It’s mid-December which means my tenure as President of the Morgantown Board of Realtors is coming to a close. My year started on the 1st of December in 2023 for the ‘24 fiscal year, but the Morgantown Board of Realtors adjusted its fiscal year to match our state association. So, our new year will now begin on January 1st. As a result, the ‘24 Board of Directors and I are serving for 13 months. All this means to you, the reader, is a few extra columns from me here in the Dominion Post.
I touched on something recently but would like to expand a little and that’s to summarize what I tried to do this year through this opportunity of writing in the Sunday paper. My initial goal as with my predecessors, was to bring you tips and advice on the process of buying and selling Real Estate. I also talked about our local economy and jobs because that has a direct impact on our market. I had an additional goal, however.
I felt my role was also to communicate who Realtors truly are. Realtors are more than just agents representing you in transactions, despite stereotypes or bad publicity. Although it pains me to admit it, there are good and bad Realtors and there are even a few agents, who don’t hold that Realtor designation at all. There are also good and bad people in all walks of life, but for the most part, Realtors are good and giving people. As I recently said, Realtors are embedded in the community. Realtors are NOT the same as those flashy national websites or apps. We are your neighbors who go to church with you, serve on local boards, have children in school with your children and we shop and spend at our local, mom & pop businesses.
This week, we had our final charitable event of 2024. On Wednesday, many of our Realtor and affiliate members gathered in teams to deliver food to those in need. Some are seniors, some are shut-ins, others due to medical or transportation issues, simply need a little help. Our Realtors and affiliates, gather like this each December not only in the heart of Morgantown, but venture out into some of the hollers in rural parts of the county. In addition to helping those in need, it brings us together for a common, noble cause and reminds us of what’s truly important.
I appreciated that ‘Christian Help’ Executive Director, Colleen Lankford, recently said to our membership, that we do indeed volunteer and give, but that she took note of how we better communicated this to the public this year. This took place through the Dominion Post as well as through social media and radio.
Thank you to those who’ve read these columns this year. I have two more in which I’ll thank some folks and will introduce you to our 2025 President. You can also go back and read past columns in the E-Edition of the Post, or in the blog section at morgantownrealtors.com.