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OTHER COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, & WORK GROUPS
VAR Leadership
VAR is your association. Your leaders are here to do what's right for your profession and your industry.
IN THIS SECTION:
VAR's governance structure is comprised of the following:
Delegate Body = 88
The Delegate Body determines the broad strategic outcomes VAR aims to effect.
- Delegates are appointed by local associations (3 delegates per local association plus one appointed by at-large members of VAR)
- Amends Bylaws, approves Strategic Plan, elects Board of Directors and NAR Directors
- Quorum requirement is at least 50% of VAR membership represented and at least 50% of the 29 local associations represented
Board of Directors = 34
The Board of Directors establishes objectives for accomplishing strategic outcomes, assigns to Standing Committees, authorizes funding, and monitors/measures success.
- Oversees organizational operation
- Administers Bylaws and Strategic Plan; approves annual program/budget (including dues amount); approves legislative package; recommends strategic direction/objectives; elects officers; approves VAR policies and procedures
- Responsible for establishment and management of various designated funds
| Leadership Team = 6 | At-Large Seats = 27 | Funds of the Association |
|
| General Operating Fund |
| Operational Reserve Fund | ||
| Capital Replacement Fund | ||
| Local Association Liaison = 1 | Legal Action Fund | |
| Note: Association Officers are elected from and by the Board of Directors | Issues Mobilization Fund | |
| Strategic Reserves Fund |
Standing Committees (20 members each)/Specialty Groups
Standing Committees create work plans and implement programs, etc. for accomplishing objectives that support overall strategic goals. Specialty groups serve the business needs of members who specialize in specific areas of real estate practice.
- Empowered to accomplish strategic objectives by the Board of Directors, within approved budget and policy framework
- Standing committees may establish ad hoc working groups, task forces, etc. to accomplish specific tasks and responsibilities
Information Management | Risk Management | Professional Development | Public Policy | Specialty Groups |
| Responsible for VAR publications and communications; home sales reports and research; public relations; member services; marketing/event promotion; VAR Web site; member recognition; and outreach. | Oversees professional standards curriculum and training; legal action; the VAR Legal Hotline; mediation and arbitration; and VAR's standard forms. Provides training on Code of Ethics precepts and enforcement procedures, and trains ethics instructors. | Responsible for the oversight of professional development, including Virginia REALTOR® Institute annual Legislative and Education Conference and fall Convention; Broker/Manager Conferences; Instructor Training workshops; and other training. | Oversees legislative efforts, including lobbying, grassroots, and regulatory actions. Provides legislative analysis and recommends policy. Monitors Virginia Real Estate Board and Real Estate Appraiser Board. | Appraisal Alliance |
| Commercial Alliance | ||||
Property Management Council | ||||
| Relocation Council | ||||
| Virginia Managers Council |
Certain other groups are recognized in VAR policy statements including the Investment Management Committee, Budget Committee, VREEF Trustees, RPAC Trustees, Leadership Academy Trustees, and Local Association Executive Council. These generally report to the Board of Directors (with the exception of the RPAC Trustees). Still other working groups may be appointed from time to time by the president to address/accomplish specific strategic objectives that may lie outside the purview of a specific Committee.
These bodies are open to all members at large and specifically called for in VAR's bylaws.
- Board of Directors: Oversees organizational operation, administers Bylaws and Strategic Plan, approves annual program/budget (including dues amount); approves legislative package; recommends strategic direction/objectives; elects officers; approves VAR policies and procedures. Responsible for establishment and management of various designated funds.
- Information Management Committee: Oversees Commonwealth magazine and other VAR communications; member research and surveys; member services (discount programs); marketing and event promotion; technology and the VAR Web sites; and new member outreach.
- Professional Development Committee: Responsible for oversight of professional development, including Virginia REALTOR® Institute (GRI), annual Legislative and Education Conference and fall Convention, Instructor Training workshops, and other training.
- Public Policy Committee: Responsible for adding, altering, or eliminating VAR’s standing positions as listed in the Legislative Package; accepting, changing or rejecting bills written by VAR for introduction in the General Assembly session; approving the bills which are used for scoring purposes in the RPAC Trustees’ Scorecard; approving Issues Mobilization Fund requests; and passing an annual Law & Policy budget.
- Risk Management Committee: Oversees professional standards curriculum and training, legal action, the VAR Legal Hotline, mediation, ethics and arbitration, and VAR's standard forms. Provides training on Code of Ethics precepts and enforcement procedures, and trains ethics instructors.
OTHER COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, & WORK GROUPS
These are other bodies that accomplish other objectives, but that aren't specifically called for in the VAR bylaws.
- Appraisal Alliance: A special interest group of VAR this group is the business and legislative advocate for Virginia's professional appraisers.
- Bill Review Committee: A subcommittee of the Public Policy Committee, this group convenes every week during the General Assembly session to track, review and determine positions on bills that relate to home ownership and community in Virginia.
- Commercial Council: A special interest group of VAR this group is the business and legislative advocate for Virginia's commercial REALTORS®.
- Property Management Committee: A special interest group of VAR this group is the business and legislative advocate for Virginia's Property Managers.
- Relocation Council: A special interest group of VAR this group is the business advocate for Virginia relocation professionals.
- Standard Forms Working Group: Keeps VAR forms in compliance with Virginia laws and regulations and in line with the highest industry standards. The Standard Forms Working Group also creates new forms to respond to changing business conditions and new legislative and regulatory requirements.
- Virginia Managers Council: The Virginia Managers Council is a professional organization that serves real estate brokerage managers and those people interested in the enhancement of real estate brokerage management and the real estate profession in general.
- Virginia Real Estate Education Foundation Trustees: VREEF Trustees work to support and promote real estate knowledge and real property rights by administering and disbursing Foundation funds for quality educational services and programs for the public and real estate profession.
- Virginia Realtors® Leadership Academy Trustees
HOW DO I BECOME A VAR OFFICER?
VAR Officer Candidate Procedures
- Board of Directors will elect Treasurer, Vice President and President Elect (and President if the President-Elect is unable or unwilling to move up) at its summer meeting.
- A candidate for election as an Association officer must be a current member of the Board of Directors or shall have served as a Board of Directors member within the most recent five years. President, President-elect and Vice President may not serve successive terms/years. Treasurer position will be a two-year term and the Treasurer may serve for no more than two full consecutive terms.
- Board of Directors members interested in Office must complete the Candidate Information Form. The Candidate Information Form must be submitted to the CEO thirty (30) days prior to the election meeting. The CEO shall provide copies of the Form to all Board of Directors members at least ten (10) days before the election meeting..
- One member of the Leadership Team will call each candidate individually to respond to any questions and ensure that the candidates fully understand the responsibilities of the respective position.
- At the summer Board of Directors meeting, each candidate will have the opportunity to speak for up to 5 minutes and respond to questions from the Board of Directors (while other candidates for that position are NOT in the room).
- By secret ballot, the Board of Directors will elect the Officers. Candidates and current officers (including President) also may vote. Election shall be by majority vote.