Government Affairs Corner
Check www.GMDRA.com for critical business info
By Nick Bokone
Government Affairs Director for the Greater
Metro Denver REALTOR® Associations
If you haven’t done so lately, be sure to check out www.gmdra.com.
This website is dedicated to being a one-stop shopping center for all things related to government affairs. It is brought to you by the Aurora Association of REALTORS®, teaming with the six other metro REALTOR® boards and associations. The website is designed to keep you up to date on all the legislative goings on at the local, county, state, and federal levels.
Imagine being able to access all of the political and policy information important to your business in one place! That’s what this website can do for you. What kinds of things can you find on www.gmdra.com? Here are a few items:
■ Local sign ordinance information. The site catalogues sign codes by municipality so you can easily and quickly determine the differences for placing signs in each city. This information seems to change almost daily with our local municipalities, so check this site often for new codes and ordinances relating to real estate and off site directional (open house) signs.
■ Regional government affairs updates. Page one of the website is dedicated to the most recent happenings and events involving our local REALTOR® associations and real estate issues around the area. Check here to see what’s going on in and around the metro Denver region.
■ Local news items. Under the “What’s New” tap, you’ll find a collection of recent newspaper articles from around the metro area relating to real estate issues. Consider it your own private clipping service!
■ A local political calendar. The website is a great source of information for local city happenings like public hearings, listening sessions, town hall meetings and regularly scheduled government meetings. While we don’t publish each and every regularly scheduled city council meeting, we do publish the ones dealing with real estate issues. Contact me if you want information on your city’s regular meetings.
■ Complete PSF information. The Political Survival Fund is an essential part of our government affairs program. The website has information about what the PSF is, where the money goes, how those decisions are made, how to make a contribution and why members should give their fair share or more. It also keeps track of each association’s PSF campaign on a yearly basis, as well as recognizes PSF contributors.
■ A grassroots Call To Action system. Another key part of our government affairs program is a targeted and effective grass roots system. When REALTORS® are called to action to support or oppose proposals at any level of government, this website allows our members to instantaneously e-mail, call or write their elected official and communicate our position. The system matches each member with their elected officials so that you communicate with your hometown legislator.
■ Comprehensive state and federal sections. An effective government affairs program doesn’t just focus on local issues. The website features complete information on what’s happing at the Capitol building in Denver and in the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C.
On the horizon:
■ Public policy statements. As an industry, it’s important to clearly and effectively state the positions most important to us. Whether the topic is private property rights, tax proposals, or the availability and affordability of homeowners’ insurance, our positions carry merit not only internally with our members but externally with members of the media and our elected officials. This website will allow us to clearly state our public policy positions.
■ A forum section for member comment/feedback. Your Board of Directors wants to make sure you’re happy with the way the program works, and they understand that you may not always be able to be present at BOD meetings. The forum section will allow you the opportunity to discuss local issues, PSF choices, or any other item relating to government affairs that is important to you.
The website can be a valuable member service. It’s another great benefit you get as a member of the Aurora Association of REALTORS®. As we continue to seek ways to increase the value you see in your membership, we hope you’ll find this benefit helpful, and will keep you informed and motivated for many years. If you have questions or comments about anything related to government affairs, the PSF or legislative activity, please contact me at nbokone@gmdra.com.
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