June 28, 2021
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.
In this issue of SPAAR's eNews:
  • Realtor® Lou Thao is named SPAAR Hero
  • SPAAR 2022 director opportunities extended through June 30
  • SPAAR’s building will fully open by mid-August
  • Minnesota Housing seeks input from SPAAR members
  • Third quarter MLS invoices are due June 30
  • Mark your calendar for these August events
  • We Care collection drive for those serving welcomes donations
  • Forms of note to be updated on August 1
  • Housing Market Statistics
  • Join SPAAR's Facebook group for members only
  • Welcome, new members!
Realtor® Lou Thao is named SPAAR Hero
Lou Thao has been a Realtor® in the Twin Cities for seven years. She became a Realtor® to help growth in her community through both homeownership and investment.
 
Currently the Chair of SPAAR’s Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Lou and her family moved to the United States from Laos when she was nine years old and found Minnesota to be their home.
 
Lou loves the outdoors and community events. She participates in Hmong festivals celebrating Hmong culture and in May 2021 as part of Asian Heritage Month celebrated The History of Hmong Clothes during a weekend event in Saint Paul, bringing awareness of the different regions and celebrating the history and culture through the arts and healing.
 
Lou has found that people know she cares and that’s the foundation to her success as a Realtor®. In fact, Lou’s success is not just caring for the Hmong community but rather that she helps and supports all people who in turn appreciate her sincerity and want to continue working with her.
 
Congratulations to Lou! SPAAR Hero is a program of SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee, sponsored by SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. Members of SPAAR’s Communications Committee interview and write the SPAAR Hero articles; thank you to Rose Pilkenton who interviewed and wrote the article on Lou. If you think someone should be named a SPAAR Hero, contact Joe McKinley at jmckinley@spaar.com.
SPAAR 2022 director opportunities extended through June 30
SPAAR's 2021 Nominating Committee is looking to fill three director positions for 2022. The position is a three-year term and directors are asked to make attendance a priority for all Board meetings, which typically occur once a month.
 
SPAAR is also accepting applications for its three officer positions: treasurer, president-elect and president.
  
Benefits of serving on the Board of Directors include:
  • Opportunities to both learn from and teach others
  • Direct involvement in decisions that impact the Association
  • A broader professional network of members as well as community and civic leaders
  • New experiences that develop professional and personal skills
  • Social opportunities that often lead to lasting friendships
 
All candidates must have been a member of the Association for one year prior to the date of the nomination and must be a Realtor® member in good standing with no ethics violations within the past year.

Interested members may apply here for a director or officer position. All applications are due by June 30. Contact Tracey Douglas at tdouglas@spaar.com with any questions.
SPAAR’s building will fully open by mid-August
Like so many other businesses worldwide, SPAAR closed its doors at the start of the pandemic for the safety of members, staff and visitors. Unlike many businesses, SPAAR was in a position to maintain providing member services both virtually and contactless, for which SPAAR staff were grateful. Whether members needed a class, an open house sign or help with a lockbox, SPAAR staff were in the building and able to provide uninterrupted service Monday through Friday through pivoting, creativity and positivity from members who understood these were different times for everyone.

SPAAR will be welcoming members back to the building in phases, and having people back on site is very exciting!

The following building reopening schedule was approved by SPAAR’s Board of Directors as follows:

  • July 6: staff returns to full, in-person work at SPAAR; some staff members have been onsite every day since March of 2020
  • July 20: SPAAR reopens to walk-in members
  • August 3: committee meetings and small events will begin to be held at SPAAR
  • August 17: building fully open for all events, classes and meetings at SPAAR

Note: this is the current plan; however, dates are subject to change if needed.
Third quarter MLS invoices are due June 30
Third quarter MLS billing notices were sent to members via email on June 2 from billing@spaar.com. As a reminder, payment must be received on or before June 30 to avoid suspension of MLS access. If not paid on or before June 30, you will incur a $25 reinstatement fee. Click here to access your portal account.
 
Remember to check spam or junk folders if the email isn't found in your inbox. Questions regarding your third quarter MLS fees? Contact the Association at (651) 776-6000.
Minnesota Housing seeks input from SPAAR members
Minnesota Housing knows homeownership is important and wants to learn from SPAAR members' experience in regard to its programs. Minnesota Housing is asking members to take a few minutes to share your thoughts about its programs and services. Responses are anonymous and feedback will be used to help improve programs and experiences with Minnesota Housing. This survey is taking place during June, which is also National Homeownership Month.
 
The survey closes this Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
Mark your calendar for these August events
Events are in the works for this summer and SPAAR members are encouraged to take part.

National Night Out (NNO) on August 3 is a great way for neighbors to gather together. Are you a Block Captain for your neighborhood event? You are a leader in building better communities… SPAAR can help!

SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee will distribute $50 Cub gift cards to SPAAR members who coordinate their community's NNO events. Gift cards can be used to purchase refreshments for the event. Applications to apply for the NNO gift cards will be available after the Fourth of July -- stay tuned to learn more.

New to National Night Out? Looking for fresh ideas? Click here to read the City of Saint Paul neighborhood event planning guide.

Also in August, SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee will sponsor the Minnesota National Guard Youth Camp Golf Tournament on August 11 at Majestic Oaks Golf Course, Ham Lake. More information to follow closer to the date for this great cause to help Minnesota National Guard members’ children to go to camp.
We Care collection drive for those serving welcomes donations
SPAAR has been supporting the Blue Star Mothers program, which puts together the We Care packages, for a number of years. Learn more about Blue Star Mothers and the We Care collection drive here.

A We Care package recipient shared the following heartfelt comment: “I wanted to reach out and say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the care packages that you recently sent the soldiers. There is nothing more uplifting than receiving a package of love from back home! Thank you for all that you do to support the troops. From this side we appreciate it greatly. God bless you and your team.”

Consider promoting the We Care collection opportunity with your clients, real estate professionals and others in your network or sphere.
Forms of note to be updated on August 1
The following forms, as shared by Minnesota Realtors®, are set to be revised August 1, 2021:
Housing Market Statistics
Get up-to-date Twin Cities 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:
Connect with SPAAR
Check out the SPAAR Facebook page created specifically for members here.
Welcome, new members!
Introducing SPAAR's newest members. Welcome, all! We're glad you're here.