Inside the WRA
Inside the WRA with Bill Malkasian
 What a state convention! More than 1,200 people crowded into the Wisconsin Dells area for a super gathering Oct. 6-8. Our satisfaction survey marks were very high. I was especially pleased that we had nearly 100 guests in attendance. The Sunday start day allowed
REALTORŪ families to attend and enjoy the many attractions of the Kalahari Resort. Plan on the same place next year on Sept 21-23, 2003.
This edition of the Wisconsin REALTORŪ will be hitting before the general election on Nov. 5. Included is a voter guide to help you sort through the candidates that the RPAC Trustees and Directors felt would benefit the Wisconsin real estate industry.
Many of you have asked how we made our decisions and what member input was involved. These are good practical questions that I want to address.
To do this, let's flashback to nearly 18 months ago when Tommy Thompson announced he was leaving for Washington D.C. Knowing the dynamic at the capitol was going to change, the WRA began an extensive planning process for WRA involvement in the 2002 elections. Amidst the changing of the guard, party infighting, legislative caucus scandals, and other factors contributed to the developing complexity of the situation.
As leadership changes were completed in the governor's office, the WRA leadership appointed a political strategy group to work with the staff to help craft an outline of
action. The Political Strategy Group was headed by Bob Weber, our current chairman.
The strategy group made a series of recommendations to the Board of Directors at WRA board meetings in January, May and August.
Recommendations included a series of member focus groups late 2001 and early 2002. These groups were made up of men, women, brokers and agents from all over the state.
We asked questions about the WRA's role in elections, candidates, and issues. We retested with a major member poll in late April right before the May directors meeting.
The results-and most important points of this article-were:
- The members expected the WRA to endorse candidates for offices, including Constitutional office holders.
- The members expected the WRA to tell them which candidates were good for the real estate industry no matter what political party affiliation.
- The members asked for background on the candidates so they could be better informed before voting.
- The members asked for a program to "turn out the vote" of
RealtorsŪ statewide.
- The members wanted cooperation between local associations and the WRA in achieving our political goals for 2002.
In the end, as you get ready to cast your vote on Nov. 5, I am proud that your state organization met its political goals as promised last year. Our team of local and state government affairs directors in the field worked hard with local executive officers and
REALTORSŪ throughout the state. Our REALTORŪ leaders made tough decisions in a political climate that we haven't seen in a very long time.
No matter what the outcome of the election, this organization will be stronger for the future. As I said last month, expect 2003 to be an activist year. You will be expected to call on your elected officials at all levels of government to preserve the quality of life and business success that you have worked hard to achieve.
Don't become complacent over great sales numbers this year, as 2003 promises to be a sea with some rough waves.
P.S. After the election, we will evaluate all that we did in preparation. The best managers use what they learn to do better the next time around. I will ask the leadership of the WRA to reconvene a new Political Strategy Group to review and make recommendations on changes for the future of WRA programming. As always your input is welcome.
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Chairman's Corner with Bob Weber
 This October issue of the Wisconsin
RealtorŪ marks my first opportunity to address you as your newly installed chairman of the Wisconsin
RealtorsŪ Association. My predecessor, Matt Miller, stepped aside on Monday, Oct. 7, at the state convention. Thank you Matt, for your wisdom, your leadership, and your overall commitment to the state association. Through your leadership we have continued on the proactive path that has become the expectation of the members of the WRA.
The year ahead promises to bring the most notable challenges in the public policy area. As I write this article, we face a gubernatorial election and many tight legislative races with outcomes bearing significant implications on our industry. We have distributed information through print material, videos, and other member outreach vehicles in an effort to enhance the education of our members. I urge you to review the information, ask questions, engage in the debate, and make an informed decision.
Additionally, based upon an extensive strategic planning process, we will review professional standards to ensure ever-improving professionalism in our industry. We have created both a License Law Task Force and a Real Estate Forms Task Force. Our business models continue to evolve. Maintaining appropriate compatible governing laws to match those models, as well as the expectations of our consumer, will be of particular emphasis in the coming year.
From the leadership stand point I'm confident we are poised to meet the challenges ahead. We have
Corky Hellyer as chairman-elect,
Kitty Jedwabny as treasurer, Jeff Kitchen, Roger Rushman, Steve Beers, and Tammy Maddente serving as vice presidents on the
Executive Committee. The
Board of Directors are a special group of qualified individuals, ready to engage in the debate. They are from your market, they are from my market, they are from all over Wisconsin. If you have questions or specific opinions to express, give someone on the board a call.
In closing, I cannot finish without one final request. As I mentioned earlier, the election is upon us. Though the debates are many, one thing is clear- the RPAC Trustees and the Political Strategy Group, with extensive research and input by the professional governmental affairs staffs at the state and local board levels and the approval of the Executive Committee and full Board of Directors, have identified those candidates who care about our issues. Consider their recommendations, debate the issues, and make an informed decision on Nov. 5. Your industry depends on it.
I look forward to the year ahead.
Respectfully,
Robert R. Weber
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