by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Under the banner “Seizing the Opportunity,” the Amelia Island-Greater Nassau County Association of REALTORS® held its annual Installation and Awards Banquet last month held at Amelia Island Plantation.
About 144 REALTORS® and affiliates attended the event to see Jon Lasserre of Curtis Lasserre Real Estate installed as president of the association by Cathy Whatley, the 2003 National Association of REALTORS® president.
Lasserre thanked Whatley for taking the time out to attend the event and install him as president, as well as the association’s support staff, Executive Director Clyde Goodbread, and Wendy Sapp, administrative assistant. He also thanked his father, Curtis Lasserre, founding president of the association, for bringing him into the business.
Lasserre took over from outgoing president Norman Bray of Amelia Island Plantation.
“It is with deep humility and a deep sigh of relief that I turn over the gavel to Jon Lasserre as the new president of the Amelia Island-Greater Nassau County Association of REALTORS®,” said Bray. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as president. It has been very rewarding year.”
Also installed were Grace Lipman of Century 21 John T. Ferreira, president-elect, and Steve Simmons of ERA Fernandina Beach Realty, secretary-treasurer.
Directors for 2003 are Carolyn Cherry of Coldwell Banker Jasinsky & Assoc, Dee Chaplin of Chaplin-Williams Real Estate, Inc., Glenn Hancock of Re/Max Professional Group, Presley Hollingsworth of Watson Realty, Jeff McKay of Watson Realty and Pat Troxel of Prudential Island Realty. Bray and Bob Gallagher of Prosperity Bank will serve as directors ex-officio.
Officers for the Nassau County Multiple Listing Service, Inc. were also installed: Mike Hickox, of Mike Hickox Appraisals, president; Judi Raczynski of Coldwell Banker Jasinsky & Assoc., vice president; and Linda McCoy of ERA Fernandina Beach Realty, secretary-treasurer. MLS directors installed were Bobby Ferreira of Century 21 John T. Ferreira and Hugh Williams of Chaplin-Williams Real Estate, Inc.
Ed Boner of The Realty Source and Jon Lasserre of Curtis Lasserre Real Estate will serve as directors ex-officio.
Seventy-two REALTORS® received awards as members of the Million Dollar Club.
Receiving recognition for their work in 2002 were Andrew Sands of Summer Beach Realty, 2002 Rookie of the Year; Pat Troxel of Prudential Island Realty, Committee Chair of the Year; and Steve Kelley of Kelley Pest Control, Affiliate Member of the Year.
The late Nora Norman of Re/Max Professional Group, who succumbed to cancer last September, received the prestigious REALTOR® of the Year Award for 2002. Her husband Steve accepted on her behalf.
Pat Troxel of Prudential Island Realty and Tom O’Connell of Watson Realty gave a recap of 2002 during the event and discussed how the past president Norman Bray of Amelia Island Plantation held a leadership retreat to discuss the future of the association.
“These straightforward roundtable discussions were self-examinations of our association,” said Troxel. “We looked at where we are at the moment, where we want to be in three to five years and what we were going to do to get there. This was just the beginning of the development of our strategic planning for 2003 and the future.
“After many hours, a definitive strategic plan was adopted by our board and presented to the membership. This plan will continue to be our beacon for 2003 and several years to come. It will continue to be our yardstick for growth.”
They also discussed events they had held during the year and upcoming educational opportunities.