Getting Involved

At least three (3) months before the annual election, an Elections Committee of seven (7) REALTOR® Members shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors. The Immediate Past President of the association shall serve as the chair of the Elections Committee. The Elections Committee shall solicit from the general membership, candidates for Officers and Directors. The committee typically meets one (1) or two (2) times prior to the election.

Staff Liaison: Pete Novak/Veronica Dunn

The Finance Committee shall be composed of a total of fifteen (15) members including the following: NIRA Treasurer, who shall serve as chairman; MLS Treasurer, who shall serve as vice chairman; NIRA President; MLS President; NIRA President-elect; MLS President-elect; Immediate Past NIRA Treasurer; Immediate Past MLS Treasurer; Immediate Past NIRA President and Immediate Past MLS President. Five (5) members at large shall be appointed annually by the NIRA and MLS Presidents. The Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Finance shall serve on the committee in an ex-officio capacity.

It shall be the function of the Finance Committee, with the assistance of the accounting firm and administrative staff, to compile the annual operational and capital budgets for presentation to the NIRA and MLS Boards of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to determine the means and provide oversight to an appropriate long-term investment strategy for the organization’s reserves. It shall also be responsible for initiating a financial audit as necessary. At least quarterly, the committee shall review the NIRA and MLS operational budgets and make any recommendations for adjustments to the appropriate Boards of Directors. The committee shall recommend appropriate financial policies and make recommendations to the Board of Directors of each corporate entity for inclusion in the NIRA and MLS Policy & Procedures Manuals. All Finance Committee member terms run from January 1 – December 31. The committee typically meets quarterly.

Staff Liaison: Carl Hochstetler

The Forms Committee review suggestions and comments that NIRA members have regarding the Indiana Association of REALTORS® (IAR) library of Indiana real estate contract forms utilizing ZipForms. This member benefit is provided to all dues paying members of IAR and is reviewed annually by members of the IAR Forms Committee comprised of REALTORS® throughout the state representing members of their associations, along with IAR’s attorneys.

The NIRA Forms Committee asks members for their input on the current IAR Forms, and assistance to help make the IAR Forms the most effective contracts for use in the state. The NIRA Forms Committee reviews all recommendations received by members and forwards recommendations for change to the NIRA Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD reviews the recommendations from the Forms Committee and utilizes them to make recommendations to the IAR Forms Committee though our representatives. The committee meets annually or as needed.

Staff liaison: Joe Wszolek

Government Affairs Committee advocates for local, state and national policy initiatives that protect the interests of our members and the Northwest Indiana real estate industry. Members of the committee assist in developing, cultivating and maintaining relationships with local, state and federal elected officials as well as like-minded civic, community and business organizations. Any NIRA member or affiliate member interested in government aspects of promoting the preservation of the right to own, use, and transfer real property are encouraged to join. The committee meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month or upon a call by the Chair.

Staff liaison: Joe Wszolek

The REALTOR® of the Year Committee meets once a year in the summer to review submissions for REALTOR® of the Year, Affiliate of the Year and potentially Honorary REALTOR® of the Year, which are announced at NIRA’s Annual Meeting. Submissions are requested from REALTOR® Members and Affiliate Members in late spring/early summer. The committee is comprised of the most recent REALTORS® of the Year from the last five years. The chair is traditionally the individual who is the least recent REALTOR® of the Year.

Staff liaison: Sara Perazzolo

Since 1969, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) has promoted the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates and real estate related issues across the United States. The NIRA RPAC Committee is comprised of members who develop and implement creative strategies specific to raising funds (voluntary investments in RPAC) from our members for use in supporting national, state and local candidates who have been identified as being pro-REALTOR®. These funds are not member dues but rather money given freely by REALTOR® members who recognize the importance of helping to fund campaigns of those who can help bring “our voice to the table” in support of issues important to our profession and livelihood. Any NIRA member or affiliate member interested in raising funds for the purpose of supporting pro-REALTOR® candidates are encouraged to join. The committee meets upon a call by the Chair but typically not more than once every other month.

Staff liaison: Joe Wszolek

The RPAC Trustees are responsible for allocating local political resources, including RPAC dollars, to support REALTOR® friendly candidates seeking office in Northwest Indiana. Each Trustee is expected to have an interest in the issues and political climate of the area they represent.

The RPAC Trustee is comprised of trained RPAC investor NIRA members or affiliate members who have a history of being engaged in the political process, are unbiased and represent various communities and unincorporated areas throughout the NIRA territory.

Responsibilities of the Trustee include:

• collecting background information and issue positions from local candidates for use by the Trustee members
• being available for a typically 2-hr. meeting in late February to early March to decide which races the Trustees are interested in participating and the candidates who will be interviewed
• being available for typically daylong, and in some cases multi-daylong, interviewing sessions with candidates seeking RPAC endorsements and/or financial support.

There are 12 Trustees who are each appointed by the NIRA President and confirmed by the NIRA Board of Directors for four (4) year terms. The terms of the appointments are staggered so that three (3) Trustees positions are available for appointment/reappointment each year. There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms a Trustee can serve.

Each member must participate in a ½ day training and commit to being available for candidate interviews for the spring and fall election cycles. The number of daylong interviews is dependent on the number of candidates filing for election and the number of “hotly” contested races as determined by the Trustees.

Staff liaison: Joe Wszolek

The Member Involvement/Social Events Committee is a newly formed committee that will focus on getting members more involved in various aspects of the Association including committees, leadership, events, community outreach, etc. The committee also assists with planning of NIRA’s Holiday Celebration held every December. The group meets to determine the event’s overall theme, philanthropic component(s), entertainment, menu and the like. It is comprised of multiple real estate related professionals who are either REALTOR® Members or Affiliate Members of the Association.

Staff liaison: Sara Perazzolo

YPN’s Mission Statement is to help young professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas:

• REALTOR® associations. Attend REALTOR® conferences and pursue leadership roles with their local, state and national associations.
• Real estate industry. Take an active role in policy discussions and advocacy issues; be informed about the latest industry news and trends.
• Peers. Network and learn from one another by attending events, participating in online communication and seeking out mentoring opportunities.
• Community. Become exceptional members of their community by demonstrating a high level of REALTOR® professionalism and volunteering for causes they feel passionate about.

Some key member benefits:

• Invitations to NAR-sponsored YPN events
• Stay abreast of industry happenings
• Have your own sounding board
• Get involved

All inclusive! While its geared toward REALTORS® under 40, all are welcome!

Staff liaison: Sara Perazzolo

The Diversity Committee is made up of REALTORS®, Affiliate Members and staff of the Northwest Indiana REALTORS® Association (NIRA ). We are a diverse, and multicultural group that meets to discuss, and execute resolutions towards issues involving Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I) that may affect our real estate business and the people in the communities in which we serve. In following NIRA’s mission statement our goals are to:

• We strive to be leaders in the communities we represent by supporting and encouraging diversity, equality, and inclusion as it relates to real estate.
• Promote and celebrate diversity and multiculturalism through social media, educational workshops, webinars, and events

We acknowledge that the work being done by this committee is ongoing and we have made a commitment to our peers and to NIRA in helping carry out this mission effectively.

Staff Liaison: Peter Novak

The Elections Tally Committee (“Committee”) is responsible for counting the votes cast for each candidate on the ballot and reporting the results to the CEO for announcement to general membership.

Staff Liaison: Carl Hochstetler

The goal of the REALTOR® Safety Committee is to promote REALTOR® Safety. We create awareness through events and safety trainings, review new technology and programs to recommend to the Board of Directors, and above all, strive to ensure the safety of our members and the public.

Staff Liaison: Matisha Gossett

NIRA shall have one MLS Hearing Panel Committee of 12 Board members, in good standing; consisting of the MLS Past President, Participants, and subscribers except no more than 2 (two) shall be subscribers. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the MLS President, subject to confirmation by the MLS Board of Directors. Members will be appointed to staggered three (3) year terms, after which a member shall be eligible for reappointment after a period of one (1) year. The Immediate Past President of the MLS will serve as the Chairperson of the committee as well as Chair all hearings where there is no conflict.

Individual hearing panels will be convened and comprised of five (5) members, including the Chairperson who will select the panel from the committee. Members of the MLS Hearing Panel Committee shall be selected to serve on Hearing Panels as required to hear matters of violations of the rules and regulations by Participants and their subscribers in instances where an assessed fine is being challenged. The hearing panel typically meets as necessary.

Staff Liaison: Joe Wszolek

The President of the Service shall at least three (3) months prior to the Annual Participants Meeting of the Service each year appoint a Nominating Committee, which shall be comprised of no more than five (5) Participants of the Service including the appointment of the Immediate Past President of the Service as the Chair. The Committee shall select a proposed slate of Officer(s) and Director(s) of the Service striving to achieve geographical diversity and balanced representation among the firms. The committee typically meets one (1) or two (2) times prior to the election.

Staff Liaison: Pete Novak/Veronica Dunn

Review existing rules and regulations and make recommendations for changes if necessary, all in support of the purpose of the MLS.

The Elections Tally Committee (“Committee”) is responsible for counting the votes cast for each candidate on the ballot and reporting the results to the CEO for announcement to general membership.

Staff Liaison: Carl Hochstetler

Focused on reviewing various technology tools and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.