It's Coming! Dues Billing

Who can believe that we are now approaching the middle of October and that the Holidays (Ugh!) are right around the corner. This time of the year also means dues billing for 2010 will be going out. Currently, we are scheduled to email your dues invoice on the 19th of October. Yes, it's a little earlier but we thought we would give you a little more time to get those dues in.

On the morning of Monday, October the 19th, I arrange to email your dues invoice through the company that runs are membership management system. There is a mass email blast that occurs and every ones' bill should arrive in their email box no later than that afternoon. PLEASE check your SPAM box. Many times my emails end up in your trash and you may want to arrange with your IT people to white list us. All of you folks that have admin people, make sure you print up the invoice and give it to the people that take care of that stuff. Institute Affiliates will get their invoice but they can make arrangements for their payment through their respective affiliate groups in the manner that they require.

Okay, with that said, let's talk about a couple of things. First, in theory this is due to us by the end of January. Now if by January, you think there is going to be an issue, please contact me at the office, 228-2588 or by email at kimb@tcar.com . The bottom line is we really don't want our members to fall by the wayside. So let us know what is going on.

Second, let's not be thinking that all of that money is coming to TCAR. We're not rolling in the dough here and we too have been hit by the current economic situation much in the same way as everyone else has. You're $426 pays for membership into 5 groups: TCAR, NCRCA, NCAR, NAR and RCA. If you don't know the acronyms, let me know, but that's a pretty decent deal. I could expound on the fact that even at a time when things have been pretty tough, TCAR has really gone above and beyond to create programming that has been worth that alone. I won't go into all the other things available to you through all the other associations but we have blogged about it in the past. Look up the benefits of membership on a previous blog.

Third, keep in mind how that money gets divided up. $181 goes to TCAR and pays for the office, staffing and what all we do. Pretty remarkable with 580+ members and you can do the math. $115 goes to NAR and RCA and the last $130 belongs to the state Association. Really when you break it down and learn about what all these group accomplish, you would realize it's a pretty good deal.

Lastly, there is that RPAC contribution that looks like we're sneaking it into your bill. I promise that is not our intention. The issue is the way the program is written and unfortunately, that is the only way it can be added. However, I would like for you to consider this as not a contribution but an investment in your business. Many people are confused with RPAC and to clarify, that money goes to cnadidates/people that are running for political offices whose ideas are in line with what the REALTOR Associations are. No, it does not go to anyone political party, typically at the end of the year, the PAC is pretty well split between the two major parties. No, the PAC is not giving a boatload of money to any one candidate. In fact the most a candidate can get from the monies collected by an association is $2500. In the end, this money elects people that protect your clients and your paycheck.

So be looking for that invoice, give me a yell if you have any questions and thank you for being a part of our membership!