I am truly honored to serve as your President of the Massachusetts CRS Chapter for 2013.  Together with our board of directors and the leadership team of President-Elect Joe Schutt, Treasurer Kurt Thompson, Secretary Richard Waystack, and Immediate Past President Bill Kuhlman, we promise you a fantastic year ahead.  2013 will be a year chock-full of CRS education, programs, courses, meet-and-greets, workshops, and mastermind events. 

And we’re “taking the show on the road.”  We’ve appointed seven Area Vice Presidents (AVPs) who we’re counting on to spread information from the chapter, as well as to bring information back from you to the board of directors.  Please reach out to them; they want to hear your suggestions about ideas for events, instructors, topics of interest, venues, ways to grow or improve the chapter, etc.

The AVPs for 2013 are:  Sven Andersen (Boston/North), Joan Witter (Cape and the Islands), Rick Coughlin (Boston/South Shore), Marisa DiNucci, (Boston/North Shore), Judy Reynolds (Worcester / Central Mass. South), John Vaillancourt (Worcester / Central Mass. North) and Beverlee Vidoli (Boston/MetroWest). 

We’re hoping to add one more AVP for western Mass. for 2013.  If you’d like to volunteer or if you have a recommendation for someone, please let me know.

The AVPs will help us in the planning and delivery of our courses and events to you.  We want to make those events more timely and relevant to you and make it easier for you to attend chapter events locally than ever before, as well continue to give you the opportunity to network with your CRS colleagues around the state.  As always, our goal is to keep you ahead of the curve with cutting-edge education and information.    

CRS and the Massachusetts Chapter are all about education, networking, and referrals.  In large part, being a CRS stems from a desire to constantly “improve your game” and to surround yourself with the best and brightest in real estate.  Additionally, CRSs who regularly attend chapter events, or step up and volunteer for chapter committees, and/or serve on the chapter board of directors tend to give and receive more referrals than those who sit on the sidelines year after year.    

Make this the year you become a truly active member of the Massachusetts CRS Chapter.  Please contact me and let’s talk about your involvement.   I would appreciate your letting me know how we can better serve you and your needs.  I welcome your suggestions on how to make our chapter better and I look forward to helping you find and acquire the tools you need to take your career to the next level.

Be on the lookout for the 2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS.  It will be posted in the next few weeks.  The 2013 Education and Program Committees are busy finalizing the schedule.  You’re going to want to “save the dates” for the events as they are going to be over the moon!  The Education and Program Committees have blended fun in the sun and CRS learning.  By that I mean one event I’m particularly excited about is an education cruise.   So watch for the upcoming details, get your sea bag ready, and join us for this great CRS learning and networking event!

As a chapter, we have adopted The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Massachusetts Chapter, as our charity for 2013.  Having lost a grandchild to leukemia, this cause is personally very dear to me.  Please join with me and keep this charity in mind throughout the year.  Make a donation on your own or through the chapter at one of our events.  Consider making donations in the name of your clients as closing gifts.  Supporting this wonderful organization is truly beneficial to so many.  Blood cancer has touched too many of our families.

For more information on The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or to make a donation, please visit ma.lls.llsevent.org/realtors

Finally, the Massachusetts CRS Chapter Installation of Officers was a genuinely lovely event.  It was held December 3, 2012, at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, in Boston.  

CRS Regional Vice President Christel Silver installed the Board of Directors and leadership team.  Past MAR President and NAR Region 1 Vice President Judy Moore installed me, as President.  Past MAR President Gary Rogers was the very best master of ceremony one could have. 

Sylvia Russo-Pollastri together with CRS Liaison Urszula Moussa tended to everything with a fine eye for every detail and total perfection.  There was just such unbelievable effort from so many wonderful people.  I am so grateful to you all.

In closing, I am truly excited about everything in store for you, for me, and for the Massachusetts CRS Chapter in 2013!

Till we talk next......
Marilyn Jarvis
2013 MA CRS President

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.   Albert Einstein