RealTea Podcast – Season 3: Episode 5

TREEF Tea

Education, scholarships, license plates and more! Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation (TREEF) President, Kathy Dunn, joins us in the RealTea studio to spill the tea on all things TREEF. We talked about what TREEF is, the impact TREEF has made in her life and career, how you benefit from TREEF, the difference between TREEF and TREC, the TREEF scholarship, and how you can support TREEF through the stylish vanity plate option. All this and more in this episode of the RealTea podcast.

Transcript

Welcome to the reality podcast, brought to you by Tennessee Realtors and sponsored by Raoul First, helping you live closer to what matters. I’m your host, Angela Shields. This podcast is created for Tennessee Realtors to get the tea on all things real estate in Tennessee. We’ll bring you engaging conversations with esteemed guests in the real estate industry and cover a wide array of topics, including current events, governmental affairs, education, and legal updates.
00:00:36:09 – 00:01:01:29
Angela
All right. Today we are back with the Real Tea podcast, and I am super excited to have Miss Kathy Dunn join us today. Kathy is the broker of Highlands Elite Real Estate, but today she is here with us because you are the tree for president. We’re going to talk about truth today. Good for we get going. You’ve probably heard these podcasts and you know what I’m about to ask.
00:01:02:04 – 00:01:08:21
Angela
We ask everyone because we are the real tea podcast. What do you take in your tea cup?
00:01:08:23 – 00:01:18:24
Kathy
I like traditional Lipton’s tea. Tell my kids who on a coffee shop with all the exotic teas. Okay. With a little honey?
00:01:18:26 – 00:01:24:05
Angela
No, I have been to that coffee shop. It is fabulous. Over at Cookeville.
00:01:24:08 – 00:01:33:19
Kathy
It is. They’ve been blessed. It’s an amazing place. Like I tell her, best if you ever had a fabulous cup of coffee and milk, odds are my family made it for you.
00:01:33:21 – 00:01:41:20
Angela
I’ll agree to you, because when we come there to visit the association, we always try to stop there if they’re open. So I will testify to that.
00:01:41:24 – 00:01:44:22
Kathy
And they appreciate that.
00:01:44:25 – 00:01:58:17
Angela
Okay, so let’s jump in. Truth, before we do anything, we are a we’re an industry known for acronyms. And of course, grief is an acronym. You can’t look that up in the dictionary. So tell us what truth stands for.
00:01:58:19 – 00:02:03:10
Kathy
Truth stands for the Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation.
00:02:03:12 – 00:02:14:13
Angela
And as president, you’re running a board. It’s a 501 C3. So let’s let’s start there. What is it exactly that you’re doing?
00:02:14:16 – 00:02:28:11
Kathy
Okay, so truth was set up to help create scholarships for graduating seniors. And, so that’s kind of the basis of it. So we’re always in fundraising mode. I feel like to accomplish that goal.
00:02:28:14 – 00:02:45:06
Angela
Right in, with, with the funds that you raise, we’re doing all kinds of things. You mentioned scholarships. We’re working with instructors to bring quality education to our role, to our members. It’s a whole slew of things. Oh.
00:02:45:08 – 00:03:05:13
Kathy
Yeah. The education arm of it, of course. You know, we’re not just a committee. And, so just the education piece that people can go to their local associations and have good quality education is priceless. Back years ago, I had to drive all over the state to get my CV. 30 years ago.
00:03:05:15 – 00:03:23:18
Angela
Yeah. And I think that’s one of the important things that we do, is we really try to partner with our local associations and not compete. We try to make sure that they have good. I just keep saying quality instructors, and I think that’s because of the requirements that you all have put in place, knowing what our realtors need.
00:03:23:19 – 00:03:47:25
Kathy
Yeah, we really tighten that up in the last couple of years, with the instructor development workshop, and we’ve brought back the two day train, the trainer program. We just feel like it’s very important for if if you’re sitting in Cookville, Tennessee, taking the core class or you’re sitting in Memphis, Tennessee or Knoxville or anywhere in the state, it should be the same material being taught very similarly.
00:03:47:25 – 00:03:49:13
Kathy
Right.
00:03:49:16 – 00:04:17:10
Angela
So before we go any further, I want to make sure that listeners would understand it’s not track. So you’re not you are not the licensing group. I think sometimes people here treat track and they get a little confused with that. So the classes are ran through track, so we get approval for the key. But what you’re doing is you’re saying we’re kind of giving that stamp of approval that truth has said this instructor meets our standard.
00:04:17:11 – 00:04:23:10
Angela
It’s a little a little bit of a high standard to say we’ve approved this and we know that they’re good.
00:04:23:13 – 00:04:38:29
Kathy
Yes. So beyond them, just getting approved by the real estate Commission to hold a instructors license, we take them through that extra step to make sure that they are qualified, that they’ve got the right tools in place in order to teach our agents across the state.
00:04:39:02 – 00:04:43:08
Angela
Right. So when you see truth, you know, hey, I can I know this is going to be a good class.
00:04:43:08 – 00:04:44:00
Kathy
Absolutely.
00:04:44:00 – 00:04:52:09
Angela
Yeah. So, so let’s kind of dive in to you mentioned scholarships. Those scholarships are not for the realtor.
00:04:52:17 – 00:05:14:13
Kathy
No they’re not. Those scholarships are for realtor members, children or grandchildren or legal dependents and association staffs. Children, grandchildren, legal dependents can also apply for those scholarships. But because it’s a very finite scholarship with those parameters, they can’t go to their school counselor and pick up this application.
00:05:14:16 – 00:05:18:17
Angela
Right. I think it’s pretty special. And you give more than one away a year.
00:05:18:18 – 00:05:20:29
Kathy
We give three away, one in each grand division.
00:05:21:00 – 00:05:33:26
Angela
That’s pretty special. So we spread it out across the state, basically, is what you’re saying? Yes. Yeah. So every year three scholarships and it’s it’s really not that hard of an application to have to fill out.
00:05:33:27 – 00:05:54:26
Kathy
Oh not at all. And the stories I’ve served on the scholarship committee within, truth before and some of the stories, I mean, they’ll bring tears to your eyes and, it it’s it’ll change you serving on that committee. And so just on the scholarship piece, because of those applications.
00:05:55:03 – 00:06:04:13
Angela
So, Cathy, when you talk about the scholarships, does the student need to attend a university or a college in Tennessee?
00:06:04:15 – 00:06:16:20
Kathy
Not at all. As a matter of fact, I think we gave away one they was last year, and they were going to Alabama. Can’t imagine that. But, you know, hey, it was our school choice. So we honored that.
00:06:16:22 – 00:06:19:00
Angela
Yeah. So they can they can go anywhere they like.
00:06:19:06 – 00:06:20:08
Kathy
That’s right.
00:06:20:10 – 00:06:26:01
Angela
And must they take a course that is related to real estate.
00:06:26:04 – 00:06:38:20
Kathy
That we give preference to those, graduating seniors who are exploring a real estate, career in real estate or an allied field. Yeah. But it’s not an absolute.
00:06:38:22 – 00:06:55:14
Angela
And I think it’s important that, that the word get out. I mean, we have a lot of students that apply, but it is a great opportunity for those that have that, senior, a senior in high school to really take advantage of because it’s right there at their fingertips.
00:06:55:15 – 00:07:05:21
Kathy
Yeah, it’s $2,500. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Right. And, you know, can help with books. Absolutely. Technology they need.
00:07:05:23 – 00:07:19:06
Angela
Yeah. Any anything like that. That’s awesome. I think it’s I think it’s really special. And then the other flip side of that is it’s a great opportunity to contribute and donate to a 501 C3. That’s going to a great cause.
00:07:19:13 – 00:07:33:14
Kathy
Absolutely. I mean, that’s the best part for those of us who contribute each year is, you know, because I don’t know how many. Well, most of us realtors probably dreaded, yesterday, that was the day that they asked.
00:07:33:16 – 00:07:34:05
Angela
Tax day.
00:07:34:05 – 00:07:46:19
Kathy
Tax day, got all the forms, got submitted, and we all went, yuck. So, yeah. So this is another good way, to have a little extra tax, break.
00:07:46:24 – 00:07:57:12
Angela
So and I think it’s important for those who would like to contribute to know that when they do make a contribution, not one dime comes out for administrative cost.
00:07:57:14 – 00:08:01:13
Kathy
No, it’s 100% goes into the foundation.
00:08:01:13 – 00:08:04:12
Angela
Right. So that’s really special.
00:08:04:14 – 00:08:24:10
Kathy
You could also talk about the the foundation and the endowment. Yeah. So we’re having to really fundraise really hard these days. But the goal is we also have an endowment fund, but we can’t spend that that money. The interest that it makes at some point we’ll have enough money in it that it will fund these scholarships.
00:08:24:16 – 00:08:40:17
Kathy
So we’re not having to fundraise all the time, because it feels like part of our job on tree is to be fundraisers. And so our goal is we’re really working hard to build up that endowment. So it automatically just funds those scholarships every year.
00:08:40:18 – 00:08:46:10
Angela
Right. And you could either do more scholarships or you could come up with other great ways to do great things in the community.
00:08:46:11 – 00:08:49:27
Kathy
Absolutely. There’s so many good causes that are tied to real estate.
00:08:49:28 – 00:09:10:01
Angela
Yeah. The foundation, rules and and bylaws to give you a little bit more, leeway to be able to do some other things. So that’s great that you all are working so hard to do that, in that education realm. So kudos to to your group for that. Thanks. And speaking of fundraising, you do have another way that’s really exciting.
00:09:10:01 – 00:09:14:06
Angela
I think that enough people do not take advantage of. And that’s through the license plate program.
00:09:14:07 – 00:09:34:05
Kathy
Yes. I probably have one on my car, and I signed up like I was, well, the very first people to sign up. And then we had to wait until we had enough people, who had also requested to get one of the realtor plates before they got made. So I’m very proud of my plate. It has my, company acronym on it here, Highlands Elite Real Estate.
00:09:34:07 – 00:09:53:12
Kathy
My best friend, Kelly White over East Tennessee. Hers had her company’s acronym on her license plate. So, it’s our vanity realtor plates. And with that, we’re making a positive impact to truth. Because, every year when we renew, part of the money comes right back to tree for these scholarships, right?
00:09:53:17 – 00:10:13:02
Angela
It doesn’t cost that much more to be able to get that. I think what sometimes people overlook is that it’s like you’re driving around with your own billboard to say, I’m a realtor. So if you’re parking your car and somebody sees that, they might stop and ask you, hey, Cathy, are you a realtor? Tell me about that. Or that’s what I’m looking for a realtor.
00:10:13:05 – 00:10:15:18
Kathy
Yeah. And it’s a pretty license plate, too.
00:10:15:19 – 00:10:16:15
Angela
It is the.
00:10:16:15 – 00:10:28:19
Kathy
Design and everything on it. Matter of fact, we all. We have two in our, home. Because when the new license plates came out, they didn’t look good on the Camaro. So, the realtor license plate complements it very well.
00:10:28:20 – 00:10:42:12
Angela
It has several colors that could go a different. That’s right. We have heard a few that will say, oh, I have a different vanity plate. That means something special to them, and that’s great. But if you do have more than one car, it gives you another opportunity.
00:10:42:13 – 00:10:44:07
Kathy
Absolutely. So what we do in our house.
00:10:44:07 – 00:11:04:01
Angela
Yeah. So, definitely something to look at. I think that, a lot of people do not realize that those vanity plates are available to be able to identify yourself as a realtor. Can you tell them what they need in order? Since you’ve done it before, what you need when you go into your tag office to be able to say, I’m a realtor and be able to get these.
00:11:04:01 – 00:11:28:14
Kathy
Absolutely. So you need, something printed off that says you are currently a light, not licensed, that you are currently a National Association of Realtors realtor member. And you can actually, if you log on to Nault Realtor, you can go in there and print your card. We all have them just put in your NDS number and it will bring it up and you can print it off.
00:11:28:14 – 00:11:36:16
Kathy
Take that with you to the, county court clerk’s office or tag office in your county. And, they will issue your license plate.
00:11:36:18 – 00:11:57:18
Angela
And you actually, bring up a really good point because you almost said license number, and you did that actually, because not everyone who holds a license is a realtor member. Correct? This is only available to realtor members as part of a member benefit that you have that allows you to have one other way to identify yourself as a Realtor member.
00:11:57:24 – 00:12:08:11
Angela
So if you’re just a licensee, you’re not able to get this. I don’t think there is a vanity plate to say I’m a licensee. So it is something special that you can do to put on your car to help advertise.
00:12:08:13 – 00:12:28:07
Kathy
And and I saying that I know a lot of realtors, they’ll go into the tag office with our pocket card that comes with our, license every two years. And, they won’t accept that because it just says we’re a licensee and not a realtor member, so you really need to print that off. That’s that’s the issue. A lot of people have when they get there.
00:12:28:09 – 00:12:41:11
Kathy
What they don’t realize the clerk’s office is they’re not trying to be difficult. It’s that these are the rules that Tennessee Realtors set up right, for that license plate in order for them to be able to, obtain it and put it on their car. Yes.
00:12:41:11 – 00:13:01:07
Angela
To protect that that brand. Yes. Yeah. It’s really exciting. So hopefully you’ll have more than understand that and be able to, to, get that. And if they have questions, of course they can ask them on, on the, the tree board or they can call our office and probably their local association would be able to guide them through that.
00:13:01:07 – 00:13:04:06
Kathy
Yes. Because any of us that have them, we’d be happy to help them.
00:13:04:06 – 00:13:22:16
Angela
Yeah, yeah. It’s exciting. So, let’s talk about your journey for a little bit. So you’ve risen to the, ascended to president, and I know you’ve served as a DVP. You served as president at your local association. Tell me why you serve in these positions.
00:13:22:18 – 00:13:48:07
Kathy
Well, I just really believe in giving back. That’s just part of who I am. It’s part of the way I was raised. And, when I got started, I had I was surrounded with really good mentors. I am very blessed. The office that I spent the majority of my, career with, had a very good broker who poured a lot into me and helped.
00:13:48:07 – 00:14:08:24
Kathy
And then, the other Mr., the other mentor agents, one of them. Brenda, as soon as I got licensed and joined the firm, she said, first thing you need to do is start working on getting your grace. And what is that? And she said, well, it stands for graduate of the Royal Institute. So I immediately, started finding classes.
00:14:08:29 – 00:14:27:00
Kathy
And back then, there’s no excuse for no one not to have it today because you can do it online. I had to drive all over the state to get mine, so I have I live over in Cumberland. I’d be driving to Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga. But I did it. And I believe back then there were 2 to 2 day courses.
00:14:27:00 – 00:14:36:15
Kathy
I think it’s been a while, but, yeah, it just I think it made me I know it did made me a better realtor and made me more, more prepared.
00:14:36:17 – 00:14:49:20
Angela
My goodness, when I think the one I think I’m hearing you tell that story and I think to myself. But in your case, look at how many realtors you know today. Because of doing that, I see you at conference and you know everyone.
00:14:49:22 – 00:15:02:13
Kathy
It’s really fun. I feel like it’s it’s the good kind of family reunion. Yeah. I look so forward to going to our Tennessee conferences. Just because I get to see people that I never get to see and get those good hugs.
00:15:02:13 – 00:15:15:16
Angela
Well, and and just the, the network you’ve made and you’ve built because I, I can say that about the Tennessee conferences, but I see you at National as well. And just the network you’ve built from all of your involvement.
00:15:15:16 – 00:15:40:27
Kathy
Yeah. I tell people I don’t think there’s any I know there’s no place in Tennessee I could land and need help, that I couldn’t pick up the phone and call someone that I know. That’s in real estate in some part of the state and probably not any state I couldn’t land in and not be able to pick up the phone and call someone, because from the time I started going to conferences, my very first one, and it’s a little off topic, but the reason I was because Pat Summitt was the keynote speaker.
00:15:40:29 – 00:15:59:22
Kathy
So, and I was like, I’m there. And, I started meeting people. I didn’t sit with people that, from my association when I started going to conferences because I can see them every day. And so I just started meeting people and networking across the state. And, I just really enjoyed that.
00:15:59:22 – 00:16:00:21
Angela
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:00:22 – 00:16:01:26
Kathy
I still do.
00:16:01:28 – 00:16:20:11
Angela
So again, you are now serving as president of tree. And with that comes responsibility. You have to set goals. You have to give guidance. What is something that you all are working on with tree? To kind of move the needle forward. What is it that is exciting?
00:16:20:14 – 00:16:42:07
Kathy
Well, I know I keep harping on the education piece, but that’s such a big part of it. Because the classes that we’re creating, everything is changing very fast right now. And so we’ve got some new courses that we’re working on getting written. And they’re going to be very exciting. They help keep our agents on top of their game.
00:16:42:09 – 00:17:07:19
Kathy
And you can’t be stagnant. You can’t just go, okay, we’ve got this library of courses. Go out and teach them and because that material gets antiquated very quickly, especially these days, things move so quickly. So me watching for, new course offerings from trees that your local associations or maybe at the state conferences. And, we’ve got some exciting things planned coming up.
00:17:07:21 – 00:17:39:03
Kathy
There’ll be some on a on different things and I sometimes feel like, just served, on Nar, the conference and meeting committee. And we just got through going through all the speaker, reviews. And I’m like, okay, I think everybody’s gotten the message. So, we’re going to do it where it relates today, today, real estate, just to help you build those, props out to save some time so you can be out in front of clients selling homes.
00:17:39:06 – 00:17:50:08
Angela
Yeah. And I think that’s so important, as is one you always hear getting back to basics and to and then it’s all the technology is changing so fast. And just having to stay up on all of that,
00:17:50:11 – 00:17:51:20
Kathy
And finding a good balance.
00:17:51:20 – 00:18:09:01
Angela
Finding the balance. And I think the other thing that’s important for people to understand and know, you always send out those surveys after the the class or after the conference. And, I think it’s important for people to know that we actually look at those and pay attention to what they’re what they’re telling us.
00:18:09:01 – 00:18:22:15
Kathy
Yeah. And truth looks at those two because for the educational offerings that we want to know about. So, we need you to fill them out, not just check the boxes, but write comments. Yeah, we will listen.
00:18:22:15 – 00:18:38:10
Angela
Yeah, yeah, we want to hear their voice. Exactly. Yeah. So if you had to say, what is the one thing you wish the members of Tennessee knew about tree, what is it that you wish you could say to them that they would understand? What about tree.
00:18:38:17 – 00:19:04:09
Kathy
That truth is for them? It absolutely 100% is for them. We we do like the better educated a realtor is, the better they are to serve their community. They’re better serving their clients. They’re buyers. They’re sellers. They’re knowledgeable. They help keep their, clients out of pitfalls. They know how to navigate the waters. They can better write their offers.
00:19:04:13 – 00:19:28:02
Kathy
I tell folks all the time, I said, if you ever used to have two agents, if you ever had to punch a time clock, that purchase and sell agreement is your time sheet. The better you know how to fill that out, the easier it is to get to the closing table and get paid. Yeah. And so we just really want our Tennessee Realtors well prepared when they’re in front of people.
00:19:28:05 – 00:19:41:08
Kathy
And I it just it goes back to the community because those people are more well-rounded realtors. And I found that those become excellent mentors for others. And, they want to serve in their communities as well.
00:19:41:16 – 00:20:09:06
Angela
You know, and one of the things that I think is so great about our community, when you see a community, our whole family, the family of realtors is is that mentorship. And I know that’s important to you. You’ve talked about it several times, but when you think about other professions, other professions are competitive. You all are competitive. You compete with one another, but you are a group of people that will give each other your secret sauce faster than anybody I know.
00:20:09:12 – 00:20:16:19
Angela
You will actually say, hey, let me make you better so you can compete with me, and I’ll give you the secret sauce of how to do it.
00:20:16:20 – 00:20:17:24
Kathy
Absolutely. Iron sharpens.
00:20:17:24 – 00:20:19:13
Angela
Iron. It’s amazing.
00:20:19:16 – 00:20:30:23
Kathy
Yeah. I tell everybody when they first, get licensed, I’m like, this is the only business you will ever be in to where you will have to work with your competitor.
00:20:30:26 – 00:20:32:29
Angela
Yeah, as if they’re in your company.
00:20:32:29 – 00:20:33:28
Kathy
Absolutely.
00:20:34:01 – 00:20:54:00
Angela
And then to help keep each other ethical, I think that’s the other thing is we have our code of ethics. You all give classes on the code of ethics. And I think it’s so important to stay up on the ethics because, we all think we’re ethical, but it’s so easy to find yourself in a situation where you accidentally even cross a line and you don’t even realize it.
00:20:54:00 – 00:20:57:18
Angela
And so that education piece is so important to make sure you’re clear.
00:20:57:25 – 00:21:16:08
Kathy
Absolutely. And it really works. Well, when you’re in those classes and, you have all levels of experience and the code of ethics classes, and it’s great because the newer agents get to hear from the, agents who have been in the business longer.
00:21:16:09 – 00:21:16:24
Angela
Seasoned.
00:21:16:25 – 00:21:44:16
Kathy
Seasoned. Thank you all like that. And, they really appreciate hearing that, too. You know, something that came up with them and how they handled it, you know, and so, it it just it makes it nice when you have multi generations in classrooms. Yeah. And, the, the code of ethics, it changes. We add some things to it occasionally and I tell arrested you can’t take off your realtor hat.
00:21:44:16 – 00:21:52:13
Kathy
We’re realtors 24 over seven 100%. And we have to remember that in our dealings with the public on social media or whatever, right?
00:21:52:16 – 00:22:11:28
Angela
Right. 100%. And then on the flip side of that, I think it’s a great when you’re in classes with, newer agents, even younger agents, because a lot of times that’s where you’re going to hear about technology changes and some of the new scams that are out there. And, just, I mean, so how to use ChatGPT and all these different things?
00:22:12:05 – 00:22:18:21
Angela
Yeah. So I think it is it’s such an industry where it’s interchangeable and you just learn so much from one another.
00:22:18:21 – 00:22:38:15
Kathy
You know, our instructors really have to be well prepared because, especially the newer agents, sometimes they don’t feel comfortable going to their broker for some reason. So it’s like they come, like, with all their questions. And we’re sitting there, and sometimes I have to go. I can’t answer that. You have to go to your broker for that.
00:22:38:18 – 00:22:45:16
Kathy
And we also make sure all of our trade classes, they understand no matter how we teach a truth class, they have to follow the direction of the broker.
00:22:45:16 – 00:23:06:23
Angela
Right. And the law. Yes, yes, all of that. Yeah. So you’re talking about the instructors for so let’s flip that for just a second. So if someone is interested in becoming a chief instructor, you did talk about train the trainer, but how would somebody go about that? If somebody is new to it and they’re kind of interested in becoming a trip instructor.
00:23:06:25 – 00:23:37:13
Kathy
So they can, go on Tennessee Realtors website and find the link should be up now for the two day, Train the Trainer program coming up this fall. And so it gives you plenty of time to get ready. And, it is just an excellent piece to help you really prepare. You know, I’m kind of disappointed that some of our former, teachers, because, you know, we have a lot of teachers who, get out of the, school system, and they get the real estate license.
00:23:37:13 – 00:23:43:12
Kathy
They’re excellent realtors. And I like to see more those guys step up and become, tree instructors.
00:23:43:13 – 00:23:45:22
Angela
And they may not have even thought about. That’s a good connection for them.
00:23:45:22 – 00:24:06:01
Kathy
I think it would be great. And, I never thought that I would ever stand in front of a group of people in instruct. But I really enjoy it, and I never would have thought that. And all of our chief instructors, any of them you talk to, they truly love it. And they care about the students in the class.
00:24:06:03 – 00:24:23:26
Kathy
And we all we give up part of our breaks, and, you give up, you stay after the classes to, talk to folks and make sure that they understand because they’ll have burning questions. And so you have to really be prepared and I think Tre does a good job preparing the instructors for that.
00:24:23:26 – 00:24:36:24
Angela
Right. And so you all are always looking for new talent to add to the catalog, because you get so many requests from all over the state of people, associations and offices wanting to bring entry chief instructors.
00:24:36:24 – 00:24:39:24
Kathy
Absolutely. And so we need more.
00:24:39:26 – 00:24:56:21
Angela
Yeah. So I know our time is starting to, starting to wind down a little bit, but what is there about truth that we haven’t talked about that you would like to share? What about getting involved on tree trustees? I know that those applications. Oh, yeah. Come up.
00:24:56:23 – 00:25:31:17
Kathy
Tree trustees applications are gonna come up. So there are several. We have several different advisory groups within that, within trees. And I spoke a little bit about the, scholarship review. You know, if that’s something that speaks to you, get involved. If the idea of real tree education or you’ve got some great ideas of things you think that could help trees get better, I always tell people, I don’t believe that the way things have always been done are the things that are the way that things always need to be.
00:25:31:19 – 00:25:36:06
Kathy
We need fresh ideas on all committees, and especially with the Tree Foundation.
00:25:36:11 – 00:25:45:03
Angela
Yeah, yeah. So, you have the scholarship, you have fundraising, you have does new idea generating for classes. Yeah.
00:25:45:03 – 00:26:00:20
Kathy
So we may have people that are just really good with fundraising and we can take corporate donations also. And so I’m sure those realtors out there that have those connections to some corporations who are always looking for ways to give and save some money on the taxes.
00:26:00:20 – 00:26:28:22
Angela
Yeah, yeah. So it is a great organization. I know. It’s it’s been around for quite some time and has been very successful and we enjoy working with all the local associations. And the last thing I’ll ask you about is because where tree does tend to take more prominent role is you mentioned GRI. So we do tend to really get helpful with the associations and on state level with designations.
00:26:28:29 – 00:26:35:20
Angela
And there are an alphabet soup of different designations that you can get through tree.
00:26:35:22 – 00:26:54:24
Kathy
There are and we work with Nar also to promote their designation and certification programs, which is really helpful and great. I feel like it’s the cornerstone of truth as far as education. And, if you don’t have your degree, there’s it’s never too late to start.
00:26:54:29 – 00:26:55:28
Angela
It’s a great place to start.
00:26:55:29 – 00:27:31:28
Kathy
Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And, so the, great. But beyond the basics, the core classes, the contracts, classes we teach, the and the, jar classes, just knowing what all the certifications and designation programs are is helpful. And the classes that we sponsor at tree, they’re classes that have meat to them. They’re not just something that you hop on your computer and pay $49 and say you’re certified in something and, it’s powerful.
00:27:31:28 – 00:27:34:28
Kathy
And you leave those classrooms with knowledge.
00:27:34:29 – 00:27:49:18
Angela
Yeah, yeah, well, we appreciate everything that you do. Tree from beyond. But we really appreciate all you’re doing this year with tree right now. Thank you. And hopefully we’ll, we’ll see a few more license plates out there.
00:27:49:20 – 00:27:59:03
Kathy
I sure hope so. And remember, if you don’t have the license plate, go get it. Or at least remember to give 26 and 2026.
00:27:59:03 – 00:28:06:07
Angela
Yes, that’s a big program. Yes. Right now 26 and 26, $26 in the year 26. That’s right. Is tax deductible.
00:28:06:07 – 00:28:10:02
Kathy
Absolutely. Yeah. Or you can give more than that. We don’t mind.
00:28:10:02 – 00:28:21:09
Angela
No, no I everybody heard it from Kathy. So we’re having that big challenge right now. So. Well thank you very much. And we look forward to seeing everything. That’s kind of good.
00:28:21:11 – 00:28:22:10
Kathy
Thank you for having me.
00:28:22:10 – 00:28:42:01
Angela
Thank you. Thank you all for joining us today on The Real TI podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Then visit ten realtors.com to submit your questions and topics for future episodes of The Real TI podcast. Thanks for listening.

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