve Havig Judy Solstad Karen Moe Jenna Thuening Phillip D. Rustad Sue Coulter Delinda M. Beattie Patrick M. McBride Lisa J. Rawson Karen Pavlicek LeRoy J. Bendickson Michael R. Hunstad Gail R. Mirviss Joel Hentges M. Susan Fuhrman Anderson Nancy Middleton Amy Peterson Sandra A. Carlson Thomas Strombeck Kevin S. Miller Deb S. Greene Patricia A. Gould-St. Aubin JoLynn M. Cafferty Michael J. Finstad Michelle Epps Judy E. Jensen

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Jack Brann Duan Sauke Mauritz E. Anderson James L. Bromenschenkel Mary Sommerfeld Jodi A. Laliberte George Bodnia Dee J. Tweed Emily M. Bowers Barbara A. Goerss Scott T. North Garth H. Johnson C.L. Swenson John H. Gellerman Greg Kuntz Gina Y. Willard Randall P. Ryan Mark B. Meixner James W. Sommerfeld Craig E. Murphy Dana K. Ross-Arit Marilyn L. Barnes Charlotte B. McDermott Rick S. Johnson Valerie K. Berg Brenda Eisenmann Sandra Warfield Patricia M. Zuzek Christopher C. Hauck David Prouty John Ampe Lance Lindstrom Shirlee L. Heitz Deborah A. Wallace D. Craig Moen James G. Albers Jaclyn M. Sathers Cathy Carchedi Holly A. Firehammer David A. Foy Jan K. Rome Robert Birkeland Bretta B. Wilbur Yoko Breckenridge Cynthia J. Spiczka Karen E. Littlejohn Brenda S. Schiemo-Smith Michael P. Tierney Bill E. Grunewald Jasminka Chan Joan A. Grunewald Barbara Banner Dean Haagenson William H. Towey Sylvia J. Rogers Stephen D. Stewart Jeff Frederiksen Mina Grams Debra L. Schmitz Robert G. Ebbert L. Robert Faundeen Carol L. Dietman Fritz Ludwig

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Connie J. Caspers Mary Alice J Beevore David T. Abele Aaron J. Thompson Richard P. Hansen Glenn R. Solberg Carol A. Pech Sharon Harris Vannelli Sam H. Fudenberg Donna M. Anfinson Ralph Rooney Sandra J. Lauer Michael A. Williams Jocelyn Allen Jan Rapheal Nancy Adsem Richard O Watland Jeffrey Cameron Linda Akenson Dawn M. Jarl Jim C. Rettinger Steve T. Kraft Betty L. Eischens Susan Wahman Louise Speck Mary DuBois Adamek Linda Christianson Marv Karth Steve Hinrichs Michael J. Kennedy Kary Marpe Brian W. Nelson Jeff Young James V. Sawicki Joe R. Allen Mary C. Hansmeyer Cindy Carlson Debra Flam Nina Karsky Carol M. Cameron Charles C. Brooks Jr. George Farkas Craig M. Dullum Patricia A. Stevens Sherry S. Graham Carl Rudnitski Stan A. Utley Kathy Sawicki Nancy K. Giacomuzzi Judith Odegaard Melanie J. Schmidt Erin D. Johnson Shannon Lindstrom Jeanette S. Nelson Gregory A. Hahn Todd Haigh Janet G. Stevens Kat Kitt John E. Madison Orville F. Fillbrandt Eric Kodner Paul Sigurdson

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Audrey Cole Larry T. Lauer Tim Ehorn Brian J. Leonard Kim Melin Daniel D. Boman Mike C. Klemesrud Sue Johnson Diane M. Bloem Carol Winskowski Bruce K. Larson Diane Holland Dave M. Froyd Brenda Scott Dewayne Bloem Jon Weber Elizabeth Johnson Shelley Crow Colleen J. Ratzlaff-LaBeau Lorraine Smith Thomas G. LaBeau Patricia Lutterman Peggy A. Sparr Mildred L. Bruss Linda A. Johnson Beth Richardson Randy D. Simpson Ann Leviton Patrice Simpson Rachel Huls Debra Casper Chris V. Hanson Gerald E. Otto Sandra A. Maxwell Wendy Carson Jason M. Semler Rosemary A. Knutson Dale L. Hildestad John W. Anderson Fritz Bredenbeck Kevin R. Monson Koleen J. Rosenberg Chad W. Baker Terry Mitchell Susan P. Patterson Cynthia Gillette-Hurd Sean M. McDonald George W. Stickney Cindy A. Bramwell Sandra Russen Sandy Erickson Thomas Edelstein Marge K. Hall Jerome Juelich Faye E. Jacobson Dixie R. Ewing Craig Johnson Bob Reidell Sheryl Bakewell Karen A. Schlaefer Chris Fritch Frederick W. Schramm Lee Maher Rhonda Green

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MN CRS Chapter Members 2014

Clarke T. Goset Neoma K. Peterson Gordon N. Doggett Bonnie Kruger Mary McNaney Jim Eisler Frederick W. Hoelzel Sue Chesley Kathleen L. Cantazaro Wendy J. Uzelac Larry Anderson Barbara Harman Mike D. Jorgensen Steve G. Valeri Mary Sotanski Pagel Fritz Ludwig Please be sure to “Like” the Minnesota CRS Chapter Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaCRSChapter?ref=hl

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MN CRS Chapter – Steve Stewart, CRS

Are you taking advantage of all your resources? The Council of Residential Specialists can be one of the best resources for building our business and serving our clients, yet I fear most of us are unaware of the abundant and valuable resources offered by the Council. Check them out by logging in to your members resource page. There you will find archived podcasts, webinars and more (most are free), as well as current webinars (free and for a modest fee), blogs, forums and much more. If you are looking for the CRS emblem or a Facebook Timeline cover, consumer ad templates, consumer brochures or flyers, so you can promote yourself as a CRS, check out the marketing page. You can also download and personalize the "Your Home" newsletter for distribution. In the Resource section, check out the Lead Generation Kit "Welcome Home", "5 Smart Things Smart Realtors Should Do Before They Retire", and much more. Oh, did I forget to mention the "Residential Specialist" magazine which always contains great articles and information to help take us to the next level. On the Education front, check out the listing of one and two day live courses as well a selection of on line courses, Sell-a-bration, and Essentials Classes. CRS education programs are the best in the business. The Minnesota Chapter is in the process of setting it's 2015 Education schedule, so watch for that in the coming months. Now is the best time to invest in your career. CRS offers you the tools and resources. It's up to you to use them. Take advantage of this valuable information, and take advantage of networking with other top agents in this market and across the country. The CRS family is an effective resource for sharing ideas and sending /receiving referrals.

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MN CRS Chapter – Steven Stewart, CRS Cont.

I have found in my involvement with the MN CRS Chapter, and with CRS designees and Chapters throughout the country, that top CRS agents are willing to share ideas and information, as well as support other CRS agents. If you ever have questions about CRS membership, available training and marketing resources, or any of our exiting educational or networking opportunities, please contact any of our Board of Directors. And remember to check out the valuable resources on line at www.crs.com. Steve Stewart, CRS Past President MN CRS Chapter (2012) CRS Region 13 Vice President (2014)

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Exclusive by Referral- The PROgram Photos

Ed Hatch, CRB, CRS-Education Instructor, GRI, Melanie Schmidt, CRS, MN CRS District Representative and Dan Boman, CRS, MN CRS Past President 2013

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Minnesota CRS Chapter July 2014 Please Support Our Sponsors

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Minnesota CRS Chapter July 2014 Please Support Our Sponsors