by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Though membership continues to grow, the attendance at the Jacksonville Women’s Council of Realtors seems to be slowing down.
Bonnie Siecker, owner and president of Century 21 Dames Point Realty, is the new president and has a few ideas on how to increase attendance and make WCR a meeting worth attending.
“We are trying to motivate people to come back into the chapter,” said Siecker. “We’ve been trying to call everyone and tell them what the programs are.”
Their current membership is about 133 and Siecker hopes to get more members involved and increase the membership.
Siecker has been a member of WCR for about nine years and said she has been asked several times to take the lead, but didn’t feel the time was right until now.
“I had other irons in the fire and couldn’t dedicate the time,” she said. “If you are going to do a good job and help build and strengthen the chapter you have to take the time to do it. Now it is time.”
Since she owns her own company, she feels she can balance the two easily and get the job done.
In preparation to take the lead as president, Siecker attended the National Women’s Council of Realtors meeting in Chicago and took classes in leadership.
“There are all kinds of meetings the year before that the president-elect attends to prepare you for to be president,” she said.
Siecker said they are trying to make the programs more interesting and get better guest speakers for the meetings.
“If the program is no good, they are not going to come because the market is too good for people to waste time,” she said. “Time is money to us and we know that.”
Siecker’s goals for this year are to get the chapter more organized and to update and correct the membership roster.
A few programs ideas she has for this year include the membership coordinator for the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Planning Commission of Jacksonville and NOAA - National Weather Advisory.
“We’re working on someone from the FBI to come and speak,” she said. “We are thinking of bringing in Andrew Wooten of S.A.F.E. [Safety Awareness and Fire Arms Education] in September. He is a great speaker.”
A change Siecker has made to this year’s schedule is that the Fashion Show and Silent Auction will be held in October rather than spring.
“We just needed a change,” she said.
Their Technology Trade Show will be held in November and the Christmas Program and Installation of Officers will be held in December. Check out the website www.wcrjax.com for the complete schedule.
“Our goal is help build this Jacksonville chapter to a point where we motivate the members through programs and activities that inspire them, create opportunities for success and produce good leaders,” said Siecker.
Siecker started in Real Estate in 1978. She worked Century 21 Wester Realty until she opened Century 21 Dames Point Realty in 1987.
“When I opened my office in North Jacksonville, the Dames Point Bridge wasn’t finished,” she said. “We had no high school, our schools were sub standard at best and we still had a lot of dirt roads, few traffic lights and only two lane roads. Our average price home was too embarrassing to mention.”
Her goal in opening her own office was to build a reputable real estate office in North Jacksonville.
“Now many years later, through organization, a strong determination and faith, I have accomplished this and more,” said Siecker.
Prior to real estate, Siecker had a career in banking in Chicago. She then ran the Navy Exchange banking facility in Spain for two years. When she returned to the states, she worked for JNB Bank and then went into real estate. Prior to banking, she was in nursing.
Her previous experience in both careers gave her a good base to go into real estate.
“I learned to deal with people and work out their problems and that’s what real estate is all about,” she said. “Nursing helped me learn compassion.”
Siecker has two children, Karen and Terry and three grandchildren.
When she is not working, she likes to work in her yard and cook.