Quarterly: Winter 2003 - GWCAR - Greater Washington Commercial Association of REALTORS

CBQ >> Winter 2003 Issue

GWCAR annual Holiday Party & Installation
Silverman Honored with Vanguard Legislator Award; 2003 Board Installed

GWCAR's annual Holiday Party & Installation was held December 3 at the Club at Franklin Square.

Montgomery County Councilmember Steve Silverman was presented with the Vanguard Legislator Award for his tireless work to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Montgomery County.

With the support of GWCAR, Silverman was re-elected on November 5 to his second term on the county council. He has a strong track record of reaching out to REALTORS® on various issues. Before becoming a full-time councilmember, Silverman was a real estate attorney, so he understands the issues involved. He has been a strong advocate for real transportation solutions like the Intercounty Connector, and he has shown his strong commitment to expanding the commercial marketplace through his involvement in the downtown Silver Spring revitalization projects.

In addition, the 2003 Board of Directors was officially sworn in. This year's officers are: William David Bevirt, President; Phillip Thomas, Immediate Past President; Brendan Cassidy, President-Elect; Robert Schwartz, Treasurer; and Martha Almquist, Craig Estey, Thomas Fulcher Jr., Randolph Harrell, Michael Katcher, Paul Kern III, Bernard McCarthy, Douglas Olson, Greg Prossner, Anne Rosenau, Mary Schuman, Kenneth Smondrowski, Christopher Sowick, Joseph Stettinius Jr. and John Thomas, Directors.

CoStar Training Session
Maryland Regional Breakfast

On February 11, CoStar Group, Inc. hosted a GWCAR Maryland regional breakfast at its office in Bethesda, Maryland. The purpose of the breakfast was to provide CoStar with an opportunity to present its new "Web-based" products to the commercial real estate community. Approximately 20 real estate professionals attended this event, which started with a half-hour of networking.

CoStar is marketing the product to individual firms, but this event offered attendees a relatively early look as well as an opportunity to provide feedback to CoStar.

This event was the first of three, which GWCAR is planning for each region.

Andrew O'Neill, Regional Director with CoStar Group, made the presentation. The attendees learned about CoStar's advances in creating and organizing space queries, how updates of information are made in "real time," and about their updated and "state of the art" imaging capabilities. The imaging tools include enhanced digital photography, 360-degree surround imagery and satellite imagery, which can pinpoint properties with extreme clarity.

Attendees were able to ask questions and make comments and CoStar appreciated the feedback. These products are a work in progress for CoStar, who has in recent years expanded their capabilities and enhanced their products by using the power of the Internet.