Six new directors were elected to the 2017 Board of Directors at the Annual Election Meeting on Wednesday, November 30 at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Congratulations to Ann Forbes Arndt, Ralph Frisina, Paul Hammond, Jack Loft, Diane Price and Richard Weima on their election to the Board!
The election of the President-elect will take place before the end of December, and you can read the results in the January issue of REALINFO.
It was announced that 2016 President Kim Alvarez has resigned from the RAHB Board as of January 1, 2017 and will not be continuing as Immediate Past President. Donna Bacher has been appointed as Immediate Past President.
Your 2017 Board of Directors will be:
Lou Piriano, President
Donna Bacher, Immediate Past President
Ann Forbes Arndt
Nikola Bucalo
Kathy Della-Nebbia
Ralph Frisina
Paul Hammond
Jack Loft
Diane Price
Andrew Robertson
Bob Van de Vrande
Richard Weima
The new Board was sworn in at the Annual Election Meeting and will take office January 1, 2017. Watch January’s issue of REALINFO to learn more about your Board members!
Other meeting highlights:
- Karan Barker Scholarships were presented to five students
- RAHB members approved Bylaw amendments which:
- Added more flexibility to the process RAHB follows for members’ non-payment of dues
- Added flexibility for scheduling – or not scheduling – annual election meetings when there are just enough candidates to fill vacancies on the Board
- Changed the timing of the mailing of the slate of candidates to all members, from 14 days to 10 days prior to the Annual Election Meeting
- Changed the number of Directors from 12 to 11, and the number of Brokers of Record or Managers on the Board to one from the current three (although there is still a requirement for three Brokers on the Board of Directors). These changes will take effect for the 2018 Board of Directors
- Clarified that a candidate for election to the Board must be a member of RAHB for at least two years immediately prior to their nomination.
- Allows that, where there are insufficient candidates on the Board to fill the role of President-Elect, previous senior officers who are on the Board again, and who have experience as Directors within the last five years, have chaired a committee and completed their term as Directors, are eligible to run for the position
- Allowed the change of title from President to Chair, and President-Elect to Chair-Elect, as approved last year, to take effect as soon as practicable
- Changed the timing of the election of the President-Elect from immediately following the election meeting to sometime after the election but before December 31
- Changed the time at which Rules and Regulations amended by the Board will take effect, from “immediately” to an appropriate date which allows the information about the change to be communicated to the membership
- Changed the number of members on the Arbitration Committee from 12 to seven
- Combined the Audit Committee and Finance Committee into the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee
See how the Bylaws were amended click here
- Representatives from the Canadian Real Estate Association presented their Open House, explaining how CREA works on behalf of all members across Canada. In particular, they discussed:
- The research they undertake and the research reports available to members on REALTOR Link®(find reports such as the A.N.G.E.R. Report, What Consumers are Looking For on REALTOR.ca, Great Expectations and REALTOR® Value on REALTOR Link® – Just go to CREA > Membership Statistics & Research and > Consumer Insights.
- The national ad campaign, and the strategies in a campaign
- The REALTOR® Action Network and how members can participate in calls to action to effect change in Ottawa
- Changes to ca that benefit members and the public
- How REALTORS® contribute to their communities
- How members can participate on CREA committees
- The 2017 Board of Directors was sworn in by CREA President Cliff Iverson
Winners!
- The first 150 members who registered in advance to attend the Annual Election Meeting and attended the meeting received $15 Tim Horton cards
- Winner of the 2017 RAHB dues draw was Greg de Denus (City Brokerage)
2016 Karan Barker Scholarship Recipients
The Karan Barker Scholarship is named for Karan Barker, a 25-year RAHB employee and former Executive Officer. Karan was an outstanding EO, winning both the Tony Kafun Award from OREA and the W. Frank Johns Award from CREA in recognition of her contributions to our real estate association and the real estate profession.
Scholarships are presented each year to students who are children or grandchildren of RAHB members or RAHB staff. All recipients are attending or will be attending university or college. They must demonstrate academic excellence and a high level of involvement in their school or the community.
To date, including this year, we have awarded $86,500 to 65 students!
This year’s winners:
Annie Cupido is the granddaughter of Mario Cupido of Century 21 Aberwin Realty Inc. Annie is a graduate of St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton and is currently enrolled in the concurrent BA/Bed program at Brock University. She intends to become a high school teacher.
While in high school, Annie was Co-Chapter President and program initiator of Best Buddies, a member of the athletic council, school prefect, and altar server. She was captain of the Reach for the Top Academic Challenge, field hockey and track and field teams, and well as a member of the volleyball, slo-pitch and badminton teams. She was also a member of Campus Ministry and served as a Hamilton Cardinals Intercounty Baseball League volunteer.
Amy Lewyckyj is the daughter of Ron Lewyckyj of RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc. Amy is a graduate of Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School and is now studying engineering at Queen’s University. She intends to specialize in electrical engineering and is also considering getting an MBA after she receives her Bachelor degree.
In high school, Amy was a member of the Titan for Titans, Think We and Math clubs, and was on the Grad Committee and athletic council. She was a member of the indoor/outdoor varsity soccer, badminton and touch football sports teams. Especially involved in soccer, Amy was a house league soccer coach, and played competitive soccer with the Ancaster Titans for nine years. Amy was also an Ancaster Soccer Clubreferee for four years and instructed the Ancaster Soccer Pups one summer. She also participated in theMcMaster Science and Engineering Olympics, Waterloo Math Contest and her school’s Hawaii Soccer tournament.
Robin Martin is the daughter of Todd Martin of RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc. Robin graduated from Sherwood Secondary School and is now attending St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, majoring in Criminology and Socio-legal studies and women’s studies. After getting her BA, Robin intends to pursue a career in law so she can help others.
In high school, Robin was a member of the Sherwood repertoire band, enrichment band, music council and student council. She was also involved in Scouting for 13 years. She completed the YMCA Leadership in Training program and worked as a day camp counsellor for three summers.
Mackenna Mulligan is the granddaughter of Bob Secord of Keller Williams Edge Hearth & Home Realty. Mackenna is a graduate of Westmount Secondary School. She is currently attending McMaster University in collaboration with Mohawk College, and is in the Nursing program. She hopes to work in a hospital when she is finished her four-year course of study.
Mackenna danced competitively for Freedom Studios while she was in high school. As well, she also worked with the Westmount Athletic Council – and was president of the council one year – volunteered with the Hamilton Policy Association at various charity events, volunteered at the Road2Hope Marathon and organized the “kisses for a cause” fundraiser for Jumpstart. She continues to work part-time, dance and volunteer.
Michael Taylor is the son of Heather Lindsay of Harbour Properties Realty Inc. Michael graduated from Dundas Valley Secondary School and is now attending Wilfred Laurier University in the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration program. After he completes his degree, Michael is considering either working on an MBA or pursuing corporate law.
In high school, Michael was involved in school bands, sports teams, student government, academic competitions and community events. He also volunteered at Dundas Community Services where he assisted senior citizens with various tasks, and he independently organized a community-wide bottle drive to raise money for the local high school and a local women’s shelter. He honed his leadership and social skills through executive and mentoring positions within clubs at his school.
