REALTORS® Honored by Historical Society

Last night, MIBOR was among the 21 organizations recognized by the Indiana Historical Society for reaching its centennial year. The Historical Society hosted its annual Founder's Day dinner to recognize organizations throughout the state. They began this tradition in 1992 by creating a registry of century-old Indiana companies. 

More than 300 companies now hold a place on the registry and MIBOR is now among them. It was a lovely evening of awards, dinner and music all against the backdrop of the stunning Indiana History Center along the canal in downtown Indianapolis. 

The closing remarks for the evening were even offered by James Madison, the Indiana historian who appears in MIBOR's documentary REALTORS: Opening Doors for 100 Years. It was a fitting end to a night that proved the REALTORS® hold an important place in our state's history.

John Creamer holding our recognition award and a copy
of REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years

Centennial Photo of the Week: Ringing the Bell

Ringing the bell at Ed French's annual stag party was a time-honored tradition for that year's president. Having the first female president do the honors caused a stir, but Helen Hirt was up to the task. www.mibor100.com

Centennial Photo of the Week - Moving Up and Moving Out

Promotional photos like this one inspired
U.S. military men and women returning home from
Germany and Japan to invest in a new home with funds
collected through the G.I. Bill. 

"Soldiers were returning home, and aided by G.I. loans, they purchased homes, returned to work and started young families in new, larger neighborhoods. There was a sudden housing shortage across the nation. A builder by the name of William J. Levitt attempted to answer this demand by constructing a number of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania neighborhoods, working with prefabricated materials and a limited number of home models. These typically were ranch homes that had three bedrooms, an "open-plan" living room, dining room, entrance hall, eat-in kitchen and one bathroom. These homes typically ranged in price from $10,000 to $15,000. The home went up quickly and filled up quickly. Soon the model for such neighborhoods, known at "Levittowns," spread across the nation, including central Indiana. New subdivisions in Indianapolis quickly expanded the city limits with developments north and west of the White River, along Allisonville Road and east to Fort Benjamin Harrison, east and west Washington Street about four miles from the city center and along the main southern arteries." -- Excerpt from "REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years" by Todd Gould (Chapter 6)

Visit www.mibor100.com to get your copy of the book today!

Back in the Day...

Take a look at this typical master bedroom in the 1920s - check out those twin beds. This photo was taken at the Indianapolis Home Show, an event the Board helped found in 1922.

More great photos from our industry's history can be found in REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years. 

Visit www.mibor100.com to get your copy today!

Transformation in Action...

On June 7^th, we will be installing permanent medallions on the 32 homes in the Building a Living Legacy Project in St. Clair Place. A few days ago, I was out in the neighborhood marking the spot on each house where the medallions will be installed. As usual it was a beautiful day. I don’t know why it is, but most of the time I’m in St. Clair Place, the weather is incredible. Blue skies, puffy white clouds, bright green grass, a gentle breeze, you get the picture. Most of our volunteer days last year were blessed with equally fantastic weather. No need to discuss the snowy, icy bus tours in early 2011 or 95 plus degree groundbreaking ceremony last summer – let’s stay positive people. Anyway, the place puts me in a good mood.

I have to say though, the most delightful thing happened when I passed a certain house. On the corner of Eastern and St. Clair is the cutest arts and crafts style home. We’re talking adorable, magazine cover quality material. And what was else on the corner in the yard? One of the last remaining yard signs from the project – one of YOUR signs with the MIBOR centennial logo plastered front and center. I was so proud! 

Then it hit me. That was the exact corner where I went with Cabinet Chair Bill Hacker last year as he taped an interview for WFYI’s series More than a Game. That day with Bill, we had to keep stopping the taping because the construction noise on the house. You’ll have to take my word for it, but that house looked nothing like the beautiful piece of architecture I saw this time. Wow! It’s an amazing home that will bring new beginnings for a family. I could not have been proud or more convinced that this project was just the right fit for REALTORS®.

I hope I’ll see you on the 7^th. The party will be celebration; a toast to all the real estate community has accomplished through Building a Living Legacy. You just have to see it. 

Claire Belby

MIBOR Communications Director

REALTORS® Make It Personal On Capitol Hill

REALTORS® have always made their voice 
heard on Capitol Hill. Here is a group gathered
in D.C. in the late 1990s.

For more than 20 years, MIBOR has participated in the National Association of REALTORS® Midyear Meetings in Washington D.C. Below is a recap of the Capitol Hill visits during this year's trip. Stay tuned for additional recaps and photos that we'll post in the coming weeks! 

Last week, thousands of REALTORS® attended the National Association of REALTORS® Midyear Meetings in Washington D.C. The week included many excellent governance meetings, forums on hot topics, and an energized rally of over 13,000 REALTORS® at the Washington Monument. But by far, the most important part of the week were the visits to Capitol Hill to meet one on one with Members of Congress to address issues important to homeowners and the real estate industry.

While the REALTOR® Association prides itself on having an effective lobbying team in Washington, I can tell you that nothing is more effective than having Members of Congress hear directly from REALTOR® constituents. As Congressman Steny Hoyer from Maryland commented in a speech last week, REALTORS® are the experts when it comes to issues pertaining to real estate and he depends on their insight. Hearing firsthand from folks back home on how decisions they make are impacting their constituents is invaluable.

MIBOR leaders meet with Senator Richard Lugar.
Click here to see additional photos from the Hill visits!

MIBOR Leaders meet with Congressman
Andre Carson on Capitol Hill.

REALTORS® carried their messages to each visit talking about important issues of the day including things like reauthorizing the national flood insurance program that expires in a few day, bolstering commercial  lending, and protecting home ownership tax benefits to name a few. (click here for a full list of issues) But what caught the attention of our Congressmen were the personal stories shared by these REALTORS® - real life experiences with things like the  lengthy short sales process, prohibitive FHA condominium rules, continued appraisal frustrations, difficulty securing credit, and so on. 

Sharing these personal experiences made it clear that these issues don’t just impact REALTORS®, but also buyers, sellers, property values, neighborhoods, and communities.

We’ve already seen results. Since those visits, several of our Congressmen have signed on as co-sponsors of legislation that will address some of these important issues. And just this week came word from HUD that they plan to announce changes soon to some of their FHA regulations. So despite what we see on the front page, or on television, know that change is still possible!

Chris Pryor,

MIBOR Government Affairs Director 

Follow me on Twitter! @cpryor1912

MIBOR in the MINI...

Congratulations to all of our members who completed the One America Mini Marathon on May 5! We have received several pictures from you, wearing your commemorative MIBOR 100 t-shirts. We will hold our drawing for the $100 BlueMile gift card on Thursday, May 10. Keep sending your photos in today to be qualified! 

Here are a few of the photos we have received so far! E-mail yours today and you could win!

  


   

  

Our History In Photos...

Every week, we post a 'Centennial Photo of the Week' on our social media pages. When working on the book, REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years, we accumulated all types of photographs and artifacts that helped tell our story - the story of this industry and this region. This week, we posted this photo of Robert F. Kennedy giving a campaign speech before the Indianapolis Real Estate Board in May 1968. It was the largest gathering of REALTORS® in Central Indiana at that time. 


"Kennedy had just entered the presidential contest. While other candidates had already gained momentum in the Democratic primaries earlier in the year, Indiana would be the first true test of Kennedy's fledgling campaign. His appearance before the Board would be critical to the fight for enhanced civil rights in Indiana. During his talk at the Howard Johnson Downtown Motor Lodge on West Washington Street, Kennedy spoke about various human rights issues, including support for the new Fair Housing Act, which had just been signed into law by President Johnson earlier that spring. he new mandate outlawed racial discrimination in the rental or purchase of homes and a broad range of other housing related transactions, such as advertising, mortgage lending, home owner's insurance and zoning restrictions. His speech was well received among a packed house of Indianapolis real estate and business executives....Later that same week, during the Democratic primary in Indiana, Kennedy captured his first national victory as a Presidential candidate." -- Excerpt from  REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years. 


Do you have your copy yet? www.mibor100.com


Keep a look out for more photos posted on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MIBOR! 

Congratulations from NAR President Moe Viesi

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) President, Moe Viesi, recently sent us a video message to congratulate MIBOR on 100 years of service. Mr. Viesi was unable to make it for the Centennial Celebration in January, but was kind enough to send us his greetings. Beyond saying congratulations, he also recognized the Building a Living Legacy: Centennial Project and the commitment YOU made to lift up a neighborhood and help reverse homelessness in central Indiana.


Here is Moe Viesi's message



The celebration is far from over. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate our 100 years of service in central Indiana. This is truly a special time. However, we're not just looking back...we're looking forward. And the best is yet to come.


Visit www.mibor100.com today to join the celebration!

Giving Back to the Community

On June 8, MIBOR members will team up with The REALTOR® Foundation for a volunteer day, in continued celebration of our Centennial. Volunteers will make a difference for several REALTOR® Foundation grant recipients and neighbors of last year’s Building a Living Legacy neighborhood, St. Clair Place. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers will focus on projects including painting, cleaning carpets yard work and organizing donations. Please join us! Contact Claire Belby at clairebelby@mibor.com and let her know where you would like to volunteer your time on June 8. Visit www.mibor100.com for a list of locations and more information.

Volunteerism deeply rooted in MIBOR history…

Volunteerism is not a new thing in our industry. Over the years, MIBOR members have showcased their civic pride in a variety of ways. When the MIBOR Board of Directors discussed forming the MIBOR Foundation (Now the REALTOR® Foundation) in 1984, they were driven by a desire to give back to the community.

“For a lot of us, we felt that there was something missing in our Board activities. But we could not quite put our finger on what it was…when it came to our relationship with the community, we would often enjoy the benefits of our relationship with our community, in terms of sales, profits and success in the industry,” said Don “Pooch” Hunter former Foundation member. “In order to keep that flow going, we needed to cultivate a relationship in which we could also give back and strengthen the very community that helped strengthen or organization. It was reciprocal.” – Excerpt from REALTORS®: Opening Doors For 100 Years

Even before the MIBOR Foundation was formed, our members regularly engaged in volunteer activities.

“The Board organized a number of activities designed to improve communities and strengthen neighborhood development including neighborhood cleanup projects, small home-improvement initiatives, tree plantings, and playground installations. In the early 1980s the Board developed a project called “Operation Cooperation.” Members worked with residents in the Forest Manor development to clean yards, paint homes and plant flowers and shrubbery around the neighborhood. To celebrate the Board’s 75^th anniversary in 1987, the Foundation focused on cultivating an ongoing partnership with New Hope of Indiana, a medical treatment facility for mentally – and physically-handicapped children in the region. The Foundation also worked with the Indianapolis Parks Foundation to help raise money to renovate parks throughout the city.” –Excerpt from REALTORS®: Opening Doors For 100 Years

REALTORS® have continued to give back to the community in recent years as well. Just this past year, MIBOR members donated $500,000 to lift up an emerging neighborhood through the Building a Living Legacy Centennial Project. MIBOR worked in partnership with the John H. Boner Community Center, Indy-east Asset Development Corp, and other partners for more than three years to renovate and/or build 32 homes, which (the number selected to represent 32 NFL cities) to house 32 families coming out of, or on the verge of, homelessness. Each home provides permanent supportive housing on a continual basis with vital social services provided by the John H. Boner Community Center. Throughout the project, members have spent a lot of time in the Building a Living Legacy neighborhood, cleaning up trash, planting flowers, laying down mulch and more – a true testament of the commitment made to this project.

As we look forward, there is no question that the philanthropic giving and volunteering will only continue to grow within our industry. Have you played a part? If you’re interested in getting more involved, please connect with us. 


Lacey Everett
MIBOR Communications Specialist

It’s a People Business…Have you Heard that Before?

Working on MIBOR’s centennial history book provided a series of “awakenings” for me. I have been a staff member of MIBOR for the last 10 years.  While that length of service pales in comparison the amount of time many members have devoted to the industry and the association, by today’s standards of employment, a decade is a decent run. With that tenure, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the heart and the feel of the place. What I learned while helping compile materials for the history project was that I was both right and wrong.

How was I wrong? It’s always good to get that out of the way first, right? Namely, I thought the history would be boring and, frankly, a little predictable. WRONG. I didn’t expect the stories and the people to be as dynamic, colorful and transformative as they turned out to be. I had often heard stories about Bud Tucker and Helen Hirt and others and I knew they were important leaders that ushered in decisions and policies for the business of the board. What I didn’t think about was the impact they had on the way people think and act. Bud instituted a philanthropic and community development spirit that many people say led to the REALTOR® Foundation and MIBOR’s significant economic development focus. Helen turned the “old boys club” upside down by being as tough and shrewd as the best of them. She did it all and ultimately broke the glass ceiling making it possible for women to play the prominent role they do today. And those are only two examples of many others.

The book published to honor the centennial, REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years, contains countless stories that illustrate the people who have shaped this region and industry. Reading this book and watching the companion video is time well spent to understand not only how we got to this point, but – most importantly – who got us here.

That’s where I was right. It’s about the people, then and now. In the last ten years I have been continually amazed at how much time and energy members put back into the association on top of the crazed, unpredictable work lives they lead. It may have started 100 years ago, but it’s still true today. There are plenty of you who jump in with both feet, push for change and make the industry – and everyone in it – better.  

Claire Belby
MIBOR Communications Director

CEO Chat Enlightening, More Work to Be Done...

I recently hosted a sit chat with some eager new members to MIBOR. The 'CEO Chat' was a great intimate yet candid discussion about the new member perspective on our industry. What I found intriguing about those in attendance was their drive to learn and to become involved. Not just involved in the real estate market but as advocates of change and standing up for what’s right.   

What else did I learn?

Professionalism and courtesies to peers were topics they felt needed addressing.  It struck me that  the recent courtesy campaign we have unveiled needs some more energy and repeat sharing.

There may be some misunderstanding of how involved the younger generation wants to be.  We all need to figure that out and maximize the collective power of learning together.

This small group of professionals outlined their readiness to  meet the challenging pace of this ever-changing industry and provided some insight on their “feel good” moments. While every industry has room for improvement, these members discussions let me know that MIBOR as an organization still has work to do – in the areas of Professional Standards, technology advancements and education.  

I look forward to the tasks that were left with me after this discussion. And I sincerely thank those who attended the CEO Chat. 

Steve Sullivan

MIBOR CEO

Celebrating the Women Who Paved the Way...

As we near the end of March and Women's History Month, we have the opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions women have made to our shared history. Women in this country have made huge strides, fighting for equality because we believed in our capabilities.


Our grandmothers fought for their right to vote. Our mothers fought for entry into, and participation in, the workforce. And we have fought to break the glass ceiling, being recognized as equally capable and valuable as our male counterparts.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Indianapolis women REALTORS® began to make their mark on the industry, following the establishment of the first Women’s Council of REALTORS® in 1938. Indianapolis women realized what many other women across the nation did: real estate was a business in which they could break through the income cap placed on many other positions and reach success in the business world. 


Though it was not without challenge, Indianapolis women did just that. Helen Hirt, who organized the Indianapolis chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®, was the first woman to receive the REALTOR® of the year award in 1970 and served as the first female president of the then Indianapolis Real Estate Board in 1973. Her daughter, Kaye Hirt Eggleston, carried on the tradition by leading the organization as president in the early 1990s. Now expanded to the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS® (MIBOR), the organization celebrates its centennial in 2012 and I am proud to serve as President in the 100th year. 

Get YOUR copy of the entire 30-min DVD and hardcover book, REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years, by visiting www.mibor100.com today!

At our Centennial Celebration gala this January, in which we celebrated the 100-year history of MIBOR, the impact that women have made on this industry was striking. Interestingly, each of the six awards, given annually to real estate professionals who have made an impact in the last year to the industry and the community, was awarded to a woman. 


I am thankful to the strong women who preceded me and fought for my right to earn a living as a REALTOR®. They paved the way so that our daughters and granddaughters can choose to work as REALTORS® — or in other any profession they desire. 


Debbie Morris
2012 President 
Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS®


It's YOUR Turn: What do you think? Do you have any stories to share about contributions women have made in your profession and/or in this industry? Post a comment below!

Technology and Appraisals: Growing with the changes

As the local community and housing markets begin to stabilize and improve from the recent housing crisis, it is an opportune time to reflect on other critical events in the history of our profession.  Starting with the Great Depression, men and women in our industry banded together to create professional organizations that helped focus the members, the public and/or legislators on the importance of our work. 

Both the Savings & Loan Crisis of the 1980’s and the current housing crisis resulted in federal and state legislation which changed and strengthened our industries.   Federal initiatives such as FIRREA (Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989) and Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act helped define procedures and standards designed to enhance the integrity of the system.  

Throughout the last 100 years, basic principles of real estate appraising have changed very little but the data assimilation has changed dramatically. During the majority of the 20^th century appraisers relied heavily upon sales information gleaned from county records and the infamous MIBOR Comparable Books.  Technology allows appraisers to assimilate data for analysis in an efficient manner.  The ability to utilize technology to research and analyze large amounts of data provides today’s appraiser with opportunities few appraisers in the past could have dreamed of or ever experienced.

Technology will play an increasingly important role in the future of appraising.  Databases and on-line resources will provide more efficiency in the collection and analysis of data.  Having the skills to formulate and analyze the data sources and devices will differentiate the average from the good appraiser. 

Licensee legislation, member representation, and pertinent educational programs helped both the REALTORS® and appraiser groups play instrumental roles in the restoration of public faith in our professions.  But the new technology, the recent housing crisis, and the subsequent regulations have resulted in many appraisers leaving the profession.  The resulting shortage potential will lead clients to appraisers who will be more adept, sophisticated, and detail-oriented in their research and report writing. 

 

MIBOR has long recognized that communication and cooperation between  REALTORS®  and appraisers is an important key to the local success of our real estate industry.  Appraiser participation on the BLC® Listing Service committees and MIBOR’s Board of Directors ensures such cooperation in the coming years.  The future will certainly bring more change and I’m confident MIBOR will be at the forefront of any change which benefits all members.

Jason A. Tillema, SRA

Tillema & Associates

MIBOR Beyond 100…

Setting the Stage for 100 More Years

On Jan. 3, 2012 your organization had a Birthday. A milestone birthday! We turned 100! While we have been preparing for this celebration for some time, we are now relishing in what it means to be 100 years young. 

Not many organizations or companies make it this long, but I say 'young' because we still have work to do. And while none of us will likely see the organization's 200th birthday, we are destined to ensure that the generations to come are well equipped when that next milestone approaches. 

MIBOR’s Board of Directors has set goals that we know have relevancy beyond 100 years. Number one of those simple goals is to ensure a healthy, vibrant real estate market exists throughout the central Indiana region. That entails a lot of variables coming together. One way is to maximize the effectiveness of organizations whose missions it is to increase jobs, wages and labor force. 

MIBOR is not just talking the talk, we are walking the walk as well and maximizing the ability to create and maintain jobs. REALTORS® have seats on the Boards of those organizations to help forge direction and strategies for success.  Investments are made in issues and projects that will be catalysts for improving the quality of life, the assets of our region. Investments in ensuring that planning for our communities is deliberate and inclusive. 

Stay tuned to this blog to see what MIBOR has been doing to reach goal No. 2 and what you can do to help!

Steve Sullivan

MIBOR CEO

Honey...Stop the Car! - MIBOR Joins St. Patrick's Day Parade

For the first time in our 100 year history, REALTORS® marched in the city's Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Friday, March 16.

Dressed in green, we joined more than 80 other units made up of school bands, floats, Irish dancers, bag pipe and drum bands, Irish organizations, law enforcement, local media and celebrities marching through downtown Indianapolis. Members held sign riders, open house flags and bags of candy to pass out to children along the route. 

MIBOR Member, Kurt Simmons, talks with Channel 6
about his choice of attire, and MIBOR's
involvement in the parade.

Some members went an extra step in St. Patrick's Day spirit...enough to grab the attention of the local media!


“Throughout our centennial year, REALTORS® are celebrating the role we’ve played in the community for the last 100 years,” said Debbie Morris, 2012 MIBOR president. “We are excited to be part of such a fun and festive event alongside so many of our community partners.”


Be sure to check out our photos from the event! 


Want to join the Centennial fun? Visit www.mibor100.com for more information!

MIBOR Hosts 10th Annual Housing Summit During Centennial Year

Hundreds gathered yesterday for MIBOR’s 10th Annual Central Indiana Housing Summit titled “The Region is Our Product”. The event included a panel of MIBOR Past Presidents – including a surprise visit from the association’s first president James S. Cruse. 

Cruse, expertly portrayed by 2001 President John Creamer, joined 1999 President Pat Williams and 2009 President Larry Mitchell in honor of MIBOR’s Centennial. Todd Sears revisited research first presented during November’s webinar and the majority of the meeting focused on a discussion about regional assets and challenges that included Mark Miles, Aaron Renn and Summit regular Drew Klacik. The Summit was moderated by John Ketzenberger, President of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute and panelist for WFYI’s Indiana Week in Review. 

The materials presented and audio files from the event can be downloaded here. 

What's Love Got To Do With It?
The Summit concluded with a presentation of the three finalist videos from MIBOR’s Hoosier Love video contest. The $5,000 winner is (drum role please)…Jonathan Frey. You can see Jonathan’s video and the other finalist videos at www.hoosierlove.com. 


Several media outlets covered the Summit, click on the links below for the individual news stories.


WIBC 
WISH-TV’s Indy Style 
WRTV-6  


Thank you for making the Centennial Summit a memorable moment. 

Progress, and Leading the Way...

As I looked through and read MIBOR’s centennial book and watched the DVD, two thoughts kept coming to mind.  The first was how from 1912 to the present, the ever-present theme has been how to help real estate professionals, REALTORS® , do a better job and better serve their clients and the community.  Sometimes MIBOR has been on the very cutting edge and sometimes it has had to be pushed and pulled by visionaries, but over the decades it has made progress and more often than not, has led the way.

The second thought was my profound sense of gratitude and humility that for a short time I was blessed to be a part of this great organization we know today as MIBOR -  the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS®.  Even more important to me, are all of the wonderful, talented and dedicated individuals who shared a part of their lives with me and who enriched my life. There are too many to name, but I am the richer for having walked with them.

Dick Nye

Dick Nye served as MIBOR Executive Officer for 10 years (1980 - 1990) before moving on to lead the Indiana Association of REALTORS®


You can learn more about our industry's history by purchasing your own copy of REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years at www.mibor100.com, or in the REALTOR® Store at 1912 N. Meridian St.

More Than Just Opening Doors...

The official Centennial Celebration, i.e. The Ball, is over but the celebration and remembrance of the past 100 years continues.

  

I love MIBOR’s Centennial slogan, REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 years, however, our members have been doing so much more than just opening doors.  They’ve been appraising, inspecting, mortgaging, insuring and cleaning them.  They have built and supported communities and continue to strive to make Central Indiana the best place to call HOME.

The real estate industry has experienced a lot of change in 100 years from wars, depressions, recessions, civil rights and more.  We have faced our own challenges and will continue to do so.  

The “.com era” has brought with it new technologies and opportunities that have enabled the real estate industry to be more efficient than those before us ever dreamed possible.  This era has also brought along new competitors and business models…also challenges that those before us never dreamed of.

As I said in my speech at the Centennial Ball, 'change often breeds fear, however, it also brings opportunities…opportunities to challenge us and force us to be better.  When we embrace change and challenge ourselves, life really begins!'

As leaders of our companies, communities and industry, I urge you to not be afraid of change, but rather embrace it and the opportunities that come with it.  

Get involved. Take pride in where we've come from and embrace the fact that YOU are a part of our industry's future, and the future of our region. 

Together, we will make 2012, our Centennial Year, a year to remember!

Debbie Morris

MIBOR President, 2012

www.mibor100.com

www.facebook.com/MIBOR

www.twitter.com/MIBORBoard 

Many Paved the Way

It’s obvious so much about the real estate business has changed. The way transactions are handled, the speed of information, the access to data and so much more. While it’s easy to think about that in abstract ways, how often do we reflect on the people who ushered those changes? Change and progress doesn’t happen in a vacuum, someone – or many someones – have to drive change.


Have you ever thought about the firsts in this industry? The first woman to lead the Board, the first local leader to serve the national association, the first multiple listing service, the first lockbox system. Who were those people and who was behind those monumental industry revolutions? So many firsts with rich, powerful stories make the industry you enjoy today.

Beth Blake, our Centennial Chair,
flips through the pages of
MIBOR history.

We kicked off the centennial year by publishing the organization’s first comprehensive history. In book and video format the work, REALTORS®: Opening Doors for 100 Years, shows those stories in vivid detail through many first or secondhand accounts of how the ideas were sparked and who lead the idea into reality resulting in progress and thus a new way of doing business.


How much do you know about those who paved your way? Have you heard of Helen Hirt, Bud Tucker, Mary Binford, Bruce Savage, Dick Nye, Aileen Klaiber, James Cruse, Elizabeth Booth, or Bruce Savage? Looks like you have some reading to do…