Olga Diaz Potter, Associate Broker, CRS, ASP, ePRO

Cabaret 2009 is the social event of the year for Pullman and the Pullman Chamber of Commerce. Each year brings a new theme and this year, "Meet Me in the Vineyard" is the party no one in Pullman should miss out on. The date for this event is March 28th, 2009, at 5:00p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 6:00p.m. It's a grand party benefitting the Pullman Chamber of Commerce with a fund raiser auction, great music and incredible food.

It is also a wonderful opportunity for all community members to support the Chamber as donors, volunteers and/or attendees. Further information is provided by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce website at www.pullmanchamber.com. Be sure to check out the menu, list of items and their donors which is listed on the website. Music is provided by "Guilty Pleasures" and the food by WSU Dining Services. Please consider being a part of this enjoyable event. Twenty percent of the Chamber's annual operating budget comes from Cabaret. Please consider coming! It's a fun night to dress up and a super way to be a part of our community!

An incredible basketball game was played in Pullman, Washington yesterday afternoon as the Washington State Cougars defeated the #14 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils, 51-49 in overtime! Senior, Taylor Rochestie completed a long 3-point shot with less than three seconds that caused the fans to fly out of their seats! It was an afternoon filled with emotion and excitement as this game was the last home game of the season. Fans also payed tribute to five seniors who contributed during the past four years. Beasley Coliseum exploded with enthusiasm and jubilation!

As a mom, I also enjoyed the celebration that preceded the game. I watched the parents of Senior Athletes display their heartfelt pride when they walked the court with their sons. The joy and smiles on their faces made me smile as I saw the athletes walk out with their arms around the shoulders of their moms and dads. It was an incredible Cougar day on many counts...the celebration of victory and the celebration of family. Go Cougs!

On a chilly Saturday, the first game of a double header was about to start at Bailey-Brayton Baseball Field at Washington State University. Lots of fans started to arrive as the WSU Cougs were set to play the 16th ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

It was going to be a great treat to see my husband, Matt, throw out the first pitch! Our daughter smiled as he walked out to the mound. He is most comfortable with a Soccer ball as he is the WSU Women's Soccer Coach, but he was asked to participate and he was really looking forward to it! And then, he threw the baseball! It was a success! Ball thrown and across the catcher's mound! Yeah! We cheered! The game soon began.

The Cougs went on to fight a great battle. After eleven innings, the ending score was: The Washington State Cougs 7, Oklahoma Sooners 9. Super Effort Cougs!

The National Association of Realtors has just launched one of their new initiatives to educate consumers as to why working with a REALTOR® is the right choice when purchasing or selling real estate. Real Estate Today, the Voice for Real Estate®, is the new NAR's weekly two-hour talk radio show, which debuts on February 14. The show will consist of information that will encourage buyers and sellers to use REALTORS® as their number one source for real estate data, and local and national market insights. This announcement was made by Charles McMillan, CIPS, GRI and President of the 2009 National Association of Realtors®.

The show will also air online at www.RETRadio.com once the show premiers and consumers will be able to check the selection of current and past programs at that time. It will also be available on satellite radio shows on XM Channel 158. XM Channel 165, and Stars, Sirius-XM Channel 102 and in the Washington, DC area, on 630 WMAL-AM, starting on February 15th. This is a great avenue for consumers to be on top of what is new in the Real Estate arena, especially at this time of many questions and concerns. Don't forget to Turn on the Radio!

Oh, what a night! The Fur Ball 2009, held at the SEL Event Center this past Saturday night was a huge success! Beginning with the Yappy Hour, guests were treated to a meaningful soiree benefitting the AnimalHaven.

With over 360 people attending, not including volunteers, it was a SOLD OUT crowd. Volunteers included the Celebrity Servers that did a wonderful job walking around the many tables serving guests. It was a much larger event than last year, and according to Connie, at the Whitman County Humane Society Office, the guests that attended gave very generously.

The Celebrity of the evening was Dr. Marty Becker, author of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, who added a special element to the night. Glenn Johnson, did an incredible job as the Master of Ceremonies, and the items that were auctioned off in the Live and Silent Auction were fantastic.

It was a memorable event that will help fund the construction of AnimalHaven, a Humane Pet Shelter and Community Resource.