As this year comes to a close, we can all agree that 2020 has been and will be a year to remember. No one could have predicted the impact the pandemic would have on our lives, our communities, and our industry. Despite all the abrupt changes and challenges that impacted and most certainly changed our personal and professional lives, I continue to be humbled and proud of the resiliency of Greater Bergen REALTORS® and of our communities. Our ambition and commitment to each other and our communities pushed us to be the best REALTOR® association in the country, even in the darkest days.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we can come together and lift each other even in the worst of times. With the unwavering support we received from the National Association of REALTORS® and New Jersey REALTORS®, fellow members across the nation were able to take advantage of unemployment benefits – which was a first and a HUGE win for the real estate industry along with a number of REALTOR® wins that could not have happened if it were not for the collective body's efforts down in Washington D.C., and in Trenton.
With the pandemic forcing businesses to come to a screeching halt, we quickly pivoted to online zoom webinars and meetings – ensuring member confidence and professionalism during these times of uncertainty. Some of GBR’s accomplishments this year include the purchase of the new Saddle Brook building that will open its doors approximately June of 2021; the Greater Bergen Realtors® Care Foundation with the help of NJMLS awarded over $285K in Grants to 41 charitable organizations across Northern New Jersey. The GBR RPAC committee raised over $160,000 that will continue to allow us to have a seat at the table in Trenton and in D.C.
GBR celebrated culture and inclusion, along with AREAA, NAHREP, and other organizations by collaborating and putting together educational networking events that included: The Black History Month Celebration, Lunar New Year, and last but certainly not least, Fiesta Latina! GBR also held a Virtual Hispanic heritage month celebration. We also launched the new Greater Bergen Realtors website with a fresh look and feel. Like many organizations, we hosted our two general membership meetings virtually for the first time ever. This year, we had the pleasure of having two well-renowned names in the real estate industry as our keynote speakers; Dr. Lawrence Yun and motivational speaker Leigh Brown. Both speakers shared a wealth of information with our members on the current economy and its impact in the real estate industry and understanding the power of the letter R, and the importance of investing in ourselves. I am also proud to report that we are now at over 8,000 members and growing!
We had 61 virtual CE classes, with over 1,900 agents in attendance, 7 NAR Designations with over 140 agents, and over 30 virtual educational webinars with over 1700 agents in attendance. I am proud to see that not only were we as an association able to continue to provide top educational opportunities for our members but also that many took advantage of this benefit. Our Community Service and YPN Committee worked with different local organizations and made several monetary and other forms of donations to help members of the community who were most in need.
For the first time ever, we were part of an inbound/outbound trade mission with Greater Tampa REALTORS® based out of Florida and the Dominican Republic. We wrapped up the year with our Global Business Council being recognized with the NAR 2020 Diamond Global Achievements award!
We accomplished a lot, but our job is far from being done. I look forward to the incoming year and the leadership to see what new initiatives and accomplishments we achieve. We will continue to work with other organizations and build partnerships that bring about exceptional value and growth for our members. I would be remiss not to extend my utmost gratitude to our CEO, COO, association staff, committee members and leadership, our exceptional Executive Committee and Board of Directors. I would like to personally thank each one for all their hard work, especially during this climate.
As we head into the holiday season, I encourage everyone to spend time with his or her families, be thankful for all that we have, and continue to practice social distancing for the health and safety of all. It has been an honor to serve as your 2020 President! Rest assured that we will continue to be here to better serve you. We look forward to a healthy & prosperous 2021.
Season Greetings!