One of the regular events in the life of an association is setting and reviewing long term strategic goals or priorities. This is an exercise recently completed by the directors of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB). Associations – even professional associations such as RAHB – intend to serve both their membership and the wider community. The goals of the association therefore reflect how the organization will serve its many communities of interest, or stakeholders.
The RAHB strategic plan includes “values statements” with ideals that spill over into the community outside of our membership.
One value is “Protecting the right of real estate ownership and its value”. This is an ideal that comes out of organized real estate’s “Quality of Life” philosophy adopted a number of years ago and embraced by REALTORS® across the country. REALTORS® believe private property rights are fundamental to a free-market economic system. A strong economy depends upon preserving the right to freely own, use and transfer property.
Our national organization, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), has lobbied for years for the entrenchment of property rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Indeed, the right to own property is found in Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a goal that we will continue to strive for.
A second values statement that affects the greater community is “Impacting and enhancing the economy and environment in our communities”. This value relates to our Quality of Life philosophy for preserving our environment. REALTORS® support policies that encourage conservation and wise use of natural resources. We believe government must accommodate quality commercial, industrial and residential growth using planning techniques which promote sustainable economic growth and, at the same time, encourage a liveable and thriving community.
Another of our value statements which has an effect on the community is “Leading in collaboration and partnering”. As an organization, RAHB partners with community groups, business groups and like-minded organizations to help bring attention and resolution to issues of interest to the community. For instance, we partner with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Hamilton Halton Home Builders Association as the Hamilton Business Leaders, or HBL. In the 2010 municipal election, the HBL hosted a mayoral all-candidates’ meeting and highlighted the issues of jobs and prosperity on behalf of the voters in Hamilton. RAHB partners with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce on a number of special events. We also participate in the Canadian Real Estate Association’s and Ontario Real Estate Association’s “Political Action Days”, meeting with local MPs and MPPs to advance issues that affect home owners and home ownership.
The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington, along with the City of Hamilton and Scotia Bank, created the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership, or HOAP. This program helps people in social housing become homeowners. The program not only helps put families in their own homes, but helps revitalize neighbourhoods.
The goals of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington are not only goals for the members of our organization but also for the betterment of the communities in which we live and work. We are all interested in building better communities for ourselves and our children. REALTORS® care. In fact, that is the name of the foundation created by REALTORS® across the country to raise funds and awareness of the needs of others in our communities. Have a look at www.realtorscare.ca to see how REALTORS® contribute to our communities.
Cameron Nolan
President, 2012