Talking and Tightrope Walking

Finally, after two issues with virtually NOTHING green, the state association magazine has a green feature story.

Greening the MLS. Old news, but they take a big swing at it, although they really mention only a handful of the many MLSs that already have green features in the data (including the regional I belong to). There's still a feeling permeating the content that it's all about using green for business purposes, not in recognition of a greater planetary goal of enhancing the quality of life of subsequent generations. Guess that's some other entities task.

A telling paragraph features a quote from a national association leader of matters green stating "one of the obstacles to faster implementation of greening the MLS is the erroneous belief by some that green practices are a left political agenda". OMG! Can you imagine how a member of the public with a progressive liberal political slant and a sincere concern about the global climatic trends would react to that statement! The mere suggestion than some of those practicing in the real estate industry would put politics above client interests, planetary priorities and good sense is an striking indictment of the industry and it's leadership. That sort of non-fiduciary attitude didn't appear by magic. It was fostered by industry practices and leadership over the past several decades. The greening of real estate ushers in a time for a change of attitude in the industry and among the leadership. The are now talking the green talk, but the walking part isn't happening just yet. It may not happen with present leadership--something about dogs and tricks.

Received an email from the state association that my committee appointment requests for 2011 were approved. Land Use/Environmental and Housing forums, same as last year. The show is always entertaining and there may be some new scenes in the pageant this year. The green mist is slipping into the foreground and threatening to obscure some of the doctrinaire attitudes of past agendas and individuals. Will the organization persist along a well worn path or break out across new landscape to follow the public in a quest for a more sustainable future?