Happy New Year! Another day, another year. In the blink of an eye life moves forward. In our private lives we make new goals, hoping to have learned from our past. While I won’t bore anyone with eternal goals like exercising more and eating healthier, maybe it is interesting to remember the things that were laughable last year.

A recent poll put “laughing till you cry” as one of life’s great small pleasures. Jim and I laughed till we cried at our granddaughters’ antics (and bored everyone with the stories), chuckled at yet another lost set of keys, smiled at the mouse that scuttled past my feet while having my morning coffee (well, that was after my determination to “get him”), happily watched our sons’ parenting skills, and cried with joy as we watched families purchase their first home. Pure joy for us!

It’s going to be a terrific year ahead. Both of us have major projects ahead and look forward to finding those “laughable moments”!! A friend of mine uses this signature line “Happy, happy, happy”. Everybody together now, focus!

The Spokane Association of Realtors is the organization that supports all Realtors in the Spokane area. There is a difference between a licensee and a Realtor. State law governs a licensed agent, and a Realtor is guided by not only the state law, but the Code of Ethics. Not all agents are Realtors.

I have taught this Code for many years in our association. Most interestingly, attended many sessions on business ethics, sat on hearing panels and chaired many of those hearings. To say the least, I have great pride in my label “Realtor”. I believe in the professionalism and accountability.

Last week I was very humbled to have been voted by my peers to be president elect for 2009–serving as President of the Spokane Association of Realtors in 2010. The responsibility will be great and I have a vision for our association to be true professionals, gaining the public’s trust more with each transaction. Our job is to serve our client–without concern for our personal gain. A servant’s heart. It’s what we’re all about. Thank you, membership, for your confidence in me.