Contact-less merchandise pick up is available at SPAAR during office business hours. Due to Covid, the SPAAR building is closed to members through June 30, 2021. Email spaar@spaar.com or call (651) 776-6000 with any questions. |
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In this issue of SPAAR's eNews:
- Spotlight on SPAAR: Seanne Thomas honored as a SPAAR Hero
- Have a son, daughter or grandchild bound for post high school education? Scholarship applications due April 30!
- Pledge your support for Fair Housing today
- Last week to partake in SPAAR's Fair Housing Coloring Contest. Submit your masterpiece by Friday, April 16!
- Community grant applications now open through May 14, 2021
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Professionalism Committee to host The Color of Law book series
- Rent control: seeking Realtor® input and involvement
- Past President Patrick Ruble to serve LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance at the national level as secretary
- Now open: NAR's 2022 Committee application process
- Spaghetti fundraiser a great (and tasty) success!
- Be part of the digital food drive for Every Meal
- Housing Market Statistics
- Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only
- Welcome, new members!
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Spotlight on SPAAR: Seanne Thomas honored as a SPAAR Hero |
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SPAAR Hero shines a light on a SPAAR Realtor® or team that volunteers in the community in which they live or work. During National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, SPAAR will share content about volunteer activities; however, SPAAR seeks SPAAR Hero recipients year-round.
SPAAR's weekly videos highlight timely news, events, member features and key information to help benefit members in their business. As such, these videos complement content also shared in SPAAR's newsletters, on its website and on social media.
Email Joe at jmckinley@spaar.com to nominate the next SPAAR Hero!
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Have a son, daughter or grandchild bound for post high school education? Scholarship applications due April 30! |
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SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation in 2021 will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to the children or grandchildren of current SPAAR members who will enroll as new or continuing students in college or trade school.
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Pledge your support for Fair Housing today |
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Join your Realtor® and Affiliate member peers and take the Fair Housing pledge today. Pictured are members' names on display at SPAAR to show their support; email spaar@spaar.com to have your name added. You can take the pledge virtually here.
SPAAR has a full calendar of member activities scheduled for the month of April to emphasize the importance of Fair Housing.
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Last week to partake in SPAAR's Fair Housing Coloring Contest. Submit your masterpiece by Friday, April 16! |
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This year SPAAR is conducting a coloring contest focused on Fair Housing and it's open to everyone to participate. Please read the contest rules here and share with anyone who might enjoy putting their creativity to use in honor of Fair Housing Month in April, when contest winners will be announced.
SPAAR's Fair Housing Coloring Contest has been published in a select number of community papers within SPAAR's northern, central and southern jurisdictions that reached more than 50,000 households to spread the word about the importance of Fair Housing and equal housing opportunities for everyone.
The Fair Housing coloring contest entry deadline is April 16.
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Community grant applications now open through May 14, 2021 |
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Applications are now being accepted for the annual REALTORS® Charitable Foundation grant, which will be awarded to the selected recipient(s) from those who qualify.
SPAAR has awarded more than $300,000 to seven recipients in the past three years.
Applications will be considered based on the criteria that it includes one or more of SPAAR’s four primary areas of focus, called Pillars, intended to create Better Agents and Better Communities.
The Pillars are:
▪ Advocacy
▪ Community Engagement
▪ Professional Development
▪ Communications
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Professionalism Committee to host The Color of Law book series
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SPAAR’s Professionalism Committee on May 6 will kick-off a four-part morning discussion series on The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. The book investigates how federal policy imposed racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide restricting homeownership and wealth building.
What are solutions or next steps to addressing the cultural impacts this created? Future dates in the series will be held May 20, June 3 and June 17. Each session will be held via ZOOM from 8-8:45am.
Sign up for the book series through your member portal under the events tab, upcoming meetings here.
Discussions will be led by SPAAR Realtor® member Anita Hill. A limited number of shared copies of The Color of Law are available. To borrow a copy, email spaar@spaar.com.
Extra credit: Richard Rothstein will discuss his research in a virtual session presented by Hennepin History Museum on April 21 from 7-8:30pm. For tickets, visit https://hennepinhistory.org/event/color- of-law/. Note: this is an external event.
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Rent control: seeking Realtor® input and involvement |
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A coalition of community groups has announced a petition to put Rent Control on the ballot in Saint Paul this November. The group, Housing Equity Now St. Paul, is proposing to cap rent increases on all residential properties in the City to three percent each year.
Rent Control has been tried around the U.S. and economists agree it produces a net negative for the cities where it has been implemented. Rent Control reduces the supply of adequate rental housing, investment in new rental housing development plummets, and maintenance deteriorates because the financial incentives to maintain a quality property are no longer present.
If you or a Realtor® you know would be willing to assist SPAAR in efforts to gather information on Rent Control in Saint Paul, please contact either of SPAAR's Government Affairs Directors:
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Past President Patrick Ruble to serve LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance at the national level as secretary |
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SPAAR member and 2020 President Patrick Ruble is serving as 2021 secretary of the national leadership team for the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.
The Alliance is a leading advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in real estate and housing policy, working on behalf of all LGBTQ+ people on their housing needs. The organization’s mission is to advocate, elevate and celebrate. For more information, visit LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.
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Now open: NAR's 2022 Committee application process |
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It's that time of year again! NAR's 2022 Committee Application Process is open now through May 7, 2021. NAR leaders are excited to see passionate members apply for and serve on the national committees. Please consider applying for a 2022 committee and encourage other members to do the same.
Below are some helpful resources for the 2022 process:
Questions? Call Member Support at (800) 874-6500.
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Spaghetti fundraiser a great (and tasty) success! |
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SPAAR's REALTORS® Charitable Foundation's first-ever spaghetti fundraiser drive-thru was a success with dozens of members stopping by for their purchases. Six volunteers over two shifts helped deliver the pasta meals, and wine for those who took part in the wine pull, to be enjoyed once members reached their dinner destinations. Thank you to everyone who participated!
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Be part of the digital food drive for Every Meal |
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Let’s come together while we stay apart. SPAAR supports Every Meal, which focuses on the food gaps when children aren’t able to receive free and reduced meal programs. Every Meal also provides weekend and other food gap programs serving more than 10,000 children across 300 schools.
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Housing Market Statistics |
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Get up-to-date housing market information here. SPAAR provides four different types of reports so you can offer your clients the most accurate housing data available. Click below to see how the market is doing:
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Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only |
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Check out the SPAAR Facebook page created specifically for members here.
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