By Fred Seely, Editor
You've worked hard to rise to the top of your association. Now, the work has just begun.
That's the advice from some of Northeast Florida's leaders in real estate and construction associations.
"You have to do whatever is required for the position. When you're president, that means a lot more because you have obligations to attend events, to do the political and legislative things that are expected of you," said Michael Bourre of Bourre Construction, the NEFBA president in 2011. "If you aspire to be president of anything, you need to know the time it will take."
Count on at least 15 hours a week of being somewhere and doing something, plus more hours spent in planning. At least.
"I'd say that it takes 15-20 hours a week but that's a deceptive number, and I think any leader who is doing his job will agree: It's something that's always on your mind," said Andrew Bell, the outgoing president of the Jacksonville chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors.
"For instance, anytime I'm at a NEFAR or NEFBA meeting, I'm listening for things that would help my fellow WCR members."
All say that you need to know what you're getting into.
"If you want to be an officer, work your way up to the board," said incoming NEFBA President Daniel Blanchard of the Blanchard Land Co. "You get to see behind the curtain, see how the organization works and what is needed. You'll see the time commitment needed. You will realize that it's a lot more than showing up at a meeting once a month.
"You may decide that you don't have that time. Nothing wrong with that. But don't go for the top if you don't have the time it takes."
Incoming NEFAR President Linda McMorrow knows she has enough time; she has been active in the local real estate organizations for over 25 years plus she has first-hand knowledge: her twin sister and business partner, Selby Kaiser, was NEFAR's president in 2003.
"I watched what she did," said McMorrow. "I was there for the phone calls and problem solvings. I've been active forever so I've seen what others have gone through. Even then, I gave it a lot of thought. You may think you know everything that's involved, but you really don't until you have to do it."
Adds Kaiser: "It helped me so much to have Linda because I had someone to carry the load while I served the real estate community. It certainly helped her, too, to be able to see what I went through as president.
"Now, it's her turn to be president and it's my turn to carry the load."
For leaders of the major associations, it's a long year. NEFAR and NEFBA are more than just organizations that meet monthly: they each have numerous councils for geographic and specific skills.
"I had to fill in for Dennis from time to time," said Blanchard, referencing the 2013 president, Dennis Ginder of Landon Homes. "He tried to get to everything but you just can't do that. Even with the limited things I did, I seemed to be always attending something."
McMorrow said it's a business decision.
"I don't know how an agent can be president of NEFAR and still make a living," she said. "He or she depends on selling for a living and selling takes time, time that you may not want to devote to being an association president. Carol (Zingone, the 2013 president) is exceptional; she's an agent and she's found time to do everything well. I'm in management and so is Selby. Look at the list of past NEFAR presidents and you'll see that so many were managers, not agents."
Bourre adds a closing note:
"Time management is very important but the most important thing is the condition of one's heart," he said. "You have to be committed to whatever you're doing. You have to find the balance between family, work, the association and your spirituality. That's tough for a lot of people. It was tough for me at times. You can feel yourself getting out of balance. You have to assess where you stand at all times.
"It's an honor and a duty. But you have other obligations. Be sure that you know what you're getting into, no matter what it is."