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Archive for April, 2010

Homeowner’s Club Update

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Dear Directors,
As you know, in Suncadia our Board of Directors had a spirited debate about all aspects of the homeowner club
concept – the wisdom of getting into that business, the timing, the funding source, everything. It turns out that
you are indeed a reflection of the membership. Now that the details of the club concept are becoming known to
our 18,000 agents and brokers, the same concerns you discussed in Suncadia are being raised by our members
and communicated to WR leadership in very strong terms.
In light of the intensity of those concerns within the broader membership, and before proceeding with such a
significant and controversial investment of Washington REALTOR funds, I asked the Executive Committee to
consider slowing down the implementation of the club concept. On Tuesday April 27, 2010 the Executive Committee
met via conference call and decided not to immediately proceed with the incorporation of the subsidiary
corporation. The Executive Committee’s decision necessarily delays the funding of the corporation as well.
Here is some additional background.
Since the club’s business plan and funding source was approved by the Board on April 16, 2010, we have heard
from several major Association stakeholders that have voiced strong opposition to the business plan and/or the
funding source. The stakeholders that voiced their concerns represent many REALTOR offices across the state
and thousands of our members. Their concerns include:
• this is not an appropriate business model for a trade association; we should stay focused on our core
mission
• this will make the club, not individual REALTORS, the first point of contact with consumers and interfere
with our individual brokerage business models
• the business plan is flawed and the venture will not succeed. There also are liability concerns.
• the timing is wrong: agents and brokers are mortgaging their homes to stay in business, losing their
homes to foreclosure and struggling to pay their dues. They will be furious when they hear of this expenditure
• we’ll lose many members and RPAC investments will suffer dramatically
• the funding source is wrong because of timing: we should not be tapping into the Issues Fund when
we know the real estate industry likely will be the target of tax increases in 2011
• the funding source is wrong, period. We shouldn’t use the Issues Fund for anything other than issues.
As you can see, all of these concerns were raised and debated in Suncadia, before and during the Board meeting.
So you are to be congratulated for the thoughtfulness and scope of your discussions. Nevertheless,
after speaking personally with our members one thing seemed clear to me—if we push ahead at this time with
transferring $300,000 from the Issues Fund, we risk badly dividing this association at a time when unity is more
important than ever. Regardless of how you feel about the club concept or how you voted in Suncadia, we need
to listen to our membership. .
After hearing the feedback from our members, the Executive Committee felt the Board of Directors should also
have the benefit of this new information before we act. This is particularly true of the funding decision. Although
the first motion in Suncadia (to incorporate the subsidiary entity) passed rather handily (approximately 65%-
35%); the second motion (to use the Issues Fund) was substantially closer (approximately 55%-45%).
Your next opportunity to discuss this matter face-to face will be at the Fall Business Conference in September.
The Executive Committee will discuss the homeowner club concept and funding in more detail at our next meeting
on June 15 and bring to you a recommendation in September.
As your President, I and the Executive Committee respect the decision of the Board of Directors and take seriously
your charge to implement and oversee the club concept. However we believe that once you have the
opportunity to hear this feedback, you will support our decision to bring the issue back to you for further consideration.
Respectfully yours,
Bill Riley
2010 President
Washington REALTORS®

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Legislative Update!!!!

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Washington Realtors® 2010 Legislative Day and the powerful presence of more than 600 Realtors® brought our clear message to legislators in Olympia that real estate is critical to the overall economic recovery. Considering the state’s fiscal challenges, Realtors® significant legislative accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable.
Realtors® Top Legislative Priorities:
1. Real Estate Leads Economic Recovery
On Legislative Hill Day, a record 607 Realtors® hand-carried our message to each member of the Legislature. Our preemptive efforts along with the vigilant work of our Government Affairs committees, the constant presence of Realtors® on the hill, well thought-out advocacy tools, the work of our Key Contacts, strategic lobbying and the unprecedented support of our members were critical to our many victories.
“Great Job Getting the Message Heard”
While threats of a sales tax on services or an increase in the real estate excise tax did not materialize, Realtors® fought an increase in the B&O tax throughout the session. The Senate was first to propose a tax package and it had no direct taxes on the real estate industry. As rumors of an increase in the B&O tax in the House revenue package surfaced, Realtors® were prepared with an all-member call to action, talking points and a full-scale public advocacy campaign to alert the public to the threat of taxes on small businesses. Realtors® were the only major service business actively opposing a proposed B&O tax increase.
On the day the increase was expected to be announced by the House, Realtors® met with the Speaker of the House to reiterate our message. A few hours later the House released its much-delayed revenue package with a B&O increase of .25% on “lawyers, accountants, agents (not real estate), marketing and management consultants.” The House had specifically exempted real estate agents from the B&O tax increase.
“Due to your grassroots efforts and legislative
leadership in Olympia, you have done a great job getting the message heard that real estate is critical to the economic recovery,”
WA State Rep. Dave Upthegrove, 33rd District, to
Washington Realtors® Legislative Steering Committee
“I am proud to say that the Realtors® had a strong and effective presence in Olympia this past legislative session—starting with your President, Bill Riley. At a time when our residential housing market has suffered tremendously in this recession, the Realtors® were a strong voice for balanced policy and
promoting economic recovery for our state.”
Rep. Bruce Dammeier, 25th District
End Game Proved Tough
As is often the case in a legislative session, the exemption was short-lived and Realtors® were back fighting for the industry as the Senate considered a new revenue package that now included a B&O tax increase on all service businesses, including real estate practitioners. Realtors® worked through the weekend to pass an amendment to exempt real estate in Senate Ways and Means and then again on the Senate floor, to no avail.
Immediately, an all-member call to action was sent and more than 17 percent of our members responded and sent 6000 messages to legislators asking them to oppose a B&O on real estate professionals, the equivalent of a $4 million tax on the industry.
With just a moment’s notice, Realtors® then launched a full-scale, fully-prepared public education campaign that included TV, radio and website ads, and a website where the public could go to send messages to their legislators. This campaign was ready to go, thanks to the early planning of Realtors® leadership who anticipated the threat of tax increases. The campaign drew a lot of attention from the public who sent hundreds of messages to legislators as well as called their offices. Newspapers called to ask about the campaign
Realtors® Defend Real Estate in Special Session
On day one of the Special Session called by Gov. Gregoire to reach a final budget agreement, Realtors® were on the Hill urging legislators to again oppose the proposed B&O tax on real estate professionals. Lennox Scott, Dick Fulton, Rich Bergdahl, George Pilant, Rich Menti, Chud Wendle as well as President Bill Riley and President-elect Phil Harlan arrived at the Capitol on short notice and had select meetings with Senate and House leadership who hold substantial budget negotiating positions.
Four days into the Special Session, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown met with Washington Realtor® President Bill Riley, Government Affairs Director Nathan Gorton and Director of Policy Bill Clarke and informed them that Realtors® had communicated their message and that the Senate would exempt real estate services from the B&O increase, one of only a few exemptions that Sen. Brown was allowing. An amendment that “Exempts Realtors® from the increase in the business and occupation tax on service businesses” passed the Senate the next day.
While we received support from both the House and Senate during the regular session to exclude real estate from the B&O tax increase, the revenue bill proposed by the Governor to end the Legislature’s final budget impasse reinstated the B&O increase on all service businesses, including real estate.
We responded by publishing an open letter from Washington Realtors® President Bill Riley to the Governor in the Seattle Times and a full-page ad in the Olympian; a radio ad campaign was launched immediately; another member call to action was sent; and, leadership and lobbyists were involved day and night during the final weekend.
Because this compromise bill developed by the Governor could not be amended, Sen. Kevin Ranker, backed by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, worked with a coalition of House members led by Rep. Roger Goodman, to exempt real estate from the B&O increase. In the end, this effort lacked support from the Governor and House leadership and did not succeed. The B&O tax on business services, including real estate brokers and agents, was raised by .3% in the final budget. The .3% increase is scheduled to expire in three years.
Realtors® also opposed the repeal of an existing exemption from the B&O tax for amounts received by a property management company from the owner of a property for the gross wages and benefits paid by the property management company to on-site personnel. Like the B&O increase, Realtors opposed this provision but in the end it was included as part of the state’s revenue-raising measures.
2. Protecting Real Estate Excise Tax Use
HB 3179 and SB 6424 – Though there were no fewer than six measures introduced this session that would have diverted funds needed for roads, water and sewer projects for future homes and businesses to accommodate growth, HB 3179 and SB 6424 were two that stayed alive long enough to concern Realtors®; more than 1300 Realtors® responded to an all-member call to action to urge
“Washington Realtors® may be leading the pack in
expenditures with the most comprehensive push to keep new taxes away from the real estate and construction industries.”
Jerry Cornfield, Everett Herald
legislators to oppose the diversion of REET revenue. Legislators heard the message in both the House and the Senate and removed the language from both bills by amendment.
3. Fair Appraisals for Real Estate Transactions
4 HB 3040 – Washington Realtors® successfully supported the efforts of the Appraisal Coalition of Washington and other stakeholders to pass HB 3040, a measure that will help ensure appraisals are fair, reflect local values and that appraisal costs are completely transparent. Because the Home Value Code of Conduct (HVCC) agreement changed appraiser selection criteria (with the intent of eliminating conflicts of interest on mortgage appraisals), the use of appraisal management companies (AMCs) had become much more prevalent. While HB 3040 is not a direct response to the HVCC, it addresses several areas of concern that have surfaced regarding the appraisal management company industry.
4. Environmental Solutions to Help, Not Hinder Real Estate
Washington Realtors® stopped unnecessary environmental regulations that would have burdened our industry while passing others that protect property and streamline permitting.
4 Protecting Existing Uses: HB 1653 – Realtors® in coalition with a group of stakeholders, supported a bill that protects existing uses and activities in shoreline areas. HB 1653 provides protection from critical area ordinances interfering with legally existing uses and structures. It allows property owners to modify legally existing uses and activities on private property in the shoreline areas.
4 Streamlining SEPA: HB 2538 – Realtors® supported this measure which allows for an upfront State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) analysis that would not require a project specific SEPA analysis. This optionanl process provides predictability for development by conducting the SEPA process upfront and protecting development from appeals.
8 Modifying SEPA: SB 6762 – Realtors® originally opposed this bill to incorporate a new standard and definition of “cumulative impacts” into SEPA for Environmental Impact Statements (EISs). Modifications were made to the bill and Realtors® monitored the bill as it passed out of the Senate until it died in the House committee.
8 Studying Green: SB 6244 – Realtors® originally opposed this measure to provide a definition to Green Home and Energy Efficient Home. It was modified to be a task force study bill. Realtors® monitored the bill throughout the session which passed out of the Senate but died on the last day in the House committee.
Other Realtor® Legislative Priorities:
Realtors® successfully worked on several other priority measures affecting the real estate industry. Below they are listed under the topics of Realtors® Special Committees, which worked to review and watch their progress throughout the session.
Consumer/Business Affairs: Washington Realtors® carefully watched legislation that involves the real estate business and the clients we serve—the transaction and forms, real estate law, real estate research.
4 Real Estate Research: HB 2697 – The Washington Center for Real Estate Research has provided updated resources and information about the market which helps in marketing and advocacy efforts since 1989. For that reason, Realtors® worked to advance this bill, which extends the funding for the Center at WSU for another five years.
4 Commercial Seller Disclosure: SB 6749 – Realtors® supported this measure, prepared by legal counsel for the Commercial Brokers Association, NWMLS and the Washington Realtors®, which provides for a Commercial Property Seller Disclosure form. The disclosure forms are specific in statute. The disclosure of commercial real estate concerns title and legal, water, sewer and onsite sewage systems, structural issues, systems and fixtures and environmental issues.
4 Rental Properties: SB 6261 – Realtors® supported this measure to help limit a landlord’s liability for unpaid tenant utility bills. This bill clarifies that a utility can only collect up to four months of a tenant’s delinquent charges from the landlord, if the landlord had notice of the tenant’s delinquency.
8 Real Estate Agency Law: HB 2689 – Unfortunately, this measure to clarify broker and licensee terms got caught up in some political crossfire. The bill makes the necessary changes for the real estate brokerage agency relationship law to be consistent with the real estate brokers and salespersons law, which takes effect July 1, 2010. Realtors® will be working to get the language fix passed next session.
Land Use/Water Issues: Washington Realtors® promote wise planning and use of resources to accommodate our growing communities.
4 Extension of Comprehensive Plan Review: SB 6611 – Under this legislation, local governments are given three additional years to complete updates to their existing comprehensive plans.
4 Water Rights Permitting: SB 6267 – This measure streamlines the water right application process by developing a list of certified water examiners, expanding the department’s water right cost- reimbursement agreement program, and allowed for expedited permit processing.
4 Consolidating GMA Hearings Board: SB 6214 – Realtors® supported this legislation that consolidates the nine (9) members of the Western, Central, and Eastern Hearings Boards into one new Growth Management Hearings Board, which consists of seven (7) members and is intended to save state resources.
8 Restricting Fully Contained Communities: HB 2412 – Realtors® successfully opposed this attempt to restrict the use of the Fully Contained Community statute (RCW 36.70A.350) in the GMA. Fully contained communities allow for the clustering of non-urban development and thus help to reduce sprawl and provide affordable housing. Fortunately, SHB 2412 did not pass out of the House and died.
Next Year Will Be Even Tougher
Next year the state budget deficit could be twice the $2.8 billion hole that needed filling this year and the temptation to tax real estate, especially with the market recovery, will be even greater.
Realtors® overcame many impasses to pass good bills and stop bad ones. Despite these accomplishments Realtors® did not emerge unscathed and we are determined to continue delivering our message to state legislators and elect those that listen.
There were many that championed our cause courageously this session. Some did not. Help us elect the leaders that do. Help us build the power of Realtors® PAC to protect our industry and our livelihood.

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Thurston County Council Mtg 4/27/10 @ 2pm

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Summary of Timed Items DRAFT
2:00 p.m.) Call Meeting to Order
2:05 p.m.) Presentations
3:30 p.m.) Board of Health (Special Meeting)
2:00 p.m.) Call Meeting to Order

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Olympia Council Meeting 4/27/10 @ 7pm

Monday, April 26th, 2010

ROLL CALL
1. OPENING
A.
Announcements
B.
Changes to Agenda
C.
Approval of Agenda
2. CONSENT CALENDAR (Items of a Routine Nature)
A. Minutes of April 20, 2010 Council Meeting
B. Bills and Payroll Certification
C. Approval of Contract for Construction Engineering Services for the Harrison Avenue Corridor Improvement Project (Sheri Zimny, Public Works)
D. Approval of Amendment No. 3 to Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Port of Olympia for the Hands On Children’s Museum Project (Jay Burney, Exec.)
E. Ratification of the AFSCME Labor Contract (Cathy Raymond, Human Resources)
F. Ratification of the Teamsters Labor Contract (Cathy Raymond, Human Resources)
G. Approval of Franchise Agreement with Thurston County for Use of Rights-of-Way (Fran Eide, Public Works)
SECOND READINGS
H. Ordinance for Naming of City Buildings (General Government Committee/Cathie Butler, Exec.)
I. Ordinance Authorizing a Permanent $0.25 Levy Lid Lift for Fire Operations to be Placed on the August 17, 2010 Primary Ballot (Jane Kirkemo, Admin. Svcs.)
The City of Olympia is committed to the non-discriminatory treatment of all persons in employment and the
delivery of services and resources. If you require accommodations during your attendance at the Council
meeting, please contact us at 753-8447 by 10:00 a.m. the date of the meeting. For the hearing impaired, please
call 753-8270 to be connected to a TTY machine. Thank you.
OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS Week of April 26, 2010
Page 2
J. Ordinance Providing for Issuance and Sale of Limited Tax General Obligation Bonds in the Amount of $6,000,000 to Provide Funds to Pay a Part of the Cost of Financing Transportation Projects (Jane Kirkemo, Admin. Svcs.) First and Final Reading
FIRST READINGS
K. Appropriations Ordinance in the Amount of $6 Million for Bond Proceeds which will be Used for Transportation Projects (Dean Walz, Admin. Svcs.)
3. SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A. Proclamation Declaring May as Bicycle Commuter Month (Kerry Tarullo, CP&D to accept)
B. Proclamation Acknowledging 20-Year Anniversary of Stream Team (Patricia Pyle, Public Works, to accept)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION (Estimated Time: 0-30 Minutes) (Sign Up Sheets are Provided in the Foyer)
During this portion of the meeting, citizens may address the Council regarding only items related to City business, including items on the Agenda, except on agenda items for which the City Council either held a Public Hearing in the last 45 days, or will hold a Public Hearing within 45 days. Individual testimony is limited to three minutes or less. In order to hear as many people as possible during the 30-minutes set aside for Public Communication, the Council will refrain from commenting on individual testimony until all public comment has been taken. The City Council will allow for additional testimony to be taken at the end of the meeting for those who signed up at the beginning of the meeting and did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30-minutes.
COUNCIL RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (Optional)
5. REPORTS
A.
Intergovernmental Assignments / Council Committee Chairs
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Budd Inlet Water Quality – Next Steps for Olympia (Andy Haub, Public Works)
B. State of the LOTT Utility (Mike Strub, LOTT)
8. COMMITTEE REFERRALS
9. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
10. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (If needed for those who signed up earlier and
did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30 minutes)
11. ADJOURNMENT
***********************************************************************************************************************

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Spring Business Conference

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Communication Connectors
2010 Spring Business Conference Recap
The Spring Business Conference was held at the Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum Washington last
Wednesday through Friday. Communication Connectors highlights the conference to help
you communicate to your members what happened at the committee meetings and at the
Board of Directors meeting.
Board of Directors Meeting
The Directors elected new officers, approved the funding and business plan for a homeowners
club concept, approved a motion regarding General Counsel, and approved the reorganization
plan for the Education Department.
2011 Elections:
President-elect – Faye Nelson, Tri City Association
Treasurer-elect – Vickie Crook, North Puget Sound Association
Vp-elect of Association Operations – Lori Brady, Mason Co. Association
Vp-elect of Business Practices – Kitty Wallace, Kittitas Co. Association
Vp-elect of Education – Ray Spooner, Mid-Columbia Association
Vp-elect of Government Affairs – Paul Chrylser, Snohomish Co-Camano Association
Vp-elect of Information Systems – Tom Cantwell, Sequim Association
The Board approved a motion to establish a club for homeowners.
The club has yet to be named, but it will be a for-profit subsidiary, that will provide non-dues
revenue to Washington REALTORS®. The club will create an enterprise that extends the
relationship between REALTORS® and homeowners in meaningful ways beyond the closing of
a sale and improve and extend the reputation of the REALTOR® brand in Washington state.
The Board also authorized $300,000 to be disbursed from the Issues Fund to the club, and
$250,000 will be disbursed to the subsidiary on January 3, 2011.
The Board of Directors approved an Education Committee restructure
This restructure will allow the business to move more quickly and make decisions more
rapidly. There will be a smaller Board of Trustees and four new standing subcommittees that
meet regularly that include: faculty, curriculum, marketing and designations. These new
subcommittees will focus more directly on the issues at hand. This restructure is a bylaw
change that must be approved in September.
Financial Motions
The Board approved a motion to return $165,000 back to the Issues Fund out of $250,000 that
was allocated for the Housing Education and Marketing Program last April.
The Board voted to rescind the motion passed by the Board of Directors on April 24, 2009
which allocated up to $400,000 from the Issues Fund for the tax credit monetization program.
The money will be released back to the Issues Fund since it was not allowed by the IRS.
Litigation Motion Passes
Since last summer the Executive Committee and Legal Affairs Committee have worked on
establishing litigation management procedure policies for inclusion into the WR Policy
Manual, and the Board of Directors gave their final approval to the policies at this Board
meeting.
The newly adopted procedures will require notice to the President, Executive Committee, and
Legal Affairs Committee if either (1) Washington REALTORS® is sued or is notified that it is
under investigation by a government agency, or (2) if the association files litigation relating to
the operation or management of the association.
The approved policy allows the Executive Committee to establish a Litigation Management
Committee, and provides notification and approval provisions relating to legal settlements.
The Litigation Management Committee will be convened by the Executive Committee, and
can consist of 5 or 7 members, plus the CEO. The members will be selected by the Executive
Committee, must include members from the Legal Affairs Committee, and may include other
individuals who have education or expertise relevant to the pending legal matter. The
Executive Committee establishes the specific role and scope of authority of the Litigation
Management Team.
The Board of Directors will be notified of legal settlements above $25,000, and the Executive
Committee will have authority to settle any legal matter in which the settlement amount is
less than $1 million.
REALTOR® Awards
At the 2010 Awards Luncheon, we announced the winners of the 2009 REALTOR® Awards:
REALTOR® OF THE YEAR
Terry Reynolds – North Puget Sound Association
REALTOR® ACHIEVEMENT
Tom Hormel – Spokane Association
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Randy Hunzeker – Clark County Association
PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Barbara Harns – The Exchange, Spokane
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Aaron Reardon – Snohomish County Executive
AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR
Dean Hayes – Security First Financial
FRANK NARDO GRI SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Curtis Miller
EDDY AWARD
Steve Klaniecki
HUGH HAWKINS AWARD
Pili Meyer
Government Affairs
2010 Legislative Session: Update
The Legislative Steering Committee met to review the remarkable accomplishments of the
recently-ended 2010 Legislative Session. No sales tax on services was passed and the real
estate excise tax (REET) was not increased. REALTORS® helped pass a bill to regulate appraisal
management companies and halted an attempt to divert REET revenue away from the roads,
water and sewer projects needed for homes and businesses. A new law to provide a
Commercial Seller Disclosure form passed and we stopped unnecessary environmental
regulations that would have burdened our industry while passing others that will protect
property and streamline permitting.
The Committee discussed the battle REALTORS® fought throughout the entire state budget
process to exclude REALTORS® from a B&O tax increase; despite exemptions proposed several
times, in the final days of the Special Session the B&O tax on business services, including real
estate brokers and agents, was raised by .3%.
REALTORS® PAC Trustees Approve Early Endorsements for U.S. Congress
RPAC Trustees considered and concurred with local association recommendations for early
candidate endorsements for the U.S. Congress. Those early endorsements include Reps. Jay
Inslee (District-1), Dave Reichert (District-8), Jim McDermott (District-7) and Adam Smith
(District-9).
Thousands of Dollars Raised to Elect REALTOR® Candidates
Thank you to all who attended the REALTOR® PAC Auction. There were many special items to
bid on from tickets to the Ellensburg rodeo to a Bucket of Champagne autographed by a state
legislator with the message, “REALTORS® Rock!” NAR’s first VP for 2011 Gary Thomas was the
Special Speaker for the event. The Auction was a huge success, raising $10,000 for RPAC.
Missed out of the Auction? Please make your investment here!

http://warealtor.org/government/political_affairs.asp

The Education Core Committee
The committee heard reports from the forum, GRI Governors, DOL, and education staff. The
committee continued its progress of developing the subcommittees. Steve Klaniecki shared
the results of the member survey.
Association Operations Core Committee
The Committee approved recertification of the Thurston County REALTORS® Association as
meeting the NAR Organizational Standards.
The Committee recommended a previously approved change in NAR Director qualifications
be added to the WR Policy Manual.
Spring Conference for 2012 will be held at Semiahmoo in Blaine, WA
Business Practices Core Committee
Annie Fitzsimmons provided the committee with a Legal Hotline update.
Tech Helpline statistics were provided to the committee.
The committee previewed several new membership marketing tools.
The committee shared feedback on the recent Open House event.
Information Systems Core Committee
The Information System Core Committee is going paperless! Each member received a
memory stick loaded with documents, minutes, research and business plans. Future agendas
and supporting documents will be emailed and committee members will be asked to bring
the information on their laptops or mobile devices.
Committee members reviewed the 2010 Washington REALTOR® communication survey and
also participated in a webinar with the Olympia office to review the refreshed website design.
We reviewed the facebook page and the proposed online usage policy. The awards
committee discussed the format of the awards and formed a new committee for next year.

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Realtor Fed Credit Union

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

REALTORSFCU.ORG
Member Care: 866.295.6038

Dear Member
Did you know that REALTORS® Federal Credit Union is an exciting new REALTOR® Benefit? YOUR credit union offers real partnership and is sensitive to the work habits and lifestyles of busy real estate professionals. We invite you to learn more about the following benefits for businesses.

Industry Leading Rates on Business Deposit Accounts
Several associations and institutes are taking advantage of Certificate Investment and Money Market Savings rates that currently beat ING Bank, E* Trade, Bank of America and Wells Fargo!* We offer flexible terms on Certificates from 3 to 60 months. To open a business deposit account, contact Business Services at 301.355.7575 or email MemberCare@REALTORSFCU.ORG. Enjoy great returns and flexibility while maintaining liquidity. Currently, you can earn up to 1.91 APY** on a 12 month Certificate and 2.43% APY** on a 24 month Certificate. Check current Rates.
Maximize Earnings and Federally Insured Deposit Coverage with SimpliCD
SimpliCD (pronounced “simplicity”) is a certificate of deposit (CD) program that enables REALTORS® FCU’s business account holders to easily manage multiple certificate investments while maximizing federally insured deposit coverage. This turnkey program combines the safety of CD investing with the advantages of competitive rates and consolidated reporting. Investing in CDs has never been easier.
Announcing REALTORS® FCU‘s Partner Program and Free Marketing Tools
There’s an exciting opportunity for your association to become a Partner and earn promotional and financial incentives! Your credit union wants to help your association enhance the value of your membership by promoting the benefit of credit union membership. As a Partner, your association will have access to many free credit union marketing tools. As members join the credit union from your association, you can earn incentives including rate discounts, investment dividend increases, promotional recognition and more. For additional information contact PartnerProgram@REALTORSFCU.ORG.
Have You Joined Yet?
Join REALTORS® Federal Credit Union today! REALTORS® FCU offers Savings, no-fee eChecking with debit card and free ATM transactions at thousands of network ATMs.*** Your Credit Union also offers Investments, Auto Loans, Home Loans as well as Personal Loans & Credit Lines including secured-loans to help build credit. Members enjoy competitive interest & dividend rates on savings, investments and loans and federally-insured deposits. Not a member? Not a problem. Join online today!

Protect Yourself From Online Fraud
REALTORS® FCU periodically sends emails to inform you about announcements, news, special offers and events. We will never ask for any personal information or send a link to download software in conjunction with emails we send. Our emails will always contain our logo, contact information and a myNotices or myNews header. Please contact Member Care to report suspicious emails.
Member Spotlight
We’re here for you. Can’t take our word for it?
How about from a member?
Check out our Member Spotlights
Safe, Sound and Secure
More people are joining credit unions
Learn Why

Comparison based on 4/12/10 RateWatch Deposit Ranking Report. Certificate comparison reflects $10,000 minimum deposit to earn interest on 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60-month terms. Money Market Saving comparison reflects $2,500, $10,000 and $25,000 minimum deposit tiers to earn interest. Rates are subject to change. ING Bank excluded from 3-month Certificate and Money Market Savings rate comparison (products not offered). **APY=Annual Percentage Yield. 1.91% and 2.43% APY effective as of 4/1/10 with minimum deposit amount of $250,000. ***No monthly service fee. Other fees may apply. Surcharge-free ATM transactions within CO-OP Network & CU-24 Networks. Please refer to the Schedule of Fees and Charges at REALTORSFCU.ORG for details.

Must meet REALTORS® Federal Credit Union (RFCU) membership eligibility. Membership requires opening and maintaining a primary share savings account with a $100 minimum balance. Rates, terms, conditions and services are subject to change. RFCU savings are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the Unites States Government. RFCU is an equal housing lender.
You are subscribed to this email list as TCR@thurstoncountyrealtors.org.
If you no longer wish to receive these announcements, you can unsubscribe instantly.

Copyright REALTORS® Federal Credit Union© 2010. All rights reserved.
REALTORS® Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

REALTORS® Federal Credit Union, PO Box 571, Rockville, MD 20848

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FedEx Realtor Benefit

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

New REALTOR Benefits® Offering
from FedEx OfficeSM (formerly Kinko’s)

Marketing & Business Development is pleased to announce the addition of FedEx Office (formerly Kinko’s) to its REALTOR Benefits® Program roster! NAR Members can now save 20% on select FedEx Office copy and print services, as well as 10% on additional services (such as banners, signage and direct mail) at more than 1,800 FedEx Office locations throughout the U.S.

This new program marks the expansion of the long-term relationship between NAR and FedEx, which was established in August of 2002 and has provided significant savings to NAR members on a variety of Shipping Services. Since that time, FedEx acquired Kinko’s and re-introduced it under the brand “FedEx Office”. NAR and FedEx understood the natural fit between real estate professionals and FedEx Office services, and worked to create a program under which NAR members would gain access to special member discounts on a variety of services they use every day. FedEx Office locations are plentiful and provide convenient access to printing and shipping expertise with reliable service when and where you need it. These centers provide a one-stop shop for small businesses as well as an “office on the road” for busy real estate professionals who are often on-the go. More than 200 FedEx Officesm locations operate 24 hours a day every day of the week.

The Fact Sheet below details the new offering and special promotion available to NAR Members. If you have questions about this or the REALTOR Benefits® Program, please contact me at x8269, Ken Burlington at x8360 or Kristin Stafford at x8628.

Thanks,
BOBG

WHAT: New REALTOR Benefits® Program offers NAR members savings on select FedEx Office
Services, as well as an enhanced Rewards Program.

LAUNCH DATE: April 19, 2010

AVAILABLE TO: All NAR members and national, state and local REALTOR® Association staff

1. NEW NAR MEMBER BENEFIT FROM FEDEX OFFICEsm:

 20% discount on select FedEx Office black & white and color print and copy services (such as for Brochures, Flyers, Sell Sheets, Newsletters, and Postcards) * Details on services included can be found at realtor.org/realtorbenefits

 10% discount off select additional services including non-core black & white and color print copy services, Direct Mail & Finishing services, Signs & Graphics
 Excluded services (discounted pricing does not apply to the following services at this time):
Outsourced products or services, office supplies, notary services, shipping services, ink jet cartridges, video conferencing services, equipment rental, conference room rental, Sony Picture Station, gift certificates, specialty papers, custom calendars, holiday promotion greeting cards, or postage. Discounts on custom bid orders, sale items, orders required to be completed in less than 24 hours, or special offers.
Note: Discounts are not combinable and do not apply to any services provided by FedEx Office hotel, convention or other non-retail locations. Promotions or coupons are at the discretion of each FedEx Office location.
 Members may also be eligible for volume discounts up to 70% on individual projects.
 Members can access FedEx Office Print Online: whether you want printed products to spread the word about a project or you have a quick deadline to meet, FedEx Office Print Online has easy to-use solutions that work hard for busy professionals.
The process is simple:
• Go to the website
• Choose a print product that works for you
• Upload your files
• Preview / Edit
• Check out, and you’re done!
You can choose to print at any FedEx Office location or have final pieces delivered directly to your home or office.
 Additional NAR benefit: Starting June 2010, NAR members who enroll in FedEx’s “My FedEx Rewards Program” earn points at a earn rate 25% higher than that offered through the standard “My FedEx Rewards Program”. Benefits of registering include order tracking, ability to save your preferences and incomplete orders, earn Rewards and receive special promotions & updates.

2. NAR MEMBER BENEFIT FOR FEDEX SHIPPING SERVICES:
NAR members already have access to savings of up to 26% on shipping services with FedEx; discounts vary by service:

FedEx Service: NAR Discount:
FedEx Priority Overnight® envelope Up to 26%*

FedEx International Priority® envelope Up to 20%

FedEx Ground® 35-lb. package Up to 12%

* Please note that savings above include the additional 5% savings NAR members receive when they create their shipping labels using FedEx Ship Manager® at fedex.com or other FedEx® electronic shipping solutions.

PROMOTION:
A full launch is set to begin April 2010. FedEx plans to introduce the new benefits through direct mail campaigns, magazine advertisements, and campaigns to members currently enrolled in the FedEx Shipping Program. FedEx also plans to attend NAR’s Annual Convention in 2010.

NAR will utilize all applicable communication vehicles to make members aware of the new FedEx Office Program, including spotlight in the NAR Membership Kit for all members, inclusion in the REALTOR Benefits® summary grid, within NAR’s INS, ListServ and REALTOR Essentials and REALTOR Benefits®-dedicated eNewsletters, in the Association’s “on-hold messages”, and in the REALTOR Benefits® section of REALTOR.org.

PROGRAM PARTNER INFORMATION:
To register for or to obtain more information on the benefits available on FedEx Shipping Services or FedEx Office Services, please visit http://www.fedex.com/nar (best viewed in Internet Explorer). Please provide your NAR membership (NRDS I.D.) # and FedEx Passcode LCRS8P15.
Or call 1.866.869.1171 and mention your NAR membership I.D. (NRDS #) and Passcode 155-13.
Note: you must enroll in the program (FedEx Office, Shipping, & Rewards) prior to visiting a FedEx Office location. The discounts and rewards will be directly linked to your account number.

NAR CONTACT INFORMATION:
Elizabeth Partin Kristin Stafford
Strategic Alliances Account Manager Managing Director, Strategic Alliances
312-329-8379 312-329-8628
epartin@realtors.org kstafford@realtors.org

-or-
Kenneth Burlington
Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Product Management
312-329-8360
kburlington@realtors.org

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B&O Tax Increases for Service Industry

Monday, April 19th, 2010

It has been a busy 36 hours since we last talked to you. I wanted to give you all an update on where we stand right now.

-The House passed the compromise revenue package Saturday afternoon. We worked hard to put together a trailer bill in the house that would follow the revenue package and remove the portion of the bill that taxes Real Estate agents. I would like to thank the following house members for signing on to that bill: Goodman, Van De Weghe, Maxwell, Williams, Upthegrove, Kelly, Conway, Liias, Orwall, Simpson, Appleton, Sells, Blake, Linville, Jacks, Rolfes, Driscoll, Hurst, Takko, and Carlyle and Larry Springer who was the go between for us on this trailer bill. Unfortunately, despite a long list of signers the Speaker decided to not allow any trailer bills at all. We are disappointed by this outcome but are working on other options.

-Now we turn again to Senator Ranker’s heroic efforts for us. This evening Bill Clarke and I met with Senator Ranker to discuss his strategy of running a bill that would make the new B&O Tax Credit work for how Real Estate Agents and Brokers report the B&O Tax. At that meeting he gave us language for a bill that would do just that, and we are now turning our attention to that approach. If passed, this would be a victory. It would be optional for offices to use it, but it would allow agents to be exempt from paying any B&O on the first $42,000 in gross receipts that they bring in, then on a sliding scale between $42,000-$70,000. The full 1.8% rate wouldn’t kick in until after an agent has brought in more than $70,000 in gross commissions. We believe the vast majority of our members would pay less in taxes under this formula then they are now paying at the 1.5% rate.

We will work this bill tomorrow in the House while Senator Ranker works it for us in the Senate. Time is now short and the Legislature will likely adjourn sometime Tuesday. While I am disappointed that we didn’t get the exemption, I believe that ultimately this tax credit will benefit our members, probably even more than an exemption would have. We will have a chance to go into further details at Suncadia, but wanted to give you all a quick update as to where we at right now. Stay tuned with 36-40 hours still left in this session who knows what we could still see.

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Thurston County Council Mtg 4/20/10 @ 2pm

Monday, April 19th, 2010

2:00 p.m.) Call Meeting to Order

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Olympia Council Meeting 4/20/10 @ 7pm

Monday, April 19th, 2010

ROLL CALL
1. OPENING
A.
Announcements
B.
Changes to Agenda
C.
Approval of Agenda
2. CONSENT CALENDAR (Items of a Routine Nature)
A. Minutes of April 13, 2010 Council Meeting
B. Approval of Project Process for City Hall Interior Public Art (Stephanie Johnson, Parks)
C. Approval of Process and Timeline to Fill Vacant Councilmember Position #7 (Cathie Butler, Exec.)
SECOND READINGS
D. Ordinance for City Participation in the State of Washington Local Option Capital Asset Lending (LOCAL) Program, to Fund a Portion of the Energy Efficiency Programs and Project (Dean Walz, Admin. Svcs.)
FIRST READINGS
E. Ordinance for Naming of City Buildings (General Government Committee/Cathie Butler, Exec.)
3. SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A.
Thurston Green Business Program Presentation by Thurston Chamber of Commerce (Mike Williams and David Schaffert)
B. National Preservation Month Proclamation (Holly Davies, Chair of the Heritage Commission accepting)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION (Estimated Time: 0-30 Minutes) (Sign Up Sheets are Provided in the Foyer)
During this portion of the meeting, citizens may address the Council regarding only items related to City business, including items on the Agenda, except on agenda items for which the City Council either held a Public Hearing in the last 45 days, or will hold a Public Hearing within 45 days. Individual testimony is limited to three minutes or less. In order to hear as many people as possible during the 30-minutes set aside for Public Communication, the Council will refrain from commenting on individual testimony until all public comment has been taken. The City Council will allow for additional testimony to be taken at the end of the meeting for those who signed up at the beginning of the meeting and did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30-minutes.
COUNCIL RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (Optional)
5. REPORTS
A.
Intergovernmental Assignments / Council Committee Chairs
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS Week of April 19, 2010
Page 3
7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Public Safety Funding with Ordinance (Finance Committee/Jane Kirkemo, Admin. Svcs.)
B. Direction to Councilmember Rogers Regarding Intercity Transit Sales Tax Increase – Oral Report
8. COMMITTEE REFERRALS
9. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
10. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (If needed for those who signed up earlier and
did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30 minutes)
11. ADJOURNMENT
***********************************************************************************************************************

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Olympia Council Meeting 4/13/10 @ 7pm

Monday, April 12th, 2010

ROLL CALL
1. OPENING
A.
Announcements
B.
Changes to Agenda
C.
Approval of Agenda
2. CONSENT CALENDAR (Items of a Routine Nature)
A. Minutes of March 16, 2010 Special Study Session
B. Minutes of March 18, 2010 Annual Dinner Meeting with the Olympia Downtown Association
C. Minutes of March 23, 2010 Special Council Meeting for Dedication of Plinths
D. Minutes of March 23, 2010 Council Meeting
E. Minutes of March 24, 2010 Special Council Meeting for 2010 Draft Parks, Arts, and Recreation Plan
F. Minutes of March 25, 2010 Joint Meeting with the Port of Olympia
G. Bills and Payroll Certification
H. Approval of Bid Award for Construction of Fire Station 4 (Greg Wright, Fire)
I. Approval of Whitmore Glen Final Plat (Brett Bures, CP&D)
J. Approval of Senior Services for South Sound Lease at The Olympia Center (Scott River, Parks)
K. Approval of The Volunteer Center Lease of Space at The Olympia Center (Scott River, Parks)
L. Appointments to the Arts Commission, Heritage Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and Thurston Community Television Board (General Government Committee/ Cathie Butler, Exec.)
M. Approval of Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County Superior Court for Jury Trial Services (Bonnie Woodrow, Court Svcs.) The City of Olympia is committed to the non-discriminatory treatment of all persons in employment and the
delivery of services and resources. If you require accommodations during your attendance at the Council
meeting, please contact us at 753-8447 by 10:00 a.m. the date of the meeting. For the hearing impaired, please
call 753-8270 to be connected to a TTY machine. Thank you.
OLYMPIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDAS Week of April 12, 2010
Page 2
SECOND READINGS
N. Ordinance Approving Bentridge Master Plan (Cari Hornbein, CP&D)
FIRST READINGS
O. Ordinance and Resolution for City Participation in the State of Washington Local Option Capital Asset Lending (LOCAL) Program, to Fund a Portion of the Energy Efficiency Programs and Project (Dean Walz, Admin. Svcs.)
P. Parking Code Amendments (Land Use & Environment Committee/Amy Buckler, CP&D)
3. SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A. Proclamation Proclaiming April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (Mary Pontarolo and Connie Sue Brown, SafePlace, accepting)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION (Estimated Time: 0-30 Minutes) (Sign Up Sheets are Provided in the Foyer)
During this portion of the meeting, citizens may address the Council regarding only items related to City business, including items on the Agenda, except on agenda items for which the City Council either held a Public Hearing in the last 45 days, or will hold a Public Hearing within 45 days. Individual testimony is limited to three minutes or less. In order to hear as many people as possible during the 30-minutes set aside for Public Communication, the Council will refrain from commenting on individual testimony until all public comment has been taken. The City Council will allow for additional testimony to be taken at the end of the meeting for those who signed up at the beginning of the meeting and did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30-minutes.
COUNCIL RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (Optional)
5. REPORTS
A.
Intergovernmental Assignments / Council Committee Chairs
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
7. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Public Art Overview and Update (Stephanie Johnson, Parks)
B. Intercity Transit Report on Proposed Sales Tax Increase (Mike Harbour, Exec. Dir. IT)
8. COMMITTEE REFERRALS
9. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
10. CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (If needed for those who signed up earlier and
did not get an opportunity to speak during the allotted 30 minutes)
11. ADJOURNMENT
***********************************************************************************************************************

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Open House 2010

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

REALTOR OFFICES

WEBSITES
Abbey Realty www.abbeyrealty.com/
Brunt Management
Budd Bay Five Star Realty www.buddbay5starrealty.com/
Burger Professionals www.burgerprofessionals.com/
Capital Realty, LLC
City Realty www.CityRealtyInc.net/
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty www.coldwellbanker.com/
Crescent Realty
Deschutes River Realty
Epic Realty www.homesfromepic.com/
Exit Realty Boardwalk www.exitrealtyboardwalk.com/
Greene Realty Group www.greenerealty.com/
Homes on Tour Realty, LLC www.homesontour.com/
John L Scott – Olympia/Lacey www.JohnLScott.com/
John L Scott – Yelm www.johnlscott.com/
Keller-Williams Olympia www.city-data.com/profiles/13764
Networks Real Estate www.nwwf.com/about.cfm
Nicholson & Associates www.nichrealty.com/
Premier Properties One www.premierpropertiesone.com/
Prudential Olympia, Realtors www.prudentialolympiarealtors.com/
RE/MAX Country www.country.washington.remax.com/
RE/MAX Parkside http://www.parksideaffiliates.net/.
RE/MAX Four Seasons www.rmxhomes.com/openhouse/
Reward International Real Estate www.2733333.com/
Reynolds Real Estate www.reynoldsrealestate.net/
Riley Jackson Real Estate www.rileyjackson.net/
SAV & Associates www.nichrealty.com/
Signature Services Real Estate www.signatureservice.com/
Van Dorm Realty www.vandorm.com/openhouse/
Virgil Adams Real Estate www.virgiladamsrealestate.com/
Windermere Real Estate – Graham www.graham.mywindermere.com/
Windermere Real Estate – Olympia www.windermereolympia.com/html/homesrch.html
Windermere Real Estate – Yelm www.windermere.com/
Wise Realty www.wiserealtyinc.com/
Zip Realty www.ziprealty.com/

Affiliate Members
Advantage Home Loans www.advantagehomeloans.net/
Benchmark Home Loans www.thurstonchamber.com/Incubator/ClientProfiles/benchmark.htm
Chicago Title Company www.ctthurston.com/
Evergreen Home Mortgage www.evergreendirect.org/page.php?id=237/
First American Title Company www.firstam.com/
Golf Saving Bank www.golfsavingsbank.com/home_loans_locations_oly.htm/
HomeStreet Bank www.homestreetbank.com/index.aspx/
MetLife Home Loans www.firsthorizon.com/
Northwest Farm Credit Services www.farm-credit.com/
Olympia Federal Savings www.olyfed.com/
Sound Choice Inspections, LLC www.soundchoiceinspections.com/
Stewart Title www.stewartthurston.com/
The Real Estate Book of Olympia www.realestatebook.com
Thurston County Title Company www.tctitle.net/
Twin Star Credit Union www.twinstarcu.com/
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage www.wellsfargo.com/
Wheeler & Peternell, PLLC www.bgwp.net/
WIN Home Inspection www.wini.com/

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EPA Highlights Recycling Opportunities!!

Monday, April 5th, 2010

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*April 1, 2010*
*EPA Highlights Recycling Opportunities During National Cell Phone Recycling Week*

WASHINGTON** *- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging citizens to recycle their cell phones during the “second annual National Cell Phone Recycling Week, April 5 – 11, 2010. This joint effort with the EPA’s “Plug-In To eCycling program and leading cell phone manufacturers, retailers, and wireless service providers [ http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/plugin/partners.htm ] will increase awareness about the importance of cell phone recycling to save energy and conserve
natural resources.

“Every recycled cell phone makes a difference,” said Maria Vickers, acting director of EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. “The energy saved by recycling even one cell phone is enough to power a laptop for 44 hours.”

EPA and its Plug-In partners, including AT&T, Best Buy, LG Electronics, RecycleBank,* *Samsung Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, are sponsoring promotional activities across the country to highlight the many easy opportunities to turn in phones for reuse and recycling and provide a call to action. If Americans recycled the approximately 130 million cell phones that are disposed of annually, enough energy would be saved to power more than 24,000 homes in a year. Currently, only
about 10 percent of cell phones are recycled.

Reusing or recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and conserving resources. Cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are made of precious metals, copper, and plastics. Recycling or reusing these devices conserves materials, prevents air and water pollution, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that occur during manufacturing and processing. For every 1 million cell phones recycled, we can recover 75 pounds of gold, 772 pounds of silver, 33 pounds of palladium, and
35,274 pounds of copper.

Donating working cell phones or PDAs can also have social benefits for communities. Many existing recycling programs donate cell phones that are in good working order to charities or provide them to the public for discounted sale.

Plug-In To eCycling works with companies to offer consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle their used electronics. Since the program began in 2003, Plug-In To eCycling partners have recycled more than 360 million pounds of electronics, including televisions, computers and cell phones.

More information on cell phone collection centers near you: http://www.epa.gov/cellphones

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