Real Estate Tutoring Blog

At its annual conference recently, OREA presented the Toronto Real Estate Board with its distinguished Volunteerism Award. Presented on an annual basis, the award recognizes outstanding achievement in such areas as volunteer recruitment, recognition and training.

“At the beginning of my term I made a commitment to involve more members in the many initiatives that TREB undertakes,” says TREB president Maureen O’Neill. “We simply couldn’t ask for better validation of these efforts than the OREA Volunteerism Award.”

TREB’s efforts to engage more members began with a communications audit that was undertaken in 2006. As a result of this study, a revamp of the communications portal on TorontoMLS is now underway, guided by input from a number of member focus groups. Member input has been sought in several other areas as well, such as TREB’s advertising, MLS rules and the development of commercial tools and content. It also resulted in more than 100 enhancements to the TorontoMLS system in 2008, the most significant of which was undertaken to safeguard MLS data.

Members have also been recruited to serve on new task forces such as the Green Task Force, whose work resulted in a LEED certification audit of the TREB building, an enhanced recycling program and four courses added to TREB’s slate of sessions offered to members on environmental topics.

Another task force was focused Quality of Life initiatives. As a result of its work, TREB made a long-term commitment to the Feeding Our Future children’s breakfast program operated in conjunction with the Toronto District School Board. Future initiatives were explored during a two-day Quality of Life Symposium at which TREB hosted representatives from associations and boards across Canada.

Holiday food and toy drives and the TREB/ThinkFood partnership, which since 2002 has resulted in 4,500 pounds of food donated to local food banks in exchange for empty ink jet cartridges, are some of the other ways members have pitched in.

To thank its volunteers, TREB hosts an annual luncheon for its committee and task force members. They are also entitled to attend a complimentary education seminar offered at TREB worth up to $100. As well, there are a number of different TREB awards to recognize those who give tirelessly. Recruitment is now underway for volunteers to serve during the 2009/2010 term.

Source: REM Online