Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesREAL ESTATE, SO THEY SAY, IS ALL ABOUT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. AND TO ME, BEING AN IREM MEMBER (S ALL ABOUT CONSANGUINITIES.
No, I won't repeat that three times. Actually, the first time I saw the word, I had to go to Webster's dictionary. Consanguinity: a close relation or connection.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Being a member of the IREM family is all about relationships and connections. And I rely on those connections to make my day, help with an issue, offer another way of thinking or tell me how a particular situation is handled in another part of the country. The thing is, as part of the IREM family, we are always able to contact someone within the family about virtually anything.
Indulge me a moment as I relay to you an encounter I had in Washington, D.C., one year ago at the IREM Leadership and Legislative Summit (LLS). During a free moment, I decided to finally write a note to Senator Grassley, the long-time Republican Senator from Iowa. I had meant to do it in previous years, but had not. I wanted to let Senator Grassley know that my very favorite high school teacher was Mrs. West, Senator Grassley's sister.
Mrs. (Lois) West was much more than a favorite of mine: I believe that much of my work ethic and my desire to succeed came in large part from her. She was an excellent teacher who taught me to persevere and strive to be the best I could be. She was an excellent role model for a small-town Iowa girl. I could do no better.
I only had a moment to pop into Senator Grassley's office and leave my handwritten note. In my office the morning after my return from LLS, the phone rang. It was Senator Grassley himself! I proceeded to tell him how Mrs. West was just my favorite, favorite teacher who still means so much to me after all these years. I was gushing on, when he finally had an opportunity to say that he had something to tell me. As cold chills ran all over me, Senator Grassley explained that we had lost Mrs. West that previous fall. I was stunned, and cried and cried. He was so patient with me; and he continued our conversation for some time.
Stay in touch with the people who have touched you. And connect again and again, as you see each other at various IREM functions ... whether at the Leadership and Legislative Summit, Success Series (coming up in October!) or, yes, even your local chapter meetings.
Enjoy your relationships. Nurture them. Treat them with care. Never take them for granted because we don't know what the future will bring ... or what the future may take away.
A brief postscript: I originally wrote this some mouths ago. And in February, I lost a dear friend, and IREM lost an outsanding person, too. It is in loving memory of Rheta Williams that I dedicate this article. I miss you Rheta--we all do--hut thank you for the wonderful smiles and hugs you shared with all of us!
IINDA JACKSON, CPM[R], RPA (LINDA@0TEXAS-ROOF.COM), IS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR TEXAS ROOF MANAGEMENT. INC.
FEED