STOP CORONAVIRUS
WEAR YOUR MASK - WASH YOUR HANDS - STAY 6 FT. AWAY
GMAR HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES
The GMAR office will be closed on the following for the upcoming holidays:

Thursday, December 24th
Friday, December 25th
Thursday, December 31st
Friday, January 1st

Please plan accordingly if you still need to renew your membership.

If you are able to pay online through NAR's payment portal please follow the instructions listed on our site here.
FIRST-TIME BUYER PUTS THE REAL IN REAL ESTATE
The National Association of REALTORS® is filling the gap with a new, fun, and informative eight-part series. First-Time Buyer will show how REALTORS® work with clients to overcome potentially deal-breaking problems that can crop up at any stage of the search and transaction.
See firsthand what first-timers face, and how relying on a REALTOR®'s expertise helps them prep for the unexpected and make sure this milestone decision is made with confidence.
GMAR KETTLE MORAINE COUNCIL DONATIONS
Pictured above from left to right: Gina Feest - Prosperity Mortgage, Kaye Erdman - Chairwoman of KMC, Shelli Ellis - Prosperity Mortgage.

The GMAR Kettle Moraine Council has been busy donating the remainder of their 2020 budget. Because they did not sponsor events or host educational meetings this year, there was money available to donate. During a Zoom meeting it was voted on to support these Charities' in Washington County.

A family and several individuals were sponsored by providing Christmas gifts through Family Promise, an organization working with homeless families in Washington County. Shelli Ellis did the shopping and herself along with her assistant Gina Feest and Kaye Erdman had great fun wrapping the gifts to be delivered.

The council will be providing box lunches for Hartford Hospital's first shift on December 22nd for a Christmas thank you. Working with the local Cousin's Subs, 200 box lunches will be delivered to our nurses and staff who have worked so tirelessly over that past several months.

Checks were also sent to the following organizations:
  • Chicks 4 a Cause, a support organization for Cancer patients.
  • Western Trails Equestrian Center, who work with youth in the area teaching them to ride and care for horses. They also do therapy using the horses. 
  • Karls Place, a homeless shelter for adults located in West Bend. 

We also decided to make a donation to Hope Street in Milwaukee. This idea came from this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mary Steinke.

The remainder of our funds will go to the Youth Foundation, as it does every year.

We are all hoping that in 2021 we will again be planning our social and educational events.
NEW FEATURE COMING TO SENTRILOCK IN 2021
Access By Appointment
In January of 2021 agents who utilize the SentriLock lockbox system will have the option to use a new feature called 'Access by Appointment.' With this setting turned on, your lockboxes will only be able to be accessed during scheduled appointments. More information coming soon!

*REMINDER: If you are retiring or not renewing your membership for 2021 please return your SentriLock lockboxes to the GMAR office. Not doing so will result in a fine.
WRA'S THURSDAY TAKEAWAYS VIDEO SERIES
Check out the most recent edition of WRA's Thursday Takeaways Video Series!

"I Let My License Expire. Now What?"
With Jennifer Lindsley
At the beginning of every new biennium, there are some agents who forget to renew their real estate licensees. Let's review the simple steps to get that license renewed and get you back out there practicing real estate.
'RE-ORIENT YOURSELF' : WISCONSIN REALTORS® FOUNDATION
Brush Up on What You Learned at Orientation
Whether you are a brand new REALTOR® just starting out or have been in the business for years, it never hurts to check back in on the basics and make sure you are taking full advantage of your membership. 
We all see the WRF as an optional fee on our dues statement each year, yet most of us do not know what it is for. For the past few years, the Wisconsin REALTORS® Foundation (WRF) has rebuilt into a statewide organization dedicated to unifying REALTORS® behind charitable causes to make Wisconsin a better place to live, work, and play. Currently, the WRF is helping children in the areas of: education, hunger, homelessness/abuse, and serious illnesses. 

In addition, to its partnership with Feeding Wisconsin and providing scholarships to children of REALTORS®, the WRF provides financial support for relief efforts in response to natural disasters in Wisconsin. The WRF segregates a certain amount of funds raised through voluntary contributions on membership renewal dues forms to aid families and children impacted by natural disasters in Wisconsin. 

REALTORS® throughout Wisconsin should be proud helping these families in need. WRF chairman Mike Spranger encourages every member to keep the voluntary $20 contribution to the WRF on the dues statement so REALTOR® relief efforts like these can continue.
MILWAUKEE HOMESLESS VETERANS NEED OUR HELP
The GMAR Veteran’s Support Group is again helping the Milwaukee Homeless Veteran’s Initiate (MHVI) with collecting the following items to help support our veterans in need:
‌
-New or Gently Used Coats
-Hats
-Gloves
-Scarves
-Socks for men, women, and children
-Men’s and women’s thermals up to a size 3x
You can drop off the items at the GMAR office - 12300 W. Center St.
You may also drop off items at the MHVI - 6300 W. National Ave.
STAND OUT AS A FOCUS ON ENERGY AMBASSADOR
Looking for new ways to bring added value to your clients? Consider becoming a FOCUS ON ENERGY® Ambassador. Focus on Energy partners with utilities across Wisconsin to provide resources and incentives for energy efficient home products, equipment and improvement projects.
 
Once you complete a digital 45 minute Workshop and enroll as an Ambassador, you can start offering your clients access to new energy efficiency expertise and exclusive perks, including a Welcome Kit with a $125 heating and cooling tune-up voucher and a helpful Home Energy & Maintenance Guide. The kit is co-branded with your business information and sent to your clients on your behalf, at no cost to you, providing an extra touch and added value.
 
Join the 700+ Wisconsin real estate professionals already offering these informational resources and exclusive perks to their clients. For more information, visit focusonenergy.com/ambassador or email ambassador@focusonenergy.com. You can also call Nancy Alberte, local Focus on Energy representative, at 608.358.8212 with questions.  
COVID-19 RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO REALTORS®
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY STORE NOW AT
MINUTEMAN PRESS - BROOKFIELD
The real estate supply store is now located ONLY at Minuteman Press - Brookfield location (13680 W. Capitol Drive). The store is back open with COVID-19 protection measures in place. Online orders are still encouraged. Store hours are M-F between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.
Contact Minuteman Press-Brookfield for more info, (262) 781-9622!
Comments, Suggestions or Questions?...
Let us know how the GMAR can improve what we offer to you as members of our organization. Your feedback helps us to make quality improvements to our programs and benefits, so we appreciate it! Click here to e-mail your feedback to the GMAR.