Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

board-of-realtors-40th

Full Text:

Board Of Realtors Has Much To Celebrate After 40 Years

(with photos)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

More than 75 local agents turned out for the Newtown Board of Realtors 40th

anniversary celebration last Thursday night at the Rock Ridge Country Club.

With the real estate market on a roll, there was a festive mood among the

group. Then again, the Board of Realtors has always been a tight-knit group,

according to board president Kathi Weller, and there's plenty of business to

go around.

"We have a good relationship because we work together constantly, and we try

to adhere to a strict code of ethics," she said. "This is a very

community-minded group and a lot of us are very good friends. It makes our

work enjoyable."

Newtown's real estate board has been called an "anomaly" because it is so

small, and there were times when members considered disbanding it, in favor of

joining the larger Danbury Board of Realtors. However, the board always

managed to stay intact as members sought to have their own identify here in

Newtown.

The Newtown Board of Realtors now has about 120 members, a steep drop off from

the all-time high of more than 200 in the late 1980s. However, the recession

of the early 1990s forced dozens of agents to seek a different livelihood.

During the ceremony, the board presented an American flag to Sallie Chase in

honor of her late husband, Joseph T. Chase, who died this past year. Mr Chase,

board president in 1969, and was one of the board's original members.

Also on hand were First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, State Rep Julia Wasserman,

Executive Director Frances Cormier, and Lt David Lydem of the Newtown police

Department. Newtown's "keeper of the flag" was on hand to accept a check for

$500 to be used to purchase a new flag.

The board also presented special pins to those members who have been a part of

the board for 30, 25 and 20 years.

30 Years

John Klopfenstein, Clare Miller and Colette Williams.

25 Years

Lee Glover, Sr, Jean P. Muraszkin, Cathy Masi, Allan Springmeyer and Carol

French.

20 Years

Dorothy Baumert, Susan Fernandes, Brian Corson, William Raveis, Sylvia Poulin,

Kathi Weller, Michael Zeerip, Elizabeth Mulvaney, Robert Tendler, Melissa

Pilchard.