February 4, 2014 Dear Affiliates: John-Paul M. Mario, ASID Affiliate Chair 2011-Present JohnPaulASID@gmail.com 941-228-9968 As we begin this new year I and the Affiliate Advisory Board are looking forward to working with each one of you as Affiliate Business Partners of the Pinellas REALTOR Organization. We ve ended 2013 bringing a huge impact to this organization through education and major events. We have managed to raise over $7,000 for All Children s Hospital. To date we have given them $19,200. As we begin the year with over 500 members we will continue to bring value to the REALTOR members and to each other. The Affiliate Advisory Board, the Affiliate Mentors, and I will continue to work hard on behalf of the membership. Most important for the success of any organization there must be guidelines and procedures which have been amended for 2014. I welcome any feedback any Affiliate may have that will benefit all the members of this organization. As we begin 2014 let this year s goals include working together and bringing value to all our members, not just Affiliates. Sincerely, John-Paul Michael Mario, ASID Affiliate Chair Classic Design Associates
AFFILIATE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES Established February 20, 2013 Amended May 3, 2013; July 10, 2013; January 1, 2014; February 4, 2014 1. AFFILIATE MENTOR: Within the first 5 business days of becoming an Affiliate Business Partner member, new members will be assigned an Affiliate Mentor that will work with them and help them understand the guidelines and benefits of the Affiliate Program. The mentor will be responsible for teaching the new member the ropes of the Program, help them to understand about building relationships with fellow members, and help them learn about bringing value to REALTOR members. 2. AFFILIATE ORIENTATION: Affiliate members have 60 days from their join date to attend an Affiliate Orientation session. Effective February 2014, orientation is held prior to the second Affiliate Meeting of each month. This orientation is mandatory. 3. NEW MEMBERS MEET WITH BOARD: Affiliate members will be asked to meet with the Affiliate Chair 60 days after their join date. The purpose of this is to make sure the new member is assimilating into the Program and to give feedback to the Board about the Program. 4. BUSINESS CARDS: Affiliates' business cards can be placed on the Affiliate Wall as soon as they are in PRO s membership database and have received the welcome email from Kim Sonefeld (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com). Business cards for the additional Affiliate Walls (Maids and More in St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Harbor Realty in downtown Clearwater) must be given to Affiliate Chair John-Paul Mario in order to be placed at those locations.
5. HOSTING AN EVENT/CLASS AT PRO: Affiliate members interested in hosting or teaching a class at PRO must go through Jan Dean (jdean@tampabayrealtor.com) to schedule it. If you would like other Affiliate members to sponsor your class, Jan Dean will submit that request to the Affiliate Advisory Board via online jotform. The sponsorship opportunity will be presented and filled at an Affiliate meeting. Affiliate members who are hosting or teaching a class may not acquire sponsors outside of this procedure. 6. TEACHING ON THE ROAD TRAINING SESSIONS: Effective April 2014 Affiliate Business Partners will have the opportunity to teach On the Road training sessions at the St. Pete Main Library and the Palm Harbor Library. Interested members must completely fill out and submit the attached form either via email to mpowell@tampabayrealtor.com AND johnpaulasid@gmail.com or by giving it to one of the ladies at PRO s front desk. Forms must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the month you re interested in teaching in. Due to limited availability, submission of application does not guarantee that you ll be chosen to teach a class. If chosen, you will be required to teach two sessions one at the St. Pete Main Library and one at the Palm Harbor Library. If approved, you will be notified via email from Michelle Powell. She will inform you of the dates that you have been selected to teach a session. If you are unable to teach on those dates, a new member will be selected. If chosen and you accept, you must arrive 45 minutes to class start time. No food or beverages will be allowed to be brought into the libraries. No selling of your services or products is permitted. 7. HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE: Affiliate members interested in hosting an Open House at their office must submit that request to the Affiliate Advisory Board by emailing Affiliate Chair John-Paul Mario (johnpaulasid@gmail.com). If the Open House is scheduled, PRO will promote it to the Affiliate membership and provide a mode to RSVP. 8. NEW MEMBER WELCOME (NMW) SPONSORSHIPS: NMW sponsors who choose the $100 Gold sponsorship must be at PRO and have their table set up by 7:15 a.m. on the day of the class. Sponsors who choose the $130 Gold sponsorship must be at PRO and have their table setup by 7:45 a.m. Sponsors must
remove their marketing materials from their table when they leave PRO that day. Only the Affiliate member may represent the company in this sponsorship. 9. PRO CONNECT SOCIAL EVENTS: No hard-selling will be permitted during PRO Connect social events. Affiliate members are to place their business card in the wooden box located on the host's table upon arrival. Should an Affiliate member bring a guest, the guest must be introduced to the evening s host. Blanket passing out of business cards is not permitted. The evening's host must be at the venue with their marketing materials placed on the host's table by 4:45 p.m. PRO will promote that person and their company as the host of evening and that 5 REALTORS will receive a free drink. The host may buy more drinks if they wish, but PRO will not promote that. The host may choose the type of drink that they will purchase for those REALTORS (i.e. beer or wine only, etc.). 5 business cards will be randomly drawn between 5:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and those REALTORS whose cards are drawn will receive the drink. The day following the event the business cards of the REALTORS in attendance will be emailed to all Affiliates who placed their business card in the wooden box. 10. AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT: To be featured in the Affiliate Spotlight, Affiliate members must email Kim Sonefeld (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) the following information: the company's logo, 4 to 5 bullet points about the business (services offered, what sets the company apart from similar companies, etc.), the contact information, and any other images (headshot, before and after photos, etc.). Kim will create a digital presentation that will be displayed on the TV in the Spotlight. Kim will respond to the email containing that information and inform the Affiliate member of the week that they will be featured in the Spotlight. The Affiliate member must bring any marketing materials they want displayed on the table in front of the Spotlight by the Wednesday before their scheduled week. During their week in the Spotlight, their logo and contact information will be featured on PinellasRealtor.org, and also in Monday's PROView Weekly e- newsletter that is sent to all PRO members. If there are no new presentations to be displayed, past presentations will be used. Past presentations are chosen chronologically. (FREE)
11. ADS ON THE TWO ADDITIONAL TV SCREENS: To place an ad on the two additional TV screens at PRO (one is located at the main entrance, one is located in the atrium), Affiliate members must email Kim Sonefeld (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) their company's logo, their company's tagline OR a short sentence describing the services the company offers, and the contact information of the Affiliate member. Kim will create and insert the ad into the PowerPoint presentation that runs on the two TVs within 10 business days of receiving the required information. (FREE) 12. AFFILIATE SPONSORSHIPS: All major sponsors and their sponsorship benefits must be approved by the Affiliate Advisory Board. Upon approval, a large banner will be ordered and placed in the auditorium at PRO. Only Tim Stanley, PRO s Building Manager, may remove or replace these banners under the direction of the Affiliate Chair. Major sponsors will be announced throughout all major events and New Member Welcome. 13. AFFILIATE MEETINGS: All meeting attendees must sign in on the designated sign in sheet. The agenda is set by Affiliate Chair John-Paul Mario. The Affiliate Advisory Board will be introduced, then guests and new members since the previous meeting, and if time permits, existing members. Existing members may state their name and their company name ONLY. It will be to the discretion of the Affiliate Chair and based upon the attendance whether to exclude existing member introductions. Networking may be done prior to the meeting at 10:00 a.m., and may continue after the meeting adjourns. Affiliate members may not promote any upcoming events of their own during the meetings. The only events that will be promoted during the meetings are ones that are held at PRO or that have been ran though the Affiliate Advisory Board. Effective February 2014 the first Affiliate Meeting of each month will include a REALTOR Marketing Session. 14. NAME TAGS: Affiliate branded name tags are ordered once per month following each Affiliate Orientation session for all those Affiliates who attended that session. Affiliate branded name tags must be worn during meetings, PRO Connect events, and when sponsoring events. Affiliate members must be mindful that while wearing the name tag they are
representing the Pinellas REALTOR Organization and the Affiliate Program, and must conduct themselves with the highest standards possible. One tag is provided upon completion of the Affiliate Orientation, or if a current, paid member transfers their membership to another company and pays membership dues. If a Primary Affiliate Member leaves a company, the new person taking their place will NOT automatically receive a name tag. They must order one and pay the $11 fee. Additional tags or replacements may be purchased for $11. Contact Kim (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) to order. 15. MONTHLY REPORT: During the second Affiliate Meeting of each month, the Affiliate members who are featured in the Spotlight, the Gold NMW sponsors, the Affiliate members who will be assembling and delivering gift bags for the Gift Bag Program, and the hosts of the month's PRO Connect event will be displayed and put into the meeting minutes. 16. GIFT BAG PROGRAM: For those who participate in the Gift Bag Program, the 4 Affiliates who are up to assemble and distribute the previous month s gift bag recipients will be announced at the first Affiliate Meeting of each month. The recipients will be chosen from the top 300 agents. The cost to participate is $120 per person for the entire year. For $300, a company may be able to have 4 individuals participate. 17. WELCOME COMMITTEE: During all major events and all NMW classes, two Affiliate members will be chosen to be on the Welcome Committee. The two Affiliate members who are featured in the Affiliate Spotlight during the week of the major event or NMW class will be requested to be on the Welcome Committee that week. These Affiliate members duties include arriving at PRO 30 minutes prior to the major event or NMW class, standing near an entrance, and welcoming the REALTOR members into the building. The Welcome Committee may distribute their marketing materials directly to the REALTOR as they enter the building. They will not have speaking time during the event or NMW class.
18. REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (RPAC): RPAC is a political action committee that works to support political candidates and elected officials who support REALTORS and the real estate industry. The Affiliates have committed to collect funds throughout the year to contribute to RPAC. The Affiliates will present the contribution at PRO s Annual Meeting each year. A collection can will be available at the sign in table prior to each Affiliate meeting. 19. MAJOR EVENTS SPONSOR TABLES: During major events (Affiliate Expo, Food & Wine Festival, etc.) various types of tables will be available for sponsorship, each with different pricing. Affiliate members may only use the type of table they paid for. They are not permitted to use a different type of table, or additional tables. When tables are being raffled off, only one business card per company may be submitted. 20. AFFILIATE OPEN HOUSES: The Affiliate Chair will host an Affiliate Open House on the second Tuesday of each month. The Open Houses will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. This is a great way to have potential new members come to PRO to learn about the Affiliate Program. If Affiliate members would like to invite someone to an Open House, they must submit that person s name, company, phone number, and email address to Affiliate Chair John-Paul Mario (johnpaulasid@gmail.com), as he will need an accurate head count to provide adequate handouts and breakfast. 21. COMPLIMENTARY MEETING ROOM USAGE AT PRO: Affiliate members may use any open room at PRO to conduct company business. Rooms are not to be used for personal reasons. Rooms must be reserved in advance with Melissa Sparks (727-216-3005 or msparks@tampabayrealtor.com). There is a 2 hour maximum on utilizing the room space. Usage over 2 hours will result in an hourly fee. When reserving a room Affiliate members must inform her that they are an Affiliate member.
22. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: Affiliate members are encouraged to carry the REALTOR Professional Development Program promotional business cards with them. The Affiliate membership contributes funds each year to this scholarship program and it s important to let the REALTOR members know that, and to help them be aware of the program s existence. Scholarship Board Committee members are John-Paul Mario, Denise Drews, Mark Thirey, Leon Sarkisian, Robert DePugh, David Bennett, and Evelyn Satriano. 23. AFFILIATE SECTION OF PRO S WEBSITE: To update the contact information or add a photo to their listing on PRO s website, Affiliate members must go to this page http://pinellasrealtor.org/my-membership/ and click on Update Member Information then login. IDs and passwords were included in the welcome email that was sent from Kim Sonefeld. 24. CHANGING COMPANIES OR LEAVING PRO: If an Affiliate member leaves the company they are with, they must notify Kim Sonefeld (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) in writing. If an Affiliate member leaves the company they are with, then joins a company that also has Affiliate membership at PRO, they must fill out the application and pay the $50 membership dues, as Secondary Affiliate Membership is not transferrable. 25. REPLACING THE PRIMARY AFFILIATE MEMBER: The Primary Affiliate Member may be replaced free of charge if the company paid for the initial membership. To replace a Primary Affiliate Member, this form must be filled out and submitted: http://form.jotformpro.com/form/23025978841965 Kim Sonefeld will email the new Primary Affiliate Member a confirmation once PRO has updated their records. 26. AFFILIATE FAMILY CONNECT:
Affiliate members who are no longer with the company that they were an Affiliate member with may remain an Affiliate member until they find a new job. There is a $25 fee, which will be applied to the membership dues once the Affiliate member re-joins the Program as a full member. To become an Affiliate Family Connect member, this form http://form.jotformpro.com/form/22224307616951 must be filled out and payment must be submitted. 27. AFFILIATES AROUND THE TABLE THE ART OF CONVERSATION : The Around the Table sessions are held after the first Affiliate meeting of each month and begin at 12:20 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The purpose of these sessions is to enhance business skills and personal development. These sessions are open to any Affiliate member. Confidentiality is important what is said in these meetings are to stay in the meetings. 28. AFFILIATE CHAIR ONE-ON-ONE: The One-On-One sessions are held once per month; dates will be communicated at Affiliate meetings. The purpose of these sessions is to meet with the Affiliate Chair on a personal level for coaching and guidance. 29. AFFILIATE CHAIR CONNECT: This is an avenue for Affiliate members to correspond with the Affiliate Chair via email (johnpaulasid@gmail.com) 30. SAVVYCARD You may research this opportunity by going to www.tampabayhomedirectory.com. All Affiliates will be part of the program. If you wish to upgrade to the directory option or customize your profile, the discounted cost is $20 (directory) and $199 (customization). Each new member will have 30 days from their join date to take advantage of the discounted prices. See attached flyer for more details.
New Member Checklist To maximize your membership, the following items should be completed within 60 days of joining the Affiliate Program. AFFILIATE ORIENTATION Attend an orientation session held prior to the second Affiliate Meeting of each month. These meetings begin at 9:00 a.m. and are held at the Pinellas REALTOR Organization BUSINESS CARDS 1. Place your business cards in a slot on the Affiliate Wall. 2. Give additional cards to Kim or John-Paul so they can replenish them as needed. 3. Give additional cards to John-Paul so he can place them at the other Affiliate Walls in across the county. AD ON THE TWO TV SCREENS Email Kim (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) the following items: 1. Your company s logo in the highest resolution possible 2. Your company s tagline OR a short sentence describing the services your company offers 3. The contact information you want displayed AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT Email Kim (ksonefeld@tampabayrealtor.com) the following items: 1. Your company s logo in the highest resolution possible 2. 4 to 5 bullet points about the services you offer, what makes your company unique, etc. 3. Images in the highest resolution possible (before and afters, a professional headshot of you, etc.) 4. The contact information you want displayed PRO CONNECT SOCIAL EVENT
Start attending the monthly PRO Connect event get your name out there and let people get to know you so they feel comfortable referring you business!