However you say it, this is my last chair’s column for the magazine, which marks my last month as chair of the board of HAR. I count it among the best professional experiences of my lifetime to have been able to serve each of you and to hopefully make the industry a little bit better.

First, I hope that you will join us on Wednesday, December 10 for REALTOR® Celebration, when the new board members and executive officers, including 2015 HAR Chair Nancy Furst, will be sworn in. Our 2014 REALTOR® of the Year and John E. Wolf Community Service awards will also be presented to Danny Frank and Mike Huff, respectively. It will be a fun event, and you can find out more information and how to purchase tickets here.

If you weren’t able to attend the NAR Conference in New Orleans last month, our consultant Jeremy Conaway has a great wrap-up here. He discusses what happened and what changes might be coming as a result. He also gives you his 30,000-foot view of it all like no one else can.

We also had an eventful election last month that was very successful for HAR recommended candidates. In fact, 73 out of 74 HAR recommended candidates won their races. Prop 1, which secures public funds for roads and highways, passed with nearly 80 percent of the vote, so that was also a big victory. You may read about all the election results here. The 84th Regular Legislative Session will begin on January 13, 2015, and you can be sure that there will be many issues that affect our industry that will be introduced. I encourage you to invest in TREPAC and take action when Calls to Action are sent to you. Only with a unified voice can we best be heard.

Even with everything else going on during the year, I was so proud to be part of the 2014 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP). This group of 33 HAR members learned so much about the real estate industry and the communities in which we live. You may read a list of the graduates here, and I strongly encourage anyone looking to take their involvement to the next level to apply for the 2015 class of TRLP. You won’t regret it!

Lastly, you may read here about our own Bob Hale being honored with the “On the Shoulders of Giants” award at the RISMedia Power Broker Dinner. The real honor for me has been the amazing experience that Bob has given me throughout my year as chair. I will cherish the memories of working with Bob and the entire HAR staff. Thank you all for making it such an incredible year for me and for all of our members.