The Council of Residential Specialists 2002 President Walter J. Frey, CRS, announced the recipients of new Council awards at the national real state organization's Inaugural Dinner in November held during the National Association of Realtors® National Conference in New Orleans. The Special Recognition, Presidential and Chapter Awards recognize individuals and CRS Chapters for their contributions to the professional association, which is the largest affiliate of NAR.

The Special Recognition Award for career-long service honored well-known educator Howard Brinton, CRS. The President's Awards are for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional support in 2002 to the Council. The recipients were Chuck Bode, CRS, Deb Greene, CRS, Colleen McMahon and Rachel Tristano. Two CRS Chapters received awards for their achievements during 2002: Oklahoma for the small chapters and Florida for the large chapters.

The first-ever recipient of the Special Achievement Award, Brinton has a long history with the Council of Residential Specialists. He served as one of the Council's first instructors for CRS Courses and one of the organization's first Presidents in 1984. Today Brinton is the Founder and CEO of STAR POWER® Systems, a sales training organization that offers audio, books, videos and conferences for agents.

"Howard has worked hard, consistently and for many years to achieve the distinction he has achieved in our profession," Frey said. "It is fitting that he is the very first recipient of this Special Achievement Award because there is no one in this industry or in this world like Howard. He's an original. He's unpredictable, and he always smart and entertaining. Howard's flexible, curious and empathic.

"Best of all, Howard motivates Realtors® to become their best. I think every Realtor® wants to be Howard Brinton. But we cannot. There's only one Howard Brinton."

The Council's Presidential Awards recognize those individuals – on Committees, serving as Instructors or on staff, or volunteer members – who have provided exceptional support to our members and the Council; consistently demonstrated a high level of service; gone beyond what was expected; always shown respect for others; and fostered trust by acting with integrity at all times.

Since 1984, Bode has been a CRS Instructor and an active volunteer for the Council, serving on many National Committees, emceeing events and working as a facilitator for networking opportunities. He is based in Omaha, Neb., and also works for NP Dodge Company.

"Chuck has high energy and is passionately devoted to his students' learning and the successful application of the knowledge he imparts," Frey said.

Greene serves as the Regional Vice President for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Her strength lies in her leadership skills coupled with hard work. According to Frey, she is "magnetic, vivacious, enthusiastic and very competent" Greene works as a Realtor® for Coldwell Banker Burnet in Plymouth, Minn

Two of the President's Award recipients are members of the Council's staff – McMahon and Tristano. The two women work together as a team in the Member Services Department, where McMahon is the Director of Member Services, and Tristano is the Manager of Chapter Resources and Services.

Frey described McMahon as "the answer lady to members and staff alike for her ability to be wonderful resource of knowledge." He found Tristano "sees the best in all of the members and is consistently upbeat and always helpful."

The two Award-winning CRS Chapters demonstrated strong communications with their members and rigorous support of educational programs for Realtors®. With not quite 300 members, the Oklahoma CRS Chapter sponsored six educational programs in 2002, including two CRS Courses. The Chapter has created a Web site for both the Chapter members and Board of Directors, while also advertising and placing articles about the Council in many publications, including Oklahoma Today and Home & Lands magazines. In addition, the Oklahoma Chapter sponsored a CRS exhibit at the Oklahoma state convention. The 2002 Oklahoma Chapter President Toni Bales, CRS, accepted the CRS Chapter Award on behalf of its members.

With approximately 1,300 members, the Florida CRS Chapter encompasses not just the state of Florida, but also includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Island and the Bahamas. The Chapter promoted the CRS Course for the Bahamas Association. It worked with John Hernandez to co-sponsor a Spanish language two-day Top Producers Program with the Puerto Rico Association and Reality Realty owner Ivan Zavala. Drawing on a rich history of strong Florida Chapter Presidents, it created a Past Presidents' Committee with the goal of keeping past presidents involved. The Chapter recognized 15 Council Emeritus members at a special lunch. For membership recruitment, through its High Touch campaign, the Chapter has recruited 140 new members. Through the Chapter with a Heart Project, the Florida Chapter raised more than $3,000 and sent three children to Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K.) Camp. The 2002 Florida Chapter President Deborah Valledor, CRS, accepted the CRS Chapter Award on behalf of its members.

The Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors® with nearly 40,000 members in the United States, awards the CRS designation to experienced Realtors® who have completed advanced professional training.

Published: November 27, 2002

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