We want to remove the Board of Directors at GMAR for a dereliction of duties while not looking out for the membership as a whole.
Specifically, the GMAR Board of Directors actions are in direct violation of GMAR bylaws, page 27, "Article XVI: Multiple Listing. Section 1. Authority. The Association of REALTORS@ shall maintain for the use of its members a multiple listing service which shall be a lawful corporation of the State of Michigan and wholly owned by the Association or Associations of REALTORS."
GMAR has FORMALLY given notice to Realcomp that they intend to withdraw from Realcomp at the end of this year. This was done WITHOUT the authority of the membership. Therefore, GMAR can no longer provide the same level of services (via Realcomp), that GMAR members have come to know. This is a gross overstep by the Board of Directors and puts the GMAR membership at a major competitive disadvantage in the marketplace since the remaining 7 surrounding shareholders will have inside information that will no longer be shared with GMAR through their Realcomp Governor representatives. Additionally, our concerns extend to the products and services that GMAR members currently receive from Realcomp (customer care, discounted product offerings, showing services, lockboxes, etc.) as well as we will not have any input in Realcomp's future updates, changes and/or enhancements. GMAR members may now be treated like lepers' by our neighboring associations affecting our ability to negotiate and compete in this current and developing real estate market of 2023.
GMAR's Board of Directors actions directly put them at odds with the Realcomp Shareholder Agreement as well specifically found on page 11, section "VI. NONCOMPETITION. No Shareholder shall, directly or indirectly, engage in, have an ownership interest in, or otherwise be associated with, any MLS or MLS provider." This means that GMAR CANNOT enter talks or otherwise to develop a new MLS until AFTER December 31, 2023 when the final date of Realcomp services will end. Anything done prior to this date is in direct violation of the Realcomp Shareholder Agreement
How can GMAR withdraw from Realcomp today and set up a new MLS entity to be ready to go on January 1, 2024 without violating the below referenced bylaw and non-compete clause? They cannot. This Board is NOT looking out for our entire GMAR membership. They need to be removed by petition or resignation, IMMEDIATELY so that we can quickly reverse course and save our association from impending doom.
UPDATE: On February 7, 2023, 11 of the 13 Board of Directors who were present at a luncheon/meeting were asked to resign. To our knowledge, none of them did so at that time.
By signing our Petition, we are asking for an EMERGENCY GMAR General Membership Meeting to vote on the removal of the GMAR Board of Directors effective immediately.
Your support as well as your help in spreading the word is greatly appreciated. Our livelihood depends on it!