Updated February 1, 2019

To lay the important foundation and groundwork for understanding the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) committee selection process, it may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
           Who, if anyone, has encouraged you to apply?
           Why do you want to be on a NAR Committee; what are your qualifications?
           What do you know about NAR’s Committee structure?
           How do you find a committee that interests you?
           Where do you go to get all there is to know about NAR committees?
           When will you make a commitment to pursue your selection of a NAR committee?

These are some of the questions you need to explore and address, as well as determining if NAR committee membership is something you really want.

What Are NAR’s Committees? When it comes to making decisions at the national level, NAR’s committees, advisory boards, forums, and councils are the first place where ideas are discussed and voted upon before being approved by the Board of Directors. (Read more on NAR.realtor)

Here are some important, basic steps you can take to ensure you’re on the right track.

Make sure your NRDS ID personal information is correct and current. This is especially important when it comes to your email address (NAR’s primary method of communication is via email). Please note that changes in your business contact information must be handled by your local association.

One of the fastest ways to look up your NRDS number is to go to the My Account tab at the top of AARonline.com, then visit NAR.realtor to confirm your personal information.

Login to create your Expertise Profile, so that NAR has a detailed resource when selecting committee, work group and presidential advisory group appointments, or when seeking members for other volunteer opportunities.

You will be able to indicate the level of participation with which you feel comfortable when completing the profile form. Please note that this is not synonymous with submitting a Committee Application (login also required). If you wish to serve on a specific committee, you must still submit an online committee application during NAR’s application period.

Read and re-read the NAR REALTOR® Committee Structure (login required). If you are serious about becoming a committee member, reviewing each committee’s purpose, composition, qualifications for consideration will help you gain a better perspective on what makes sense for you.

On the Committee Application Website, you can enter and view committee applications and endorsements. Once applications are submitted and endorsements received, they are compiled into reports, which are used by NAR Officers in the committee selection process. You will only have access to the applications that you have entered and endorsements you submitted for others.

When given the opportunity to write an endorsement for someone, focus on content quality, not quantity. Avoid merely listing leadership positions or titles someone has held. Place the spotlight of your endorsement on specific experiences and achievements. Mention individual accomplishments in areas of specialization, articles written, research conducted, qualities that typically make them stand out and offer reasons why they, in particular, are best suited for a specific committee.

Take a moment to think about what you want to state before you actually put it in writing. Is it a truthful and an accurate representation? Will the quality of your endorsement be helpful and convincing to a potential decision-maker?

Lastly and of utmost importance, when you write an endorsement for someone that has expressed an interest in more than one committee, refrain from the temptation to copy-and-paste that information to a committee with a different purpose and function.