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By Kelly Burge, CEO

After two years of hard work, NWIA continues to evolve and grow. Behind the scenes, your board leaders have done a lot of the heavy lifting to make us a well-run organization, and position ourselves for the future.  This isn’t always glamorous or fun, but it is necessary work to operate at the highest levels and maintain our status as an active board with the National Association of REALTORS®.

You know, I feel a little bit like we’ve been on the path of marriage.  In 2014, we had a proposal.  Our folks from Sioux City got down on one knee, and each of our three entities put aside their own concerns and said yes to joining together for the common good.

Unfortunately, I didn’t even get a new dress for the occasion.  I should have.

We got married in 2015–when the official paperwork was completed to unite the Northwest Iowa Chapter Board, the United Counties Board, and the Greater Sioux City Board of REALTORS® into what we now know as NWIA. It was well-planned, well-executed, and wasn’t even a shotgun ceremony.  Everybody said yes, we all signed, and it was a great day of celebration.

Again, no new dress for me. Seriously, what is up with that?

Since that time, we’ve been on what has felt a bit like a honeymoon.  If you’ve ever been on one, you know what I mean. Long walks on the beach, hand in hand, under a setting sun, just glad to be spending time with your special person.

Sigh.  I need another honeymoon. (Hey Jim, if you’re reading this……)

Seriously though, we’ve just enjoyed being together for the last series of months as a united board.  We’ve informally explored the process of learning more about each other and spent some time discovering common bonds that unite us as members of the REALTOR® family.

In short, we’ve made lots of googly eyes and kissy faces at each other—- for a long time.

And now as we move into 2017, it’s time to move past the superficial and deepen the roots of our relationship. It’s time to cement the bonds that bring us together in a common profession, and set a vision for even stronger leadership, action, and unity across our vast 13 county area.

That’s why I’m excited to announce that NWIA will hold our first Member Forum on Tuesday, March 14 at 11 AM at King’s Pointe Resort in Storm Lake. A free Italian lunch buffet will be provided to all NWIA members in attendance. Please note, reservations are going to be required for this event, though all members are invited to attend.

This meeting is directed primarily at our southern-area members, with one to be scheduled soon in our northern areas. We know the distance (and Iowa weather conditions) can make it challenging to drive to Sioux City for board events. We also recognize the community concerns, challenges, and events that take place in Storm Lake and Cherokee are not the same as what’s taking place in Rock Rapids, Sioux Center or other northern communities.  It’s our hope that this meeting, and the one to follow in the northern section of the board, will be the first steps to taking our organization to new heights, as we begin to chart a course for our future, and discover how NWIA can best serve all of our members at the local level.

Many of our southern members will be receiving an official invitation to the event, but all NWIA members are invited.  Reservations are REQUIRED to attend, however this is merely to ensure we have adequate space and food.  Simply call the NWIA office at (712) 255-8810 and let us know you’re coming.

And, especially for those in the south who receive an invitation, please do seriously give some thought to making time to attend.  We really do need input from our southern folks to help us know how to serve and support you as we go forward. We’re all on the same team, and I’m excited to see how we move ahead together through this year.

And hey, it’s two hours of your day, with a free lunch.  You can’t beat that.

Unless someone wants to buy me a new dress.