HGAR Annual Meeting to be Held Virtually for First Time in History

WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ 104th Annual Meeting & Member Appreciation Day will be like none other in the association’s history.

The October gathering, which normally draws more than 1,200 Realtors and related professionals to the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, will be held virtually this year, via Zoom webinar, for safety concerns as the region and the country continue to come to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.

“While many restaurants and retail businesses have opened with limited seating or hours, other large venues like fitness clubs, movie theaters and Broadway remain closed. There is still considerable caution that needs to be taken regarding large gatherings in order to control the spread of COVID-19,” explained Richard Haggerty, HGAR’s Chief Executive Officer. “In light of guidance from federal and state agencies, we have made the difficult decision to hold our annual Member Appreciation Day virtually this year.”

Instead of reserving just one day this year, Member Appreciation Day will be broken up into two days—Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27. Incorporating the theme of “So Many Ways to Win,” Members Day 2020 will feature a series of interesting breakout sessions on October 26, and the Keynote address and Annual Meeting on October 27.

The proposed roster includes four breakout sessions offering: Stress Management, Marketing & Promotion, a Global Business Panel discussion and Tax Savings.

The following day will feature international speaker, consultant and sales trainer Ricky Mendez. As President, VP of Sales, and COO of companies spanning southern California over the last 10 years, he has overseen operations in excess of a half a billion dollars. His simple and easy strategies have helped thousands improve their quality of life and business. Some of his past clients have included Costco, Home Depot, Humana, Quest, NestSeekers Int. and many more. Even in today’s challenging climate, Mendez will demonstrate how this is the greatest time to make an impact on people and grow relationships.

“I love the buzz, the activity, and the networking of our annual in-person Members’ Day event, but a virtual event creates new opportunities. By splitting the event into two days and having every session at a different time, agents will be able to attend remotely no matter where they are, and can also participate in as many sessions as they choose,” said Gail Fattizzi, HGAR President. “We’ll still have all the excitement of a great keynote speaker, Ricky Mendez, and the anticipation of announcing our Realtor of the Year and Affiliate of the Year! So, I’m looking forward to the new format, and reaching even more of our members than ever.”

Specific details and limited sponsorship options for Members Day will be coming within the next month. “While we will be together only virtually this year, we are striving to make this just as exciting as ever, and we look forward to being together again at the Doubletree Hotel in 2021,” Haggerty said.