GLVAR: Industry gala

Myrna Kingham was installed as 2005 president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors last weekend at the organization's annual installation of officers gala at Four Seasons Las Vegas. More than 500 people attended.

In accepting the gavel, Kingham announced her theme for the year: "One Person Can Make a Difference."

She then spoke of someone who made a difference in her life, Shirley Rappaport, who gave Kingham her first job in Las Vegas real estate.

"In 1978 I went to her with concerns that I had made the wrong career decision," Kingham said. "She asked me what I was doing to make things happen. I told her I showed up for floor time, and was in the office from 9 to 5.

"With that, she (asked) how many people had I spoken to each day to ask them for business. I looked at her like she was speaking another language. I said, `none,' and she said, `that's what I thought.' She put me on a program, and within 30 days I was so busy I decided I had made the right decision. But without her faith in me and the support she knew I needed, I would have left the business."

The additional new officers are Linda Rheinberger, president-elect; Devin Reiss, vice president; and Patty Kelley, treasurer.

The directors are: Paul Bell; Honey Borla; Nitsa Filios; Richard Lybbert, commercial alliance president; Andrew Maline, multiple listing service chairman; Sue Naumann; Mary Owensby; Neil Schwartz; Mark Stark; and Linda "Red" Wallin.

Irene Vogel, executive vice president, presented the Realtor of the Year award to 2004 President Lee K. Barrett.

The following awards were presented in recognition of service to the community and the real estate profession:

Hall of Fame

Gayle Brown Fox, Lois Durkee and Donna Ruthe

Affiliate of the Year

Cindi Slanec, Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun

Gene Nebeker Memorial Award

J.C. Melvin

Ronn Reiss Award

Fred Haines

Citizen of the Year

Nellis Air Force Base

"We currently have over 12,000 members," Kingham said. "It is imperative that we treat each other with courtesy, respect and confidence. Education is the key to professionalism. We will be looking to increase education and the courses offered at (the association) for 2005."

The event raised about $20,000 for Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas. As part of the association's ongoing partnership with the nonprofit organization, about 50 association members, plus framing crews and other representatives of Pulte Homes and Del Webb, volunteered yesterday to start construction on a Habitat home for a family in Henderson.

The association was founded in 1947, and is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.

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