Governor Gary Locke Signs Proclamation

Real Estate Safety Awareness Week
January 28th through February 3rd, 2002

Members of the Washington State Real Estate Safety Council and Washington State REALTORS® asked Governor Gary Locke to proclaim the Safety Awareness Week to raise safety awareness among Real Estate professionals and their clients in order to save lives.

Richard Mendenhall, the immediate past president of the National Association of REALTORS® made the announcement of the proclamation on January 15th as he spoke at the installation banquet of W.A.R. President, Pili Meyer. Mendenhall asked that all Washington state REALTORS® take a moment during Real Estate Safety Awareness week to look through the safety materials produced by the Washington Real Estate Safety Council and to adopt a safety program in their office. Mendenhall recognized the death of Mike Emert, the Woodinville REALTOR® murdered last January, and dedicated this first safety week to his memory.

Safety brochures, posters and tips can be found at the Real Estate Safety website: www.warealtor.com/safety.

Following is the wording of the official proclamation:

Real Estate Safety Awareness Week Proclamation

Whereas, there are over 26,000 active Real Estate professionals doing business in Washington State; and
Whereas, nationally, 21 Real Estate professionals died last year due to violent assaults, and everyday, Real Estate people work in potentially dangerous situations; and
Whereas, there are many simple safeguards you can implement to protect yourself while performing your work; and
Whereas, there are office procedures you can implement to avoid dangerous situations and remote meetings with unidentified strangers; and
Whereas, raising safety awareness among Real Estate professionals and their clients can save lives;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary Locke, governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim January 28th through February 3rd 2002 as Real Estate Safety Awareness Week In Washington State and I urge all citizens to join me in this special observance.