VAR's Legislative Advocacy Conference

Date:

February 14, 2012 - 8:30am - February 16, 2012 - 1:15pm

Location:

The Omni Richmond Hotel, 100 South 12th Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Get Active: VAR's Legislative Advocacy Conference

The real estate networking & political event of the year. Attend this event and meet with your legislators on THEIR turf. Learn the latest on trends and issues impacting your business. We look forward to seeing you for Get Active 2012. Please register onsite at the Omni Richmond Hotel, see details below.


Registration Fees	Onsite After 2/6/12
Member Registration - Full*	$ 149.00
Member Registration - One Day**	$ 99.00
Non-REALTOR Licensee - Full*	$ 199.00
Non-REALTOR Licensee - One Day**	$ 149.00
Non-REALTOR Guest - Full*	$ 95.00

Location, Map, and Directions

Richmond Weather

Omni Richmond Hotel
100 South 12th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 344-7000
Fax: (804) 648-6704

Map and Directions/Parking

For those not staying at the Omni, please park in the public parking deck across the street from the Omni.

VAR Registration Desk

Please register at the VAR Registration Desk. The registration desk will be located at the Top of the Grand on the 2^nd level.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012	8:00 AM –5:00 PM
Wednesday, February 15, 2012	7:30 AM –5:00 PM
Thursday, February 16, 2012	7:15 AM–12:00 PM

Note: RPAC Lunch (Please note that tickets are limited for this event.)

*Multi-day Registrants must add the RPAC Lunch ticket to their registration if they wish to attend.
**Wednesday One-day registrants have the RPAC Lunch included in their registration fee.

Hotel

The rate at the Omni Hotel is $159, not inclusive of tax. To receive the VAR hotel registration link, please register for this event, then the link for reservations will be included in your confirmation. Cancellation policy regarding hotel rooms at the Omni Richmond: "Individuals holding confirmed reservations who cancel their reservations on or after January 16, 2012, or do not show up to use their room for the VAR Legislative Advocacy Conference, will be charged for one night at the full group rate plus applicable taxes for each reservation cancelled. When you reserve a room in the VAR room block at The Omni Richmond Hotel, you are agreeing to this cancellation policy."

Tentative schedule as of 1/5/12
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Registration
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.	Synergy: Alternatives for Associations Speaker: Jerry Matthews There are often compelling business reasons for Associations to consider joining forces with other Associations to create not just a larger entity, but also a more effective one for the members. The challenges of the recession have forced Associations to craft new ways to do business, not for just economic reasons. This presentation focuses on different structures, options, and methods to combine strengths of separate Associations. Included are five issues, rarely addressed, that kill unification efforts. Developed from actual events, the presentation covers emerging concepts in this changed environment, and includes recent examples.
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.	3-hour Mandatory Agency Course Speaker: Michael Lafayette
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	Property Managers Council
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	Time to Sign - Why, When, and How to Sign the Buyer Agreement Speaker: Donna Austin, ABR, ABRM, GRI, SRES Pending 1 Hour Real Estate Agency
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Information Management Committee Risk Management Committee Professional Development Committee Joint Public Policy Committee /Bill Review Subcommittee
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Commercial Council
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	AE Council
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Media & Spokesperson Training ticket required $59 (limited seating, lunch is not included) Speaker: Ron Phipps, Past NAR President
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Virginia Manager’s Council Appraisal Alliance
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Time to Sign - Why, When, and How to Sign the Buyer Agreement Speaker: Donna Austin, ABR, ABRM, GRI, SRES Pending 1 Hour Real Estate Agency
2:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.	VAR Board of Directors
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	3-hour Mandatory Agency Course Speaker: Michael Lafayette
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Virginia Manager's Council - Broker Education Speakers: FBI Special Agent Dave Swanson and HUD Special Agent Rob Hladik Picture this: Your Real Estate Office in 2012. There's a knock at your door......2 men dressed in suits flash their badges....One says FBI; the other HUD. They ask for the Managing Broker! As the Broker, what is going through your mind? What happens next? Join FBI Special Agent Dave Swanson and HUD Special Agent Rob Hladik as they share first-hand stories of their real estate fraud investigations. Learn how to spot the signs in your own companies -- before there's a knock at your door.
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Relocation Council
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Virginia Leadership Academy (VLA) Alumni
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	VAR Past President's Forum
4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	VREEF Trustees
6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.	Hall of Fame/Awards Reception
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.	Registration
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	Legislative Briefing at the Omni Meet with VAR lobbyists to get up to speed on the most current legislative issues affecting Realtors®.
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	One-on-One Hill Visits Join your colleagues and let your legislators know Realtors^® like you are paying attention to the decisions they make. Attend Day on the Hill to advocate directly for your business during the General Assembly.
12:00p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	RPAC/Day on the Hill Lunch (LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE) Speaker: David Stevens, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mortgage Bankers Association
2:15p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	NEW! Regional Housing Trends Caucuses Hear quick stats of your region- home sales update, median pricing, employment numbers and your economic drivers. Take this time to discuss how these factors affect your day to day. What are your biggest challenges and what are the most positive influences on your business?
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	NEW! Housing Policy Forum Moderator: Ken Harney This esteemed panel will provide an overview of the current state of the housingeconomy as well as possible policy and structural solutions for returning housing markets to health. Panelists will discuss specific challenges within the housing market including: “underwater” mortgages and loss of equity, weak housing demand despite low prices, foreclosures, and the role of government in the housing market. Are you adapting to your region’s landscape? What needs to be accomplished to meet these challenges and what is your role in a more prosperous 2012? • Moderator: Ken Harney, Award-Winning Writer of Nationally Syndicated “The Nation’s Housing” • David Stevens, President & CEO, Mortgage Bankers Association • Ron Phipps, 2011 NAR President • Dr. Anthony B. Sanders, Distinguished Professor of Real Estate Finance and Senior Scholar, The Mercatus Center, George Mason University
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	NAR Directors
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.	Legislative Reception at the Jefferson Nothing beats face-to-face conversations when it comes to making your point with legislators. After Day on the Hill, continue the conversation with policy makers and colleagues at the Legislative Reception at the Jefferson Hotel.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
7:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Registration
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	WCR Chapter
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.	FPC Training
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	CRS Member Breakfast (being held off-site at the Bull& Bear) Ticketed
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Local Presidents Forum
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Local Presidents Elect Forum
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Local Treasurers Forum
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	CRS Chapter BOD Meeting (to be held at the Bull & Bear Club following the breakfast)
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	BOD/Delegate Body Social
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.	Delegate Body Meeting