CTAR needs your vote!
In an effort to streamline and enhance the process required to become a Realtor® member, the CTAR Board of Directors recently approved changes to Realtor® Orientation, pending a change to the CTAR Bylaws.
The change would allow new members to take the ethics training class online and requires the addition of Provisional Membership. Using NAR approved language, the CTAR Bylaws would be updated as indicated below.
The full CTAR Bylaws are available here.
Please review the changes below and either accept or reject these changes by voting, here.
The CTAR Bylaws currently state:
Article V: Qualification and Election. Section 3: Election
A. The Vice President of Administration, with the assistance of staff and the endorsement from the Member Services leadership, shall determine whether the applicant is applying for the appropriate class of membership, has properly completed all paperwork, and has met all membership requirements.
B. If the recommendation is adverse to the approval of the application, the reasons shall be specifically stated and reported to the applicant within fifteen (15) working days of application; applicant will be given an opportunity to correct any deficiencies.
C. The Vice President of Administration shall notify the membership of approved applicants through Association communications on a timely basis.
D. An application may not be rejected without providing the applicant with written notice of the findings and recommendations; an opportunity to appear before the Vice President of Administration or the Member Services Committee leadership; to call witnesses in his/her behalf, to be represented by counsel, and to make such statements as he/she deems relevant. The Association may also have counsel present. The Association shall require written minutes to be made of any hearing before it or may electronically or mechanically record the proceedings. If the application is still rejected, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Directors and the same procedures apply.
E. If the Board of Directors determines that the application should be rejected, it shall record its reasons with the Vice President of Administration. If the Board of Directors believes that denial of membership to the applicant may become the basis of litigation and a claim of damage by the applicant, it may specify that denial shall become effective upon entry in a suit by the Association for a declaratory judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment declaring that the rejection violates no rights of the applicant.
The proposed changes
Article V: Qualification and Election. Section 3: Election
A. Applicants for REALTOR® membership shall be granted provisional membership immediately upon submission of a completed application form and remittance of applicable association dues and any application fee. Provisional members shall be considered REALTORS® and shall be subject to all of the same privileges and obligations of membership. Provisional membership is granted subject to subsequent review of the application by the board of directors. If the board of directors determines that the individual does not meet all of the qualifications for membership as established in the association’s Bylaws, or, if the individual does not satisfy all of the requirements of membership (for example, completion of a mandatory orientation program) within 180 days from the association’s receipt of their application, membership may, at the discretion of the board of directors, be terminated.
B. Dues shall be computed from the date of application and shall be non-refundable unless the association’s board of directors terminates the individual’s membership in accordance with Subsection (a) above. In such instances, dues shall be returned to the individual less a prorated amount to cover the number of days that the individual received association services and any application fee.
C. The board of directors may not terminate any provisional membership without providing the provisional member with advance notice, an opportunity to appear before the board of directors, to call witnesses on his/her behalf, to be represented by counsel, and to make such statements as he/she deems relevant. The board of directors may also have counsel present. The board of directors shall require that written minutes be made of any hearing before it or may electronically or mechanically record the proceedings.
D. If the board of directors determines that provisional membership should be terminated, it shall record its reasons with the chief executive officer. If the board of directors believes that termination of provisional membership may become the basis of litigation and a claim of damage by a provisional member, it may specify that termination shall become effective upon entry in a suit by the association for a declaratory judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment declaring that the termination violates no rights of the individual.
Cast your vote to either accept or reject these changes, here.
