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2020 SESSION

20105864D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 212
Offered February 10, 2020
Commending Virginia REALTORS®.
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Patrons-- Bulova, Brewer, Carr, Cole, M.L., Keam, Kory, Levine, Lopez, Miyares, Morefield, Murphy, Scott, Sickles, Simon, Subramanyam, Sullivan, Wampler and Wright; Senators: Barker, Bell, Boysko, Chafin, Chase, Cosgrove, Deeds, DeSteph, Dunnavant, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola, Hanger, Hashmi, Howell, Kiggans, Lewis, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Mason, McClellan, McDougle, McPike, Morrissey, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, Peake, Petersen, Pillion, Reeves, Ruff, Saslaw, Spruill, Stanley, Stuart, Suetterlein, Surovell and Vogel
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WHEREAS, Virginia REALTORS®, one of the largest trade associations in Virginia, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020; and

WHEREAS, originally known as the Virginia Real Estate Association, Virginia REALTORS® was founded on October 21, 1920, with a mission to standardize the real estate business, cultivate and enforce fair dealing, and encourage the business of owning, buying, selling, renting, and managing real estate in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, beginning with just 54 members in 1920, the membership of Virginia REALTORS® has grown to include 35,000 REALTORS®; the organization comprises 28 local associations, representing all regions of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Paul T. Collins, president of the Norfolk Real Estate & Stock Exchange, served as the first president of Virginia REALTORS® from 1920 to 1922; and

WHEREAS, J. Kemper Funkhouser, chief operating officer of the Funkhouser Real Estate Group, is serving as the president of Virginia REALTORS® during the association’s centennial year; and

WHEREAS, three past presidents of Virginia REALTORS® have gone on to serve as president of the National Association of REALTORS®, including Dorcas Helfant-Browning, who became the national association’s first female president in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Virginia REALTORS® provides industry advocacy, training, and professional resources to real estate professionals across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia REALTORS® is an ardent advocate of fair housing legislation and strives to create stable housing opportunities for all Virginians; and

WHEREAS, Virginia REALTORS® recognizes that homeownership is key to the American dream and works to make that dream accessible to all Virginians; and

WHEREAS, the members of Virginia REALTORS® are major contributors to the state economy, facilitating the buying and selling of both residential and commercial real estate, as well as property management; and

WHEREAS, members of Virginia REALTORS® are held to a high ethical standard and adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics; and

WHEREAS, community outreach is central to the association’s mission, and in 2019, the Virginia REALTORS® Disaster Relief Fund was created to assist individuals facing real property loss/damage as a result of natural or manmade disasters in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia REALTORS® will commemorate its centennial year with special events throughout 2020; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Virginia REALTORS® on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to J. Kemper Funkhouser, president of Virginia REALTORS®, as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the association’s contributions to communities throughout Virginia and the real estate profession as a whole.