One of my many avocations is being an e-PRO Trainer for the National Association of Realtors and the Internet Crusade who administer the certification for NAR.
This involved traveling to nearby boards and associations of Realtors to deliver the e-PRO message and give a short presentation about what the course will do for you to bring you up to speed with today's technology.
Yesterday (July 24th) I had two associations to visit. First up was the Haywood County Association of Realtors located in beautiful Waynesville, North Carolina and about a hundred miles southeast of Knoxville. It's a beautiful drive along Interstate 40 skirting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I was here last year; great people, and Lisa Brown the AE is a e-PRO graduate. She told me she was able to build the association website after becoming an e-PRO.
We had a small turnout but everyone was enthusiastic about the program and all of them signed up to take the e-PRO course.
My next gig was about 60 miles away in Clayton, Georgia, a popular summer getaway and vacation home for the Atlanta area residents. There are also a lot of Florida residents who come to this part of the country to get away from the summer heat.
My journey took me by the quaint little town of Dillsboro, North Carolina, home of the Great Smoky Mountain Mountains Roadroad. Since my next class wasn't until 3:00 PM I stopped by for a quick visit. The GSMR is a private railroad that runs excursion trips through the Smoky Mountains for about 50 miles or so. I've been on a couple and it's a great way to spend the day and see some scenary you probably would not see any other way.
Here's the train loading up for another trip.
The GSMR has been featured in several movies including the crash scene in "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford. They still the wrecked bus(s) the train ran over in the escape scene.
On to Clayton. I got there about 12:30; still lots of time before my 3:00 pm show so I wandered around. Clayton is a charming little town up in the north Georgia mountains.
Since it was about lunch time I paid a visit to the Clayton Cafe located right on Main Street.
If you're ever in Clayton around lunchtime you need to pay them a visit. The place was packed when I walked and one of the watresses said "Honey, you can sit down there at the community table if you want." Worked for me so I went and sat down. Turns out the community table is a long table in the rear where the local go to visit with each other.
There were two charming ladies already sitting there. They both smiled and started up a conversation. One was from Atlanta and her and her husband own a weekend home near there; she left him taking a nap while she came for lunch. The other lady was a local resident who retired to Clayton because her two daughters live near there.
I ordered the meat loaf with mashed potatoes, pinto beans, cornbread, of course a big glass of iced tea, and peach cobbler for desert. WOW! It was delicious; I ate every bite plus 2 glasses of tea.
I wandered around Clayton for a bit after lunch. Found this interesting looking rock house down the street from the cafe. My fellow Realtors later told me you can rent it for gatherings, meetings, social events, etc. It's called, not surprisingly, "The Rock House"
Found a great bookstore that invited you to come in, have a cup of coffee, and browse so I did. Lots of interesting books about local events, places, history, and great coffee.
It was now after 2:00 pm so I headed back down to the Rabun County Association of Realtors for my last class.
Their AE, Mary Ann Rich is a very gracious lady who not only welcomed me but gave me a big bag of fresh vegetables one of her members had dropped off at the association for the membership. I got some fresh summer squash and cucumbers, mmmmmmm.
Did the class and ended up staying awhile to visit with some of the attendees.
Clayton and Rabun County Georgia has some pretty pricey real estate for a sleepy little north Georgia town.
You can buy this beautiful, log B & B on Apple Pie Ridge Road for only $199,999
They also have quite a few listings on the area's many lakes that are priced in the low 7 figure range.
All in a all a fun day and a great road trip. I saw some countryside I've never visited before, made some new Realtor friends, and got a big bag of fresh vegetables not to mention that great lunch at the Clayton Cafe.
If anyone is thinking about becoming an e-PRO, my trainer website has a short video that explains all about the course. It's taught 100% online and unlike other NAR designations (e-PRO is a certification), there is NO RECURRING ANNUAL FEE to maintain.
I can also get you a $25.00 discount if you'll email me directly instead of signing up online.
