A poet ... and they know it
I think of all the chairs of the Ponte Vedra Council who I’ve seen come and go, Terrell Newberry of Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty has definitely been the most interesting and entertaining.
While there are only four meetings a year, Newberry makes them quite memorable. Usually, the chairs lead the pledge, say a prayer and get on with the meeting, but Newberry has a very unique way of entertaining: he reads poems he has written or he has found that were humorous.
“Poems tend to make the listener ‘tune in’ to catch the rhyme,” he said. “I feel it is my obligation to do two things at the council meeting: to make it a positive outing for the agents and to provide meaningful content to the members.”
Newberry said he, co-chair Colleen Sullivan of Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty and Debbie Dermody of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtor Beaches Council try to have speakers that provide timely and useful information.
“The members should leave feeling several things: the speaker told me something that is useful to my business, Terrell made me laugh and the food was good,” said Newberry.
“The poem ideas are typically just an accumulation of news events mixed with what is going on around us.
“Sometimes I fear I might be the only one who understands them. I have never been published because I don’t take myself that seriously.”
2008 is finally gone,
She took her last breath; it was a groan.
Yes I know there has been some contraction,
But after what we went through, that’s the likely reaction.
With anticipation we welcome Oh Nine,
She’s like a new penny; look at her shine!
Business is better, business is good,
Look at the activity in the hood.
Rates are down and going lower,
Price reductions are happening slower.
Buyers are dusting off the cobwebs,
We don’t even cringe at a short sale.
Sellers are excited about all the showings,
Are we at the bottom, there’s no way of knowing.
How will we know when the bottom is here,
When prices start going up, my dear.
How do I know Oh Nine will be fine?
Cause we are working with our Realtor friends all the time.
They support us when a sale falls through,
And encourage you to re-list, what else can you do?
So I remind you again in Oh Nine,
Wealth is not measured by dollar or dime.
But rather it’s measured by the number of friends,
Cause wrinkles only show where smiles have been.
So welcome the business and faster pace,
Just don’t forget to love your friends in your haste.
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Foreclosure notices were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Obama would soon be there.
The Palins were all nestled snug in their beds, with visions of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. dancing in their head.
And Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, turned on the news, to hear some more crap.
When out on the lawn there came such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
When what from my wondering eyes should appear, I gasped as I watched my 401 disappear.
With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew that John McCain was going to be sick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, then he screamed and yelled and called them by name.
Now Pelosi, Now Biden, Now Thompson, Now Romney,
Now Bush, Now Cheney Now Edwards, Now Giuliani.
To the top of the ticket, with help from Acorn.
Get over yourselves and put away all that scorn.
And then in a twinkling I heard on Wall Street,
the sound of the stocks as they teetered and creaked.
With my head hanging down, while wringing my hands,
I hoped for an assault rifle to protect my land.
They spoke not a word, but went to work,
raising my taxes, what a bunch of jerks.
Flying in on big jets, some quiet large,
while telling me, to drive smaller cars.
I heard them exclaim, as the national debt went out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all, we just took your last bite!
In these times, any opportunity to market your properties and yourself is welcomed by the agents.
Karen Palmer, the broker of Davidson Realty in St. Augustine, came up with “Agent to Agent Sunrise Coffee,” a breakfast meeting at Serenata Beach Club.
“It’s a way to get to know other agents that may be in a different sphere,” said Palmer. “Agents from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, St. Augustine/St. Johns County Board of Realtors and builder representatives are invited to show one property. We kept it very affordable too — only $5.”
The meeting is at 8:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.
“I felt the Realtor/builder agent event in Nocatee last year was very successful and this was a way to do it without having all the planning a large event takes,” said Palmer. “We meet to share a cup of coffee and one property they’d like to promote. All site agents and general agents are welcome.”
Palmer said the need for the event was for building relationships with other agents and builders, and one more place to market their listings or communities.
“It is for agents trying to stay alive in this economy and agents willing to do something outside the norm,” she said
The event is open to all agents — but only agents.
“They can just show up, although I try to get an approximate head count for Serenata since they are providing a continental breakfast and coffee for all,” she said.
To attend, just bring $5 and call Karen Palmer at 940-5000 to RSVP.
