The Regional Lockbox Consortium has been incorporated, and a board of directors has been seated including our own Karol Hess, HCAR Secretary and Re/Max Advantage REALTOR^® . The regional group heard presentations by SUPRA and SentriLock recently. In the coming months, the new board will select a vendor to service over 46,000 REALTORS^® in the region that includes Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia. The Southern Maryland and Pen-Mar REALTOR^® associations are currently converting to the SentriLock product. If you are unfamiliar with SentriLock, please visit their booth at the upcoming Trade Show at the NAR Mid-Year Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Join your colleagues from across the state to identify services, develop programs and policies that will benefit the 35,000 REALTOR^® members. Your participation will help strengthen your professional organization and provide a superb networking opportunity to enhance your business reputation. Rookies are welcome! Simply go to www.mdrealtor.org and log in to view and complete the "Volunteer Form." Complete the form and submit. The deadline to sign up is May 21, 2007. Some committees require previous experience and may be limited to broker and broker representatives. You may join up to three committees. The committee year is from October 2007 through September 2008. The selection process will take place in early summer and committee membership invitations will be sent. All current committee members must complete a form to be considered for the 2007/08 committees. To view the mission statements for each of the committees start at page 8 of the MAR Leadership Directory.

Please visit the MAR website to obtain more detailed information about the following award applications and deadlines: REALTOR^® of the Year, Rookie REALTOR^® of the Year, Community Service, and the CARE Award. Click here for complete awards information and for application forms. Submit Award applications to HCAR one week in advance of the MAR deadline in order to be considered for the Howard County annual awards. Would you like to nominate someone else for REALTOR^® or Rookie of the Year? Please submit those nominations to staff@hcar.org by Friday, May 18.

Congratulations to Jim Hyatt on his graduation from the MAR Leadership Academy on Thursday, April 19th. The MAR Leadership Academy is conducted over 7 months and stresses the value of professional and personal commitment to professional, charitable, and civic endeavors. Curriculum is designed around the development of leadership skills, communications, strategic planning, legislative and government affairs, and community involvement.

2007 MAR President Ilene Kessler states, "This program is near to my heart. I shared the vision of 2001 President Adam D. Cockey, Jr. and served as the first chairman of the inaugural Leadership Academy committee, which designed this program. The Association is so very proud of the 129 graduates beginning with its first graduating class in 2001." Application for the upcoming Leadership Academy typically opens in early July and is due August 1 of each year. When available, the application and deadline for Leadership Academy 2008 will be announced on the HCAR Events Calendar.

HCAR invites our members to attend these legislative meetings and the Midyear Trade Expo which brings over 200 major suppliers of the real estate industry to Washington, D.C. You'll find a complete showroom of valuable products from PDAs and sales tools to MLS providers, time management software, and more! From May 16-18, you will have the opportunity to meet with industry experts, ask questions, and make product comparisons. Plus find the newest tools that are revolutionizing the real estate industry at the New Product Showcase. Don't miss your opportunity to test-drive the latest mobile, home, and office technology. REALTORS^® can attend the Trade Expo FREE of charge on any of three convenient days. For full schedule and exhibit information, Click Here!

Legislation sponsored by Delegate Michael Vaughn (District 24) passed in the final hours of the 2007 Maryland General Assembly. It requires new home builders to use real estate licensees to sell new homes, although the builder/owner will not be required to be personally licensed. The Governor has signed the legislation and the new law will take effect October 1, 2007. For more information call Bill Castelli, Mark Feinroth or Susan Mitchell of MAR at 800-638-6425.