Global Committee

Mission Statement: To promote global education, partnering and networking to help members increase awareness, knowledge, and success in the global real estate arena.

2017 Committee Initiatives:

1. Profitability
2. Partnership
3. Public Affairs

Strategic Objectives:

1. Provide Education for ABoR members on global topics.
2. Provide networking opportunities for ABoR members.
3. Partner with entities and individuals who have common goals, such as immigration attorneys, title companies, and chambers of commerce.

Scope:

1. Define global business as those including transactions with foreign nationals, immigrant clients, buyers with extended family abroad, employees of foreign corporations, multilingual families, and other groups.
2. Develop and recommend educational programming and networking opportunities with an International focus and in the realm of International market activity in 2017
3. Work with existing affiliate members, as well as, solicit potential affiliates from partnering organizations such as immigration attorneys, title companies, lenders specializing in loans to foreign nationals, translation organizations, and globally minded businesses to offer more resources to Realtor® members.
4. Each programmatic committee will coordinate an educational forum, a member networking event focused on topics of interest pertinent to the committee and provide an education session during Realty Round Up, annually.
5. The International committee will consist of no more than 15 members.
6. Members will represent a mixture of cultural and linguistic expertise.
7. The term will be one year.

Board Committee Principles:

Board committees, when used, will be assigned so as to minimally interfere with the wholeness of the board’s job and so as never to interfere with delegation from board to CEO.

1. Board committees are to help the board do its job.  Committees ordinarily will assist the board by preparing policy alternatives and implications for board deliberation. Board committees are not to be created by the board to advise staff.
2. Board committees may not speak or act for the board except when formally given such authority for specific and time‑limited purposes. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated in order not to conflict with authority delegated to the chief executive.
3. Board committees cannot exercise authority over staff. Because the chief executive works for the full board, the CEO will not be required to obtain approval of a board committee before an executive action. In keeping with the board’s broader focus, board committees will normally not have direct dealings with current staff operations.
4. Board committees are to avoid over‑identification with organizational parts rather than the whole. Therefore, a board committee which has helped the board create policy on some topic will not be used to monitor organizational performance on that same subject.
5. This policy applies only to committees which are formed by board action, whether or not the committees include non‑board members. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the chief executive.

Committee Guidelines:

1. The committee must follow the policies and values of the organization.
2. The committee members must be REALTOR® member of the Austin Board of REALTORS®.
3. Committee Chair may serve as Past Chair the following year for consistency.
4. The committee cannot conduct business without a quorum of committee members present (more than 50%).
5. Members are required to attend all meetings, to arrive on time and stay for the duration of meetings. If a situation requires their departure, the member will be recorded as absent if not in attendance for at least ¾ of the meeting.
6. The chair is required to drop a volunteer committee member after 2 absences from regularly scheduled meetings. This provision may be waived by super majority ¾ vote.
7. All members subject to censure or removal at the direction of the Board of Directors, under the Volunteer Commitment Agreement.
8. The Committee, with a super majority ¾ vote, may censure or remove members of the Committee. Any discussion or action of censuring should be conducted during a “closed meeting.”
9. The Committee Chair has the authority to create a subcommittee or task force with approval by the Board of Directors
10. The Committee Chair may recommend that the task force or Subcommittee be dissolved once it is determined that the project is complete. This action must be approved by the BOD under the minutes of the Committee.
11. That subcommittees may continue into subsequent years but the leadership for that subcommittee (i.e. Chair) may shift (Vice Chair would become Chair). However, should Vice Chair not desire the position, such position will be appointed by the Committee Chair.
12. The committee may consult with ABoR legal counsel when appropriate
13. One of the duties of a Committee member arising from their fiduciary duty to the association is the duty of loyalty.  One aspect of this duty expects Committee members to keep confidential issues confidential.  Committee members will have access to information, that if revealed to outsiders, could be damaging or sensitive to other members or staff, harmful to the best interests of the organization, or even create legal liability.  Information provided to the committee may concern personnel, financial, contractual, membership or legal matters.  It will often be confidential and is intended for use in decision making and governance.  Committee members agree that such information shall be held in the strictest of confidence and shall not be divulged to any outside party, including other members, without authorization of the board President or CEO.  This confidentiality agreement survives the member’s service on the committee.
14. Electronic Votes:

For electronic considerations, the Board of Directors require a valid process be followed for electronic votes.

• All communication/votes in reference to an electronic vote shall be cc’d to all
  Committee Members
• Each Committee Member shall cast their vote by 5:00 pm the day after distribution of the electronic consideration
• No response shall be counted as an “abstention”
• The day following the completion of an electronic vote, staff or Committee Chair shall report the roll call vote to all Committee Members
• All Committee Members shall confirm their vote by end of day when the roll call vote is offered
• If a Committee Member does not confirm his/her vote, the Committee Members vote shall be considered correct.
• No Committee or Association Action shall be taken until the entire vote is confirmed.

Global Committee Business Development Plan
Austin Board of REALTORS®
2015-2017

More than $104 billion worth of residential real estate was sold to foreign and immigrant buyers in 2014, resulting in over $5 billion in commissions for Realtors®. During this time period, nearly 30% of U.S. REALTORS®reported involvement in international transactions, and this number is poised to grow as an increasing percentage of real estate professionals adopt NAR’s philosophy that global business begins at the local level. NAR subscribes to a broad definition of global business, encompassing bilingual-bicultural individuals, employees of foreign companies, Americans seeking to buy property abroad, foreign clients seeking a second home in the United States, and clients with extended family overseas.

Successful international business committees and their parent associations act as educational outlets and as REALTOR® driven community groups, operating under the philosophy that growth in REALTOR® business spurs the community’s economic development. A strong international business committee will foster and create multicultural business opportunities by forging relationships among REALTORS®, cultural associations, attorneys, tax professionals and other local business entities that are involved with global business and clients.

The Austin Board of REALTORS® aims to create a strong value proposition for its many members who engage in international transactions.
The three areas of concentration that the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) may focus on to utilize and expand its global initiatives are Education, Partnering and Networking. These are defined below:

• Education: Education is a cornerstone to many successful programs that ABoR offers to its members. Providing ABoR members with an opportunity for education regarding global topics and issues is a key component of the value that the International Committee will provide to the ABoR membership. Offering frequent information on international topics to members and offering information regarding the value of ABoR to foreign investors.
• Partnering: Forming strategic alliances and providing information to ABoR members on local non-realtor, industry related businesses to provide support for members’ international transactions and helping to provide a seamless, coordinated process. Identify title companies, immigration and tax attorneys, lenders, technology companies, translators and other relevant business entities equipped to handle international transactions. Helping Austin area REALTORS® form a team to enable successful international closings. Offer to engage in joint programing.
• Networking: Establishing contact with other cultural/social groups tied to the countries and regions from which investment in the Austin Area originates. Sending a representative from ABoR to speak at their meetings and inviting their representatives to join ABoR’s business council meetings. Joining forces in the economic development of greater Austin. Reaching out to establish a relationship with local chambers of commerce, specifically the Austin Chamber of Commerce and those representing foreign nationalities and groups.

Year One, 2015

• Create an international web page: http://www.AboR.com/International, with AboR staff assistance.
• Offer courses to ABoR members on global topics as feasible.
• Solicit sponsorships from partnering organizations such as immigration attorneys, title companies, lenders specializing in loans to foreign nationals, translation organizations, and globally minded businesses.
• Plan an International Day, including a silent auction of international goods, with proceeds benefitting TREPAC.
• Partner with institutions of higher learning in the Austin area (U.T., St. Edwards) regarding housing for international students.
• Work with NAR to develop a three year business plan for the committee.
• Consider sending a survey to members to ascertain their level of participation and interest in international transactions.
• Direct members to follow NAR’s Global web, Facebook and LinkedIn sites on our webpage, as well as Global Real Estate News.

Year Two, 2016

• Continue to develop goals proposed in 2015.
• Develop a separate MLS area for foreign listings.
• Determine the feasibility of offering Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) courses, and continue to offer courses on other pertinent global subjects, partnering with TAR as appropriate.
• Utilize the International page of the ABoR website to offer opportunities regarding education, networking, partnering and international activities.
• Direct members to follow NAR’s Global web, Facebook and LinkedIn sites on our webpage, as well as Global Real Estate News.
• Solicit sponsorships from partnering organizations such as immigration attorneys, title companies, lenders specializing in loans to foreign nationals, translation organizations, and globally minded businesses.
• Continue member survey.
• Network with international business in Austin, foreign chambers of commerce, consulates, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and developers to increase international opportunities and awareness. Report back to the committee.
• Determine opportunities for joint ventures with community groups.
• Offer globally themed networking opportunities featuring sporting or other activities to promote awareness for ABoR among the international community, such as an International Day for ABoR members.
• Partner with the Austin Chamber of Commerce on their trade missions and on the Sister Cities program.
• Apply to become a NAR Ambassador Association to a foreign cooperating association.

Year 3, 2017

• Continue to develop goals proposed in 2016.
• Solicit sponsorships from partnering organizations such as immigration attorneys, title companies, lenders specializing in loans to foreign nationals, translation organizations, and globally minded businesses.
• Set up a system of property tours for international buyers.
• Provide information for foreign buyers regarding our Real Estate system: agency, commission, etc.
• Consider making a video course on aspects of selling Real Estate to foreign nationals, at ABoR AV studios, and sponsored by partners.
• Provide resources to REALTORS® who encounter a “cultural stop” in their transactions: FAQs and a resource list.
• Offer globally themed networking opportunities featuring sporting or other activities to promote awareness for ABoR among the international community, such as an International Day for ABoR members.

Board Committee Principles

Board committees, when used, will be assigned so as to minimally interfere with the wholeness of the board’s job and so as never to interfere with delegation from board to CEO.

1. Board committees are to help the board do its job, not to help the staff do its jobs. Committees ordinarily will assist the board by preparing policy alternatives and implications for board deliberation. Board committees are not to be created by the board to advise staff.
2. Board committees may not speak or act for the board except when formally given such authority for specific and time‑limited purposes. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated in order not to conflict with authority delegated to the chief executive.
3. Board committees cannot exercise authority over staff. Because the chief executive works for the full board, the CEO will not be required to obtain approval of a board committee before an executive action. In keeping with the board’s broader focus, board committees will normally not have direct dealings with current staff operations.
4. Board committees are to avoid over‑identification with organizational parts rather than the whole. Therefore, a board committee which has helped the board create policy on some topic will not be used to monitor organizational performance on that same subject.
5. This policy applies only to committees which are formed by board action, whether or not the committees include non‑board members. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the chief executive.