Women's Council of Realtors helps area agents find success

Networking and learning how to better do the job are keys to a successful real estate career, according to Swanie Marsh, president of the Springfield Women's Council of Realtors chapter and broker/salesperson at Carol Jones, Realtors.

Self-described as one of the old icons,' Marsh's real estate career has spanned more than 20 years and she is a long-standing member in the Women's Council of Realtors.

"We are professionals that try to promote and develop our professionalism even more by emphasizing education and networking," Marsh said.

The Women's Council of Realtors started in 1938, has 14,000 member real estate professionals nationally and 250 local chapters, according to a WCR brochure. Marsh said the Springfield WCR chapter was established about 1947. It has 31 active members and nearly 50 affiliate members.

"We are a community of real estate professionals creating business opportunities, developing skills for the future and achieving our individual potential for success," is the WCR's mission statement.

Men are allowed to be WCR members, Marsh said. She said the president of the Columbia chapter is a man and the Springfield chapter includes five men on its roster.

Tammie Tucker, sales agent with AR Wilson Realtors, president-elect of WCR and six-year WCR member, said belonging makes her "more successful. I think the more people you get to know makes your job more interesting. If you hit a snag, it's amazing to find other people have hit the same sort of snag and they can give you tips. It's a camaraderie of helping fellow Realtors."

Kathy King, president and chief executive officer of Mid-Missouri Mortgage Co., has been an affiliate member for more than 15 years.

"(I get to know) the full transactions from start to finish," King said. "We all share a customer, whether we're the person who lists, sells, finances, closes or deals with the compliance side of it. It makes us better at what we do and I love that. I get back 100 percent over what I put into it."

Part of the WCR's goal is to give back to the community. Springfield WCR donates for the Family Violence Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates. This last spring, WCR held its seventh combination dance/dinner/auction, Spring Fling, for the Family Violence Center. Marsh believes that WCR has given the center between $25,000 to $30,000; this year's Spring Fling resulted in a $7,200 donation.

Education, networking

To promote education and networking, Springfield's WCR holds monthly meetings. Marsh said programs include panels of home inspectors, lenders and others to help real estate professionals stay up on new developments. One program, based upon the code of ethics, was a version of "The Weakest Link."

The group also offers a leadership training graduate designation. Within that curriculum trainees take courses such as "Excellence in Communications," "Personal and Professional Power," and "Internet Professional."

Marsh said the local chapter isn't big, but pointed out "most of the leadership of our Missouri Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors are members of WCR."

WCR is involved with promoting legislation.

"One of our members, Donna Dinger, RE/MAX House of Brokers, is chairperson of the committee which raises money to give to candidates and promote legislation," Marsh said.

"The women and men of WCR are leaders in board activities. Several, including myself, are Missouri Association of Realtors' state directors. We have a high percentage of members that participate every year in the Capital Conference that's held in Jefferson City," she added.

The local WCR chapter recently received an award for third in the nation for percentage of new members gained during a membership drive.

It received a $200 check at a banquet during the WCR mid-year meeting in Washington, D.C., Marsh said. That conference was another place to network with legislators.

"I would never have gotten acquainted with so many people across the state and learned from them, as well as networked with them, without WCR. That is a major benefit. I go to a state convention and I probably know at least half of the people there. Before I joined WCR and became active, you felt almost like you were walking alone," Marsh said.