What is a REALTOR®? This question begins our review of the history of the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS®. Contrary to the beliefs of many consumers, REALTOR® is not a synonym for real estate agent. The term REALTOR® is the exclusive property of NAR and is a professional designation. Only a real estate licensee who is a member of the local, state and national associations may use the REALTOR®"®" emblem or the REALTOR® designation.

The founding of the REALTOR® organization must first begin with a brief history of the "National Association of Real Estate Exchanges", now known as the National Association of REALTORS®. On May 12, 1908, 120 men representing 19 boards in 13 states and one state association (California) met in Chicago to "unite the real estate men of America" for the purpose of effectively exerting a combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests. Making use of the "Golden Rule" as its theme, the REALTORS® adopted a strict Code of Ethics. The Code was first adopted as "Rules of Conduct" to be recommended to real estate boards for voluntary adoption. Compliance with the Code was made a condition of membership in the National Association in 1924, and has remained so to date. The national association was the second trade or business group in the United States to follow examples of the professions of medicine, law and engineering in formulating a Code of Ethics for its members. In 1916, the term REALTOR® was adopted to identify real estate agents who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.

In 1972, National's present "®" logo was adopted. With over 400,000 sales associates in 1972, NAR became the largest trade association in the country. Throughout NAR's history, it has been working for America's property owners, exerting pressure on government for better housing standards, improved home financing, the prevention of real estate fraud, the reduction of deficit spending, community revitalization, protecting private property rights and fair taxation.

In Santa Cruz, a handful of individuals joined together for the purpose of exchanging information about properties which were for sale and to share ideas about real estate. It is from this idea exchange that began the local organization created for the cooperative exchange of property information and a means to unite those engaged in the real estate business in the community and to promote good fellowship and fair dealings among its members and clients. In 1921, the organization received its original charter from NAR, then known as the "Greater Santa Cruz Board of REALTORS®, for the purpose of observing and enforcing the Code of Ethics of NAR. The Board's first President was F. M. Garrison who served in 1921-22.

With a membership of approximately 60 in 1945, the local REALTOR® organization began to grow and a more efficient means of distributing property information began in a loose-leaf form which was in Santa Cruz the beginnings of a Multiple Listing Service.

With a membership of 330 in 1958, the Board was incorporated and was issued a charter by NAR authorizing its active members use of the trade term REALTOR®. In 1961, the name was changed to the Santa Cruz Board of REALTORS®.

The membership grew to 528 REALTORS® by 1965 with a prediction for anticipated growth in the future of 100% for the organization. With a growing membership and expanded services offered by local, state and national associations, a new building at 1525 Seabright Avenue was built and dedicated in 1966. At that time the Board was interested in the formation of the Mid-County area, participated in the caravan system for previewing homes, and continued to enlarge its MLS inventory and property data. In the mid 1970's, the Board expanded its membership base to include Affiliate Members status for individuals who, while not engaged in the real estate profession as a licensed broker or salesperson, have interests requiring information concerning real estate and who are in sympathy with the objective of this Association. The Affiliate membership began with 30 members.

By 1973, with an organization of approximately 825 members, the Board's Multiple Listing Service had expanded and a decision was made to convert the loose-leaf binders to a bound MLS book known as the Market Digest. Even though many members viewed the change with disfavor, the Market Digest was developed into a comprehensive source of listing information.

In 1981, the membership of approximately 1550 members entered into the computer age. The Board staff entered listing data and changes into the computer as computer access from broker offices was not offered at this point in time. "Hotsheets" including an inventory of new listings, status changes, and sold information were mailed to agents weekly which supplemented the weekly MLS Book.

Many changes in the 1980's were experienced by the Board's membership including a declining market in 1981 through 1983. Legislation impacted forever the practice of real estate with the requirement to use the Transfer Disclosure Statement on sales for one to four dwelling units beginning in 1987, and in 1988, the Agency Disclosure form defined the role of a Seller's Agent, Buyer's Agent and Dual Agent. The membership numbers in the early 80's hit a low of approximately 1100 members, however, through this decade, the REALTOR® organization continued to expand its services and plan for the future growth by formulating a long range plan to build or move to a larger facility to better serve its members.

The year 1989 presented another major change for the membership and the way it would do business in the future with the introduction of broker load (agents inputting listing data from their offices). The change was met with enthusiasm, apprehension and fear as we stepped further into computer age, a must for future real estate practitioners. Before completing the decade, the REALTOR® organization underwent another change by voting on a name change to the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS® to better reflect an association of members rather than the implication of a regulatory board.

With changing wants and needs for the Multiple Listing Service, a new MLS computer system was introduced to members on February 19, 1991 which produced more membership input than seen in close to a decade. Even though the "conversion blues" were felt in the first six months of the change, the membership had acquired an experience for change at a more rapid pace than previous years, but not a pace that would match the upcoming years as they approached the 21st century.

For the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS®, the beginning of the 90's marked continued growth and change for the REALTOR® organization as it completed its plans for a new facility on Soquel Drive. A lot was purchased in May 1990 for construction of a new building. As plans were completed for its construction, the Ticor building on the adjoining parcel became available and plans were abandoned for construction of the new building. On October 16, 1991, in a celebration of "Moving Ahead With Style", our new building was dedicated with approximately 500 members in attendance.

In 1994-95, the Santa Cruz Association began implementing plans to participate in business ventures extending beyond the Santa Cruz County market area. The upgrade to the electronic lockbox system serving agents from San Francisco down through Monterey County took place in August 1994. In 1995, plans were finalized, and Association members began preparing themselves for the transition to a four-county regional MLS - RE InfoLink - scheduled for computer conversion in February 1996.

In 1996, the Association was provided an opportunity to sell its Association building with 8900 square feet, and the front lot which was to become part of a progressive redevelopment project that would bring Circuit City, Toys R Us, and other businesses into the Santa Cruz area. With the computer conversion behind the Association, the sale was completed and the search for another Association facility was pursued.

1997 continued to present a myriad of changes to the real estate industry with an extremely active market and property appreciation, constant legislative changes impacting real estate, and with business technology (cellular phones, pagers, computers, etc.) changing at a faster pace than can be fully captured at the time of introduction. The Internet has been growing as a popular resource for marketing services as well as listings, and it was at this time that access to listings statewide was launched through the California Association of REALTORS® California Living Network. Most Associations and Regional Multiple Listing Services participate in this service providing access to listings throughout the state of California.

On June 18, 1997, the Santa Cruz Association purchased a commercial property located at 2525 Main Street in Soquel, California. Plans were made to file for a "change of use" permit to convert a restaurant facility in existence since 1962 to office space. In August the permit processes and improvements were completed, and the Association moved its office to 2525 Main Street, Soquel, California. The new facility with 4,377 square feet is filled with a fresh, new energy that appears to be reflective of the current market which is better and more efficient, even though smaller. The facility continues to offer meeting room space, a Library, Computer Lab, Member Service Center, and a friendly staff to serve its members.

An important part of the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS® is its many volunteers who have contributed time and energy to the REALTOR® organization. To list all the names over the years would create volumes. However, the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS® is proud to recognize a distinguished group of volunteers, our Past Presidents, who have dedicated at least a year from their real estate practice to serve as the chief officer of our organization. Many times a President served on a number of committees as members and chairmen, and in the capacity of President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer before finally taking their role as President. The many individuals who have served the Association as President include:

1922 F.M. Garrison 1923 Frank G. Wilson 1924 A.M. White 1925 W.H. Nicholson 1926 W.H. Nicholson 1927 W.H. Nicholson 1928 C.E. Canfield 1929 F.M. Garrison 1930 James Sheldon 1931 James Sheldon 1932 Ed Street 1933 Ed Street 1934 Noel Patterson 1935 Noel Patterson 1936 J.T. Nittler 1937 J.T. Nittler 1938 James Voris 1939 James Voris 1940 Olive R. Slosson 1941 Noel Patterson 1942 Jos. R.H. Jacoby 1943 Jos. R.H. Jacoby 1944 Jos. R.H. Jacoby 1945 J.T. Nittler 1946 H.F. Darrow 1947 Tanner G. Wilson 1948 Tanner G. Wilson 1949 M.C. Hall 1950 Glenn E. Collidge 1951 S. Clair Ellis 1952 Ed Winnett 1953 Tanner G. Wilson 1954 Franklin Morrison 1955 Charles F. Hall 1956 Eva C. Bernard 1957 Bob Voris 1958 John E. Dollinger 1959 R.E. Cady 1960 Otto Kersten 1961 Wade L. Nittler 1962 John C. Young 1963 Anne Garni 1964 Anne Garni 1965 E.A. Winn 1966 E.A. Winn 1967 Lyle J. Wallace 1968 Alvin A. Medina 1969 Y. Linda Rossi 1970 Gaylord Noblitt 1971 Ray E. Menard 1972 A. Vernon Spaugh 1973 Jean DeVries 1974 Donald C. Burklo 1975 Margaret deLaive 1976 Norma Stone 1977 Wade L. Nittler 1978 Perry Bryant, Jr. 1979 Donna L. White 1980 Perry Bryant, Jr. 1981 David Lyng 1982 Geary Jones 1983 Ernie Anderson 1984 Sid Crockett 1985 Sharon Beckstead 1986 John Carver 1987 Bobbie Bruno 1988 Robert J. Bailey 1989 Sharon Lake 1990 Ralph Bargetto 1991 Walter J. Hickey 1992 Howard Allen 1993 Jacalyn Gangnes 1994 Charles "Buzz" Rogers 1995 Robin Sherman 1996 Fran Reed 1997 Sybille C. Miller 1998 Shelley Lawrie 1999 Peggy Gillett 2000 Gary Gangnes 2001 Frank Morris 2002 Bruce Southstone 2003 Ronnie Trubek 2004 Peggy Gillett 2005 Dan Sedenquist 2006 Bobbie Nelson

In 2006, this group of REALTORS® were recognized as REALTOR® Emeriti for having been members of the National Association of REALTORS® for 40 years and are considered Honorary members for life; They are Wade Nittler, Linda Rossi, Wm. Perry Bryant, Jr., Geary Jones, Franklin Harris, J. Paul Davis and Beverly Brown.

Another group of REALTORS® who should be recognized who have survived the cyclical real estate profession are our Honorary Life Members. They have "at the minimum" reached the age of 65 and served as a continuous REALTOR® member of the Association for 25 years. Our Honorary Life Members include:

James Reding Zel Longacre Ray Mc Cawley Billee Gerardi Jac Idleman Steve Page Jose Santiago Marie Ward Jim Lee Mona Salvage Gloria Sargent Bill Larzelere Marlyn Bergman Gerrie Dyer Edna Lee Kelly Inez Pandolfi Joyce Rudy Lee Bookman Inez Pandolfi Joyce Rudy Lee Bookman De De Goodrich Sharon Lake Charles “Buzz” Rogers Marion MacMahon Emil Portale Jerry Smeltzer Neils Sundermeyer Martin Boone Sandy Mason JoAnn Nielsen Britt Smith Jan Wagner Lori Wantland Sybille Miller Barbara Townend Frank Harris Joan Rost

To conclude our historical review, our members – 1677 REALTORS® and 121 Affiliates - should be thanked for their support over the years as we continue to make history...