On Sept. 10, 2015, National Association of REALTORS President Chris Polychron expressed support in advancing safe drone use in the commercial real estate industry. Testifying before the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee, Polychron recognized the need for balance between commercial drone use and protecting privacy and the safety of our country’s National Air Space. NAR is continuing to take an active role on this issue, working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the House Judiciary Subcommittee to move it forward. After streamlining a waiver process for drone use, the FAA has now issued more than 1,300 waivers to users including to those in the real estate business. For more on the topic of drones, click here.

Brought to you by the New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania associations of REALTORS, Triple Play 2015 is the event you can’t afford to miss. New features this year include: ED Talks with Stefan Swanepoel, Steve Harney, Terry Watson, Rossi, Jackie Leavenworth and Allen Dalton; vendor presentations and demonstrations in the Trade Expo Theatre; an improved mobile app to customize your schedule; free morning coffee with exhibitors; and a welcome booth. As always, Triple Play will feature free CE with the ability to earn up to 18 credits over four days, hot topics presented by top speakers, networking events and more. Register online by Oct. 15 and pay the same low early-bird price as last year – just $79! Visit REALTORSTriplePlay.com to register and find more information.

Thursday’s Primary Election Day in New York State saw low voter turnout including: Albany with 20 percent; Erie County with 9 percent; Nassau County with 3 percent; and the 23rd New York City Council District with 13 percent. Notably, REALTOR Diane Benczkowski won the Democratic Primary Election for Cheektowaga Town Supervisor in Erie County. Learn more here.

Finley Maxson, senior counsel with the National Association of REALTORS, will be presenting "TRID: Changes to the Mortgage Closing Process" at the upcoming NYSAR Fall Business Meetings. Maxson will be a special guest speaker during the Legislative Policy Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 8:30 a.m. in the Mohawk room at Turning Stone. Come learn about changes to the RESPA/Truth in Lending disclosures, their timing and impact on real estate professionals. The forum is open to all NYSAR members in attendance. 

Stay up-to-date on NYSAR Government Affairs news and events by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Tuesday, Sept. 22, NYSAR Radio show will preview the 2015 NYSAR Fall Business Meetings. Tune in at 10 a.m. on September 22 on your PC or Mac by using the player on the NYSAR Radio page. You will need to be logged in to listen. If you have not yet created your account with the website, you will need to click on "New User" on the Member Login page and follow the prompts. Find more information as well as a list of links to play NYSAR Radio from any of your mobile devices here.

Every donation you make to the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation between now and October 6 will enter you into a raffle for a MacBook Air. Earn one chance with a $20 donation or three chances with a $50 donation. Make your donation now at NYSARHousingFoundation.com or while you’re at Turning Stone for the Fall Business Meetings. The winner will be announced during the NYSAR Board of Directors meeting on October 7.

Learn how to pay the lowest amount of taxes possible next year by doing a few simple things today. Join former IRS trainer and best-selling author Sandy Botkin for a free webinar this Thursday, Sept. 17, at 2:30 p.m. and learn how to give yourself that raise by keeping more of what you earn. This webinar will cover: mileage deduction; leasing vs. buying; travel; and medical. This webinar will conclude with an overview of the Taxbot mobile app, which NYSAR members receive a 50-percent discount on through NYSAR’s Member Perks program. Click here to register today.

GRI-6 Sellers will be offered on Sept. 22 at the Gran-View on the River in Ogdensburg, NY. Represent seller clients in a way that keeps them coming back. Get a competitive advantage with strategies to: gain more listings; get clients to price to sell; enhance your marketing; and avoid Fair Housing violations and safety concerns.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

GRI-7 Property will be offered on Sept. 23 at the Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS in Amherst, NY. Learn about all the factors impacting value and close more deals. Discover the myriad elements that affect property value including: types of housing; appraisals and inspections; neighborhoods and amenities; energy efficiency and environmental issues; lender requirements and more.

Register online today or call NYSAR at 800-239-4432 x219. Click here for more information.

The enrollment period for NYSAR’s dental plan has been extended through October 1, 2015! There’s never been a better time to re-evaluate your dental and vision coverage. Administered by USI Affinity and now underwritten by MetLife, the NYSAR dental plan offers: options for a range in coverage and cost; third straight year of no rate increases; coverage for individuals and families; freedom to visit any dentist, in or out-of-network; and coverage for orthodontia.

Through this new partnership with MetLife, vision coverage is now being offered as a standalone option in addition to being an optional rider on the dental policy. Visit www.MyREALTORInsurance.com/nysar or call USI Affinity’s dedicated sales representative Ned Cox at 888.834.3713 for more information.

Energy Plus® is leaving its mark on the energy industry through its special cash back rewards program. Enroll your home with Energy Plus® and receive 3 percent cash back and a $25 enrollment bonus after two months of active service, and 5 percent cash back and a $50 bonus for a business account. Enrolling with Energy Plus® is easy and there are no monthly service fees, cancellation fees, or long-term commitments. Stop missing out on what you deserve and start earning cash back rewards. Click here to enroll today.

Submit your bids for a Tiffany & Co. mini double heart tag pendant in sterling silver with Tiffany blue enamel finish on a 16" chain necklace. Bidding closes Friday, September 25. Visit the RPAC page of NYSAR.com to learn more.

Test your trivia knowledge while raising funds to support RPAC during the RPAC Trivia Night on Monday, Oct. 5, from 7:30-11 p.m. at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY. In addition to the trivia tournament, there will be live and silent auctions, a selection of your favorite hot pub foods, and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Register online today to attend NYSAR’s Fall Business Meetings and the RPAC Trivia Night. Or, simply download, complete and return the registration form to NYSAR via fax at 518.462.5474. Questions? Contact Derick King at dking@nysar.com or 518.463.0300 x238.

Once again we will be featuring live and silent auction items as part of the RPAC Trivia Night fundraiser. If local boards or individual members would like to donate auction items, please contact Derick King at dking@nysar.com or 518.463.0300 x238 with a description of the item and the value by Monday, September 21. Local boards and individual members will receive RPAC credit for auction item donations!