April 6th - 2003

Why volunteering pays

Why do REALTORS volunteer in organized real estate and what do they get out of it?

Why do REALTORS volunteer in organized real estate and what do they get out of it? Those were two of the questions leadership expert Don Blohowiak posed to the over 400 real estate board leaders, executive officers and committee members at OREA’s Leadership Conference last February.

Blohowiak’s keynote address focused on what makes people volunteer their time for organized real estate, how the leaders in attendance could get more people involved and how they could keep them involved.

The top reasons cited by the audience for volunteering were: giving something back to the profession, networking opportunities, personal and professional growth, staying current with real estate industry issues and knowing that the job is getting done. Many also said the rewards were far greater than the effort they put in.

So why wouldn’t everyone volunteer? One of the main reasons people hesitate to volunteer Blohowiak says is that they are not clear on the actual time commitment involved. It’s a good idea to check out what your local real estate board is involved in and what volunteer opportunities are available.

REALTORS who just want to “try volunteering on for size” should probably start out with a short term commitment either for a local event or task force. Learning opportunities, helping to shape the future of real estate, and playing a role in the changes happening in the business are great reasons to get involved.

A volunteer in real estate for over 20 years, Michael McIntee of Walkerton, Ontario, whole-heartedly agrees that what volunteers get back from the experience is way more than what they give.

Volunteering in organized real estate is something of a tradition with the McIntee family –Michael’s brother Wayne and father Wilfred have also volunteered in various capacities over the years.

McIntee’s philosophy is, “if you are going to be a part of this industry you have to help shape it. Volunteering has helped me to learn more about organized real estate – what governs us, and the reasons behind the issues we face. This business is about constant learning and it’s a natural progression to learn more if you are involved.”

McIntee feels his volunteer work has allowed him to be on the cutting edge of the business – something he may not have experienced otherwise in his small rural community. The other major benefit he cites is friendship, “I’ve made so many friends as a result of volunteering and after 20 years we are still friends sharing similar interests outside of real estate.

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Ontario Real Estate Association

Jean-Adrien Delicano

Manager, Media Relations

JeanAdrienD@orea.com

416-445-9910 ext. 246

Ontario Real Estate Association
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