This has been a year of change for the Texas REALTORS®. One change is the magazine you’re reading right now. The newly redesigned Texas REALTOR® reflects our overall goal to offer meaningful, valuable services for more than 100,000 TAR members.

We have also created new ways to recognize and encourage involvement. The Spirit of TREPAC Award was recently given to 10 individuals to acknowledge their excellence in advancing the goals of TREPAC at the local level. And for the first time, TAR recognized our rising stars with the Texas REALTORS® to Watch Award, given to 11 members under 40 who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community involvement, and productivity. TAR is embracing the resurgence of the Young Professionals network, looking for ways to foster diversity of all kinds, and working to make sure every Texas REALTOR® knows you belong here.

We want members to come forward and help us as we grow this association so it’s more inclusive and diverse.

This isn’t a top-down association. We’re listening to you. For change to happen the way it did with the magazine, you need to participate, whether that is by surveys, comments, meetings, or new members getting involved. That’s why editorial staffers spent almost a year getting your feedback to update and refresh on of your most valued member benefits.

We don’t want sheep. We don’t want members agreeing with us all the time. We want diverse opinions. We want members pitching in with a wealth of different experiences. We want members to come forward and help us as we grow this association so it’s more inclusive and diverse.

Change is going to happen, and I want us to be involved with it rather than have it happen to use. Please join us and be a participant in our efforts.