SAMCAR Returns to Long Branch for Member Appreciation BBQ

SAMCAR is proud to announce the launch of our Realtor and Affiliate Wellness (RAW) Group, a program of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS. RAW is a recovery-inspired support network designed to provide a safe, confidential space for members to share their experience, strength, and hope. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 2 PM at the SAMCAR office.

SAVE THE DATE! Tee Up for Charity is returning to Topgolf Burlingame on Thursday, September 24. Mark your calendars to join us for exclusive driving bay access — or cheer on your favorite players as a spectator — with hosted food and beverage, amazing prizes, professional networking and more, all to benefit the SAMCAR Foundation! Start getting your team together, donate a prize and spread the word... ticket sales open in August!

SAMCAR Members are invited to join our weekly Marketing Meeting each Tuesday morning on Zoom. These meetings are your chance to gain valuable knowledge from informative presentations, network with your colleagues, and share your listings.

Presentation: Tiago Alves, The Librarian — AI Virtual Assistant for Real Estate Agents

On Friday, July 17, SAMCAR's Young Professionals Network, SAMCAR YPN, gathered volunteers to join the Pacific Beach Coalition (PBC) for a habitat restoration activity in Pacifica on the Rockaway Switchbacks, known as the Lynn Adams Trail. The group was honored to have City of Pacifica Mayor Christine Boles and Councilmember Sue Beckmeyer greet volunteers to start the day and offer gratitude and encouragement for the hands-on work of protecting the ecosystems of the San Mateo County coast. Together, volunteers removed at least 100 pounds of green waste and tens of thousands of invasive seeds that would have otherwise spread. This activity was supported by a generous contribution from SAMCAR's Community Engagement Fund.

Out of over 4,000 entries, SAMCAR Brand & Communications, the in-house creative and communications department with Director of Brand & Communications Dalen Gilbrech (credited as designer and creative director), was selected as a winner of Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine's 63rd annual in-house design competition -- the 2026 American INHOUSE Design Awards™ -- in the "Announcements + Invitations" Category for the submission of the 2025 Member Appreciation BBQ invitation identity design system. The winning entry is featured on GDUSA's website and in the June 2026 print and digital editions of their nationwide magazine.

The Center for California Real Estate (CCRE), an institute of the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.), extends a special invitation to SAMCAR members to join an upcoming CCRE panel titled "CCRE Presents – The Next Era of Housing: AI's Role in Real Estate" on Tuesday, August 4, at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

SAMCAR Realtor and Affiliate members, family and friends: please join us for the SAMCAR Member Appreciation BBQ on Wednesday, August 5 from 11 AM to 3 PM featuring a delicious Texas-style BBQ, live music with the band American Underdog, and plenty of games and entertainment in the Old Western Town at Long Branch Saloon & Farms in Half Moon Bay! (Members: check your email inbox for your exclusive link to RSVP. Thank you if you have already signed up to attend!)

On Thursday, June 11, 2026 the San Mateo County REALTORS Foundation returned to Bel Mateo Bowl for its eighth annual Bowl-O-Rama fundraiser event assembling scores of SAMCAR members, staff, and friends for an lively evening of bowling, prizes, and community, raising $6,300 to benefit housing-related charities in San Mateo County.

On Thursday, March 19 at the 2026 Annual Meeting, SAMCAR recognized recipients of the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Honorary Member-for-Life status, acknowledging their achievement of this prestigious membership distinction. Read more for a brief recap of the meeting, photos, and the full list of 2026 C.A.R. Honorary Member-for-Life recipients.

The 2026 President of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS (SAMCAR), Linda Crose-Andersen, and Board of Directors were ceremonially sworn into their term by Installation Officer, 2026 California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) President Tamara Suminski, at SAMCAR's 2026 Installation on Friday, February 6, 2026 at the Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay. Also honored were SAMCAR's Past Presidents, Outgoing Directors and Committee Chairs, and award winners for 2025 REALTOR of the Year, Affiliate of the Year, Community Service, and Homeowner Hero Awards.

On Tuesday, December 9, the SAMCAR Foundation Council, Marketing Meetings and Special Events Committees hosted the fifth annual "Judy Ploshay Memorial Holiday Auction" at the Monterra Credit Union corporate headquarters in Redwood City, treating guests to breakfast sponsored by Janet Pepe Davis, and lively bidding with auctioneer Alan Kirth for a chance to take home auction items donated by SAMCAR members and local businesses, and support several beneficiary charities. The auction raised over thirteen thousand dollars in total for several beneficiary charities: Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room, Coastside Hope, Pacifica Resource Center, San Carlos Education Foundation, SchoolForce Belmont-Redwood Shores Public School Foundation.

On Thursday, November 13, volunteers from SAMCAR's Young Professionals Network, SAMCAR YPN, visited Samaritan House to help package food items for distribution to our neighbors in need.
Volunteers carefully sorted and assembled over 180 packages of nutritious produce and protein designed to provide complete, healthy meals for local families facing food insecurity. We extend our sincere gratitude to Samaritan House for organizing this essential distribution and for providing the opportunity to partner in their mission.