The Voice For Real Estate In The Rogue Valley 629 Franquette St. Medford, OR 97501-7831 (541) 779-9421 Fax (541) 770-7111 www.somls.com June 2, 2014 Dear Designated REALTORS, Office Managers, and Office Staff, It s the time of year again for annual dues billing. The following pages are a packet of material that has been sent to all agents. We are sending yours to you with this separate cover sheet as there are a couple of items that are unique to you and/or that we want to make sure you are aware of. 1. If your office staff is planning to collect non-online dues payments to submit to the RVAR office on behalf of the members, please remember that if the dues payment includes a PAC investment that it must be submitted to the RVAR office within seven (7) days per federal and state election laws. 2. All dues are due and payable on or before July 1, 2014. Payment in full or the first installment payment MUST be received PRIOR to July 16, 2014, or the unpaid member will be subject to suspension (RVAR Bylaws, Article X, Section 4) and a $50.00 reinstatement fee. If the unpaid individual is still licensed with the firm as of August 1, 2014, the Designated REALTOR will be billed for the non-member licensee ($460.00 per non-member licensee) per NAR s dues billing formula. This means that it is very important that if you have a licensee who is not planning to renew their REALTOR membership that you either plan to pay the non-member licensee fee or send their license in PRIOR to August 1 st. The same suspension and reinstatement fee rule and non-member fee potential will also apply if the second (due 9/15) and third (due 12/15) installment payments are not paid by the grace period deadlines dates (September 30 th and December 31 st ). If you have any questions, please call the RVAR office. Thank you, Tina Grimes Executive Officer
The Voice For Real Estate In The Rogue Valley 629 Franquette St. Medford, OR 97501-7831 (541) 779-9421 Fax (541) 770-7111 www.somls.com June 2, 2014 We know this is a long letter, but this packet contains very important information about the annual dues billing, so please make sure to read it in its entirety. It s hard to believe it s already that time of year again, but annual dues invoice(s) for 2014-15 will arrive in your email by Tuesday, June 3 rd. The 2014-15 REALTOR Dues are unchanged from last year and include: $155.00 National Association of REALTORS ; $185.00 Oregon Association of REALTORS ; and $155.00 Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS. The invoice will also show a $50.00 voluntary PAC investment for a total amount of $545.00. The invoices will be emailed directly to each of you (unless you have let us know previously that you prefer a hard copy via US Mail). If you do not receive an email with your dues invoice by Thursday, June 5 th, please contact us. We are pleased to be once again offer a PAC Contest in conjunction with the dues billing. For each $50.00 PAC investment between June 1st and July 15th, the investor s name will be entered into a drawing (so if someone makes a $100 investment, their name will go in twice). First prize will be a $500.00 gas card and second prize will be a $250.00 gas card. Can t afford a $50.00 investment right now? You still have a chance to win - for anyone who makes an investment between $15.00 and $49.99 during the same time period, your name will be entered one time into a drawing for a $150.00 gas card. More information on the following page. Payments in full can be made online by clicking on the link in the email or by going directly to ims.somls.com (no www). If payment is made online, the first screen shows the entire amount, including the PAC, then the second screen gives you the opportunity to either increase or decrease the PAC amount. If payment is NOT made online, the following should be submitted to the RVAR office either in person or via US Mail: 1. a printed copy of the invoice (link to it will be in the email) and 2. the payment (credit/debit card authorization attached for your convenience) We are offering the installment payment option again this year - three payments of $175.00 ($165.00 dues plus a $10.00 installment fee) due by July 1 st, September 15 th, and December 15 th. If you want to use the installment payment option, you must make your payment through the RVAR office as you cannot make partial payments online. You can make the payment with any acceptable payment type (credit or debit card, check, or cash), but it has to be done through the RVAR office, so that we can make adjustments to your record and keep the system from automatically charging you the $50.00 reinstatement fee on July 16 th. If you are set up on auto-pay for your monthly MLS fees, please note that our authorization to charge your card is only for those monthly fees and if you want your annual dues charged to the card on file, YOU MUST CONTACT US and let us know. All dues are due and payable on or before July 1, 2014. Payment in full or the first installment payment MUST be received PRIOR to July 16, 2014, or you will be subject to suspension (RVAR Bylaws, Article X, Section 4) and a $50.00 reinstatement fee. If you are not planning to renew your membership, it is very important that you submit a Member Change Form prior to July 16 th. If you do not submit the form and you later choose to reactivate your membership, we are required to charge you a full year s dues no matter when you reactivate. If you submit the form and later choose to reactivate your membership, we are able to pro-rate the dues from the time you reactivate. The same suspension and reinstatement fee rule will also apply if the second (due 9/15) and third (due 12/15) installment payments are not paid by the grace period deadlines dates (September 30 th and December 31 st ). If you have any questions, please contact us (541-770-7060 or info@roguevalleyrealtors.org). Your RVAR/SOMLS Staff
RPAC INVESTMENT CONTEST RPAC: Protecting Homeownership & Your Livelihood For RPAC Investments made between June 1 st and July 15 th, 2014 Contest #1 For every $50.00 investment to the PAC your name will be entered into this drawing. For example, a $250.00 investment will equal 5 entries. First prize: $500.00 gas card Second prize: $250.00 gas card Contest #2 Each investment between $15.00 and $49.99 will receive one entry into this drawing. Prize: $150.00 gas card Investments to RPAC can be done with your annual dues or separately, online at ims.somls.com (no www) OR with the staff at the RVAR office. If you are making an investment separate from your dues with a check, please make it payable to RVAR PAC. For anyone who becomes a major investor ($1,000 or more) there will be some special extras throughout the year. RPAC contributions are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National, Oregon, or Rogue Valley Associations of REALTORS will not favor or disfavor anyone because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by the RVAR PAC and ORPAC to support state and local political candidates. Until Oregon reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after Oregon reaches its RPAC goal, your entire contribution will be used to support state and local candidates. Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. ORS 316.102 provides for a credit against state taxes not to exceed $50.00 per individual or $100.00 per joint return for contributions to political committees as defined in ORS 260.005. If a contribution is made on a corporate check or corporate credit/debit card, the national portion of the contribution must be sent to NAR's Political Advocacy Fund rather than RPAC. 2014 Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS, Inc.
WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY? Your 2014-15 Annual Dues and RPAC Dollars at Work Rogue Valley Association of REALTORS $64 - Association Governance Board of Directors Strategic Planning Membership Records Maintenance Administration and Office Expense Member Policy Development Representation at OAR and NAR Professional Services $54 - Professional Development and Education Continuing Education Program Designation and Certification Programs Professional Standards Program Leadership Training Membership Committee Affiliate Committee Risk Management Education and Information $22 - Public Policy Government Affairs Director County and Municipal Advocacy and Lobbying Issues Mobilization RVAR PAC Administration Political Education OAR and NAR Political Support Legislative Committee $15 - Information $155.00 Weekly Information Updates www.roguevalleyrealtors.org Media Relations Membership Communications $68 - Association Governance Strategic Planning Visitation and Communication with Local Board/Association Leadership Membership Records Maintenance Region XII Activities Representation at NAR Administration and Building Expenses Replacement Fund $89 - Public Policy Legislative, Regulative, Land Use and Water Policy Advocacy Grassroots Advocacy and Issues Mobilization Legislative and Congressional Contact Teams Political and Issues Education Shared Government Affairs Director Program REALTOR Day at the Capitol Political Affairs Committee Government Affairs Committee ORPAC NAR Political Support $8 - Communication Oregon Association of REALTORS $185.00 Oregon REALTOR Magazine and electronic communications Oregon REALTOR Branding Public Relations www.oregonrealtors.org $11 - Business and Legal Issues Research Legal Advocacy Program Legal Support Services Standardized Practice Aide Office Policy Guide, Risk Management Tool Kit, Flood Insurance Tool Kit Legal Hotline Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Programs Business Issues Committee $9 - Professional Development and Education Online Continuing Education Designation and Certification Programs Professional Standards Education and Information Leadership Training REALTOR of the Year Professional Development Committee Association Executive Training Risk Management Education and Information
National Association of REALTORS $11 - Association Management State and Local Association Services and Support Strategic Planning Annual Convention and Business Meetings Committee Governance Member Policy Development $70 - Public Policy Issues Mobilization, Advocacy and Lobbying Federal Tax Issues RPAC Administration Political Education REALTOR Action Center $12 - Information $155.00 REALTOR Magazine print and online Real Estate Research and Forecasting Real Estate Library Media relations www.realtor.org $12 - Legal and Technology Code of Ethics/Legal Policy, Enforcement Support of Industry Litigation REALTOR Trademark Retention/Protection Risk Management Business Development and Research Information Highway Connectivity $15 - Member Development and Education Commercial and Investment Real Estate Activities Professional Standards Development Economic and Technological Research $35 - Public Awareness Campaign Television, radio, and print ads Home Ownership Matters campaign www.realtor.com What has RPAC done for you lately? For every dollar invested in RPAC, 30% of the money goes to the National Association of REALTORS. Those dollars are pooled with money across the country to invest in Federal races. 35% of the money stays at the state level and is used to invest in State candidates who will ultimately make decisions that can affect your business. The other 35% goes right back to you at the local level. Those dollars can be used to make a difference in your local community by investing in races like City Council or County Commissioners. 2013/2014 National RPAC Successes Protected members business operations through privacy & data security Working with federal policymakers to create healthier housing & mortgage markets Monitoring of the National Flood Insurance Program Fought Against Proposals to reduce the value or elimination of the Mortgage Interest Deduction 2013/2014 Oregon RPAC Successes Defeated legislation that would have added additional layers to an already complex land use system Halted attempts to eliminate important economic development tax incentives Supported Veterans achieving the dream of homeownership Stopped cumbersome and difficult to implement radon testing mandates Stopped roll-backs of the critical small business tax incentive Stopped unnecessary and potentially harmful tax lien purchasers 2013/2014 Local RPAC Successes Supported local candidates and elected officials who support real estate issues. Helped to combat local issues that could negatively impact the real estate industry and the day-to-day operations of your business. Ensured that issues favorable to the real estate industry are supported and that elected officials have the appropriate information to make informed policy decisions. * Oregon is the only state in the country that allows you to give your investment of $50 ($100 if filing jointly) and receive that money, dollar for dollar, back from the state. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National, Oregon, or Rogue Valley Associations of REALTORS will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 35% of each contribution stays with RVAR PAC to support local political candidates and issues. 35% is used by Oregon REALTOR PAC to support state political candidates. Until Oregon REALTOR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after the Oregon REALTOR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, your entire contribution will be used to support state and local candidates. Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.ors 316.102 provides for a credit against state taxes of up to $50 per individual or $100 per joint return for contributions to political committees.
2014-15 Annual Dues Tax Deductibility and Membership Info The approved policy of the RVAR Board of Directors is that "Requests for dues refunds will not be granted." All dues are due and payable on or before July 1, 2014. Payment in full or the first installment payment MUST be received PRIOR to July 16, 2014, or the unpaid member will be subject to suspension (RVAR Bylaws, Article X, Section 4) and a $50.00 reinstatement fee. If a member is suspended for non-payment and later reactivates, the full-year dues must be paid along with other required reactivation fees regardless of when in the year the reactivation occurs. If a member submits a Member Change Form advising of the inactivation and later reactivates, only prorated dues will be charged along with other required reactivation fees. If the unpaid individual is still licensed with the firm as of August 1, 2014, the Designated REALTOR will be billed for the non-member licensee ($460.00 per non-member licensee) per NAR s dues billing formula. The same suspension and reinstatement fee rule and non-member fee potential will also apply if the second (due 9/15) and third (due 12/15) installment payments are not paid by the grace period deadlines dates (September 30 th and December 31 st ). Amounts charged to Designated REALTORS for non-member licensees will be sent to the DR on a separate statement after August 1 st (and/or November 1 st and/or January 1 st if the licensee is on the installment plan and misses a payment). Dues payments are non-deductible as charitable contributions. A portion of such payments may, however, be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. $50.00 national, $23.50 state, and $10.00 local ($83.50 total) political/lobbying expenses are not tax deductible. The state allocation includes $5.00 for subscription to the OREGON REALTOR magazine. The national dues portion includes a $35.00 mandatory assessment by the National Association of REALTORS of all REALTORS to fund a nationwide public awareness campaign that includes TV network and cable ads highlighting the value a REALTOR brings to a transaction and stressing the importance of using a REALTOR. The entire $35.00 portion of NAR dues related to public awareness qualifies as deductible dues. All REALTORS are required to complete a REALTOR Code of Ethics course every four years. Failure to complete the course during the applicable period will result in suspension until course completion, regardless of the status of dues payment. Suspension of services includes all local association, MLS, state association, and national association services. The current 4-year cycle is January 1, 2013, thru December 31, 2016. RPAC contributions are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National, Oregon, or Rogue Valley Associations of REALTORS will not favor or disfavor anyone because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by the RVAR PAC and ORPAC to support state and local political candidates. Until Oregon reaches its RPAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after Oregon reaches its RPAC goal, your entire contribution will be used to support state and local candidates. Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. ORS 316.102 provides for a credit against state taxes not to exceed $50.00 per individual or $100.00 per joint return for contributions to political committees as defined in ORS 260.005. If a contribution is made on a corporate check or corporate credit/debit card, the national portion of the contribution must be sent to NAR's Political Advocacy Fund rather than RPAC.