The Alabama REALTORS® Leadership AAR (LAAR) Class of 2019 met last week for the first session of this prestigious program, spending an intensive three days focusing on the various aspects of one of our Association’s most critical missions – advocacy.

The Class kicked things off in Montgomery with introductions, testimonials from LAAR Trustees who are prior graduates of the program, and an overview of the concepts of leadership. The Class also received a briefing on the various state agencies and offices that have purview over REALTOR® issues. The group then heard from a panel of other industry Association leaders about how their Associations employ strategic communications to further their priorities at local and state levels. The day closed with group mini case studies where the Class members were tasked with reviewing and resolving a problem scenario that leaders of a local REALTOR® board could face.

The second day of the program opened with an overview of the state legislative process, from how legislation is introduced in the House and Senate, to how committee work on proposed bills is conducted, to how members of the legislature register their votes in their respective chambers. The Class members were also invited to sit in legislators’ chairs and cast electronic ballots for a mock bill while visiting the State House chamber!

For the final module of LAAR’s first session, the Class boarded a plane to Washington, D.C. where they met with members of NAR’s government affairs and public policy teams and met with Representative Bradley Byrne and Representative Marth Roby.

Stay tuned to hear about what the Class learns in Session 2: Professionalism and Ethics this summer!

To learn more about Leadership AAR and to see the Class of 2019, click here.