Saying Thank You & Goodbye

By: Rene Rutan, Manager, Events &  Affiliate, REC & Realtor® Relations

Florida ARECs Recognizes Patricia Nugent

On May 4th, I had the honor of presenting an award on behalf of Florida ARECs to Fund Member Pat Nugent.  It’s been over ten years since former Fund CEO Jimmy Jones, Fund General Counsel Melissa Murphy and I worked closely with Pat and others to design the statewide umbrella organization to support the real estate councils.

She played a pivotal role in the creation of the Attorneys’ Real Estate Councils of Florida (Florida ARECs) and served as its President.  She advocated for the creation of, in her words, “a central bank of resources for local RECs”, like the very popular Realtor® Education Library to make operating a local REC easier.  She was the founding President of the Broward Attorneys’ Real Estate Council, now one of the largest and most successful RECs in the state. Pat, as the award says, “Thank You for Your Inspiring Leadership & Dedication”.  It is Fund Members like you who make a difference.

Florida ARECs Recognizes Patricia Nugent

Saying Goodbye to Jeffrey Zane

I am deeply saddened to report that Fund Member Jeffrey Zane passed away on June 1st.  He was a Palm Beach County Fund Member for over 30 years and was committed to educating Realtors® and helping them understand why they should partner with real estate attorneys.  Jeff was founding President of the Attorneys’ Real Estate Council of Palm Beach County and a founding Director of the Attorneys’ Real Estate Councils of Florida, the statewide REC that was founded in 2013, eventually serving as its President.  With his passion for educating Realtors®, Jeff began working with what was then the Realtors® Association of Palm Beach County (RAPB) to develop New Realtor® Orientations, Law Symposiums and even an online TV channel!  RAPB has since grown into the Realtors® of Broward, Palm Beach & St. Lucie (RWorld) and serves over 43,000 members.  Jeff’s legacy of education and collaboration continues today.  The Broward Attorneys’ Real Estate Council and Jeff’s own Palm Beach REC still partner today with RWorld, hosting approximately 60 New Realtor® Orientations a year, along with Law Symposiums, Roundtables, and a weekly Ask the Attorney Q&A over ZOOM.  He believed the Real Estate Councils could play a key role in building a bridge between the attorney and Realtor® communities, and we will be forever grateful for his contributions.  All of us at The Fund send our condolences to his friends, family and colleagues.

07/03/2024