Committee Appointment Process FAQs

Committees help shape the direction of NAR and its policies. They are the first place where ideas are discussed and they bring recommendations forward to the Board of Directors for their vote and approval.

NAR’s committees are a great forum for debate and discussion. Being on a committee allows you to contribute to the decision-making process, and gain national experience beneficial for those seeking a leadership role.

Yes, committee service is a member benefit.

Terms of service range from one to three years. Review the Committee Structure for specifics, including purpose, composition, and term of each committee.

Please review a committee’s desired membership qualifications on the Committee Structure webpage.

If you have an area of particular interest or expertise, it would be very helpful to make this known in your member expertise profile. Such preferences are taken into consideration in the appointment process.

Yes. A member shall not serve on more than one committee/advisory board/advisory group/council/forum per year. However, an exception will be made for those serving in a “by virtue” capacity or if the President deems necessary to maximize expertise.

All NAR Board of Directors are strongly encouraged to apply to serve on a NAR committee. Every effort will be made to provide an upcoming director with his or her preference for a committee assignment.

No. Committee membership is a volunteer position.

Each committee is supported by one, sometimes two, staff executives, who attend each committee meeting and assist the committee in a broad variety of ways. These include the conceptualization and implementation of activities, tracking follow-up between meetings, drafting agendas, minutes and reports, communication with other committee staff executives, and providing general support in accomplishing the mission of the committee within the structure of the association.

Applying to a committee is simple; visit the committee application webpage to get started: www.CommitteeApp.realtor.

Members may submit applications for up to 5 committees, ranked in order of preference.

Absolutely! We encourage previous members to serve on committees for more than one year. They are already knowledgeable about the committee and can bring needed expertise to the work. That said, there are term limits for committee service. Service on a committee shall be limited to two consecutive two- or three- year terms or five consecutive one-year terms, whichever is longer, without a break in service of one year.

The committee application website opens on March 1 each year. For a complete list of deadline dates, see the Committee Appointment Process Timeline.

The member expertise profile will provide Leadership with key information about the applicant’s professional and association experience. The information in the expertise profile will be used as a resource when identifying members to serve on a committee(s).

A photo of you aids in personalizing your expertise profile. While you are not required to upload a photo, please do so in order to assist the selection team in getting to know their colleagues. If you have difficulty uploading a photo, please contact the Committee Programs Coordinator at nargovernance@nar.realtor.

Yes. When recommending representatives, state association and affiliate executives will only be able to select names from members who have submitted applications. They will not be able to recommend anyone who did not submit an application.

No, applications cannot be submitted for someone else. If there is a specific member you want to be considered to serve on a committee, he/she must submit an application.

No, the application system will prevent a member serving in a continuing term from applying to the same committee. However, if you would like to resign from your continuing term appointment and be considered for another committee appointment, then an application must be submitted.

No, Vice Chairs will ascend to the Chair position at the approval of the President-Elect. Vice Chairs are required to have an updated expertise profile.

No, late applications will not be accepted or considered. The committee application website closes at 11:59 p.m. CT on the deadline date provided on the Committee Appointment Process Timeline.

No, once applications are submitted they can not be changed. Applicants can view the application, but no edits can be made. The application would need to be deleted and re-entered. If an application is deleted, any endorsements received for that application will also be deleted. Revisions to your expertise profile may be made at any time.

After a member submits an application, s/he will provide their endorsers with a unique link to access the endorsement page online via email or text message. The quick buttons and application link will be available automatically after an application is submitted.

Members who have submitted an application to serve on a committee may obtain up to three (3) endorsements from member colleagues regarding their qualifications per each application. After three (3) endorsements have been submitted for an application, the system will not accept additional endorsements.

Affiliate CEO/EVP, Affiliate Past President, Affiliate President, Affiliate President-Elect, Affiliate Staff, Communications Director, Member Services Director, Government Affairs Director, Education Director, Local Executive Officer, Local Past President, Local President, Local President Elect, Local Staff, Local MLS Director, Regional MLS Director, National Committee Liaison, National Chair, National Director, National Vice Chair, NAR DSA Recipient, NAR International Member, NAR Member, NAR Past President, Past NAR Officer, Past Regional Vice President, Regional Vice President, State Education Director, State Association Executive, State Past President, State President, State President Elect, State Staff.

An nar.realtor member login containing a valid Member ID is required in order to submit an endorsement.

No. Current and incoming NAR Leadership Team, appointed and incoming Vice Presidents, and NAR Staff may not accept a member's request for a committee endorsement. As national leaders or staff they have a distinctive role in the committee appointment process and endorsing a member’s committee application is not permitted.

You will be able to view your endorsements under your submitted applications. You will only be able to view your endorser’s name and title.

Yes, endorsements must be submitted by the deadline when the database closes. Endorsements via email will not be accepted.

The President-Elect makes the appointments for vacancies occurring in the year of his/her presidency. The First Vice President makes the appointments for Vice Chair positions.

With just 2,500 positions available, NAR is unable to appoint everyone who submits an application. The Association encourages members to try again the following year. Also, potential candidates should consider committee opportunities at the state and local level to gain experience. Many of those serving on national committees have had years of experience at the local or state level.

• Apply for the NAR Leadership Academy
• Attend a committee meeting that you are interested in. Unless there are exceptional reasons for confidentiality, meetings of the Association are open to any member.
• Consider committee opportunities at the state and local level to gain experience.

Most committees meet in person at REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in May and REALTORS® Conference & Expo in November. Some committees may conduct conference call or webinar meetings in addition to their face-to-face meetings.

Committee chairs, vice chairs and members accept the responsibility for carrying out the goals of their committee(s) when appointed, and attendance at the two annual business meetings is part of that responsibility. See Meeting Policies & Procedures for more information.

Most committees meet at the regular business meetings of the National Association; all members of committees, including chairs and vice chairs, are responsible for paying their own meeting expenses.

Committee meeting dates will appear on the schedule of events for both the Legislative Meetings and the Annual Convention. However, always confirm meeting dates, times, and locations with your assigned Committee Staff Executive.  

AEC representatives ensure two way communication from the Association Executives Committee (AEC) to other NAR committees. They ensure that issues discussed in the respective committees have the benefit of the AE perspective and ensure that the AEC is apprised of issues being considered during and between NAR meetings. 

Yes, their role and responsibilities are the same, but the title was changed to eliminate confusion with the NAR president’s liaisons.

There is no longer a separate process. AEC representatives (formerly known as liaisons) are now selected during the NAR committee appointment process. This change was made to streamline procedures and bring the AEC representative (liaison) appointments in line with all other NAR committee appointments.

Yes, AEC representatives are full voting members of the committees on which they serve.

Yes. AE terms on NAR committees will be the same length as REALTOR® member terms on those committees.

Local and state association chief staff and staff specialists are eligible to apply via the committee application that opens in March.

Yes, AEs are welcome to apply to serve on NAR committees.

The AEC Recommendations and Recognition Advisory Board recommends AEC representatives for all NAR committees. These recommendations are presented to the NAR President-Elect for his or her approval.