CCAR NEWS
Bust ‘Em Out for TREPAC on Thursday
The CCAR Executive Committee and managers of CCAR will be arrested and detained in TREPAC jail this Thursday, August 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the CCAR banquet room. Contribute $25 to bail out your favorite inmate and enjoy a barbeque lunch. The best part is that your investment will go directly to TREPAC in your name!

In addition, there will be a silent auction featuring a stay in a Steamboat Springs, Colo. condo, generously donated by Elandra Dato of William Davis Realty. The Ski Inn mountain condo features two bedrooms and two baths, as well as indoor and outdoor hot tubs. Click here to watch a short video about Steamboat Springs and the Ski Inn condo.

For more information or to help bail out an inmate, contact Diane Donley, CCAR Government Affairs Director, at diane@ccar.net or 972-618-3800.

Discover the Leader in You: Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program Accepting Applications
Developed by the Texas Association of REALTORS® and implemented through CCAR, the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) expands the opportunity for leadership development of area REALTORS®. TRLP provides participants with the opportunity to develop working and personal relationships with other REALTORS® while developing business and personal leadership skills.

The deadline to apply for TRLP's Class V is September 1. Click here to learn more about this exciting program and to download an application. For more information or to learn about scholarship opportunities, contact Gigi Loch, TRLP Administrator, at gigi@ccar.net or 972-618-3800.

TREPAC Golf Tournament Cancelled
The TREPAC Committee regrets to inform you that the annual Golf Tournament scheduled for September 9 has been cancelled due to lack of advertisers. As you may know, all player monies collected for greens fees, mulligans, and auction items must go directly to Austin for TREPAC. That means that advertisers must "foot the bill" for the entire event. This is a difficult year for both REALTORS® and Affiliates, and we appreciate all that our Affiliates have done for our TREPAC events over the years.

The TREPAC Committee is in the process of planning a smaller scale event for September, and we will send that information out as soon as possible. Thanks for your support and remember: "If real estate is your profession, politics is your business. Invest in your future. Invest in TREPAC!"

Congressman Hall Discusses Cap and Trade Energy Bill
Congressman Ralph Hall recently published his monthly update. This month's article, "Cap and Trade Energy Bill Costs Too Much, Accomplishes Too Little" focuses on H.R. 2454. To read the article, please click here.

TAR Convention September 13-15
The 2009 TAR Convention and Trade Expo will be in Dallas September 13-15, with governance meetings September 10-12. Early registration and housing deadlines are tomorrow, so reserve now and save. For more information about the 2009 Convention and Trade Expo please click here.

CCAR EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Staged to Sell
Whether a buyer, seller or real estate agent, the home selling and purchasing process can present you with potholes - most of which, can usually be overcome. However, in this weakened housing market everyone involved in the selling process must increase their efforts. In order to sell homes at top dollar, houses must be "prepared for sales." That's where staging comes in.

The real estate mantra is no longer "location, location, location," it's now "staging, staging, staging!" It's all about presentation, and in this class you will learn winning tactics, secrets and strategies for selling a home at top dollar during these challenging times.

Date and time: Tuesday, August 18, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $19 for CCAR members, $29 for non-members. MCE: Two hours (no legal). Instructor: Natalie Brown, ASP, IAHSP. To register for this class, please click here.

Two-day/15 hour TREC Legal Update and Ethics + Contract and Negotiations
Day one of this two-day class includes Legal Update and Legal Ethics. Day two includes the TREC contract/addenda forms and understanding contract procedures. This class completes the 15 hours of MCE needed to renew your Texas real estate license.

Date and time: Wednesday and Friday, August 26 and 28, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $45 for CCAR members, $75 for non-members. MCE: 15 hours, including six hours TREC legal. Instructor: Bob Baker. To register for this class, please click here.

THIS WEEK'S CCAR NETWORKING MEETINGS
McKinney - No Networking Meeting

CCAR UPCOMING EVENTS
Second Annual Bust ‘Em Out for TREPAC
Join us for an afternoon of food and fun, all in support of TREPAC. Pay a $25 TREPAC donation to bail your favorite manager out of jail - or pay to keep them in! In addition, there will be a silent auction featuring a stay in a Steamboat Springs, Colo. condo. All investments go directly to TREPAC in your name.

Date: Thursday, August 13
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: CCAR Banquet Room
Cost:  $25 TREPAC donation (includes barbeque lunch)

For more information or to help bail out an inmate, contact Diane Donley, CCAR Government Affairs Director, at diane@ccar.net or 972-618-3800.

Contributions are not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Contributions to the Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (TREPAC), the Texas Association of REALTORS® Federal Political Action Committee (TAR FedPAC), and the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) are voluntary and are used for political purposes. TREPAC initially receives each contribution, and a percentage is transmitted to RPAC via TAR FedPAC to meet TREPAC's RPAC annual quota. The percentage forwarded to national RPAC each month may be obtained by contacting the TAR FedPAC administrator at 800-873-9155.

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