Event Coverage

2007 Board of Directors installed, awards presented at 2006 SAMCAR holiday dinner

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

A night of excellent food, music, fellowship and good feelings characterized SAMCAR’s Holiday Installation of the 2007 Board of Directors held Tuesday evening at the Hyatt SFO in Burlingame.

2006 President John Gieseker began the evening by welcoming special guests to the event. They included San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill, San Bruno Mayor Larry Franzella, 2006 Silicon Valley Association of Realtors® (SILVAR) President John Tripp, 2006 SILVAR President-elect Mark Burns, 2006 Santa Cruz AOR President Bobbie Nelson, 2006 Santa Cruz AOR President-elect Sandy Kaplan, 2007 Santa Clara County AOR President Warren Winsness, 2007 Santa Clara County AOR President Elect Dave Walsh, 2007 Santa Clara County AOR Vice President Karl Lee and 2007 SILVAR President-elect Leannah Hunt.

Gieseker also recognized SAMCAR’s past presidents Dennis Pantano, David Zigal, Marianne Zanone Rush, Claire Earley, Jeanne Garde, Jim Meader, Larry Franzella, Jerry Girouard, Melanie Hildebrand and Allan Bernardi.

First honored and presented with certificates as a small token of appreciation for their time and leadership were the following 2006 committee chairpersons: Adam O’Donnell, Affiliate Liaison; Dennis Pantano, BORPAC; Tim Auran, Central Tour; Bob Mitton, Coastside Legislative; Donna Tramontozzi, Coastside Legislative; Alex Maltez, Cultural Diversity; Sue Walsh, Education & Technology; David Zigal, Finance; Denise Aquila, Foundation; Beth Anderson, Grievance; Millie Golder, Half Moon Bay Tour; Allan Bernardi, Member Services; Scott Findlay, Pacifica Tour Co-Chair; Sue Vaterlaus, Pacifica Tour Co-Chair; John Brook, Peninsula Legislative; Dan Rogers, Peninsula Legislative Co-Chair; Denise Pearson, Professional Standards; Karon Knox, RSVP; Bob Stelzer, RSVP; Geoff Craighead, South Tour; Roberta Stone, South Tour Co- Chair; Steve Titsworth, South Tour Co- Chair and Donna Tramontozzi, Special Events.

Denise Aquila then thanked Realtors and affiliates for their generous donations to the San Mateo County REALTORS® Foundation, which enabled the Foundation to present over $100,000 to different nonprofit organizations that assist the homeless and low income individuals and families in the area.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve as chair of the Foundation,” said Aquila. “Thank you for all your support and I challenge you to continue your support because in supporting others, we really support ourselves.”

Gieseker recognized SAMCAR’s Honorary Members-For-Life as designated by the California Association of REALTORS.

“These honorees have served the Association for a minimum of 25 years,” Gieseker noted.

He said SAMCAR had 13 members qualify this year for this designation. They included: Madeleine Burns, Coldwell Banker, Member since 1970; Mary Glafkides, Cashin Company, Member since 1978; Rudy Helin, Cashin Company, Member since 1966; Vern Heller, RE/MAX Today, Member since 1960; David Tate, Tate Properties, Member since 1972; George Weiland, Dumas & Company, Member since 1976; Rosina Weiskopf, Cashin Company, Member since 1973; Marnie Barrett, Cashin Company, Member since 1979; Opal Burleson, Prudential California, Member since 1973; Thomas Reimer (Rymer), Jane Powell Realtor, Member since 1962; Nan Simmons, Cashin Company, Member since 1970; Sylvia Solomon, Sylvia Solomon Realtor, Member since 1972 and Denny Williams, Denny Williams Realtor, Member since 1957.

Announcing that the National Association of REALTORS® bestows the Emeritus designation to those that have been members in good standing for a period of 40+ years, Gieseker presented Paul Davis and Vernon Heller each with the NAR Emeritus Award.

Gieseker thanked the following exiting directors who have served SAMCAR so well during their terms: Denise Aquila, Dennis Pantano and Donna Tramontozzi. He also recognized David Zigal for serving as CAR Region 25 Director for the last two years.

San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill then took to the stage to conduct the installation of SAMCAR’s 2007 Board of Directors and Region 25 Chair. A 34-year resident of San Mateo County, business owner, former San Mateo City Councilman and San Mateo Mayor, Hill told SAMCAR members, “I am honored and impressed with the generosity of SAMCAR and its membership. You have been giving so much to charity. What you’ve done for the past number of years is more than giving money. You’ve been able to provide the American dream to so many families – it doesn’t just mean providing them with a place to sleep ….

“What you’re doing as an organization, because of your advocacy, you are increasing housing and affordable housing and creating housing opportunities for all families. With your help we are going to keep that American dream alive. You are the best group to make that happe.,”

Hill also said he respected SAMCAR members, who “are governed by the principles of honesty, justice and fair play.”

He administered the oath of offices to the following 2007 Board of Directors: Peter Aiello, Tim Auran, Nini de la Fuente, Bobbi Decker, Olivia Edwards, John Gieseker, Karon Knox, Bob Mitton, Jennifer Tasto, Edgar Tulcanaza, Sue Vaterlaus, Sue Walsh, Marianne Zanone Rush and David Zigal.

Soon after, Hill installed Geoffrey Craighead as SAMCAR’s 2007 President and Gieseker passed the gavel and his Presidential pin to Craighead.

A mortgage broker since 1981, Craighead said he watched, he listened, he learned to be a good Realtor by attending tour meetings and participating in events. He encouraged everyone to do the same. He thanked SAMCAR staff for serving the Association, noting that “staff is the backbone of the Association.” He also listed SAMCAR services - legislative advocacy, customer service, the store, marketing opportunities, fundraising, public relations, education, communication and most of all, the importance of ethics and SAMCAR’s ethics enforcement, “because that’s what makes us Realtors®.”

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of special awards by SAMCAR Executive Officer Janet Case to Denise Aquila, 2006 Community Service Award; Anson Chan and Maryann Bologna, both of The Examiner newspaper, 2006 Affiliate of the Year; and Paul Davis, 2006 Realtor of the Year.

Case described Aquila as “an amazing SAMCAR member, … a person who volunteers for all sorts of things. From coaching sports, to serving in her church, to helping our county find a way to create more affordable housing.”
For the past 23 years, Aquila has been involved with the American Youth Soccer Organization, AYSO and activities with the organization and serving kids, in community and business organizations, serving as SAMCAR’s Foundation chair and as a Director on the SAMCAR board.

“All of these community activities take her away from her real estate business, but she feels the rewards of helping others is well worth the time spent,” said Case.

Case recognized Chan and Bologna for serving on the Special Events Committee for several years, and their willing to give their time and assistance at every event.

“They come out early to help set up at all Charitable events, and stay late after everyone has gone home to make sure everything is done,” said Case.”They also have volunteered to help at other SAMCAR events such as the Member Appreciation BBQ, Broker/Manager meetings and political fundraisers.”

She said The Examiner has been very generous in supporting SAMCAR, becoming a Corporate Diamond Sponsor at their request, and that both Chan and Bologna are “beyond generous in donations of raffle prizes as well as their time.”

A standing ovation was given to 2006 Realtor of the Year Paul Davis as Case described him as “our special Realtor” with “a long list of Firsts.” Davis started the first Realtor tour he called the “Inspection” in 1955, he was the first to obtain the GRI Designation in the San Mateo-Burlingame Board of Realtors, he appeared on the first real estate TV program in 1962 on channel 14, and he helped establish the first real estate courses at the College of San Mateo.

“What do you say about a man who has been giving his best to the Association for over 50 years? This year’s Realtor of the Year honoree has done more for our former Association and our current Association than anyone we have ever known and he has done it all as a modest volunteer, without ever asking for anything in return,” Case said. “This special Realtor is a true professional and everyone’s friend, to boot.”
Surprised and touched, Davis thanked the Association and its members. “I’m just one of you; I’m a common guy who started in the business in 1955,” he said. “I was broker then and now, I’m here. … Thank you for this wonderful surprise.”

A big thank you to SAMCAR’s Annual Corporate Sponsors who have generously supported the Association all year long. They include Platinum Sponsors: CitiMortgage, The Michael Haigh Team and Countrywide Home Loans; Diamond Elite Sponsor: The Examiner; Diamond Sponsor: Fidelity National Title; Emerald Sponsor: Chicago Title, Financial Title Company, First Horizon Home Loans, Step Ahead Carpet; Gold Sponsors: Alliance Title, Arise Realty, Atherton Appliance & Kitchens, C&D Real Estate Appraisal Services, Inc., CALCO Insurance Brokers, Century 21 Alliance, First American Title, IPX 1031, LandAmerica Commonwealth, Meriwest Mortgage, North American Title, Old Republic Title, Premiere Executives Realty, Prudential California Realty of San Mateo County, Staging Artists, Stewart Title, Washington Mutual and San Mateo Home Loan Center.

Special thanks to Platinum Sponsor The Michael Haigh Team for donating the wine glasses and candy at the tables, to Platinum Sponsor Countrywide Home Loans for providing the wine enjoyed that evening, and to First American Title for being the evening’s Holiday Installation Event Sponsor.

And a very giant “Thank You” to all the people and companies that donated the beautiful prizes for the event’s raffle and to members of the Special Events Committee for all their work in making the event special.

SAMCAR appreciates everyone’s continued support of Association activities and for helping make Tuesday’s Holiday Installation Dinner such a successful event.

The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 3,800 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula. SAMCAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in San Mateo County.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (650) 696-8214.

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