The NAR Claims to be Listening…
Author: Jay T. - The EditorPosted on March 28, 2008
Filed Under NAR - General
In a post on the NAR’s “President’s Report” blog, NAR president Dick Gaylord says they are listening.
I commented on that post on May 13. So did Jim Duncan.
Now I understand why they can’t respond to every comment. Really I do.
But can they respond to any comment?
There was a brief moment in time where it appeared that some of the NAR leadership was “getting it”. I was encouraged, as were others.
Let’s just say that encouragement is dwindling….
In his post, Mr. Gaylord says:
To all of the REALTORS® who are driving discussion in the blogosphere, I just want to say: “Keep up the great work and please participate in the discussion on this blog.” (my emphasis)
To have a “discussion” requires a minimum of two people. One can only talk to their self for so long before they move on to where someone will actually engage in the discussion.
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11 Responses to “The NAR Claims to be Listening…”
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Jay; I don’t know if I can claim to be part of the NAR leadership that you want to reach, but I am a 2008 Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, a member of the NAR Risk Management Committee, and the Chair of a Presidential Workgroup - I have been in the conversation for a little bit now, and though I don’t know if I count as an answer to your post above, and I’m not listening in an official capacity, sometimes participation in a conversation does just mean listening -
And with all due respect to your post, and without making excuses for President Gaylord (for whom I have no authority to speak but for whom I hold a great deal of respect) , I wil tell you that his schedule is amazing, and that he does yoeman’s work reaching out to the membership, writing, podcasting, traveling and speaking at gatherings of members, as well as communicating with staff, the leadership team, and other real estate related organizations - In fact, in between two sets of meetings arriving in Chacago before proceeding to California later that day, I’ve seen him break into his schedule to adress a group of 50 members who had traveled to Chicago to attend Mediation Training (sponsored by NAR’s Professional Standards Committee) to let them know how important their work was and how much it meant to him and the association that they were taking the time to improve their education and work towards better conflict resolution in the industry -(did I mention that he was not feeling well and fighting the onset of some infection that day?) He really does care about the memership and has said again and again that he wants to be face to face with members as much as possible -
So, if he’s not reading this blog today, or doesn’t respond to it in the time frame you think is responsive - cut him a little slack - he may be on a plane, just back from travelling cross country, paying attention to his real estate business (yes, he’s a real live active REALTOR too, not just an officer of the organization)- or possibly just catching his breath-
But don’t doubth that he’s sincere in his message and many of us on the team (your team as well as his) are doing what we can to engage while we spend some time working on our businesses, doing our volunteer work, and trying our level best not to neglect our families or our own health -
Whew - I really didn’t expect to ramble on like that - but you can’t say I’m not talking -
Like I’ve said before, I personally like Dick, but you’re right on this one… I envision a busy guy packing his bags and having his assistant taking a “dictation” for a blog that she will then type, log into Word Press, format and publish. If that is the case, comments should be closed and it should be an informative article website, not a blog. Fine.
Otherwise, take a freakin’ clue from Trulia and HIRE yourself a Rudy already, NAR! I know Jay Thompson and Benn Rosales are at the top of your list for that position! (gimme a break- I had to mention Benn… promoting him is in our vows)
If you’re not going to blog well, don’t do it at all. It’s disingenuous to encourage “participation” and then not do it yourself.
Bill - see comment #2. Seem familiar?
And while I’m “participating;” maybe the President of NAR shouldn’t be blogging. Frankly, blogging’s not for everyone.
Bringing the discussion to my “boots on the ground” level - what if I had a listing and the buyer’s agent called me to bring an offer. I said, please call me back in 30 minutes - and never did. Kinda like what Dick’s doing.
Jim; It took me while to go through Comment #2 When Lani writes all I see is the bright shining light of her creativity!
(It seems that Benn and I have in common that we married way over our heads!) But it sure is familiar and I think you know where I stand on that one - but there is a really long post that would follow about blogging being a personal type of communication and the difficulty that any large organization has in presenting itself in that forum- and maybe you’re right, blogging isn’t for everyone - I’m struggling right now to decide whether I’m a “blogger” or a “blogger wannabe” or just a “commentor” - I find it really easy to react, but that’s just me and my own opinions - and even then my mind is whirling from the conversations after I log off - sometimes coming perilously close to setting off the hard wired smoke alarms at our house - I’m still thinking through some of the process, and that might even result in a post on my very own blog - who knows? Stranger things have happened 
Jim - Oh and I forgot - I don’t think that our President was being disingenuous I think he, and we all are just trying - and you got to give him points for that
My new favorite quote (which I am just starting to overuse) from Pablo Picasso “I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”
I know a lot of people think having a profile in ActiveRain is a blog. Just a profile, nothing else. But hey, they’re blogging…lol
At least this is an actual BLOG - and while it would be nice to have responses, it is nice that it does allow you to post comments (which a static web page will not allow you to do.)
So, while it’s not perfect, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
@Bill - yes, I’d say you easily qualify as a leader within NAR, and your participation has been fantastic.
I have no doubt that Mr. Gaylord is insanely busy. But if the NAR is going to venture into this realm, and go so far as to ask people to participate, then they need to participate themselves. Posting to a “blog” is not participation in the social networking aspect of blogging. That requires two-way interaction.
Incidentally, I left another comment on that post on Friday. It’s still not released from moderation. As Jim pointed out, their claim:
Appears to be patently false. Why not just speak the truth — which appears to be, “We hold ALL comments in moderation and it may be days before yours is released, if it ever is.”
Jay - Thanks for your kind words, but my wife has read your post and now wants to know if I can submitted for moderation
@ Bill -
As I’ve said before - If you’re not going to at least try to do something well, don’t do it at all.
That seems to be the case here.
BTW - Thank you, Bill for your contributions here and elsewhere. Your entry to the conversations has been great.
As mentioned above, I commented on Mr. Gaylord’s post on March 28.
10 days later, that comment has still not been released from moderation. (and there was nothing nasty about it)
Sort of answers my original question on that post — apparently they do pick and chose which comments to show.
How sad.