Thank you to all those members who provided VIREB with their "Speak-ups". VIREB continues to listen to the members and provide results where possible, to any suggestions, issues or concerns that are brought forward. Since the last In Touch newsletter, VIREB has received 12 new Speak-ups:

• There were 8 Speak-ups received that were forwarded to the MLS®/Tech Committee for their response:
  • One Speak-up questioned what the standards for reporting the "Sold" price was – ie. should it include taxes on new homes?
  • Another Speak-up suggested that mobile home listings in mobile home parks should not be allowed to list the year built as "unknown" since it is clearly indicated on the registration / title;
  • A Speak-up in regards to Touchbase suggested that the comments be expanded from 200 to 300 characters to ensure there is room for instructions, comments or questions;
  • 3 Speak-ups dealt with IC&I listings as follows:
    • IC&I listings should have Touchbase links on them to make it easier for REALTORS® to communicate, set up appointments and collect information;
    • IC&I listings should be searchable by a "Mortgage Info" field, as residential fields are;
    • IC&I listings should be required to have photos and text within 7 days, the same as residential listings, or face penalties.
  • A Speak-up suggested that sales results be published after they expire on court ordered sales;
  • Another Speak-up was received stating that "infraction warnings" should be scrapped.
• One Speak-up noted that some MLS® forms are out of date; it further suggested that form names should be matched to WEBForms™. This Speak-up was forwarded to the VIREB Tech Dept. and Manager of Member Services to look into.
• Two Speak-ups were received suggesting some updates to INTERFACE™. They were advised that as INTERFACE™ is an older program, there will be no changes or additions made. Currently, any updates / changes are made to INTERFACExpress™. The Province is looking into the option of using the same software and there are a number of different products available that will be considered.
• The remaining Speak-up suggested that the Conference & Tradeshow information should be available on REALTOR Link®; also it was suggested that information on the REALTORS Care® Award winners be posted on REALTOR Link®. In the response, it was noted that information on the Conference & Tradeshow is available in The Learning Centre, however, after the registration closes, it is removed. All those who register are emailed with the details of the day, including parking information. As well, Member Updates are sent out with the details, and those details on the events are also provided on the Welcome Message. As for the REALTORS Care® Winners, the information is sent out as a news release right after the event; a member update is drafted as well as some newspaper ads. Information on the winners is noted in the AGM Minutes, which are posted on REALTOR Link®. The information is also highlighted in the next issue of the In Touch Newsletter, which is also posted on REALTOR Link®.

VIREB appreciates your comments and thanks those members for Speaking up!

Do you have something you would like to communicate to VIREB? Simply send in your Speak-up via email to: speakup@vireb.com .

On March 27, the 2013 VIREB Board of Directors met for their second meeting of the year.

With the Director Portfolios and Chairs in place, reports, updates on recent events and an exploration of future happenings were provided. Guests at the meeting included Jim Stewart, BCREA Region III Director who provided an update on BCREA activities. He was very pleased to see the BCREA Board of Directors inaugurated during the BCREA Annual Meeting on March 21, where Jennifer Lynch stepped into the President's position. This is also the first time that non-licensee Directors have been elected to the Board.

Representing the Commercial Division, Chair Ian Lindsay was also in attendance to update the Board on commercial activities. Of particular note was the upcoming Commercial Building Awards Gala event that will take place at the Coast Bastion Inn on Thursday, April 18, 2012, beginning with cocktails at 6:00 pm. All VIREB members are welcome; this is an opportunity to show that the industry is alive and well on Vancouver Island. Tickets can be purchased through the Business VI website or by clicking here.

The Government Relations (GR) Portfolio has been fairly busy lately and provided an update on the recent NDP Leader's Dinner and on the Premier's Dinner, which was held in Vancouver April 8. The main item of discussion to come from the GR Portfolio was the soon to be launched "No Vote, No Voice" website. This website will be linked to VIREB's website and include a showcase of candidates running in the upcoming provincial election and their platforms. The website is expected to go live in early April.

VIREB Quality of Life initiatives continue. An update on the recent Hockey for Hospice charity hockey game was provided; the game raised nearly $3,000 for the Nanaimo Hospice Society! Quality of Life Portfolio Director, Heather Parker brought forward the Quality of Life Task Force recommendations and two motions came forward:

• … to approve the development of an application/screening process to handle requests for donations and use of PR funds throughout the VIREB area and in specific zones as indicated in the Quality of Life Task Force Recommendations; and
• … to update the nomination process and strive to enhance the promotional efforts to attract increased interest in the REALTORS Care® Awards Program; and to develop a plan to operate the Award Program through the auspices of the proposed REALTORS Care® Fund – a Zone-level entity that replaces the existing Zone PR Fund when available within allocated budget. VIREB resources will be available to members where required and within available budget.

During the round table strategic visioning session, the PR Fund initiatives were addressed. The Zone 4 Directors advised they will be providing $600 from the Zone PR Fund for the Young Professionals of Nanaimo's "Connect VI" event that will be held in Nanaimo. It was felt that this falls in line with one of the initiatives from the strategic plan – to get younger people involved in real estate. A further motion came forward - … to contribute $900 towards this event through the Board PR Fund – which will enable VIREB to reach the Sliver Sponsorship category.

Also addressed at this time was the organizing of a VIREB charity golf tournament for September. Past President Guy Bezeau is interested in taking the lead on this initiative and calling it the "Presidents Cup". His goal is to raise $10,000 for a charity of the President's choice. It was felt this could be an annual event.

Members are reminded to consider this year's Presidents' Motto through their workday: Professionalism… It Pays!

Friday, February 22 was a night of celebration for the VIREB as it presented its prestigious REALTORS Care® and REALTOR® of the Year Awards.

The event was the evening follow-up to the VIREB Annual General Meeting (AGM) that took place at the same location earlier in the day. It was sponsored by long-time supporter Coast Capital Savings, with Ken Villines presenting the awards. The gala event took place at Nanaimo's Coast Bastion Inn.

Judy Gray of RE/MAX Mid-Island Realty, Ucluelet
The VIREB REALTOR® of the Year Award is one of the highest honours the real state board can bestow upon its members. It recognizes those individuals whose dedication to excellence has had a profound influence on the professional image of VIREB REALTORS® and exemplifies such characteristics as leadership, industry stakeholder participation and active community involvement. This year's winner is a passionate supporter of the BC Children's Hospital Foundation among other charitable activities. Earlier this year, she received RE/MAX of Western Canada's "Spirit of the West" Award for her extensive community-based charity work.

The REALTORS Care® award, which has been presented annually since 2007, recognizes individual REALTORS® for their outstanding community service and professional leadership. This year's program received nominations from the general public as well, not solely from VIREB membership as in past years. The additional input helped to increase the number of candidates for the honour. Your award winners are:

Erika-Leigh Haley of Royal LePage Advance Realty,Campbell River
Erika was instrumental in the organization and distribution of bursaries for School District 72 in Campbell River. She assembled a team for the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life that has raised more than $34,000 in the last 5 years. She also organized a fundraising gala called Beauty for the Beast, which collected in excess of $7,000 for a new Campbell River SPCA shelter.

Bernie Poole of RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty, Comox
Bernie has served as the coordinator for the RE/MAX Christmas Dream Program, which assists families in need, for the last 10 years. He is currently Chair of the Annual Walk for Hearts, which is a fundraiser for the Comox Valley First Open Heart Society, raising funds for St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation and its Cardiac Care Facility.

Debbie Meiner of RE/MAX of Duncan
Debbie is a Director of the Cowichan Family Caregivers organization and has participated in a variety of local women's groups in the Duncan area. She is a passionate supporter of the Children's Miracle Network, the Clements Centre, The United Way, MS Campaign, and Canadian Cancer Society. For several years, she has travelled with her son and assisted with a dental group called Kindness in Action, who deliver dental services to indigenous people in Peru and Guatemala.

Matt Breedlove of Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Realty, Qualicum
Matt is a volunteer for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Program. He helped organize a Haiti relief benefit and a fundraiser for the Mosaic Youth Talent showcase. Together with his wife, Linda, and daughter Haley, he participated in a tour of the Middle Schools in Districts 68 and 69 on an awareness campaign to help stop bullying. His family also sponsors a child through World Vision and he contributes to their Shelter Foundation.

Dave Koszegi of RE/MAX of Nanaimo
Dave is a strong supporter of the Children's Miracle Network. He supplies team jerseys for a number of local hockey teams at the minor and adult recreation levels. He currently works at RE/MAX of Nanaimo which is a Miracle Office – where every REALTOR® donates a part of each commission to the Children's Miracle Network.

    left to right: Matthew Breedlove, Debbie Meiner, Erika Leigh Haley, Dave Koszegi and Bernie Poole.

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo was buzzing with activity March 22 during the 2013 VIREB Conference and Trade Show. This annual event is the Spring counterpart to the VIREB Professional Development Day which is held each Fall. Tabulating the totals, it was clear this year's Conference and Trade Show was a huge success. The day-long session featured two keynote speakers, Joel Shears and Russ Mcnab.

The day also showcased a companion trade show that featured nearly 30 exhibitors as well as a world-class networking opportunity for VIREB members. Approximately 130 REALTORS® from across the Island turned out for the session.

The focus of both keynote addresses was on mobile technology, such as cell phones and iPads, and how these new portable systems are revolutionizing the way real estate sales are evolving. Russ Mcnab, a Pitt Meadows REALTOR® and devoted Apple products fan, delivered an insightful presentation on how the iPad has changed his business and much of his life. For Joel Shears, the technology of choice was the ubiquitous smart phone and how this ever present tool can be a REALTORS® best friend. A great lunch, great speakers and a great opportunity to meet and mingle – the VIREB Conference and Trade Show offered something for everyone.

One of the other benefits of participating in events such as the recent VIREB Conference and Trade Show is the opportunity to win exciting draw prizes. During the March 22 session, 34 individual REALTORS® came away with prizes ranging from gift cards to tablet computers. While attendance at the event made everyone a winner, those winning some choice swag included:

• Cyndi Beaulieu (Royal LePage, NA) – Travel Mug (VIREB Commercial Division)
• Alexandra Smith (Realty Executives, NA) – Laptop Case (VIREB Commercial Division)
• Moe Lessan (Century 21, Icarus, NA) - $50 Gift Card (VIREB Commercial Division)
• Sandra Macrae (Sutton Whitecap, PK) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Rosalie Harper (Sutton Group-West Coast, NA) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Brad Ney (Royal LePage, NA) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Jayne Shaw (DFH Real Estate, Cowichan Bay) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Ron Williams (Coast Realty, LD) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Chris Venter (Coast Realty, NA) – RDN Rainwater Guidebook (RDN Team Water Smart)
• Susan McGougan (RE/MAX, NA) – $25 Chapters Gift Card (Garland Coulson E-Business)
• Hillary Reeves (Royal LePage, NA) – CD: Wind Weaver (Garland Coulson E-Business)
• Luke Kolk (Coast Realty, LD) – Blanket (Columbia Fuels)
• Les Pocket (Royal LePage, QU) – Flowers (House Master Home Inspection)
• Anne Sperling (Coast Realty, PK) – $1,500 Value App (Stone China Mobile Apps)
• Michael Peterson (RE/MAX, NA) – Glassware (KJ Graphico)
• Janice Stromar (Coast Realty, NA) – Free Home Inspection (Canadian Residential Inspection Services)
• Theresa Antolick (Royal LePage, QU) – Free Home Inspection (Canadian Residential Inspection Services)
• Dawn Snell (Sutton Group-West Coast, CH) – Bottle of Wine (Dye & Durham Corp.)
• Ken Caley (Royal LePage, QU) – Free Web to Print Set (Print Three)
• Margie Byblow (RE/MAX Ocean Pacific, CT) – Ricoh Digital Camera (AGS Business Systems)
• Bill McGowan (Osborne Realty, DU) – Honeywell Thermostat (21 Degrees Mechanical Ltd.)
• Susan Willis (RE/MAX, CT) – Fleece Blanket (Tiger Tel)
• Kirk Walper (RE/MAX First, PK) – $50 Cactus Club Gift Card (Discovery Home Inspections)
• Arvind Sund (Sutton Group-West Coast, DU) – Perimeter Drain Inspection or $300 off job (Island Basement Systems)
• Wes Smith (RE/MAX Ocean Point, LD) – $100 Co-op Gas Card (Venture Connect Inc.)
• Nasim Charania (Nasim, Lake Cowichan) – Coffee/Tea Pack (TRES Labs)
• Donna Tuele (Coast Realty, Hornby) – 1,000 Business Cards (Elite Image)
• Ralph Kirby (Realty Executives, NA) – Nextbook 7 Android Tablet (Buyers Choice Home Inspection)
• Sophia Chen (Coast Realty, NA) – Dracula Tickets (Nanaimo Daily News)
• Ian Doe (RE/MAX, CT) – $100 Visa Gift Card (Royal Bank of Canada)
• Subhadra Ghose (RE/MAX, NA) – Bottle of Wine (Dominion Lending)
• Elizabeth Biberger (Royal LePage, DU) – Bottle of Wine (Restacon Services)
• Harvey Osborne (Royal LePage, DU) – Coffee Pack (Coast Capital Savings)
• Brenda Jenkins (Sutton Whitecap, PK) – Coffee Pack (Coast Capital Savings)

Congratulations to all of our winners!

VIREB REALTOR® and 2011 REALTOR® of the Year Jennifer Lynch was formally elected President of the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) for 2013 – 2014 on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Managing Broker with Coast Realty Group's Gabriola Island office, Jennifer has been a REALTOR® for nearly 20 years. In a BCREA media release she said her years of working in the profession will assist her in carrying out her presidential duties. "I look forward to bringing my experience and passion for promoting high professional standards and the value of working with a REALTOR® to my role as BCREA President. It is an honour to dedicate my time to help steer organized real estate in this exciting time of change for the profession."

A former member of the VIREB Board of Directors, Jennifer was President of VIREB in 2007 and has served on a number of professional committees over the years, including as a Director with the BCREA. One unique aspect of the Association she will be overseeing is inclusion of two non-REALTORS® for the first time. By inducting individuals from outside of organized real estate, BCREA hopes to bring a public-facing perspective to the Association's decision making process.

It will be exciting, it will be informative and you're going to want to be there! VIREB's annual Staff Development Day is just around the corner. As in past years VIREB is organizing a day-long training and networking opportunity for real estate office support staff.

This year's session will take place Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at the VIREB office. The agenda for the day will include a review of VIREB services and procedures – a refresher designed to assist administrative staff in the performance of their routine duties – while accenting some of the VIREB services and products they may not be fully aware of.

Other portions of the day will touch on the increasing importance of Social Media as a marketing tool and the ongoing goal of providing top notch customer service. But the day won't be all work! It's also a great way for staff to network with their peers, to meet people from other offices and, of course, to interact with the VIREB staff.

NOTE: The Managing Broker of each office must give permission for any staff member to attend. The invitation and registration will be going out to Managing Brokers by mid-April so don't forget to mark your calendar!

In light of a recent attack on, and compromise of, the WEBForms™ servers, its time to remind members of a few basic and absolutely essential security tips. While this article may seem a little long winded, it is important to stress that not only should you as REALTORS® be concerned about protecting your own information from misuse, but you are also charged with the duty of protecting your client's confidential information as well. Failure to do so could do serious damage to your reputation, the reputation of the industry as a whole, and even have some serious legal ramifications. This month's focus will be on two important areas where you can help to reduce your chances of being successfully attacked; passwords and software updates.

Most security experts agree that passwords in general are not a good mechanism of protecting information in an age where virtually all computers are connected online all of the time. Strong passwords are hard to remember, weak passwords are easy to guess. Passwords are often shared or written down making them vulnerable to misuse. Unfortunately, at this time there's no widely available solution in sight, so it's important to use passwords in the most secure way possible.

• ALWAYS use a long and strong password. In the case of VIREB applications, this means 7-8 characters, with a combination of letters and numbers. (Currently VIREB systems are limited to the 8 character maximum required by the INTERFACE™ software. However, this restriction will be removed in a future edition of INTERFACE™)
• Perhaps more importantly than the length or complexity of passwords, is to make them unique. ALWAYS use a different and unique password log-in for any important site. While the details of exactly what was compromised during the attack on WEBForms™ is not completely certain, the attacker did have access to a list of e-mail addresses and passwords from across Canada. A list like that is often used as a starting point for trying to log into e-mail accounts, banks, social networking sites, online stores and other desirable targets.
• NEVER share your password with anyone. VIREB regulations explicitly forbid password sharing. VIREB and RealtyServer have implemented an impersonation system in order to give members the ability to allow their assistants or team members to work on their behalf. If you need help with impersonation, please contact VIREB technical support.

When it comes to how attackers gain access to individual computers, the most common method consists of tricking a user into visiting a site which has been either created or hacked into by the attacker. Once the unwitting victim joins the site, a hidden code installs malicious software on the user's computer. The user is generally unaware this is happening because the attacker takes advantage of (exploits in industry terms) flaws (vulnerabilities) in the programming of software on the computer. Generally, compromised software is either a web browser or a browser plug-in such as Java, Adobe Reader, and Flash.

These vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited almost daily. The people who discover and exploit the vulnerabilities, and the companies who write the software are locked in a constant cycle of creating and releasing updates which fix these weaknesses in their software. The good news is that brand new vulnerabilities are considered extremely valuable, so are generally used to attack large corporations and governments rather than the public at large. By the time one of the exploits is used on the public, there's usually a fix available. The bad news is people often don't download and install routine software and operating system updates.

Simply updating your software as soon as updates are released, combined with running antivirus software will protect you from most of the potential threats currently out there. Is YOUR computer up to date? If you are running Windows, please take a minute to download and run the Personal Security Inspector program to find out. (http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/)

Another option available to users of both Mac or Windows computers is the fact that you can install and run the Qualys Browser Check plug-in which is not as comprehensive, but will check your browser and any plug-ins you have installed (https://browsercheck.qualys.com/)

Executive Summary:

• Security is important
• Use a long, unique password for each important site and never share it.
• Make sure all of your software is up to date. Check out the links above.

The Commercial Building Awards Gala event will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at the Coast Bastion Inn, Nanaimo, with cocktails starting at 6:00 pm, dinner at 7:00 pm and the awards presentation at 8:00 pm.

VIREB was pleased to see a total of 49 nominations this year –the most we've received yet! The objective is to promote and highlight new commercial development throughout the VIREB area while underscoring the benefit of having the Commercial Division of VIREB involved. Interest in the event itself has also grown and it appears we are well on our way to another packed event. Emcees for the evening will be Dave Hammond and Derek Costantino.

If you are interested in attending the Commercial Building Awards Gala event, tickets can be ordered online at the Business VI website and all VIREB members are welcome! This is a great opportunity to network with the builders, developers and project managers from the projects that have been nominated within the VIREB area. Please consider joining in on this prestigious event to honour your clients from last year.

Also taking place that day is the VIREB Commercial Connect meeting (previously known as the "Haves & Wants" meeting) scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2013 in the Dunsmuir Room at the Coast Bastion Inn from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This event is specifically being held in the afternoon at the Coast Bastion Inn, in order to make it easier for members of the Commercial Division who wish to attend both this meeting AND the Commercial Building Awards Gala that evening. Jason Kinch, P.Eng., Senior Project Engineer in charge of Read Jones Christoffersen's Nanaimo office has been secured as the speaker for the afternoon event. He will be providing a power point presentation on their services along with a case study of an inspection program. There will be an opportunity for Q & A's. Of course, any "Haves and Wants" will be most welcome too!

If you have any questions on the above events, please contact Sue Lessard by email at: slessard@vireb.com or by phone at: 250-390-5781 (direct) or 1-800-663-1099.

Congratulations to Judy Gray, new Chair of the BC Commercial Council! On March 19, the BCCC held its annual meeting with representatives from the commercial divisions of the boards within BC. The highlight of the event was the ratification of Judy Gray as the Chair of the BCCC for this year. Not only was the selection well received, but the support for her was very strong. Joining Ms. Gray on the BCCC Executive will be Vice Chair Stephen Shea, Victoria Real Estate Board, Chair-Elect, Gary Bowker, Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board and Past Chair, Charles Weibe, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board.

The Real Estate Council has put an emphasis on educating licensees about the responsibilities of self-regulation of the real estate industry in BC. In the event that you did not see the Report from Council articles on this topic, they can be found in the December 2012 and February 2013 Report from Council newsletters on the Council's website at:
http://www.recbc.ca/2012/12/december-2012-report-from-council-newsletter/#self-regulation
http://www.recbc.ca/2013/02/february-2013-report-from-council-newsletter/#self-regulation

The articles indicate that the self-regulating status of the real estate industry in BC is an achievement for which the industry can be very proud. However, with this authority also comes the obligation for licensees to conduct themselves in a manner that is deserving of the public trust.

Linking Island Business Conference and Trade Show

The Linking Island Business Conference and Trade Show, held March 13 at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre, was a unique opportunity for business leaders from throughout the central Vancouver Island area to meet, mingle and share ideas. VIREB was in attendance to support the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) – the event organizers – and to help promote the profession of real estate sales. Featuring some 30 different exhibitors, the day-long business to business gathering also included a series of focused information break-out sessions that ran concurrent to the trade show.

One session, examining Inter-Community Transportation on Vancouver Island, was hosted by VIREB's own Darrell Paysen. Other sessions included the business benefits of going green, to the inner workings of selling services and products to the Federal Government. VIREB's involvement in the Linking Island Business Trade Show was both a positive and informative experience. While not a huge draw for members of the general public, the session was a first class opportunity for business leaders from across Vancouver Island to meet, mingle and share ideas.

And the winner is … Coast Realty Groups' Kathy White. There were a number of draw prizes to be awarded during the event. VIREB had its own booth draw and coincidently enough, the prize (an assortment of VIREB swag) was picked up by Kathy White, a Nanaimo REALTOR® and Coast Realty Group office manager. "People will think the draw was fixed," she said. Must have been some sort of cosmic influence occurring at the time for a real estate professional to be the one to pick up the real estate sponsored prize. VIREB's Manager of Member Services, Darrell Paysen, made the presentation honors at the Board office on March 15.

Vancouver Island University (VIU) students were busily exploring the world of work April 4 at a Job Fair staged at the Nanaimo campus. VIREB was one of nearly 50 businesses and organizations that helped fill the VIU gymnasium. Sponsored by the university's Faculty of Business, participating exhibitors ranged from banks and government agencies to organizations such as VIREB.

Board Director, Jennifer Merrilees, and VIREB's Manager of Member Services, Darrell Paysen, were on hand during the event to promote the Board and the profession of real estate sales in general. Running from 2 pm to 5 pm, the Job Fair saw several hundred students check out the various booths and exhibits. VIREB regularly attends functions such as these to promote real estate sales as an important career choice for new entrants to the workplace.

Most brokers and agents already understand that the "file" often contains very sensitive personal and financial data. In fact, the copy of a client's cheque (including ABA and routing number) and other financial and identification information found in the file are so sensitive that if a file is improperly accessed, discarded, lost, or stolen rather than properly stored securely and then shredded when allowed by provincial real estate regulations, most provincial laws require the clients be notified of a security breach. The outcome can be very embarrassing, or possibly even business-ending, for a brokerage.

Real estate professionals handle other sensitive information every day and some may not understand how sensitive it is and the special care required. Specifically, there are some MLS® listing reports, often referred to as "agent" reports, that contain information such as agent remarks, commission information, and other information - all of which is highly confidential. Sometimes there are instructions for showing the house that no one wants to fall into the wrong hands - "Child home alone between 3 and 5, don't show", "Guard dog is really a pussycat", or "Owner on vacation until May - show at will". Sometimes there is other sensitive information in the report - even descriptions of certain valuables and alarm codes, even though it is generally discouraged to put that kind of information in the file.

What does this mean to you? If you handle these kinds of reports, you need to keep them confidential - be careful not to forward them to via email, do not provide those reports to clients, and erase them from your computer when done using them. Also, when you're finished with a printout, you should use a cross-cut shredder to destroy it rather than putting it into the trash or recycle bin. You don't have to read every report and decide if it has sensitive information on it - just make it a habit to use that shredder.

For more information on what constitutes personal information, data retention laws and practices, breach notification laws and other facts you need to know about information security on a state by state basis, you can download NAR's "Data Security and Privacy Toolkit" from Realtor.org (requires login) - or visit the Real Estate Information Security Center: http://www.callclareity.com/security/ for that toolkit and many other useful articles.

Did you know that VIREB has a business-focused resource library? If you didn't know, you are not alone.

To try and gauge the membership's knowledge about and interest in the library, VIREB sent a survey out to the membership in February. Participants who responded to the survey and provided their name were automatically entered into a draw to win one of ten $10.00 Tim Horton's gift cards. Our ten lucky winners are:

• Dale Rumming – Coast Realty Group (Parksville), Parksville
• Guy Litton – Realist Realty, Nanaimo
• Jim Franklin – Sutton Group-West Coast Realty, Nanaimo
• Judy Maas – RE/MAX Check Realty, Campbell River
• Ralph Kretzschmar – Coast Realty Group (Parksville), Parksville
• Richard Leischner – Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty, Nanaimo
• Shae Webber – Pemberton Holmes Ltd. (Dun), Duncan
• Sue Tompkins – Realist Realty, Nanaimo
• Valerie Mitchell – RE/MAX First Realty, Parksville
• Wendy Klyne – RE/MAX of Lake Cowichan, Lake Cowichan

Congratulations to all of our winners. VIREB thanks everyone who took the time to participate - your answers will help us in making future decisions regarding our library.

Sierra Club founding member David Brower said: "We must begin thinking like a river if we are to leave a legacy of beauty and life for future generations." Recognizing and enhancing that legacy was one of the inspirations behind Nanaimo Filmmaker Paul Manly's dream to create a documentary about the Nanaimo River Watershed entitled "Voices of the River".

Nanaimo area REALTORS® have now made a contribution that will help pass that legacy onto the region's future generations. Local REALTORS® have donated $1,000 toward having Manly's film duplicated and distributed to schools throughout School District 68.

VIREB Directors Kathy Koch and Jennifer Merilees made the presentation Thursday, March 14 at the VIREB offices in Nanaimo. According to Manly, the teachers in the District have been very supportive of the plan to get the film into the classroom. "They recognize the film crosses a number of different parts of the curriculum," he said. "From history and First Nations studies to science and geography, the Nanaimo River is an integral part of the region when looked at from different perspectives."

Manly is hoping that, with the donation, his film can be reproduced and distributed in time for this year's Earth Day celebrations on April 22. To learn more about the film, visit Manly's website: www.manlymedia.com.

The Second Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board REALTOR® Charity Hockey Game raised $2,684 for the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society! In last year's inaugural outing $1,100 was raised by the all in fun competition.

Held at the Nanaimo Ice Center Arena March 15, a total of 31 players – consisting of REALTORS® and members of the local business community, suited up and took to the ice to battle for their chosen cause.

One of the event organizers, RE/MAX of Nanaimo's Justus Edmundson, said the on-ice competition was fierce. "The Blue Streak beat the White Sharks 7 – 6, but it was a very close game, with three post hits in the final minute!" RE/MAX of Nanaimo's Jordan Belveal is another of the event's founders and organizers and was instrumental in seeing the project through to its successful conclusion. About 80 fans turned out to cheer on their champions and to support the fundraising efforts. Well done everyone for having organized such a hugely successful event.

Jeanne Fahlman, the Hospice Society's Development officer, was presented with the cheque at the VIREB office March 25. "The sort of support we've received, and the way this has grown is just incredible," she said. "Hockey and Hospice, the two just seem to go together perfectly."

Parksville/Qualicum REALTORS® recently donated $500 to Jeneese Place in Victoria. Taken from their area's REALTORS Care® funds, the money was presented by Qualicum Beach REALTOR® Matt Breedlove to Christina Peacock, House Manager at Jeneese Place. A program of the Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, Jeneese Place is a residential centre where families can stay when they have young children requiring medical treatment in Victoria.

The facility is named after Jeneese Edroff, who, despite suffering through multiple surgeries from the age of three, has set an inspiring example through her courage, unfailing humor and tireless fund raising efforts. In 2010, she was awarded the Order of British Columbia, the province's highest honor for her continuing efforts.

Parksville Qualicum REALTORS® donated $500 to the Parksville Lions Club Sunday, March 3 to help fund its successful Family Skate Program. The money will be used to purchase new skate aides (the red and blue supports) for beginners to the sport like the trio in the accompanying photograph.

Taking part in the presentation were (left to right) Don Gamble, Chair of the Family Skate Program, REALTOR® Margo Hoffman, Gail Vuillamy, Lions 1st Vice President and Lions President (and REALTOR®) Jim Hoffman. The presentation was made at Oceanside Place (the Victor Kraatz arena) in Parksville. Money for the donation came from the local REALTORS Care® fund. Started in 2010, the popular Family Skate Program has seen its attendance numbers grow each year since its inception. The additional funds will allow the activity to expand to better accommodate the growing list of users.

Parksville REALTOR® Ken Droog and his team of kite board enthusiasts have passed the halfway point in their ongoing fundraising efforts for the BC Children's Hospital. Droog and as many as four other kite boarders are hoping to ride the waves from Nanaimo to Davis Bay near Sechelt and then return to Vancouver Island near Parksville sometime in the next few weeks – all on the same day.

The group has currently raised more than $5,500 of their $10,000 financial target. "For our first year we are pleased with our progress and the excellent support shown by the Vancouver Island business community for this cause," Droog explained in a recent media release. The return trip across the Georgia Strait has even attracted the attention of celebrity billionaire and kite boarding practitioner, Sir Richard Branson, who had been invited to participate. Branson, who declined the chance to take part, did accept an honorary membership in the group's Kiting for Kids organization and offered his written encouragement to the adventurers.

To learn more about the group and its goals interested individuals are encouraged to visit: http://kitingforkids.com/.

February 27 was Pink Shirt Day across Canada, and to do their part to promote anti-bullying in schools, VIREB staff donned their favorite rosy fashions to mark the occasion.

Launched in 2007 as a national campaign to bring attention to the problem of student bullying in schools, Pink Shirt Day has grown from its humble roots in Nova Scotia into a nation-wide public awareness blitz.

VIREB staff joined thousands across the country to offer support to this cause to eliminating bullying from the classroom. School bullying can be cruel and is linked to many incidents of suicide and other violence both inside and outside of class.

By bringing the searchlight of public scrutiny to the issue, organizers and supporters like VIREB are hoping to eliminate this unnecessary abuse in the nation's classrooms. Interested individuals can visit the campaign's website (www.pinkshirtday.ca) to learn more.

There are a total of 951 members as of April 16, 2013.

Effective Feb 12th, Courtenay Comox Realty has moved to: Suite 3-515 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, V9N 2M6. Telephone and Fax numbers remain the same.

Effective Feb 26th, O.J. Property Management has changed their name to: O.J. Realty & Property Management Inc. The address remains the same at 962 Shoppers Row, Campbell River and the telephone and fax numbers remain the same.

Effective Mar 1st, a new branch office has opened in Comox: Sutton Group-West Coast Realty, at 2002 East Comox Avenue, Comox, V9M 3M6, telephone: 250-339-9919. Managing Broker will be Ron Ens.

Effective Mar 7th, a new office has joined: Macdonald Realty, Box 548, 688 Memorial Ave., Qualicum Beach, V9K 1T1, telephone: 250-594-4000, fax: 888-495-5126. Managing Broker will be Lynn Van de Kamp.

Effective Mar 12th, Sotheby's International Realty Canada in Qualicum has moved to 752 Douglas Street, Victoria, V9W 3M6, new telephone: 1-877-530-3933, new fax: 250-380-3939.

Effective Mar 12th, Holmes Real Estate Service in Courtenay has moved to: Unit 3- 515 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, V9N 2M6. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

Effective Mar 13th, a new office has joined: SRS Island Realty, #203 - 355 Wesley Street, Nanaimo, V9R 2T5, telephone: 250-824-5022, fax: 250-824-5001. Managing Broker will be Satnam Bains.

Effective March 14th, Sutton Group-West Coast Realty in Port Alberni has moved to: #2 - 4641 Margaret Street, Port Alberni, V9Y 6H1. Phone and fax numbers remain the same.

Effective April 2nd, Re/Max Mid Island Realty in Ucluelet has moved to: #109 - 1917 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet, V0R 3A0. Phone and fax numbers remain the same.

Effective April 8th, Re/Max First Realty in Parksville has moved to: #101 - 897 West Island Highway, Parksville, V9P 2E7. Phone and fax numbers remain the same.

Effective April 15th, Total Concept Management & Realty Ltd formerly in Campbell River has moved to: 407A 5th Street, Courtenay, V9N 1J7, telephone: 250-871-4427, fax: 250-871-1382.

Effective April 15th, Coast Realty Group (Parksville) Ltd. has opened a new branch office in Ucluelet at: #3-250 Main Road, Ucluelet, V0R 3A0, telephone: 250-726-7474. Managing Broker will be Gary Gray.

Farewell to David Holmes. David held the Communications CSR position at VIREB. The Board of Directors and Staff wish him well in his new job position.

VIREB - In Touch is VIREB's newsletter.  We'd like to hear your comments and feedback about the newsletter. If you have any newsworthy information that can been included in our bi-monthly In Touch, please email us at: communications@vireb.com  (VIREB retains all editorial rights).

Gary Gray, President, Coast Realty Group, Port Alberni
Bill Benoit, CRAE, CAE - Executive Officer
Darrell Paysen, CRAE - Manager, Member Services
Sheri Rosewall - Production
Published by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. Copyright 2013.