January 10 GMM Recap

Thanks to all who participated and attended the January 10, 2018 General Membership Meeting. Board President Jodie Franklin of Workhorse Realty LLC led the meeting, which kicked off with announcements and a welcome to new Board members.

2018 President Jodie Franklin is sworn in by 2018 Michigan Realtors President Sara Lipnitz.

Thanks to all who participated and attended the January 10, 2018 General Membership Meeting. Board President Jodie Franklin of Workhorse Realty LLC led the meeting, which kicked off with announcements and a welcome to new Board members.

During the meeting the 2018 Board of Directors was installed. Congratulations to the new 2018 Directors: President Jodie Franklin of Workhorse Realty LLC, President-Elect Jack Brown of Howard Hanna, Treasurer Chrissie George of Trillium Real Estate, Treasurer-Elect Kirk Keebler of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Snyder & Company Realtors, Laurie Buys of the Charles Reinhart Company, Monica Juleff of Liberty Title, Todd Lands of The Charles Reinhart Company, Sara Maddock of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Snyder & Company Realtors, Kari Newman of the Charles Reinhart Company, Kim Peoples of The Charles Reinhart Company, Tracy Rose of Real Estate One, Ed Ridha of the Charles Reinhart Company and Don Wurtzel of Howard Hanna.

Installation of the 2018 Board of Directors by Michigan Realtors President Sara Lipnitz.

The 2018 Board of Directors and Board President Jodie Franklin was installed by special guest speaker Sara Lipnitz, the 2018 Michigan Realtors President, who also gave a State of the State address.

Outgoing Directors (from left to right) Amanda Lawrence, Jack Brown and Matt Miller.

2018 Committee Chairpersons were introduced and the 2017 Committee Chairpersons were recognized. Outgoing Treasurer Jack Brown and outgoing Directors Matt Miller of the Charles Reinhart Company and Amanda Lawrence of John Adams Mortgage were also recognized.

2017 Committee Chairpersons (from left to right) Kayia Robinson, Young Professionals Network, Chrissie George, Multiple Listing Committee, Jack Brown, Finance Committee, Travis Otto, Education Committee and Julie Gagne, Community Involvement and Grievance Committees.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2018 Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Awards, Happy Planet Running and Barbara Lucas of The Green Room, WEMU.

Happy Planet Running, founded by Jeff Jackson, is a company focused on panning zero waste running and local community events. Jeff runs over 1,000 miles per year and competes in races from 5K to 100 miles. Along the way, he began volunteering at races, and saw the amount of waste tossed into dumpsters at the end of the event, with no provisions for recycling, composting, or other methods for keeping it out of landfills. He connected with RF Events, a local company that puts on over 20 races per year, and offered to help them become a zero waste company. In 2016, Happy Planet Running adopted zero waste at 17 events and achieved a 90 percent average landfill diversion rate.

Jeff Jackson of Happy Planet Running receives the Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award from presenter Travis Otto.

Barbara Lucas, creator of the monthly radio show on WEMC called The Green Room, is dedicated to reporting on environmental topics relevant to Washtenaw County. The Green Room radio show is a collaboration between the WEMU News Department and the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division, airing at 6:50 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. on the last Friday of each month. Barbara has done extensive reporting on the Gelman Dioxane plume, along with shows on local solar development, local food & farming, the environmental impact of urban density, green burials, walking/biking issues, noise & light pollution, and many other relevant areas. Barbara Lucas is the writer and producer of all episodes of The Green Room, while WEMU News Director, David Fair, serves as editor and executive Producer.

Barbara Lucas of The Green Room, WEMU receives the Eunice L. Burns Environmental Awareness Award from presenter Megan Mazurek.

2018 President Jodie Franklin and 2017 President Ed Ridha.

2017 President Ed Ridha of the Charles Reinhart Company was recognized for his phenomenal service to the Board in 2017 and gave his remarks as outgoing President. 

A special thanks to our generous sponsors Academy Mortgage, American Title Company, Bank of Ann Arbor, Capital Title, Chemical Bank (Beth Maybee and Karin Maurer), Commission Express, Cutco Closing Gifts, Dart Bank, DFCU Financial, Fletcher Inspections, Huron Valley Financial, Independent Bank, Insurance One Agency, John Adams Mortgage, Journey Property Inspections, Movement Mortgage, PNC Bank, Ruoff Home Mortgage, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines and UnionHome Mortgage.