2022 GCAR Year in Review
Community Relations
The Committee Relations Committee continued to do great work in 2022.
During the year, Chair Karen Cahill of Howard Hanna and the Community Relations Committee members participated in a Habitat Build in Schenectady, helped clean up the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, organized the Muslim Soup Kitchen Project warehouse as well as cooked a meal to feed residents in Watervliet, and held a silent auction during the GCAR Trade Show to benefit the Bethesda House in Schenectady.
The group collected toiletries as well as pillows and blankets for area shelters, helped with the St. Paul’s fundraiser over the summer, and purchased turkeys for clients of St. John’s/St. Anne’s Outreach Center for Thanksgiving.
The committee adopted two families in need for the holidays, one from the South End Children’s Café in Albany and a family of children with special needs from the Helping Hands Academy in Clifton Park.
This year, through the generous contribution made with your dues, the Community Outreach Fund was able to donate $17,500.00 to deserving organizations in need, including Save the Children and World Central Kitchen for their heroic efforts to help the people in Ukraine.
Legislative Affairs
In the past year, GCAR was on the front lines directly engaging and lobbying local lawmakers on a range of issues. The Committee, chaired by Amanda Blanchard of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, met with newly elected Town of Colonie Supervisor Peter Crummey, State Assembly candidate Alexandra Vellela, and State Senator Michelle Hinchey to discuss local real estate issues.
GCAR turned in substantial numbers once again to NYSAR’s annual lobby day at the State Capitol where they briefed the lawmakers on NYSAR’s 2022 legislative priorities and explained how these key issues affect the real estate business. Committee members met with eight local lawmakers: Senator Michelle Hinchey, Senator James Tedisco, Senator Daphne Jordan, and Representatives Mary Beth Walsh, Phil Steck, Carrie Woerner, John McDonald, and Jake Ashby.
The Committee collaborated on a letter that was sent to members of the Albany Common Council regarding an inclusionary zoning proposal. The Committee also made recommendations to Albany Common Council regarding a rental registry proposal.
Additionally, Committee members worked with Albany County Legislature on a resolution to recognize April as Fair Housing Month.
RPAC
Chaired by Judy Kaiser of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the GCAR RPAC raised $80,575 reflecting 103 percent of our 2022 fundraising goal of $77,425. In terms of participation, we saw a 17 percent increase over 2021. 926 members invested in RPAC, representing 24 percent of the membership. The 2022 participation goal was 27 percent.
The GCAR RPAC Committee hosted several events in 2022 including a bowling tournament, an outing to a baseball game, and the Annual Trade Show VIP lounge.
GCAR Trade Show
On October 12, the GCAR Trade how brought loyal GCAR affiliates and almost 300 REALTOR® members together at the Crowne Plaza/Desmond Hotel. Vendor feedback has been extremely positive due to the large number of leads the show generated for them.
Education
GCAR’s Real Estate Professional Institute offered 352 hours of free continuing education to GCAR members. The curriculum included nearly 100 classes on a wide variety of topics.
GCAR partnered with the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® and the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® to hold the first implicit bias and cultural competency classes in New York State in April 2022.
The Broker licensing course was held in February and March, passing all 28 agents to become new brokers.
16 new courses were created by GCAR, approved by the Department of State, and held throughout the year including, three implicit bias classes and three cultural competency classes. Mediation training was also offered with Barbara Fenster in September.
The 2022 GCAR Education Committee was Chaired by Maria Connally of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
