UPSTAR 2020 Annual Report

2020
ANNUAL
REPORT
UPSTAR REALTORS ® rose in the face of a
national pandemic to serve their clients,
their communities & their association.
UPSTATE
ALLIANCE
OF REALTORS
WWW.UPSTARINDIANA.COM
®

THE CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER 04
LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND STRATEGIC PLAN 05
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EVENTS 06
2020 AFFILIATE PARTNERS 07
MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS 07
UPSTAR SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE 08
UPSTAR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK (YPN) 08
2020 RPAC CAMPAIGN 09
MLS & TECHNOLOGY 10
SOCIAL MEDIA 10
2020 SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS 11
THE UPSTAR MISSION & VISION
MISSION
To provide our members with technology, education and leadership necessary to
conduct ethical and successful business while promoting, protecting and preserving
real property rights.
VISION
The Association is the recognized authority for REALTORS ® and a trusted partner within
our Communities.
3

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
hallenge” and “Change” are the words that come to mind when I reflect on
2020. We started with a bang and were abruptly interrupted in mid March by
the COVID-19 lockdown. Working during a pandemic led to some difficult decisions, but it
also taught us a new way of doing business.
Zoom became the “go to” for meetings and conferences, and virtual events proved successful.
We said goodbye to a long-term and respected association leader and welcomed our new
Executive Officer, David Belew, whose fresh ideas are mapping a bright and exciting future
for UPSTAR.
RENEE COX
2020 UPSTAR President
NAR made a change to the Code of Ethics and strengthened its commitment to Fair
Housing—both which will further our ongoing objective to meet the professional standards
we pledge to uphold. Our local housing market is fiercely competitive, ending the year with
historically high sales prices and less than one month’s supply of inventory.
Despite all the challenges of this historic year that changed the world, the industry and
us, as individuals, let us embrace what we have experienced—a new way of learning and
connecting, and a greater sense of care and compassion for one another.
I
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
am so pleased to be your new Executive Officer at the Upstate Alliance of
REALTORS®. It has been a strange year for all of us, but I am proud of the
way our leadership and staff came together to guide the organization through the
many pitfalls of 2020.
UPSTAR saw a growth in membership in 2020, and our real estate market continues
to thrive, even though inventory is tight. Even with the COVID restrictions that were in
place through most of the year, we were able to continue to support our community
charities with reimagined events and creative fundraising projects. We also exceeded
our RPAC goal through online and virtual events. We welcomed a new Government
Affairs team to UPSTAR in 2020, with Todd Titus joining us as the Government Affairs
Director and Amara Scheitlin as our Government Affairs Administrator. This beefed
up team will allow us to do a better job representing all six of the counties we cover
in our advocacy efforts.
DAVID BELEW
Executive Officer
Thanks to all of our members for making 2020 another great year at the Upstate
Alliance of REALTORS®. I look forward to meeting more of you in 2021.
4

The Strategic Plan focuses on five goals to carry
the Association into the future. We strive to be a
member-focused organization that delivers relevant
services and community outreach opportunities to
our membership.
—Renee Cox, 2020 President
LEADERSHIP
2018-20 | THREE-YEAR
STRATEGIC PLAN
INDUSTRY
COMMUNITY
MEMBER
FINANCIALLY
PROFESSIONAL
ADVOCATES
INVESTMENT
FOCUSED
STRONG
ETHICS
GOAL #1
GOAL #2
GOAL #3
GOAL #4
GOAL #5
UPSTAR is seen by the
public, media and elected
officials as the leading
advocate for community
issues affecting real
estate, private property
rights and real property
ownership.
UPSTAR promotes the
REALTOR® image in the
community, provides
reliable information,
and invests in the
community through
its involvement and
charity.
UPSTAR consistently
provides superior
customer service,
member-focused
programs and
support.
UPSTAR provides an
environment that is
progressive, stable
and financially
strong, enabling it to
move effectively into
the future.
Members
consistently
practice professional
and ethical behaviors
for the benefit of
their
clients and customers
and colleagues.
2020 UPSTAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2020 UPSTAR MLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RENEE COX
President
ADAM SMITH
President-Elect
JOEL ESSEX
Secretary/Treasurer
BETH WALKER
Past President
BETH WALKER
MLS President
TAMRA STIER
Secretary/Treasurer
MARK DIPPOLD
KIM WARD
ANGIE BUCHS DAVE DEHAVEN TONY DIDIER ANGELA GRABLE
VICKEE HARDING GREG FAHL SAM HAIFLICH MICHAEL LITCHIN
NICK HUFFMAN PATRICK MALOBLOCKI ED McCUTCHEON TERRY MILLER
JACKIE MCBRIDE LARRY MCCHESSNEY KURT NESS LOU ROWLAND
J. KYLE NESS TODD STOCK ISAAC STOLLER KIM WARD
MARY SHERER
ADAM SMITH
5

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AND AFFILIATE EVENTS
E
ven with COVID restrictions
on large gatherings, UPSTAR
persevered—holding several events
virtually including the annual Holiday
General Membership Meeting. Not
only that, REALTORS® continued to give
back to the community.
We held the golf outing at Chestnut
Hills this year, and in Iieu of the annual
Pancake Breakfast and Oktoberfest
fundraising events, we supported the
following charitable organizations.
$2,100
Power House
Youth Center
150
Boxed Lunches
YWCA Women’s Shelter
$2,482
Habitat for Humanity
Huntington Division
$2,500
St. Joseph Missions
Women’s Shelter
UPSTAR provided boxed lunches to members, drive-thru style, in recognition of
Customer Service Day. We donated a box lunch to the YWCA Shelter for every
member that participated.
CHECK PRESENTATIONS
DRIVE-THRU REALTOR ® MASK GIVEAWAY
PRIVATE SHOWING OF ANNIE FOR UPSTAR
UPSTAR GOLF OUTING
6

2020 AFFILIATE PARTNERS
PSTAR owes our Affiliates Partners a huge debt of gratitude for their ongoing
U support of the association’s outreach & networking events—many of which
would not be possible without their support and volunteerism. Thank you!
MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS
B
y the end of 2020, the UPSTAR
membership, which includes
REALTOR® members and Affiliate
members, had grown approximately
four percent, as compared to 2019.
The degree to which members engage
with the association through committee
service, education classes, training,
events, networking and advocacy is
the degree to which members will
experience greater association benefits.
AFFILIATES REALTORS®
2000
1397 1478
1544 1606
1000
500
Member engagement makes this a great
association.
200
210
192
192
162
100
2017
2018
2019
2020
7

UPSTAR SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE
TOTAL EDUCATION
CERTIFICATES
AWARDED IN 2020
778
84
26
473
195
90-HOUR BROKER
PRE LICENSING
30-HOUR
POST LICENSING
12-HOUR
CONTINUING ED
NEW MEMBER
CODE OF ETHICS
10.8% of Total
3.3% of Total
60.8% of Total
25.1% of Total
UPSTAR YPN | 181 MEMBERS STRONG
PSTAR’s Young Professionals Network
U
(YPN) exists to develop young-at-heart
YPN EDUCATION YPN OUTREACH
professionals in the REALTOR® family through
association involvement, advocacy, peer
networking and community outreach.
Even with COVID-19 restrictions starting in
the spring, YPN managed to safely hold two
educational meetings, three networking events
and one community outreach event in 2020.
YPN NETWORKING
8

THE REALTOR ® PARTY
2020 | RPAC CAMPAIGN
U
PSTAR extends a huge “thank you” to everyone who participated in the
RPAC auction, as well as ALL RPAC contributors in 2020. From the “Fair
Share Level” ($15 - $98) to the “Golden R” level ($5,000+), every contribution
helps REALTORS® to have a voice in the halls of government. Following is a list of
contributors at the 99 Club level and above.
TOTAL FROM
RPAC EVENT
$36,560
$22,300 - 50/50 Raffle
$9,625 - Live Auction
$4,635 - Silent Auction
TOTAL FROM
DUES BILLING
$38,000
ADDITIONAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
$10,695
GRAND TOTAL
$85,255
*TOTAL RPAC
CONTRIBUTIONS
$74,105
* The RPAC 50/50 Raffle Drawing yielded a prize of $11,150 to the winner—Ann Marquardt of Coldwell
Banker Real Estate Group. The ‟Total RPAC contributions" is the grand total less the 50/50 raffle winnings.
99 CLUB
($99 - 249)
Ashley Adams-Wagner
Richard Barile
Judy Baumgartner
Martin Brandenberger
Tamara Braun
David Brough
Robert Caley
Thomas Cheviron
Jacqueline Clark
David DeHaven
Tamila Dennon
Tony Didier
Andy Eckert
Jerry Ehle
Gregory Fahl
Blake Fiechter
Cyndee Fiechter
Holly Fogwell
Noel Frost
David Gall
Andrea Gates
Bill Gething
Robert Goodman
Robert Griebel
Cynthia Griffin-Malone
Vickee Harding
Sam Hartman
Pete Hilty
Michelle Hinton
Nicholas Huffman
Helen Hunt
Son Huynh
Linda James
Jerry Jenkins
Lynette Johnson
Josette Jordan
Robert Justice
John Lemler
Michael Litchin
Doug Lucas
Patricia Lydy
Anna Marquardt
Craig Martin
Jackie McBride
Steven McMichael
Terry Miller
Jonathan Morales
Elizabeth Neal
J. Kyle Ness
Kurt Ness
Catherine Peterson
McKenzie Poll
Myron Quinn
Kelly Redwanski
John Schindler
Neal Sherk
David Smith
Brooke Sommers
Ken Steury
Joyce Swartz
Sue Teasdale
Timothy Tower
Karen Tuggle-Dize
Jeffery Walborn
Rick Widmann
Linda Williams
HOOSIER R
($250-$499)
Angela Buchs
James Felger
David McDaniel
Ed McCutcheon
Brandon Minick
Kerri Morningstar
Jeremy Patton
John-Michael Segyde
Aaron Shively
John Bellio
Greg Brown
Jennifer Callison
Beth Goldsmith
Laura Kinner
Brad Stinson
Richard Watson
REALTOR® 500
($500-$999)
Aaron Hoover
Glenna Jehl
Kendall Overmyer
Katie Brown
Bob Coffee
Tamra Stier
STERLING R
($1000- $ 2499)
Chelsea Johnson
Joe Mishak
Isaac Stoller
Joel Essex
Patrick Maloblocki
®
Realtor
Mary Party Mauger
*As Jan reported Sanner by IAR’s
2018 Mary Contribution Sherer Report
Adam Smith
Al Snyder
Jim Torres
Jeff Vaughan
Beth Walker
Kim Ward
Brenda Williams
CRYSTAL R
($2500 - $4999)
Renee Cox
GOLDEN R
($5000+)
Thomas Rayl
2020 LONGEVITY
AWARD INDUCTEES
RPAC RISING STAR
5 Years of Giving
Above $250
Renee Cox
REALTOR ® PARTY
CHAMPION
10 Years of Giving
Above $250
John Bellio
Patrick Maloblocki
Mary Mauger
Adam Smith
Kim Ward
UPSTAR HALL OF FAME
Lifetime Contribution of
$10,000 or more
John Bellio
Patrick Maloblocki
Ed McCutcheon
Adam Smith
Al Snyder
Jim Torres
Kimberly Ward
NAR HALL OF FAME
Lifetime Contribution of
$50,000 or more
Thomas Rayl
9

MLS & TECHNOLOGY
2020 TECH HIGHLIGHTS | TECH TRAINING
T
o better serve our members’ MLS & technology training needs during the COVID-19
pandemic, UPSTAR transitioned to conducting all training classes live over Zoom.
After extensive research of various digital earnest money platforms by an MLS Board Task
Force, UPSTAR selected Earnnest, allowing agents to securely send and receive earnest
money deposits directly through their transactions in ZipForm or DotLoop.
The development of ListingDIV continued, with the addition of an automated rule that
checks all contingent listings for compliance with UPSTAR Amendment L. The new Paragon
Connect mobile site, introduced in the third quarter, gave members another option, in
addition to the Homesnap app, for accessing a mobile version of the MLS while in the field.
UPSTAR also commissioned a redesign of the UpstarIndiana.com website, which gave the
site an updated look and improved the user experience.
208
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY
TRAINING STUDENTS
69 – ZIPFORM
53 – HOMESNAP
46 – INTER. PARAGON
40 – BEG. PARAGON
The implementation of NAR’s MLS Clear Cooperation Policy brought consistency across MLSs
by requiring that all listings be put in the MLS within one business day of public marketing.
The rollout of NAR’s Registered Office Exclusive Policy added an option for sellers who want
to sign a contract with a REALTOR® for their services in locating a buyer, but may not wish
to have their property publicly marketed. In addition, a Listed Coming Soon status was added to Paragon late in the year, which allows
a seller to contract with a REALTOR® immediately and announce their property to all UPSTAR agents, but defer outside marketing and
showings during a period of up to 21 days to prepare their property for its public debut.
SOCIAL MEDIA
2020 STATISTICS
MOST LIKED
IG POST
PLATFORM
STATS
MOST LIKED FACEBOOK POSTS
*ENGAGEMENT
FACEBOOK LIKES 927
KELLY YORK - GOLDEN RULE AWARD 430
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWS 374
JOE MISHAK - GOLDEN RULE AWARD 420
TWITTER FOLLOWS 179
BOB BURNSWORTH - GOLDEN RULE AWARD 413
YOUTUBE VIEWS 4,000
UPSTAR IN THE NEWS - 2020 UPSTAR BOARD 360
10
*NOTE: Engagement is the sum of the total Reactions, Comments and Shares.

SERVICE AWARDS
BETH WALKER NAMED REALTOR ® OF THE YEAR
Six Others Receive 2020 Service Awards
BETH WALKER
REALTOR® of the Year & President’s Award
CRAIG MARTIN
Hall of Fame Award
Craig received the Hall of Fame
Award for exceptional and
outstanding service to the
community and the real estate
profession over a lifetime. He has
served and supported the RPAC
Committee and Government Affairs
Committees during his 40-year tenure.
RENEE HINER
Affiliate of the Year
Renee received this award for
her exceptional service and
support of UPSTAR’s charitable
outreach events.
Beth was selected as REALTOR® of the Year (ROTY) by her peers. The ROTY is UPSTAR’s top award, recognizing outstanding volunteer contributions on
behalf of the association, the real estate industry and the community. It is given to a REALTOR® member who exemplifies the highest level of professional
conduct in serving the needs of the public. Beth is a past president of UPSTAR and UPSTAR MLS and serves on numerous association committees. She
also serves on the Board of Directors for the ARCH Historic Preservation Organization and actively participates on boards with her church.
JEFF VAUGHAN
Outstanding Service Award
LINDA DUESLER
Community Service Award
KIM RUFFIN
Special Projects Award
GREG FAHL
Golden Rule Award of the Year
Jeff received this award for his
volunteerism and commitment to
UPSTAR’s initiatives and programs
during the year.
Linda received this award for
her efforts in sewing REALTOR®
branded masks for everyone’s
safety in the field while working
with clients.
Kim received this award for her
oversight of a major event and
management of the organization
during the Executive Officer search.
Greg was selected by his peers to
receive the annual Golden Rule Award
for his professionalism, integrity and
exceptional customer service.
11

With every closing, we’re
opening doors.
For more than 35 years, Ruoff has helped
people discover, finance and move into
their homes with confidence. Through our
online portal and mobile app, borrowers get
where they want to be, all while maintaining
health and social distancing standards.
Contact us today to get started!
Apply online at Ruoff.com
Ruoff Mortgage Company, Inc., d/b/a Ruoff Home Mortgage, is an Indiana corporation. For complete licensing information visit: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/141868. This is not an offer for
extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #141868. 01152021
Thank
You
CONTACT US
3403 East Dupont Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825
(260) 426-4700
www.UpstarIndiana.com