NYSAR Awards Program

NYSAR REALTOR^® of the Year

The REALTOR^® of the Year award is the highest honor the New York State Association of REALTORS^® can bestow on a member. It is presented annually to an individual whose dedication to excellence has most profoundly enhanced the professional image of REALTORS^® in the state of New York. The award recognizes the REALTOR^® of the Year’s personal leadership and service qualities, applied not only to the real estate industry but also to the promotion of civic, community and charitable causes. The award, while not granted for a specific business accomplishment, is earned by REALTORS^® who have made a mark in the real estate industry.

In addition to being recognized at the General Session during the NYSAR Fall Business Meetings at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York, the NYSAR REALTOR^® of the Year will receive registration, round trip air transportation and up to three (3) nights’ accommodations to the National Association of REALTORS^® Annual Conference and Trade Exposition in order to participate in the NAR REALTOR^® Recognition Program.

Contact NYSAR Board Relations & Professional Standards Assistant Charity Murray at 518.463.0300 or email at [email protected] with questions. Deadline for applications is Friday, July 28, 2023.

2023 REALTOR^® of the Year nominating form

Community Service Award

NYSAR recognizes New York REALTORS^® for their contributions to the REALTOR^® organization and the communities in which they live and work with the NYSAR Community Service Award. Up to three (3) REALTORS^® will be recognized for their activities in their community and such as involvement supporting initiatives aimed at a community’s youth, or improving the quality of education, quality of life for older Americans, homelessness prevention as well as efforts following natural disasters.

2023 Community Service Award nominating form

Alan Yassky Distinguished Service Award

The candidates nominated for this honor must have made significant industry contributions throughout their career and are also judged on their participation in local activities, state association, NAR, and civic organizations. These leaders are true professionals and outstanding citizens of their community.

No more than two REALTORS^® may be honored each year. The recipient(s) are selected by the NYSAR Awards Committee who will name one, two, or no recipients based on the nominations submitted by individuals and local associations.

The Alan Yassky Distinguished Service Award shall be presented at the Fall Business Meetings of NYSAR.

The Alan Yassky Distinguished Service Award recipient shall have a minimum of 25 years of service within the real estate industry and shall currently be a REALTOR^® member with an active real estate license. Years of service while a member of another state/local association is accepted.

Only one nominee from each local board/association will be considered, but a board/association other than his or her own “or any other REALTOR^®” may nominate the candidate. The nominating association may contact the candidate to secure the information required to complete the nomination. There shall be no campaigning for this award.

Letters of endorsement and/or recommendation in support of this candidate will be accepted from the president and/or association executive of the nominating and/or board/association ONLY. Letters can be mailed/emailed to NYSAR’s Board and Member Services Department by the nomination deadline. Additional recommendations should not be solicited or submitted.

A recent photograph is required in a digital format or if none is available, a photograph can be mailed to NYSAR by the nomination deadline.

Following the nomination process each year, all nominations, other than those selected, will be discarded and will not be automatically considered the following year. Candidates will only be considered if a new nomination is submitted.

The Alan Yassky Distinguished Service Award is based on the following criteria:

Local Service (30%)

Include all contributions and service at the state level, i.e. committee assignments, special assignments, participation in PAC activities, meeting attendance, offices held, seminar activity, education work, membership and offices held in local chapters of the institutes or other related organizations.

NYSAR Service (30%)

Include all New York State Association of REALTORS^® contributions and service at the state level, i.e. committee assignments, attendance at business meetings, and offices held. Participation in legislative assemblies, calls-to-action, RPAC events, seminars, educational programs as an instructor, in-board/association and out of local board association visits to other associations, membership in affiliated organizations, and other state-sponsored activities.

National Service (10%)

Include all NAR contributions and service, i.e. committee assignments, participation in a workgroup and/or task forces, service as a committee liaison, participation in calls-to-action, consistent attendance at NAR meetings such as conventions, Hill Visits, or other national meetings, offices held, membership held in any of the institutes, societies or councils, visits made to out of New York associations as speaker or guest and any other national-level activity.

Civic Activities (15%)

List activities or involvement with Chamber of Commerce work, non-profit organizations and cultural contributions to the community, campaigns, political offices held (with or without pay). Examples include city council, town council, the board of supervisors, county legislature, school boards, planning commission, etc.

Individual Accomplishments (15%)

List contributions that have enhanced the image of the real estate professional, the industry, and/or include examples of the nominee’s participation as a mentor or role model to new members at the local, state, or national level.

2023 Alan Yassky Distinguished Service Award nomination form

REALTOR^® Honor Society

The REALTOR^® Honor Society recognizes board/association members for their involvement during the previous elective year. The Honor Society Report Form must be completed and signed by an officer or executive officer of the board/association. The forms are then sent to NYSAR for verification and approval. If an individual is approved for the award, the pin and certificate are sent to the local board/association along with a bill for the same. The cost of the certificate and pin is $10 plus tax. View the REALTOR^® Honor Society point chart.

2023 REALTOR^® Honor Society report form

Please return the completed form(s) to Charity Murray, NYSAR, 130 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210 or as a PDF attachment to [email protected].

REALTOR^® Emeritus

A REALTOR^® Emeritus is any person who has held membership in the National Association as a REALTOR^®, REALTOR^® Associate, or a combination of both, for a cumulative period of 40 years in one or more Associations of REALTORS^®, is eligible for REALTOR^® Emeritus status. Upon approval by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS^®, no further payment of dues is necessary to the New York State Association of REALTORS^® or the National Association of REALTORS^®. Local boards/associations may waive dues as well.

The dues waiver does not take effect until the following year. For example, members approved as Emeritus at the NAR Mid-Year or Annual meetings in 2017 would have their dues waived starting in 2018. Upon approval, each REALTOR^® Emeritus member will receive a congratulatory letter, certificate and 40-year REALTOR^® Emeritus lapel pin. In addition, REALTOR^® Emeritus is exempt from the Quadrennial Ethics Training requirement. NYSAR reviews the REALTOR^® Emeritus list after each meeting of the NAR Board of Directors and publishes the names of the members who have earned this designation.

If you believe that you fulfill the requirements to achieve REALTOR^® Emeritus status as defined above and would like to have all future national, state & possibly local dues waived, download the REALTOR^® Emeritus application. In most instances, local boards and associations review and submit the applications to the National Association of REALTORS^®. If you have any questions regarding REALTOR^® Emeritus status, you may contact NYSAR Board Relations & Professional Standards Assistant Charity Murray at 518.463.0300 or email at [email protected].

NOTE: All REALTOR^® Emeritus applications must be submitted by the deadlines specified by the National Association of REALTORS^® each year.

To be eligible, a member must have held membership as a REALTOR^®, REALTOR^®-ASSOCIATE, or both, for a cumulative period of 40 years.

As a reminder, beginning in 2019, REALTOR^® Emeritus status eligibility will be 40 continuous years as a member of the National Association of REALTORS^® and each candidate member must also have completed at least one (1) year of service at the National Association of REALTORS^® level. Service at the national level is defined as serving as a NAR officer, director, committee member, federal political coordinator, or president’s liaison.