ORIENTATION
Orientation is required for all new REALTOR^® members. You must meet this requirement within the first two offerings of applying for membership. Learn what it means to be a REALTOR^®, your obligation to abide by our Code of Ethics, and the many benefits and services that the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^®has to offer. A boxed meal is provided by the sponsor of the orientation.

Orientation will be held on the following dates and times: (Registration begins at 10:45 a.m.)
February 23, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. sponsored by Fine Line Homes

Remember failure to attend orientation as required may result in paying an additional application fee.

2009 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Thank you to all of our members who volunteer to serve the Association and the industry by serving on a committee - you do make a difference! If you are interested in serving on any Association or Foundation committees in 2009, please notify the Association as soon as possible. The Association is creating our 2009 committees. If you were an active member of a committee in 2008, you will be automatically assigned to serve on that committee again in 2009. If you were not an active member of the committee, you will be dropped from the committee. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Cuddeford or Kathy Ludwig at 364-3200.

COMPLETE THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP E-SURVEY
On December 16, GHAR members received an e-mail from the Public Relations Committee asking them to complete an online survey. This short survey will assist the Public Relations Committee with identifying ways to enhance the public image of our Association and our members, and also will help the Committee to determine ways of expanding our Association’s involvement with our local communities. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. If you have any questions, please contact Sherri Pursel at the Association. Thank you for your help!

"GETTING TO SOLD" BROCHURE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS
GHAR recently purchased some "Getting to Sold" brochures. Purchased from NAR, these brochures provides consumers with tips on curb appeal and how to prepare your home for sale. Members can stop in the GHAR office and pick up a copy of a brochure. Or, members can order larger quantities of the brochure through the NAR Web site. Click here to view and/or order the brochure.

NEXT ICI BREAKFAST AND MARKETING EXCHANGE - FEBRUARY 2009
The next ICI Breakfast and Marketing Exchange will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009. The breakfast meeting is sponsored by NAI CIR. Please watch for additional information in future Weekly E-mails. For questions or more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

GREATER HARRISBURG REALTORS^® INSTITUTE

GHRI BI-WEEKLY E-MAIL
To help decrease the size and scope of the weekly email, the Association has decided to send out a separate email highlighting upcoming classes held at the Greater Harrisburg REALTORS^® Institute. Look for the email to be sent out the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

REQUIRED COURSE FOR NEW LICENSEES
If you were initially licensed on December 1, 2007 or later, to renew your license in May 2010 you will need to complete a required course for new licensees during the 2008-2010 renewal period. Many of the "approved for continuing education" credits for Pennsylvania licensees currently being offered will not fulfill this continuing education requirement. If you have any questions about continuing education requirements contact GHRI at 364-3205.

PRE-LICENSING PACKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Pre-licensing packets including the spring pre-licensing class schedule is now available! Offices interested in receiving packets for distribution may contact Liann at 364-3205.

2009 COMEDY NIGHT!
Join us and support the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS Foundation at the 2009 Comedy Night on Friday, February 27 featuring Wise Crackers Comedians! Show times include 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Duke's Bar and Grille at 313 S. Front Street in Wormleysburg. Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, January 13th to both shows! Cost is $20 per ticket. Seating is limited so please call the Association for ticket availability. All proceeds from this event go to the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation!

Interested in Sponsoring this event? Contact Sara at the Association by calling 364-3200 or email her at sara@ghar.info.

Note: The official registration and financial information of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

SUPRA SOLUTION FOR BLACKBERRY USERS
SUPRA has announced a solution for Blackberry users. CLICK HERE for information. Information is also available under MLS Docs.

CREATING CUSTOM VIEWS IN THE PARAGON SYSTEM
CPML will be offering a class on CREATING CUSTOM VIEWS in the Paragon System. January 16, 2009 at 9:00 am. Class will be held in the GHAR building at 424 N. Enola Dr. Please call CPML at 761-8440 to register.

CPML PHOTO POLICY
The CPML photo policy is still in effect, only the fine has been removed until January 1, 2009. A photo of the front elevation of the property is still required within 3 days after the listing is entered into the Paragon System.

CPML OPEN HOUSE WEBSITE

CentralPennOpenHouse.com is live! Consumers are now able to access this site and search, using individualized parameters, all scheduled open houses posted within the paragon system. Posting of your open houses is an existing function within the paragon system. But now, with our new WEB site, your clients and customers will have the ability to access the data on the Internet at CentralPennOpenHouse.com

We have begun promotion of this site with billboards and newspaper ads; we need you to promote this site to your clients and potential clients through your web sites. It is important now that your Open House information we be entered into the Paragon system. You can find instructions on entering your open house data under MLS DOCS in the Paragon System.

PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
Training classes have been scheduled on the following dates for the PARAGON system:
                           February 12, 2009
                           March 12, 2009
                           April 9, 2009
                           May 14, 2009

Basic class will be held at 9:00 am. The Basic Class covers simple searches, descriptions of terms used in the PARAGON system, introduction to input sheets, CPML input rules for paragon as well as system requirements. The Basic Class also provides a brief look at the financial program.

Advanced class will be held at 1:00 pm. The Advanced Class covers creating CMA's and using the Contact Manager to manage clients as well as send automatic emails.

You need only attend one day, but you may attend more than one class if you choose. Please call the CPML office at
761-8440 to reserve a time. Classes are held at the new GHAR Office at 424 N. Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025.

ARE YOU A STAR IN REAL ESTATE?
The PAR Excellence Club honors REALTORS^® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATES^® who have exhibited a high standard of professionalism through active participation in National, State or Local Association/Board activities, business activity and pursuit of education in the real estate field. Any PAR member is eligible to apply. Click here to get your application. All applications are due prior to March 31, 2009.

DNC QUICKCHECK PROGRAM BEING DISCONTINUED
In 2007 the PAR Board of Directors approved the inclusion of the DNC Quickcheck program from PossibleNow as a free member benefit for all PAR members. Unfortunately, the number of PAR members participating in this program since its
approval has not been sufficient to justify the ongoing budgetary costs to PAR. As a result, this benefit is being discontinued effective December 31, 2008.

Users will receive the service at no charge through the end of the year; to continue using the DNC Quickcheck product after January 1 you will need to establish a paid account with PossibleNow. PAR has negotiated a discounted pricing model in an effort to keep these costs as reasonable as possible.

If you have additional questions about the decision to discontinue the program as a member benefit, contact Theresa Capricci, PAR Partnership and Outreach Specialist at 1-800-555-3390. For information about maintaining your account and continuing to use DNC Quickcheck, please contact Sandy Sponsler, Account Manager for PossibleNow at ssponsler@possblenow.com or 1-800-585-4888.

HAVE YOU VISITED JUST LISTED?
Just Listed is PAR's new blog, another member benefit for you. Log on and join in the discussion with authors including attorney Jim Goldsmith and his Legal Hotline team, economist Austin Jaffe and PAR staff.

PA SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS MILLERSVILLE BOROUGH LEASE TAX
On December 17, 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the case of Lynnebrook v. Borough of Millersville. The case revolved around the question of whether or not the Borough of Millersville could impose a tax on all leases signed in the Borough. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lynnebrook and set precedent that localities could not impose taxes on leases. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

NAR ISSUES CALL-FOR-ACTION ON FOUR-POINT HOUSING STIMULUS PLAN
On November 12, the National Association of REALTORS^® issued a member-wide Call-for-Action on its Four-Point Housing Stimulus Plan. NAR has been encouraging Congress to come back in to session before the end of the year to consider its plan which addresses housing across the country. Click here for more information and to participate in the Call-for-Action!

NAR ISSUES 4-POINT HOUSING STIMULUS PLAN
On October 15, the National Association of REALTORS^® issued a call for Congress to return to session after the November General Election to consider a 4-point housing stimulus plan. According to a special Internal News Service report from NAR, the four points of its plan include:

NAR RPAC EXCEEDS $10 MILLION FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR 2008
Thanks to the participation of REALTORS^® across the country, NAR RPAC successfully has reached its goal to raise $10 million in 2008! NAR reported that the total funds raised was $10,081,282! Click here to read more about this outstanding accomplishment on the NAR Web site.

LOWER ALLEN TWP. TO MAKE REVISIONS TO ZONING ORDINANCE
On January 22, the Lower Allen Township Board of Commissioners will consider an Ordinance amending the Township’s Zoning Ordinance. Specifically, the amendment Ordinance would make substantial changes to the current Zoning Ordinance, including the additions of various overlay districts and a “Regional Commercial District”. The Board intends to hold a public hearing and then consider the amendment Ordinance at its meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Lower Allen Township Municipal Services Center, 2233 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill. For more information, including a copy of the public notice, please contact Sherri Pursel.

SIGN-UP to be a MUNICIPAL Political CONTACT!
GHAR is still searching for volunteers to be Municipal Political Contacts. As a Political Contact, GHAR will work with you when issues impacting REALTORS^® and the real estate industry arise in your municipality. GHAR’s goal is to identify REALTORS^® from each municipality in our tri-county area to be Political Contacts. We are still in need of contacts for the following municipalities:

If you are interested in participating in this vital program, please contact Sherri Pursel.

CONDOLENCES
Our condolences go out to family and friends of John Krieger. John passed away earlier this week. John was a REALTOR^® member of the Association several years ago and was the brother of Don Krieger, formerly of CPML.

Our condolences go to REALTOR^® Carole Anderson, of Prudential Thompson Wood who recently lost her mother unexpectedly.

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU NEEDS REALTORS^®
Pennsylvania REALTORS® looking to supplement their incomes have a chance to make more than $13 an hour verifying addresses and collecting data for the 2010 census. The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting full- and part-time workers to work from home on their own schedules beginning in 2009. To qualify, workers must pass a 28-question basic skills test administered by the bureau. Call 1.866.861.2010 to schedule a test or visit census.gov.

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