February 15, 2022

Dear REALTOR® Member,

I wanted to reach out to our leaders and most dedicated volunteers. I’ve regularly heard the NAR Legislative Meetings (formerly Midyear) are one of your favorite industry gatherings and that you’ve sorely missed this event being in person. Good news: we’re back on!

Registration opens TOMORROW, Feb. 16. Mark your calendar right now and plan to register ASAP on the 16th because as usual, choice hotels will go quickly. There are several BIG CHANGES to this year’s event that you’ll need to know about BEFORE you register and make travel arrangements. That info is at the bottom of this email.

But first…

IAR RECEPTION

I’m excited to share during this Black History Month that IAR has secured exclusive access to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Indiana REALTORS® attending the NAR Legislative Meetings. We’ll gather here for a reception, dinner, and access to all exhibits either on your own or by docent-led tour. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 4 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET. There are many transportation options in the D.C. area, but IAR will arrange bus travel to the museum from a strategic location (or two) closer to the date.

The following is from the museum’s website (link above), which I hope you’ll visit and spend some time on:

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 40,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

Another item I hope you’ll spend some time with is NAR’s recently updated “Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America”. The REALTOR® organization is dedicated to advancing homeownership. We do so because homeownership is a way for families to build wealth. Owning a home is associated with better educational performance in children, higher participation in civic and volunteering activities, better health care outcomes, and lower crime rates in communities. Yet, the research report above tells us that the homeownership rate for Black Americans is nearly 30 percentage points lower than White Americans. The homeownership rate for Hispanic and Asian Americans also lags. Our Code of Ethics demand we step up our collective and individual efforts to ensure all qualified buyers have the same opportunity to pursue homeownership. So, as we travel to visit with our members of Congress and their staff, and advocate for homeownership, let’s take some time to not only network, but also learn together and reaffirm our commitment to serving all Hoosiers.

Now, back to the info you’ll need to know about BEFORE you register and make travel arrangements…

NAR Legislative Meetings Changes/Action Items

There’s a new location: National Harbor, MD. If you’re a longtime attendee, you can’t travel on autopilot this year!

Hotels are spread out even more so this year. Some are near the convention center in MD, some are in D.C., and some are in VA. Check the schedule, get with your travel partners, and decide where you should stay before your register.

You will need to vote an absentee ballot in the primary election. That’s because the meetings are early: May 1-6. Indiana’s primary election day is Tuesday, May 3.

Congress will not be in session. This means Hill visits will look different and those who participate will likely meet with staff. That’s ok and part of relationship-building. The IAR gathering at the National Museum of African American History and Culture will allow us to invite members of Congress who are in town and their staff to a single event – at a meaningful location – with the entire delegation of Indiana REALTORS®!