by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff writer
Where can you find pens, chip clips, notepads and chocolate chip cookies all in one place? That would be the Jacksonville Women’s Council of Realtors Affiliates Showcase where 11 different affiliates set up booths, gave away marketing items and discussed their businesses with Realtors last month at the San Jose Country Club.
The companies that participated were Silpada Design, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Homes & Land Magazine, Proficio Mortgage, Tidal Title, Real Estate Book, Zip Realty, First Florida Credit Union, Old Republic Home Protection, Insurance Solutions of North Florida and Mercedes Homes.
During the trade show, the Jacksonville Women’s Council also held its monthly meeting and heard from speaker Wanda Vern of the Mental Health Center of Jacksonville.
Vern spoke to the group about her organization, mental illness and about a topic close to everyone’s hearts - stress.
“You need stress in your life,” said Vern. “Does that surprise you? Perhaps so, but it is quite true. Without stress, life would be dull and unexciting. Stress adds flavor, challenge and opportunity to life. Too much stress however, can seriously affect your physical and mental wellbeing.”
Vern explained that in order to use stress in a positive way and prevent it from “stressing you out,” you need to recognize it and deal with it before it gets out of control.
Some tips: try physical activity, share your stress, know your limits, take care of yourself, make time for fun, be a participant, check off your tasks as you get them done, it’s OK to cry, create a quiet scene and avoid self-medication.
It was announced during the meeting that Elissa Vining of Watson Realty was leaving the state and was no longer able to be the vice president of membership. So, Daniel Lewis of Exit First Coast Realty is taking over her duties.