Thank goodness I don’t have a position like Todd’s, I am accustomed to participating in forums and offering “my” opinion and he has done the same over the years with his. It must be very difficult to not be “the committee” or the “association” and also not be able to be “yourself”. It has to be very frustrating.

I do think that your presence over at AG added a lot. Things did get edgy at times, but in the end you being there was one of the best things that could have happened as there was that sort of communication. You’re in a tough position (in my opinion) as I’ve stated before, but I do think overall things went well.

Will the outcome be as many agents wished? Only time will tell that. I hope so, if only to encourage people to get involved and work to make the changes they want in our association. I for one have been encouraged by all of this.

Well I am a Realtor with an IDX feed and I don’t just kinda like Hilary and Todd. I *really* like them. I’ve met then both, we’ve had dinner together, and they are both wicked smart, and very cool individuals. No question in my mind that they want nothing but the best for NAR members.

The issue as I see it is the NAR is a big, bloated, lumbering bureaucracy. Reminds me *exactly* of my 20+ years in Fortune 100 Corporate America.

And that’s why it’s frustrating.

But it’s certainly not Todd or Hilary’s fault. Nor any other individual at the NAR (or state/local association).

Todd talks about egging commentors on to do something about it and I have to say that in my case, it worked. I did something I hadn’t done before. I voiced my opinion direct to NAR and the committee members. So far Cliff’s the only one to respond, but hopefully my state’s committee members got the message too.

I do wonder though (based on Todd’s comments at AG on this post), what you (Todd) see your role as? I’m sure they’ve given you some sort of job description, but I’m curious as to how NAR has laid it out and what you feel your personal obligations are in this new role. I applaud the effort of NAR to engage and I hope it continues, grows, and evolves over time. I’m not questioning you in order to argue, I’m simply questioning to better understand it all.

I’m not sure what you mean by “halted from the top”. I did not ask permission to engage in that AG thread. I wasn’t told to stop.

Instead of just barking up the tree, climb it.

I see so many complaining about NAR this, NAR that… At least Todd grasped an opportunity to do something about it. Now we need others who are knowledgable and technologically efficient, to start climbing the actual REALTOR(R) ladder and entering into Leadership.

I have issues myself with those in elected positions, who are supposed to be running the ship (not the staff!), who can’t even Tweet or have a Facebook page, and some have difficulties sending e-mails without assistance apparently too. This is isn’t JUST a NAR issue, but an industry issue on state & local levels too.

We need to show the true power of social media, and make sure we campaign for the “new guard” who do possess these skills. That is the only way things are really gonna change. You can yell from the internet all you want, but until we decide to really get in the trenches, you might as well be yelling in an empty forest. Those that you are addressing can’t hear you!

I agree. But again, I was teaching. Leading by example. This is what you should do. I think we’ll be there eventually.