Realtors honor Don Fender during July board meeting

Longtime local Realtor and former president of the Ohio Association of Realtors Donald E. Fender, Jr. has now received Realtor Emeritus status from the Highland County Board of Realtors, the Ohio Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

A presentation was made to Mr. Fender during the Thursday, July 25 meeting of the Highland County Board of Realtors held at the Ponderosa Banquet Center in Hillsboro.

Highland County Board of Realtors President Kelly Kimble read a letter from Gary Thomas, the 2013 president of the National Association of Realtors.

Thomas recognized Mr. Fender for his many contributions to the local, state and national Realtors associations, as well as for his many civic activities over the years.

Thomas cited Mr. Fender's "myriad efforts on behalf of the National Association of Realtors."

Mr. Fender has more than 50 years of service in the real estate profession. He served as president of the Ohio Association of Realtors in 1979.

Joe Bryan, co-owner of Donald E. Fender Realtors, made the Realtor Emeritus presentation to Mr. Fender.

Mr. Fender thanked the Board of Realtors for the ceremony and recognition.

* * *

• Board of Realtors members also heard from Barbara Lach, chair of the Ohio Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (see http://ohiorealtors.org/public-policy-2/rpac/).

The goal of the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) "is to organize the political action constituency. RPAC raises voluntary funds and makes contributions to political candidates at the federal, state and local levels."

Lach shared with local Realtors the ways in which the RPAC funds have been working for them in Columbus and Washington.

"Your passion is all I ask for," Lach told the Realtors. "Your passion for preserving what we do and how we do it is all I ask for."

Lach also encouraged local Realtors to put the "'fun' back in fundraising."

The Highland County Board of Realtors will hold its annual RPAC fundraiser at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Highland County Family YMCA. Kimble said items for the annual auction are needed, and local auctioneers are invited to assist with the auction.

* * *

• The July 25 luncheon was sponsored by Fifth Third Bank.