Hello Florida State Women’s Council Members,

What a wonderful start in 2012 with the new structure of our Chapter!

The streamlining of our meetings enables members to attend every

forum! Our January Strategic Forums were a huge success with our

members bringing forth their talent with phenomenal educational

sessions. Look forward to our August meetings and more education to

help us personally, professionally and in our Chapters. Kudos to all of

our Strategic Forum Members!!

Our August Meetings will also bring the PMN Leadership Excellence

class. This class is fantastic and Ric Giumenta is our Instructor. The

course is being offered at $99.00. You have the opportunity to take the

PMN class, Harnessing The Power, at the Mid Year Meetings in

Washington, DC in May and the PMN class, Leadership Excellence, in

August and you will be well on your way to the PMN Designation! If you

haven’t registered for the meetings please do so ASAP as the rooms fill

up fast.

I am pleased to announce National’s appointment of several of our

members to National’s Strategic Forums and Technology and Social

Media Program Group. It is an honor that these members were

selected to serve. The members appointed are Amy-Worth Paul,

Pamela Banks, Deborah Bacarella, Ann DeFries, and myself.

Congratulations to all of you!

I would like to thank all of the Chapter Leaders and members for

participating in the National Retention Contest. Congratulations to the

Sarasota Chapter for winning the mega Chapter category! Their

Chapter received a check for $500. Way to go Sarasota!

I encourage you to visit and like our State Chapter’s Facebook page

Women’s Council of REALTORS Florida and I also encourage you to visit

our website as it continues to have more information added to it.

I am so looking forward to our District Forums coming up, and can’t

wait to see and meet all of our members. There are exciting things

being planned on the Forums and you won’t want to miss them. I hope

to see you there!

Warm regards, Diane McCombs

SPRING 2012 JANUARY - MARCH ISSUE 1

2012 CALENDAR Mark Your Calendars MARCH 1, 2012 Recommendations due to National Nominating Committee from RVP’s and SCP’s MARCH 11, 2012

Daylight Savings

MARCH 17, 2012

HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY!

MARCH 1, 2012

First Day of Spring

APRIL 8, 2012

Easter

APRIL 22, 2012

Earth Day

APRIL 19 & 20 - District I Conference APRIL 26 - District IV Conference MAY 10 - District VII Conference MAY 17-20, 2012 NAR/WCR Mid-Year Meeting Washington DC

EVENTS, ARTICLES & INFORMATION FOR THE NEWSLETTER CONTACT: Kim@KimSlade.com Please submit articles by the 15

th of

each month, in a Word document (if possible) and Arial font

CHAPTER NEWS

BY SHARON VILLARS, PAST MANATEE CHAPTER PRESIDENT Women's Council of Realtors Manatee Chapter Business Resource Meeting was held February 9, 2012 at Renaissance on 9th. It was a Valentine's bake sale fundraiser. Over 20 members remembered their baking skills and produced outstanding baked goods. Manatee's Chapter President Elect Patricia Perryman took 1st place with a dynamic cake shaped like a purse and high heel shoes. Our speakers Sue Klinowski, Chris Smith, Tim Calpin and Mike Koebel spoke on At Home with Diversity which the members said it was informative and interesting for our current Real Estate and Mortgage Industry. Nancy Ambrose a lobbyist and cancer survivor with the American Cancer Society Action Network, (ACS CAN) was the guest speaker and spoke on how we can help fight cancer. We were honored to have as our guest the WCR Governor for Florida Kimberlie Slade.

TIP 1 MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE

…through various different channels. Be thoughtful about when and where your

customers make a purchase.

TIP 2 BROADCAST YOUR BUSINESS

…with a newsletter, blog or website updates. Compelling stories will keep you at the

top of clients’ minds

TIP 3 DESIGN A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

…beyond a singular product or service. What small changes could you make to delight

your customers?

TIP 4 REACH OUT TO VALUABLE CUSTOMERS

…with thank you notes or personal calls. A little customer appreciation goes a long

way towards building loyalty.

TIP 5 GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS

…with a customer satisfaction survey. You’ll get invaluable feedback and learn more

about their needs.

By HP Small Business

These are my top 10 technology tools to manage my real estate business. By James Kimmons, About.com Guide

Technology is evolving even as I write this, so double check prices and services when you look into these services.

But, right now, six of these are free, and the other four are really inexpensive. Combining them all will only cost

around $10/month, and you'll be managing your real estate business on the road with efficiency and covering all the

bases.

I am constantly testing and playing with the latest in online, software and hardware, but there is this core group of

services that seem to stay on top of my list because they're simple and easy to use, as well as free or inexpensive.

1. Gmail - The Foundation for an Entire Management System

iStockPhoto

The link above will take you to a set of articles about Gmail. The titles will help you to check them out in the order you desire, or just work your way down.

All of my business email, and Gmail checks multiple POP email accounts so I can use my domain email addresses.

Filing and easy retrieval of all email, now more than 30,000 of them.

Integrates with my Calendar and Tasking.

Provides simplified contact management capabilities.

Replies with email address to which email was sent, keeping that branding. Several of the tools below are tied into Gmail as well, so it's the first and most important tool in the box. GMail is still a totally free service now. 2. Google Calendar - Tight Integration With Gmail

Jim Kimmons

This link takes you to several articles on different ways to use Google Calendar to manage your meetings, appointments and events. You'll also see in the first article how it ties into your overall business management system. The high points are:

Integration with Gmail, including ability to add events from an email, and display upcoming events and appointments next to your email.

Takes voice appointments from Jott, which I'll talk about in this group of tools.

Lets you set up custom reminder systems for text messages, email and popups.

Integrates RTM, Remember the Milk tasks (later in this tool list) into your calendar. Google Calendar is free now as well.

3. Remember the Milk - Task Management the Easy Way

Jim Kimmons

The top four or five articles at this link will show you how RTM, Remember the Milk, works. I use it for transaction task management because:

It integrates with Gmail and displays my tasks in Gmail's screen.

With my calendar appointments, email and tasks all on one screen, I'm more organized.

It allows me to import via email an entire list of dated tasks when I start a new transaction.

RTM tasks can also be picked up in Google Calendar, so my one calendar view tells all for the day, week or month.

Alarms via text or email for tasks deadlines. The free level of RTM should work for most people.

4. Evernote - Simply Fantastic for Information Gathering & Storage

iStockPhoto

I can't begin to tell you in this space how many things I do with Evernote. At $45/year for the Premium level service, it's worth many times that. I'll just say that there are 50 ways to use Evernote in your real estate business at the link. 5. Xpenser - Simple Bookkeeping In the Cloud

iStockPhoto

Just one article at the link tells it all. Do simple accounting for your real estate business in this free online service. And, it takes voice input from Jott.com, just like the Google calendar and Remember the Milk. 6. Jott.com - Voice to Text Conversion on the Fly

iStockPhoto

Several articles at the link show how I use Jott.com to call in from my cell phone, use my voice, and:

Send email notes to myself.

Send email and text messages to anyone else in my contact list.

Post Xpenser with expenses as they happen.

Add tasks to RTM, Remember the Milk.

Add calendar events and meetings to Google Calendar.

Add notes to Evernote. Only $39.50/year for unlimited messages. 7. Thunderbird - Gmail Backups + Transaction Email Archives & Printing

iStockPhoto

Articles at this link show you how to use Thunderbird and IMAP to back up all of your Gmail onto your hard drive. But, even better, you can create "search folders" that will gather all emails related to a transaction into one folder. You can then create a PDF of all of the email after the transaction closes. Thunderbird is free software.

8. Sugarsync - Easiest Backup + File Sharing Across Computers & With Clients

iStockPhoto

The articles at this link show you how to use the Sugarsync service to backup up folders and files on your hard drive

as you work in them. But, there's a lot more as well. You can share folders & files securely with clients, so large

transaction files can be downloaded by clients. Still more, you can access your files on any computer, including the

iPad with the Sugarsync app. For $50/year, most people will have all of the storage they need.

9. Picasa - Photo Management & Geo-tagging

Jim Kimmons

The articles at this link show you how to use Google's free Picasa photo service to build online photo albums, and even geotag them for mapping. I like it better than Flickr, and it's free and easy to use, with automatic syncing of photos from your hard drive. 10. YouTube for Website Video

Articles at this link give you information about the importance of Internet video, the massive audience, and how to use it on your real estate website. I give you some tips about cameras, and how to use this free service to make your website the place to go for prospects who want to see video of your service area.

District I – APRIL 19 & 20

District IV – APRIL 26 District VII – MAY 10 District III – JUNE 5

District II & XII – JUNE 6 & 7 District VI & X – JUNE 14

District V – JUNE 15 District XIII – JUNE 20

District VIII & IX – JULY 12 & 13 Subject to Change

Scott Levitt's Tuesday Tactics Newsletter

Productivity Tip: Know Each When & Where

Put your brain on the clock. You'll get more done, guaranteed. An endless to-do list leaves us feeling like we haven’t accomplished all we’ve set out to knock off in a given day. The problem is often one of expectations: We simply feel we can accomplish more than we can realistically accomplish in a given day. The common cure for the to-do list blues is asking yourself a simple one-two punch question: When will I do this, and where? When we make commitments to clients, we keep them. We know that when they block out time on their calendar for us that we must keep our promise to honor it when the time comes. It’s funny that no matter how much email we have in our inbox, a client meeting is an “I must go do this now” event. Why aren’t YOU your own client, then? For those tasks you’ve been meaning to accomplish for the past two weeks, why haven’t you set a specific time on your calendar to do them? Why haven’t you set aside twenty minutes or an hour to tackle that task that’s been nagging you every night as you’re drifting off to sleep? Scheduling your day with honest estimates about the duration of each task will quickly force you to prioritize and focus during the day. What’s more, you’ll feel better at the end of the day having kept more realistic promises to yourself and your business. The “power boost” for this tip is scheduling a task or two before you check your email. Email often derails us from our important tasks, causing us to focus on the urgent at the expense of the truly important. If you commit to scheduling one important task to accomplish BEFORE you check your email every morning, you’ll be surprised how much you accomplish each week.

Read more: http://www.tuesdaytactics.com/productivity-tip-know-each-when-where/#ixzz1oLaGM5ME

HELPING YOUR INTERNATIONAL BUYER (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

The choice of buying real estate in the United States is a big decision. It is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a trained Realtor (like myself) to help you though the buying process. You would also know me as a Real Estate Broker. Here are a few tips to making your property buying experience easier.

Be sure you are briefed on the specific laws and regulations of the state in which you´re looking to buy. Laws vary widely across the US from state to state, so make sure you have the most up to date information on the particular location you´re looking to buy in. A great tip is to try to find financing in the United States before you try looking for a particular piece of property. I (or any full time professional Realtor) has very good referrals for you to choose. You will have a much easier time wading through the buying process if you have financing already set to go. This can really help to expedite the buying process. I like to present all local contract and addenda at the first meeting. PDF online forms allow me to convey them easily through email -- while disclosing the procedures and process in writing. Expect the term (length) of your mortgage loan to differ from what you may be used to. For example, rather than the

Canadian standard terms ranging from one to ten-years, U.S. mortgages are typically written for 15 or 30 year terms. If you are building a home, then your construction loan will have phases. There should be a professional from the bank checking the builder's quality before monies are released. Code inforcement in your city will also have phases to check construction. In Florida, we have licensed building inspectors which can be hired to check the work and report directly to you and the city of all issues concerned with progress. Signing documents for the builders phase work -- is completed and to your satisfaction -- without having qualified eyes and ears may very well bring you a pretty home that is poorly constructed. Make sure you´re fully prepared for the closing date. By the closing date, you must have all inspections, appraisals and all of your work done on the property since the closing date is when the official sale happens. If you still want to have the prospective property looked at, make sure you have it taken care of before the closing date. In most cases, the closing date is on or about 30-45 days after a contract was signed. This is not always the case, however. It is more likely to be 45 days when dealing with a residential property than a commercial one. Make sure you buy title insurance. Title insurance protects you in case someone in the future claims to have legal right to the property you just bought. It´s wise to have this type of insurance bought before closing on the property. Title insurance is especially important when buying land or property in a foreign country because it protects the seller from unscrupulous and dishonest sellers. Be prepared to pay your share of that year´s property taxes. Depending on when you buy the property, you will be responsible for paying the rest of that year´s property taxes.

Preparation for a Well Organized Business

Resource Meeting (Please feel free to use this as a guide or check off list) by Kimberlie Slade, Governor District V & XIII

Send out Flyer 2-4 weeks in advance, (Date, Time, Location, Speaker, Topic) include RSVP Person & contact info (1 week to 2 days before) Confirm Location Confirm Speaker

Confirm Reservation, with Restaurant or Caterer

Make sure a Flag is available or bring one (should be placed on the left of the lecturn)

If planning A Theme Meeting, make sure you have all table decorations and props

(Day of and Day Before, gather items needed for meeting)

2 People for Check-in

2 Greeters, also to help set up for meeting (Pass out Agendas, flyers, Evaluations, etc.)

WCR Sign

Microphone (Set up person, including voice check) & Flag, if needed

Agenda (I always made a second copy, just for me and filled in what I wanted to cover in a different color so I

wouldn’t forget anything)

Announce Special Attendees (Least to most important - Past President, State President, etc.)

Announce Officers

Someone for Inspiration

Someone for the Pledge (Flag to left side of Podium)

Sponsors (Announce and have them stand if present – Read least to most important)

Speaker Gift (s)

Give a-ways (I always purchased $10 worth of stuff at the Dollar Store or have others donate)

Evaluation Forms

Mission & Vision Tent Cards, should be placed on each table

Information Table:

PMN Information

Applications for Membership

Conference News

Copies of Chapter and State Newsletter

Flyer(s) for:

Next Meeting

Upcoming Fundraisers

Tickets for upcoming Fundraisers available

Orientation

Announce next Board and Business Resource Meeting Time and Location at the end of each meeting.

Also any Committee Meetings and Fundraisers (Date, Time Location and person to contact)

Make sure checkbook is available to pay bill.

Special thanks to our Strategic Business Affiliates for their generous support OUR 2012 FLORIDA STATE CHAPTER WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS SPONSORS:

Refer to them often!

PLATINUM: HomeTeam Inspection Service, North American Title Company, Two Men and a Truck & Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

SILVER: Audrey Lackie/Watson Realty, Jacksonville Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors,

Arrow/Hughes Pest Control, Gia and Scott Arvin/Matchmake Realty, Naples-on-the Gulf Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors, Anita Colletti/John R. Woods Realtor, Housemaster Home Inspection

If you or someone you know would like to become a Florida State Sponsor please contact Amy Worth-Paul - amy@amyworthpaul.com

Mission of Women’s Council of Realtors

We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

Vision of Women’s Council of Realtors

Through our influence as successful business professionals, women will effect positive change in

the profession and in the broader community.

2011 Women’s Council of Realtors Line Officers

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT-ELECT VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER SECRETARY Diane McCombs Amy Worth Paul Penny Ericksen Pamela Banks Audrey Lackey

REMINDER: Check to make sure your information is correct on the www.WCR.org website Log onto www.WCRFL.org often to stay updated on what is going on in other Chapters in Florida.

Newsletter compiled, edited and formatted by Kimberlie Slade, Venice Chapter & Governor District V & XIII