The LIBOR Board of Directors has recommended that nominations for the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) REALTOR® of the Year Award and the NYSAR Community Service Award be solicited from the LIBOR membership. The final Nominee (for both awards) will be selected by the LIBOR Awards Committee and forwarded to the NYSAR Selection Committee for consideration.

The REALTOR® of the Year recipient will be announced and honored at the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY, they will also receive registration, round trip air transportation and up to three nights’ accommodations to the National Association of REALTORS® Annual Conference and Trade Expo in Chicago, Illinois November 1-6, 2017, in order to participate in the NAR REALTOR® Recognition Program. The 2017 Community Service Award recipient(s) will be recognized at NYSAR’s 2018 Mid-winter meetings.  A monetary grant of $1,500.00 will be made in the recipient’s name to her/his selected charity.

Please take a moment to consider someone you know or may have done business with who is truly deserving of this award. In order for nominees to be considered an award candidate, they must be LIBOR members in good standing. To assist you in your decision, please read the NYSAR Award Qualifications/Criteria below:

2017 will be the 60th time the New York State Association (NYSAR) has recognized a member with its REALTOR® of the Year Award. The REALTOR® of the Year award is the highest honor that NYSAR can bestow on a member.  It is presented annually to an individual whose dedication to excellence has most profoundly enhanced the professional image of REALTORS® in the State of New York.  The award recognizes an individual’s service to the REALTOR® organization as well as community service qualities. The award, while not granted for a specific business accomplishment, is earned by REALTORS® who have made a mark in the real estate industry.  Previous nominations will not affect nominee’s consideration for the award.

The following basic criteria will apply to members who are nominated for the REALTOR® of the Year Award:

The candidate must have attained at least ten (10) years of service in the New York State Association of REALTORS®, including leadership positions in the local Board/Association, hold a valid real estate license as a broker, associate broker or salesperson and are currently active in the real estate industry. Please Note: The REALTOR® of the Year award will not be awarded posthumously.  Please click here to view the Nomination Form, print a copy and fax to LIBOR no later than May 1, 2017.

Now in its fourth year, the NYSAR Community Service Award recognizes an individual’s activities across the spectrum and are not limited to real estate or housing issues. A nominee should be an individual engaged in some endeavor in the community (i.e. to improve the quality of life in their community). Among the activities that might qualify for consideration are involvement supporting initiatives aimed at a community’s youth; improving the quality of education in an area; youth mentoring; youth sports programs; enhancing the quality of life of older Americans, Housing for Seniors, Caregivers' Resources Health for Seniors; crime prevention; homelessness prevention (Habitat) and/or work on any other community-based program(s); Red Cross, church or religious organizations etc. Also, in the wake of the hurricanes and storms the committee included efforts of an individual’s activities following a natural disaster.

Nominees for the Community Service Award should have a minimum of 5 years of membership as a REALTOR®, with active involvement at the local level and at the state association level. Since this is a NYSAR Award, local and state contributions are what the award should focus on. While the active involvement in local and state association is essential, since there are a number of members who spend many hours each year involved in the NAR Habitat build, the committee recommends that involvement in Habitat and other types of volunteerism and service at the national level be included.

Additional attributes such as exemplary dedication and service, and the high esteem in which the individual is held at the local or community level as well as by members of the REALTOR® organization be provided.

The Community Service Award is only for REALTORS®. To that end, a nominee must hold a current real estate (broker, associate broker or salesperson) license or is a licensed / certified appraiser and is a member in good standing. *Posthumous recognition: If a member has passed away within the previous 12 months he or she may be nominated. Please click here to view the Nomination Form, print a copy and fax to LIBOR no later than May 1, 2017.