As a result of a review of projected income and expenses for year-end 2020, the RAHB Board of Directors has waived the November and December Monthly MLS® Service Fee for members.
This credit will be reflected on your December invoice which will be sent in January.
The RAHB Board of Directors made the decision at their meeting on December 10th as part of an annual review, as required by policy, of the forecasted year-end surplus or deficit.
As 2019 draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on what your Association has accomplished on your behalf this past year.
It’s been a very busy and successful year for RAHB and our members. We saw our membership increase to an all-time high. We currently serve over 3,250 REALTORS®, and it continues to climb. This is a reflection of the services we provide, and the business available in the RAHB market area.
RAHB members came out to our many events throughout the year. We started 2019 with our Annual Awards and Recognition Gala, where we honoured our long service members and our dedicated volunteers, as well as enjoyed the company of our fellow professionals.
This year we hosted the RCN Breakfast for our Commercial REALTORS® at the Scottish Rite, a Nine and Dine golf tournament at Heron Point Golf Links, as well as our Grimsby, Caledonia and Dunnville Open Forums. We also hosted Open Forums in Hamilton and Burlington, where we welcomed Mayor Marianne Meed Ward to provide an update on all things Burlington. Additionally, this fall we hosted ProDev Plus in Burlington, where we welcomed more than 200 REALTORS® and partners for a day of education, a boutique trade show and networking. It was wonderful to see so many engaged members at our events this year, having discussions that help further the goals of our Association.
In November we celebrated our 31st Annual Charity Auction at Michelangelo’s, where we welcomed over 400 REALTORS®, friends and partners, in support of the Children’s Fund. We are delighted to announce that the event raised $87,500.
Speaking of donations, through the Home Ownership Affordability Program, RAHB was pleased to donate over $30,000 to Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga, and over $70,000 to Habitat for Humanity Hamilton. Along with these donations, RAHB members had the opportunity to participate in several on-site builds for Habitat, and we look forward to continuing the relationship with these wonderful organizations.
We saw some change this year. In the spring we undertook a search for a new CEO, and began the process to select a new leader for the Association. We are very happy to have Carol Ann Burrell with us as our new CEO. We know she will lead the Association into the future, helping to empower RAHB REALTORS® to succeed.
This summer we extended our data-sharing agreement with ORTIS to ensure that our partnership will continue once ORTIS and the Ontario Collective officially join forces to provide MLS® to their member boards and associations. Our arrangement with ORTIS has worked well for our members over the last few years, and we are very pleased to see it will continue. Once ORTIS and the OC become one entity, our data-sharing agreement will be extended to the OC, ultimately providing RAHB members with uninterrupted access to region-wide data of 23 boards and associations for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, RAHB members now have access to the OC data through IntraMatrix.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank all RAHB members for your patience and support during our discussions with ORTIS. I am also grateful to ORTIS and the OC for continuing our partnership. This agreement reflects a well-established, industry-wide consensus on the importance of data-sharing. We will continue to investigate data sharing options that will benefit our members and your business.
Although my year as President is coming to a close, I am proud of the work we have done together. Thank you to my fellow Directors for your dedication this year – your contributions have been essential. I’d also like to thank Donna Bacher and Lou Piriano, who stepped in this year to fill two vacancies on the Board – your efforts are greatly appreciated. I would be remiss if I did not specifically thank Kathy Della-Nebbia for stepping into the role of President-Elect this year. I can assure you that the board will be in good hands next year.
Thanks also go to our amazing RAHB staff for another successful year advancing our Association and the profession, as well as supporting our own members. I’d like to specifically highlight Carolyn Infurnari and Kim Sanders, who acted as CEO while we were without one, and who worked diligently to ensure RAHB members did not experience any gaps in service during this time.
Last, and certainly not least, I want to thank all RAHB members for your involvement in our Association, and for putting your faith in me as President this year.
Please watch for more information about what your Board of Directors and Association accomplished for you in the 2019 Annual Report, coming your way in the first quarter of 2020.
I would like to wish each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the Holiday Season. Happy New Year and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Please welcome your three new Directors who were elected this morning at the Annual Election Meeting:
They will be joining the following Directors to form the 2020 Board of Directors.
Meet the candidates running for the 2020 RAHB Board of Directors, and enjoy some delicious chili on Thursday, November 21, from noon – 1 p.m.
There is no need to register – just come!
Come out to taste and vote on your favourite chili, learn about the election process, meet the candidates and ask questions prior to the opening of electronic voting.
Date: Thursday, November 21
Time: Noon – 1 p.m.
Where: RAHB Office (Lower Level Rooms)
505 York Blvd, Hamilton, L8R 3K4
Cost: FREE
Dear fellow RAHB members,
On behalf of your Board of Directors, I am pleased and proud to announce that we have hired a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Carol Ann Burrell will join the RAHB team as CEO on Monday, October 7. Carol Ann comes with many years of experience in association management. She has earned an Honours B.A. in English and History from the University of Toronto – University of Trinity College, a Public Relations Certificate from Humber College, and is a Certified Association Executive through the Canadian Society of Association Executives.
Below is a list of her experience:
Carol Ann also served for 13 years in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, is a 3rd degree black belt in Goju-Ryu karate and holds the title of senpai.
We look forward to working with Carol Ann and learning from her leadership experience.
I would like to thank the CEO Selection Committee (names listed below) and our recruitment firm, Optimum Talent, for their diligent and thorough work in helping to find Carol Ann.
We owe a debt of gratitude to interim CEOs, Kim Sanders and Carolyn Infurnari, for keeping the RAHB ship on course and thriving since April. Kim, Carolyn and RAHB staff worked tirelessly to ensure RAHB members experienced no gaps in service during this time of transition, and I thank them for their professionalism and hard work.
Carol Ann should be in attendance at ProDev+ on Wednesday, October 9, and if you would like to welcome her to RAHB I recommend you purchase your tickets at https://www.rahb.ca/prodev-
Please don’t hesitate to contact the RAHB Office at 905.529.8101 if you have questions.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Dear fellow RAHB members,
ORTIS and the Ontario Collective (OC) are currently working to establish a joint MLS® system for their combined membership. I am pleased to inform you that RAHB has been successful in obtaining confirmation from the Transition Board of the combined ORTIS/OC group regarding an extension of the data-sharing agreement we currently have with ORTIS.
RAHB and ORTIS entered into a data-sharing agreement in August 2017, and this will extend to the Boards and Associations of the OC once the new entity is officially established. This will ensure that RAHB members, and all members of the ORTIS and OC Boards and Associations, will enjoy uninterrupted access to region-wide data for the foreseeable future.
We believe that data-sharing with ORTIS has worked very well over the past two years, providing members of RAHB with full access to ORTIS data, and all members of ORTIS with full access to RAHB data. The current members of ORTIS are:
Below are the Boards and Associations of the OC, to which RAHB members will also have uninterrupted data access once the combined ORTIS/OC MLS® system is established:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank RAHB members for your patience and support during our discussions with ORTIS. I am also grateful to ORTIS and the OC for continuing our partnership. This agreement reflects a well-established, industry-
And I would also like to take this opportunity to remind RAHB members that the RAHB Office is closed on Monday, September 2 for Labour Day. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe long weekend.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the RAHB Office at 905.529.8101 if you have questions.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Kathy Della-Nebbia
2019 RAHB President Elect
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Dear fellow RAHB members,
Last Thursday, July 4, your RAHB Board of Directors had a productive and informative meeting. There were several agenda items and one of the main topics of discussion was data-sharing – with respect to both ORTIS and neighbouring boards/associations, as well as with the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB)
TREB DATA SURVEY RESULTS
Thank you to those who participated and provided valuable feedback. The winner of the $100 RAHB credit draw is Ann Cosens of Coldwell Banker Community Professionals. Congratulations Ann, and thank you for your input!
In just over a week and a half, 654 RAHB members responded to the survey. The breakdown of participants by area was 401 from Hamilton, 208 from Burlington, 37 from Niagara North and 8 from Haldimand. Through this survey we found:
Some interesting feedback themes were:
Some common questions included:
Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We continue to work on behalf of RAHB REALTORS® to ensure you have the data you need for your business.
CEO SELECTION
I know many of you are interested in the recruitment process for RAHB’s new CEO. Our CEO Selection Committee has reported that they’re on schedule and that applications are being received.
Next steps include:
I would like to again thank the interim CEOs – Kim and Carolyn – for providing great leadership during this time of transition. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would also like to thank our very dedicated RAHB staff, who have been working diligently to ensure there is no gap in service to RAHB members.
Over the coming weeks I will keep you informed regarding the progress of both the CEO recruitment process and the ongoing data-sharing options/negotiations.
This is an important and busy time for our organization. Thank you for your ongoing interest in RAHB’s activities and please don’t hesitate to contact me personally if you have questions or comments.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
RAHB is pleased to announce that the CEO Selection Committee has been established. We received several responses from qualified candidates and appreciate the interest. Based on the qualifications outlined in the request for volunteers, and in accordance with the CEO Succession Policy, the Board of Directors has appointed the following RAHB members to the 2019 CEO Selection Committee:
Bob Van de Vrande, President, Apex Results Realty Inc. (Chair)
Kathy Della-Nebbia, President-Elect, Royal LePage State Realty
Lou Piriano, Director-at-Large, L. Piriano Real Estate Brokerage
Ann Forbes Arndt, Member-at-Large, Royal LePage Macro Realty
Don Robertson, Member-at-Large, Com/Choice
Conrad Zurini, Member-at-Large, RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
Also on the Selection Committee may be three external non-voting advisors.
Thank you to all who applied.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors on April 15, 2019, the resignation of Past-President Jack Loft was accepted. We thank Jack for his years of service to RAHB as a President, Director, and as a member and Chair of various committees.
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw 3.03, the Board of Directors has appointed Lou Piriano to fill the existing Director and Immediate Past-President vacancy on the Board until December 31, 2019.
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw 10.01, on March 25, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Kathy Della-Nebbia to fill the vacant President-Elect position. Below is a complete list of your 2019 RAHB Board of Directors:
President – Bob Van de Vrande of Apex Results Realty Inc
President-Elect – Kathy Della-Nebbia of Royal LePage State Realty
Immediate Past-President – Lou Piriano of L. Piriano Real Estate Brokerage
Donna Bacher of PureRealty
Hank Balfoort of Right At Home Realty
Jacqueline Norton of Realty Network: 100 Inc.
Stephanie Pinet of RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
Andrew Robertson of Keller Williams Complete Realty
Julie Sergi of Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services
Brian Shaw of Royal LePage State Realty
Nicolas von Bredow of Royal LePage Macro Realty
Your Board of Directors certainly understands there may be questions regarding recent changes with respect to the Board and CEO, and some have suggested we hold a meeting of the membership. We respectfully request your understanding of the fact that more detailed information cannot be provided at this time as it concerns a personnel matter, which involves both privacy laws and legal implications. The same constraints would exist at a membership meeting and, apart from the significant cost of holding such a meeting, we would still be unable to present more detailed information regarding the CEO.
Your Board of Directors very much appreciates the calls and messages of support we have received to-date, as well as the trust and confidence many of you have conveyed. We have received similar support from other Boards and Associations. RAHB staff and the Board of Directors are working tirelessly to ensure that day-to-day operations, pending projects, future projects and protection of the Association are being handled in a timely manner.
RAHB has a robust and detailed Succession Plan for hiring a CEO that was put into motion by the Board of Directors and RAHB staff. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the hiring consultant was approved today, and last week you received an e-mail invitation to participate on the Selection Committee. Please click the below button for this invitation. We will keep you up-to-date as progress continues on the selection process.
RAHB CEO Selection Committee Information
In terms of day-to-day operations, we have every confidence in our excellent staff who will continue to keep the Association running and meeting your needs on a daily basis. We are truly fortunate to have such amazing staff who understand and respect their roles and the requirements of our members.
Please be assured that, as reported at our recent AGM, your Board remains committed to maintaining and further enhancing data-sharing agreements for the benefit of our members. This work is also well underway and we look forward to reporting further news to you soon.
The Board of Directors and staff of RAHB continue to work on behalf of the Association in order to “Empower REALTORS® to Succeed”.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Dear Member of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington,
On March 7, 2019 the Board of Directors of RAHB accepted with regret the resignation of Nikola Bucalo as a Director of the Association. We thank Nik for his years of service to RAHB and its members – as a Director, Committee Chair and most recently as President-Elect. We wish him continued success and all the best for him and his family.
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw 3.03, the Board of Directors has appointed Donna Bacher to fill the existing Director vacancy on the Board until December 31, 2019.
In accordance with RAHB Bylaw 10.01, on March 25, 2019, the Board of Directors will be appointing or electing one of the Directors to fill the vacant President-Elect position.
The Board of Directors of RAHB continues to work on behalf of the Association in order to “Empower REALTORS® to Succeed”.
Bob Van de Vrande, B.Comm., M.B.A., B.Ed.
2019 RAHB President
REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington
Congratulations to Immediate Past President, Jack Loft, who won the 2019 Spirit Award from the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation!
The Spirit Award is given to individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in promoting the good works of the Ontario REALTORS® Care Foundation through past successes and continual fundraising support!
