Mission Statement
The purpose of the Mason Oceana Manistee Board of REALTORS® is to provide and promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Realtor® professionalism, to its members along with the tools and technology to enhance membership profitability, communicate Realtor® viewpoints on real estate and private property issues and promote the value of Realtors® to the public all while assisting consumers in fulfilling their real estate needs in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
Community Outreach
M.O.M Board of Realtors Supports Children In Trauma
Research shows that one in ten children will be the victim of sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. For child survivors of abuse, support is available through children’s advocacy centers across the country, including the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center which serves Manistee and Mason counties.
This month, the Mason Oceana Manistee Board of Realtors stood up for vulnerable children through two $1000 grants to the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center. The funds will be used to provide essential services to child abuse victims.
One of 40 children’s advocacy centers in the state of Michigan, the Lakeshore CAC provides forensic interviews of child victims, provides multidisciplinary case coordination for allegations of child sexual abuse or severe physical abuse, and offers counseling services and referrals with trained trauma therapists at no cost to children and their non-offending family members. Additionally, the CAC provides free training to adults to recognize the signs of abuse and know how to report responsibly, as well as classroom-based lessons to educate and protect children.
Steve Winczewski of Greenridge Realty presented a $1000 check to Lakeshore CAC director Megan McCarthy at the CAC location in Ludington, and Brandon Ball of Dwelling Realty-Keller Williams presented a $1000 check to Lakeshore CAC family advocate Traci Smith at the CAC location in Manistee.
“We are grateful for the generous support of the Mason Oceana Manistee Board of Realtors, which allows us to continue to provide high quality care and to ensure that abused children receive the services they need,” said Megan McCarthy, Executive Director of the Manistee County Child Advocacy Center.
“Working together with our partners in law enforcement, CPS, and prosecution, the Lakeshore CAC gives children a place to feel safe, to speak their truth, and to access the services and care they need so that they can do what they do best – be kids.”
A donation of $1,000 was made to the Hart Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1329. The VFW was first established in 1932 and currently serves 96 Veterans. Veterans utilize this post for medical support including bloodwork, immunizations, counseling and support for those struggling with PTSD. They also host blood drives through the Red Cross every other week. MOM Board representatives Evelyn, Janet & Katie presented the check to the VFW.
(Pictured is John Varenhorst - Senior Vice Commander, Evelyn Vinke - Public Relations Committee Member ,Steve Fell - Quartermaster, Janet Dodge - Vice President , Michael Wilson - Commander, Ray Helmer - Commander, and Katie Arnouts - Oceana County Director.)
MOM Board of REALTORS® Expands Its Scholarship Program Once Again!
The Mason Oceana Manistee Board of REALTORS® announced that it awards a scholarship to a student in each of the three counties it serves.
The MOM Board Scholarship Fund began Nov.21, 2005, and it started out awarding scholarships on a rotating basis for graduating seniors in Mason, Oceana and Manistee counties. The first scholarship went to a graduating senior from Manistee High school, back in May 2006.
Through the years, the organization worked to build the fund to where it can now give to a student in each county. The scholarships are awarded each year at the recipient's high school awards ceremony.
This year a student at Shelby High School was awarded the MOM Board Scholarship for Oceana County.
This year a student at Ludington High School was awarded the MOM Board Scholarship for Mason County.
This year a student at Bear Lake High School was awarded the MOM Board Scholarship for Manistee County.
Fundraisers are planned throughout the year through its annual MOM Board Golf Scramble and a "Scholarship Fund Agent Challenge" that includes a stipulation that agents donate $10 from each closing to be matched by their respective broker.
Members of the MOM Board 's Scholarship Committee include: Chair - Rick Quinn, Sue Payne, Evelyn Vinke, Steve Winczewski, & Brian Mulherin.
Join the Fight for Fair Housing!
The key to ending discrimination in real estate isn't this ad.
If recent events have taught us anything, it's this: we have more work to do. Racism is real, tragically so. Discrimination, in all its forms, still casts a long shadow in this country, and too many are being denied the opportunities that all Americans deserve. Our commitment to the diverse communities we serve starts with a Code of Ethics. Our code sets a higher standard for fairness in housing than any federal law, it's backed by a culture of member accountability, and it extends to our work on Capitol Hill, where we continue to advocate for meaningful change.
At the National Association of REALTORS® we believe that fairness is worth fighting for, and we won't stop until the fight is won. Because that's who we are.
If you experience or witness discrimination in real estate, we urge you to report it.
Visit hud.gov/fairhousing to file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
REALTOR® Fair Housing Declaration
I agree to:
- Provide equal professional service without regard to the race, color, religion, gender (sex), disability (handicap), familial status, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity of any prospective client, customer, or of the residents of any community.
- Keep informed about fair housing law and practices, improving my clients’ and customers’ opportunities and my business.
- Develop advertising that indicates that everyone is welcome and no one is excluded;, expanding my client’s and customer’s opportunities to see, buy, or lease property.
- Inform my clients and customers about their rights and responsibilities under the fair housing laws by providing brochures and other information.
- Document my efforts to provide professional service, which will assist me in becoming a more responsive and successful REALTOR®.
- Refuse to tolerate non-compliance.
- Learn about those who are different from me, and celebrate those differences.
- Take a positive approach to fair housing practices and aspire to follow the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
- Develop and implement fair housing practices for my firm to carry out the spirit of this declaration
Links:
NAR Fair Housing
That’s Who We R Fair Housing Assets
NAR Changes to Article 10
