About Our Committees
The association serves our members through the direction of our board and committees. For a more detailed description of each committee’s composition and responsibilities, please see OBAR Policy C.
**denotes a committee with restrictions/requirements
Community Partner Council
Affiliate Council Committee Details
Open to all, led by the chair and vice chair. The chair or designee serves as a representative to other OBAR committees as required. Meets as needed.
- Review existing and potential services provided by OBAR for affiliates.
- Identifies and helps implement new and improved ways to promote REALTOR® awareness of existing affiliates and services they provide.
- Help coordinate affiliate participation in OBAR activities.
- Plan and promote professional networking opportunities for OBAR members.
Property Management Council
Property Management Council Committee Details
Provide a forum for educating property managers on all community and local issues which affect vacation rental and long-term property management.
- Open to all, led by the Property Management Director and a vice chair.
- The Property Management Director or designee serves as a representative on other OBAR committees as required. Meets monthly, excluding May-Aug.
Education
Education Committee Details
Provides ongoing, quality educational programs for the membership within the budget
- Open to all, led by the education chair and vice chair. Must include representatives from Property Management and the MLS Committee. A quorum of three is required. Meets monthly or as needed. Restrictions: The chair or vice chair may not be an instructor under contract by OBAR.
- Provide a variety of continuing education (CE) course content offerings and quality instructors to meet and maintain the member’s educational needs, consistency, and prominence of the educational opportunities.
- Review and provide training opportunities for REALTOR® Certifications and Designations.
- Review and work within the CE budgets provided by staff, on both projected income and expenses. Proposed expenses over budgeted expense amounts must be approved in advance by the Finance & Budget Committee.
- Explore and identify non-CE opportunities in cooperation with YPN and the Property Management Council such as short training seminars, panel education events, and other hot topic presentations. This committee will select and coordinate speakers, topics, events, location, catering, pricing, and all other facets of the event. Staff will be provided to work with committee members to accomplish these tasks.
- Identify and recommend speakers and topics for General Membership Meetings and BIC Breakfasts.
- Survey participants for overall evaluation of course and content.
- Compile a memo of lessons learned, feedback and tips for the following year.
REALTORfest
REALTORfest Committee Details
- Coordinate and produce annual REALTOR®Fest.
- Coordinate all aspects, including venue, speakers, schedule, sponsors, exhibitors, promotions and door prizes.
- Plan and follow a comprehensive budget including revenue and expense projections. This event should be budget neutral or generate revenue.
- The REALTOR®Fest Committee is open to all, led by the REALTOR®Fest Co/Vice chair
- Meets monthly as needed.
Member Services
Member Services Committee Details
- Recruits REALTOR® and affiliate members by promoting the value of membership in OBAR; Reviews and promotes additional member services.
- Open to all, led by the membership/member services chair and vice chair. Must include representatives from the Affiliate Council, Property Management Council, and YPN. A quorum of three is required. Meets monthly or as needed.
- Review new member forms and brochures for accuracy and provide feedback on an annual basis.
- Work with staff to target and evaluate potential new member opportunities.
- Encourage and actively recruit new memberships, both REALTOR® and affiliate.
- Encourage and actively recruit new affiliate and REALTOR® sponsors.
- Coordinate outreach to recent inductees to assess needs and encourage participation in OBAR.
- Recommend, and if approved, develop and create new member programs and services as needed.
- Compile a memo of lessons learned, feedback and tips for the following year.
- Produce and oversee a comprehensive annual membership survey with input from MLS, Education, Property Management, Affiliate Council, YPN and Legislative. Analyze and report the results to the Board of Directors.
- Assess the needs of our members on Hatteras Island and the Northern Beaches and coordinate outreach, events, and communications to each constituency
REALTOR®PAC Fundraising
REALTOR®PAC Fundraising Committee Details
Raise funds for the REALTORS®Political Action Committee.
- Open to all, led by the chair and vice chair. Must include a representative from the Legislative Committee. A quorum of three is required. Meets 1-2 times or as needed.
- Educate membership on the importance of the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (REALTOR®PAC or RPAC), it’s successes, and what it does for REALTORS® and property owners. Recommend new methods to assist with these efforts.
- Fundraise through direct collections, phone banks, and through coordination of any RPAC functions.
- Ensure adherence to state and federal laws regarding PAC funds collection and fundraising.
- Highlight the opportunity for members to receive RPAC recognition by making corporate contributions to the Political Action Fund (PAF).
- Compile a memo of lessons learned, feedback and tips for the following year.
Bowling
Bowling Committee Details
Plan, organize and host a bowling tournament in the winter months including venue, menu, sponsors, team recruitment, volunteers, donations, prizes and promotion plans.
Golf Tournament
Golf Tournament Committee Details
Plan, organize and host the annual golf tournament including venue, menu, sponsors, team recruitment, volunteers, donations, prizes and promotion plans.
Surf Fishing Tournament
Surf Fishing Tournament Committee Details
Plan, organize and host the annual Surf Fishing event including location, schedule, judges, donations, prizes, teams, sponsors, volunteers and promotion plans.
Good Neighbor Award
Good Neighbor Award Committee Details
Identifies and recognizes the good works which REALTOR® members have done in the community.
- Open to all, led by the President or designee. Meets as needed and via email.
- Collect and review stories and information on significant community service performed by REALTORS®.
- Select individuals for recognition on a regular basis, as appropriate (weekly, monthly, biweekly).
- Recommend nominees for the NAR Good Neighbor Award.
Government Affairs**
Government Affairs Committee Details
Reviews national, state, and local public policy issues affecting the real estate industry and members of Outer Banks Association of REALTORS® and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on key issues.
- Chair, vice chair, and ten members in staggered two-year terms. May include no more than two non-REALTOR® members. All OBAR members are encouraged to attend. Meets at least bi-monthly and as needed.
- Foster a proactive relationship with local, state and national legislative leaders to be the leading advocate of the real estate industry, private property rights and the issues that most affect the members’ ability to serve the public with competency, integrity and professionalism as outlined in the OBAR Legislative Position Statement.
- Monitor and lobby local political issues to ensure strong REALTOR® involvement.
- Lobby appropriately as needed on local issues having a negative effect on real estate and property management industry.
- Monitor Planning and Zoning agendas along with meetings of all local governments and the school board.
- Educate the general public on preservation of private property rights and/or OBAR’s and NCAR’s dedication to protect them.
- Encourage REALTOR® members and others to understand the nature and actions of their government as they relate to important political issues and to become informed concerning the records of office holders and candidates for elective office
- Identify candidates for election to local and state offices.
Scholarship**
Scholarship Committee Details
Recommends to the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) candidates to be awarded scholarship from the OBAR Scholarship Fund held by OBCF.
- Chair, vice chair, and 4 to 10 members appointed by the president. The chair will also serve on the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s scholarship workgroup. Higher Attendance Requirements: This committee meets only when needed to determine funding levels, review applications, perform applicant interviews, and make final recommendations. This typically takes only 2 or 3 meetings, all in April of each year. Committee members MUST attend all meetings and should not apply if known timing issues will prevent proper attendance.
- Determine how many scholarships, and in what amounts, will be provided from the OBAR Scholarship Fund. The maximum total annual scholarship funding is $10,000 or the available distribution fund total announced by OBCF, whichever is lesser. (9/2013)
- Review scholarship applications and interview candidates with the goal of providing final recommendations to OBAR staff for submission to OBCF. Only one-time scholarship funding (NOT renewable) may be recommended.
- Abide by given scholarship applicant consideration guidelines (in no order of importance): Financial Need, Academics, Extracurricular and Community Involvement.
- Equal consideration should be given to vocational education applicants in order to promote these fields within our community.
- Committee members are expected to act as representative(s) upon request, to present our scholarship awards to recipients at high school award ceremonies.
Young Professionals Network
Young Professionals Network Committee Details
Helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas: REALTOR® Association, real estate industry, peers, and community.
- YPN meetings and functions are open to all REALTOR® and Affiliate Members of all ages.
- The YPN chair or designee serves as a representative on other OBAR committees as required.
Bylaws & Policy**
Bylaws & Policies Committee Details
Oversees the Bylaws and the OBAR Policy Manuals.
- Chair, vice chair, and four REALTOR® members in staggered two-year terms. Meets as needed.
- Draft, in proper form, revisions or amendments to the Bylaws and/or the Policy Manuals of the Board as directed by the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.
- Ensure that proposed changes to the Bylaws and the Policy Manuals are presented to the Directors and the Membership in accordance with the Bylaws.
- Review during the first quarter of the year, any suggested additions, deletions or changes to the Bylaws or policies, and also immediately after any modification of the NAR Model Bylaws.
- Review current committees, make recommendations for any necessary changes, and keep the manual current
Finance & Budget**
Finance & Budget Committee Details
- Treasurer as chair, the president-elect, and six members in staggered two-year terms. Meets monthly or as needed.
- Restrictions: All committee meetings to be restricted to committee members and appropriate staff unless otherwise permitted by the committee.
- Monitor along with the executive officer and the financial manager yearly income and expenditures.
- Prepare an annual budget in accordance with the process outlined in Section A of the OBAR Policy Manual.
- Ensure compliance with the annual approved budget. Review and disseminate financial reports to the Board.
- Identify and explore opportunities for non-dues revenue. Model a comprehensive business plan for proposed revenue streams for consideration by the Board of Directors
Grievance
Grievance Committee Details
- There will be a standing Committee of at least twelve (12) OBAR Members, in good standing, all of whom shall be REALTOR® members.
- The members of the committee shall be appointed for staggered three (3) year terms. At the completion of a member’s term or Chairship, the member may be appointed to the Professional Standards Committee for a term of three years, subject to completion of mandatory training provided by OBAR or NCAR.
- All Committee Members must attend annual local, NCAR or NAR Professional Standards Training each year by the end of the 2nd quarter of the year to be eligible to serve on the committee.
- Any certified Professional Standards trainer is exempt from this requirement.
Additional details here.
Multiple Listing Services (MLS)**
Multiple Listing Services Committee Details
- Oversees the operation of the MLS and implements the MLS Rules & Regulations under the guidance and direction of the Board of Directors and according to the provisions of the NAR Multiple Listing Rules and Regulations.
- Minimum of nine members (or 1% of membership) to a maximum of twelve (including chair and vice chair) in 3-year terms appointed by the president in accordance with the bylaws. Meets monthly.
- Term Limits: There is a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms per committee member, with a one-year minimum break prior to being eligible to serve again.
- Assist staff in positioning OBAR as the “Voice for Real Estate” on the Outer Banks by releasing market statistics and highlighting real estate trends and issues through press releases and interviews.
- Periodically review the Multiple Listing Rules and Regulations for accuracy and compliance with any laws, rules or guidelines from agencies having authority over the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS®.
- Recommend changes to the Multiple Listing Rules and Regulations for approval by the Board of Directors or membership as appropriate.
- Monitor the participation of members and make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding enforcement of Rules and Regulations.
- Periodically review the adequacy of the MLS and recommend revisions to the Board of Directors.
- Work with MLS service vendors to insure vendor performance according to the contract.
- Establish a service vendor review and selection process to accomplish any necessary contract review or vendor changes at the end of a current contract in an efficient and timely manner.
- The Board of Directors must approve all changes or additions to the MLS Forms or data fields.
Professional Standards
Professional Standards Committee Details
It shall be the duty of this Committee to interpret the Code of Ethics, to consider and recommend appropriate action on inquiries of Member Boards and Board Members concerning enforcement thereof, and to recommend amendments thereto as it deems necessary or advisable.
- There shall be a Professional Standards Committee of at least twenty one (21) OBAR Members, in good standing, of whom at least a majority shall be REALTORS® appointed by the Committee Chair.
- Members of the Professional Standards Committee shall be selected to serve on Hearing Panels as required to hear matters of alleged unethical conduct by OBAR Members or to provide arbitration as requested.
- All Committee Members must attend annual local, NCAR or NAR Professional Standards Training each year by the end of the 2nd quarter of the year to be eligible to serve on a Committee.
- Any certified Professional Standards trainer is exempt from this requirement.
Additional details here.