MARCH 11, 2010 ISSUE
Association of Realtors Give Back and Recognize Professional Accomplishments
Avery Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Terry Woodruff (second from left) accepts a check for $6,000 from the High Country Association of Realtors. Also representing Avery’s Habitat are Brian Yaffe (far left), fund development director, and Melanie Burgin (right of Woodruff), office manager/programs director. Realtor leaders (from left to right) Patrick Morgan, Hope Harvey and Carole Cox support the High Country Association of Realtor’s commitment to local communities.
Almost 200 area real estate professionals gathered at the Broyhill Inn in Boone on February 25 in a general membership meeting of the High Country Association of Realtors. President Hope Harvey emphasized the association’s more than $26,700 in donations to the community in 2009, which included $6,000 for Habitat for Humanity in Watauga and Avery counties, $6,000 for scholarships for Watauga and Avery county students, $5,000 for The Hunger and Health Coalition, $3,500 for Avery County’s RAM Ministry, $2,000 for the Avery County YO Program, $500 for High Country Hospice, $625 for Hospitality House of Boone, $500 for the humane societies of Watauga and Avery counties, $100 for the American Red Cross, $528.36 for Operation Christmas Child, $562.12 for holiday events at area nursing homes and $1,1413.50 in contributions to members.
“Giving back to our Avery and Watauga communities is an important mission of this association,” said Harvey. “I’m also proud that our national association gave $500,000 to the Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund, since $80 of each due paid to us goes to the National Association of Realtors. We are making a positive difference.”
Patrick Morgan demonstrated that when he handed a check for $6,000 to Avery Habitat for Humanity. Of the total, $4,000 came from the High Country Association of Realtors and $2,000 came from Homes 4 N.C. of the N.C. Association of Realtors. Terry Woodruff, executive director/construction coordinator for Avery’s Habitat, accepted the check and said the group is currently building its 28th home. He said seven families are waiting on homes, and Woodruff invited volunteers to help during workdays on construction.
At the meeting, Morgan was recognized as the 2009 Realtor of the Year by last year’s recipient, Emily Bish. She said Morgan’s leadership on both the local and state levels has enabled the groups to become technologically competitive and forward moving.
Professional recognition then shifted to education when Sue Glenn recognized Zack Tate of Blowing Rock for completing 90 classroom hours to earn his Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. Realtors with a GRI designation are highly trained in many areas of real estate to better serve and protect their clients.
For more information about the High County Association of Realtors, click to www.highcountryrealtors.org. The association is composed of members in Watauga and Avery counties and the surrounding area who maintain a marketplace where buyers and sellers can safely transfer property under the guidance of a professional held to standards of excellence.
Officers of the group include: Hope Harvey, president; Charlie Burleson, president-elect; Dara Barnes, secretary; Robert Flanigan, treasurer; and Carole Cox, past president. Local directors include Jason Eldreth, Fred Blair, Debbie Clark, Carol Sommer-Isquith, Jerry Starnes and Jesse Hicks. State directors include John Volpe and Patrick Morgan. Marc White is MLS chair. Laurie Phillips serves as executive officer, and G. Redmond Dill is the association’s attorney.
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