Realtor Jane Doe, RIP
NAR formalizes policy allowing 'Realtor' on headstones
By Matt Carter, Thursday, December 10, 2009.
The National Association of Realtors has amended its trademark policy to formalize its practice of allowing members to use the "Realtor" logo on their gravestone.
NAR has granted verbal approval to such requests -- it gets one or two a year -- for longstanding members, said Mike Thiel, NAR associate counsel.
The requests typically come from longtime members, for whom being a Realtor "was a very important part of their life, and their family thinks it should be reflected on their tombstone," Thiel said. "You have people who have been in the business for 60 years, and have been in leadership positions, and it was a significant part of their social and professional life."
Because NAR had no official policy on the question, Thiel said he has granted verbal permission to requests to use the Realtor logo on headstones, but was reluctant to provide written guidance.
Gary Krysler, executive vice president of the Women's Council of Realtors, who broke the story on Twitter, said some monument companies would not chisel "Realtor" on a headstone without written permission from NAR.
Thiel confirmed that the trademark policy was amended, allowing NAR to provide written permission to use the Realtor logo on headstones.
The policy change generated considerable interest when Krysler "tweeted" about it Thursday morning.
The Women's Council of Realtors -- which shares the same address on Chicago's North Michigan Avenue as NAR -- sent out a bulletin to the group's 4,857 followers on Twitter, declaring: "NAR amended its Trademark Policy. If you're a REALTOR®, and you die, you may now put the Realtor logo on your tombstone."
The news raised a few eyebrows on Twitter, a text messaging site, including this response from Riverside, Calif.-based broker Kathy McGraw: "That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard of ... who cares when we die if we are a REALTOR."
Tuscon, Ariz.-based blogger Frances Flynn Thorsen used her Twitter account to querry NAR about the report, asking, "Is (this) ... a joke or is there a link? Whose idea was this?"
"That's a joke (and *not* NAR's!)," NAR responded on Twitter, adding a link to the trademark rules.
But a few hours later, NAR deleted its response to Thorsen, and posted an update: "Ignore our previous tweet!! There *is* a new policy allowing the 'R' logo on grave markers."
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Submitted by Matt Carter on December 10, 2009 - 4:00pm.
Las Vegas "entrepreneur,investor and coach" Betty Kincaid tweets that if you're going to put Realtor on your tombstone, "Don't forget (your) phone number."
http://twitter.com/bettykin
Submitted by Kevin Tomlinson on December 10, 2009 - 9:48pm.
From what I can tell you should put your phone number and Web address too. Because if people use Google Goggles the can get info on you via the Web. You have to be cognizant of the new technology before you die. What if someone wants to do biz with you and your six feet under? Well, with Google Goggles they can go to your Website and do business with an associate. That's what Keller Williams calls passive income.
Miami Beach Real Estate Resource
South Beach Real Estate Blog
About Miami Beach Florida
Submitted by Jay Thompson on December 10, 2009 - 11:22pm.
Oh for the love of Pete.
This is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard of.
I'd rather see NAR spend time amending the tradmark policy to get rid of the 1950ish all-caps requirement so I don't have to say, "I'm a REALTOR!"
Is there *any* other profession that requires people to type their title in ALL CAPS?
Jay Thompson
Broker / Owner
Thompson's Realty
Blog: www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com
.
Submitted by Joe Loomer on December 11, 2009 - 5:45am.
This is good news for some of the folks I know using the "R" now - they can continue to use it despite the demise of their business years ago...
Augusta GA Homes
Joe Loomer, USN Ret.
Associate Leadership Council, Growth Chair
Keller Williams Realty Augusta Partners
Submitted by John Kalinowski on December 11, 2009 - 6:47am.
@Jay - I also can't stop laughing when I hear the NAR radio spots where they pronounce it Real-"tore" over and over again, with heavy emphasis on the "tore". Why can't the people at the top realize how ridiculous some of this stuff is? It's also so nice of them to make our local and national dues payable by January 5th. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like writing a $415 check to the NAR over the holidays, after choking on the cost of Christmas gifts!
Submitted by Jim Duncan on December 11, 2009 - 7:51am.
I'm looking forward to the reasoning for why this is a priority.
Somebody. Please?
Jim Duncan
434-242-7140
http://www.realcentralva.com
Broker/Realtor/Blogger
http://nestrealtygroup.com
Submitted by Ron Ares on December 11, 2009 - 3:07pm.
This is a huge (R)elief.
Submitted by Emily Medvec on December 12, 2009 - 3:24am.
My first thought after seeing the tombstone image with the "R" logo and REALTOR was that NAR was dead.
Hopefully now that we see NAR is alive and well and richer, the organization will focus on making a difference for its living members rather than promoting itself into eternity by focusing on marketing on tombstones.
Emily Medvec,Associate Broker
Santa Fe Properties
1000 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Best Anytime Cell 505.660.4541
www.emilymedvec.com
www.buysantafehomes.com
Submitted by Stanley Nichols on December 13, 2009 - 9:30am.
Stanley Nichols
Do annual RENEWAL FEES still apply???
Stan @
BuyersHomeFinder.com
Submitted by Kristal Kraft on December 15, 2009 - 7:14pm.
Clearly the REALTOR would be in violation of using the Trademark, unless of course they have arranged to continue paying their dues.
Membership has it's benefits. (oops wrong slogan)
Kristal Kraft
Selling Denver Real Estate