Dona Reynolds, ST JOSEPH MO

Last Thursday was the kick-off for 2010 St Joseph Regional Association of REALTORS® members in St Joseph. President Mary Kay Lyle, exciting theme for the event was

"THE FUTURE'S SO BRIGHT-YOU GOTTA WEAR SHADES"

Fellow Realtors®, Bobbie Jo Howe and Scott Mears wasted no time in capturing the spirit of the event.

The highlight of the event,was a presentation by 2001 President of the National Association of REALTORS® Richard Mendenhall. Richard is a REALTOR from Columbia, Mo, and is the fifth generation of his family in real estate. He is the owner of Remax Boone Realty in Columbia.

During his term as NAR President, Richard spearheaded the establishment of the Realtors® Housing Relief Fund one day after the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Mendenhall mobilized the 1,000,000+ member organization in a rapid response to establish funds to help pay mortgage and rent costs for victim's families. The focus of the keynote presentation was Courage.

Richard shared his belief that courage is a common trait shared by REALTORS®. He pointed out that REALTORS® get out of bed and go to work every day not knowing if they will earn a paycheck or not. This takes courage! He said that average people, like REALTORS®, are the real heroes in today's world.

A few other highlights: *Highest affordability in 35 years *Lowest conventional in 40 years *Approximately 1.2-1.4 million new house-holds each year

National Association of REALTORS Housing Affordability Index *2006 107.6 *2008 134.9 *2009 167.7 *Midwest region 211.8

Richard pointed out that in the fast paced world we live in today some things quickly became obsolete in the last 10 years:

1. Film Development
2. Movie Rental
3. Land-line Phones
4. Long Distance Charges
5. Public Pay Phones
6. VCR's
7. Books, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias
8. Boundaries
9. Loosing Touch

Currently the second Ranking Seach Engine is YouTube

I-pod applications downloads hit 1 billion in 9 months

The St Joseph Regional Association of REALTORS, suprised President Mary Kay Lyle with a oversized Birthday cake. Happy Birthday Mary Kay!

Richard Mendenhall's presentation for the St Joseph event

Yesterday, I stopped in to visit Erica Garrison at the Comfort Center and see their new 3,000+ sq. ft. show room located at 1804 North Belt Highway, St Joseph MO.

The Comfort Center opened in 1980 as a fireplace store in a 200 sq. ft. building and sold wood stoves. They now carry a large selection of wood, gas and pellet stoves, inserts and outdoor kitchen islands.

Keeping up with the latest trends, in 1986 The Comfort Center added this first inground pool display. Now with four pools and a gazebo, they have created an outdoor pool park where customers can browse and get a feel for their own backyard look.

The Comfort Center offers above and inground pools, spas, and all your chemicals in just one store.

The Comfort Center is known in St Joseph for "building your backyard dreams."

Stop in to see Erica or visit their online store.

The turbines swishing through the air generating electricity have such an awesome appearance that the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm has became a bit of a tourist attraction. Seeing the need to provide more information to visitors____and to further develop the community___The Tri-County Alternative Energy Education and Visitors Center was envisioned.

Now, the not-for-profit King City group supporting the venture is in the process of raising funds for a 4,800 square foot facility. It would house a visitors' center with hands-on activities for both children and adults explaining alternative energy and a viewing area of the Blue Ridge Wind Farm developed by Wind Capital Group.

The facility also would offer educational programs and serve as a community center.

Please read this touching story about Matt Ziesel a young man that "Just wants to play football" that became a media sensation overnight. 

Matt Ziesel is a freshman at Benton High School in St Joseph, Mo, who loves to play football.

Last Friday night displayed what true sportsmanship truly is about in a freshman game against Maryville.  The score was 46-0 which was a lost game for Benton but a winner for sportsmanship, coaches and all the players that night, along with Matt Ziesel who just wants to play football!

With 19 seconds left in a meaningless game, Benton Freshman Coach Dan McCamy, approached Maryville's coaches with the idea of allowing Matt to enter the game and score a touchdown.  At first bewiltered by Mr. McCamy's advances the Spoofhounds' staff agreed.

Matt sprinted down the sideline, with Coach McCamy giving encouragement, and Maryville's players feigning attempts to tackle him.

Matt's father, Mike, Benton's activities director witnessed the game but his wife was out of town so Mr. McCamy decided to put the video on the internet for Mike's wife to see.

Matt has Down syndrome and Doctors had advised his parents that he probably shouldn't play football, due to the dangers of physical contact. 

Matt watches the video and sees a touchtown regardless of the circumstances.

Matt just wants to play football!

To the Maryville and Benton players, and coaches, Thank You, for making this happen for Matt!