CAPE CLUB FOR
NEW RESIDENTS
LOCAL MEMBER WINS STATE AWARD
BY BETH CRAFTS, 4-SEASONS REALTY, LLC
If you don’t live in Cape Coral, you may not know
much about it. But there is a great organization you can
recommend to your Cape Coral buyers that has been
servicing new residents for 50 years. The New Resident
Club of Cape Coral is a social organization for those
who have lived in the Cape for less than three years.
Whether your clients are single or coupled, full time or snow
birds, The New Resident Club of Cape Coral welcomes
them and provides a network for new residents to become
active, enjoy planned activities and make lasting
friendships.
“I found out about this group through the one person I
knew when I moved to the Cape in 2014,” says Pat McCoy,
President of the non-profit organization. “I joined in 2015
and through the club, I have made dozens of friends.”
McCoy knows how it feels to be new since she was a
new member herself not that long ago, so she really
tries to welcome people and help them learn about the
community and all Cape Coral has to offer.
Currently, the organization has somewhere between 800
and 1,200 active members who pay a one-time fee of $45.
After their two-year membership, they can still remain
active in the membership, they just lose their voting
privileges, but they never have to pay a membership fee
again.
For current residents of Cape Coral who have lived in
the city for more than three years, the club offers open
enrollment in September. Then, anyone who is a resident
of Cape Coral can join, says Diana Simpson, co-chair of
the Publicity Committee. “It’s a wonderful way to make
friends and also find out other things when you’re new to a
community, like who’s a good plumber and where’s a good
place to eat,” she says.
General meetings are held 9:00 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.
Monthly events include “Cocktails on the Cape” Dinner
Dance, Game Night, New Member Coffee Social, Ladies
Luncheon, Men’s Breakfast and more.
The organization has brochures and applications
at the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, but any
Realtor® can request brochures to keep in their offices,
or hand out as part of a congratulatory gift for Cape Coral
homebuyers.
Just
email
the
club
at
[email protected].
For
more
information go to www.capecoralnewresidents.com.
B
laine Elmer, of Jones & Co. Realty and a
member of the Royal Palm Coast Realtor®
Association, was named “Newcomer of the
Year” by Florida Realtors® at their annual
convention in Orlando in August. The
Newcomer of the Year Award recognizes someone who
entered the Realtor® profession within the past three
years and during that time, made notable contributions
to the local and state associations, as well as to his or her
community.
Eager to make a difference in his chosen profession,
Blaine signed on to the Knowledge Service Committee
and is a 2015 graduate of the Association’s Leadership
Academy after joining Royal Palm Coast in 2014. This
year, he serves on the Grievance and Public Policy
committees, and as local chair of RPAC (Realtors® Political
Action Committee). Blaine is a major investor in RPAC and
remains highly engaged in legislative issues and concerns
of interest to the real estate industry. He has attended and
participated in Florida Realtors® and NAR activities.
A Retired Master Chief from military service, Blaine’s goal
is to use the leadership and organizational skills he learned
over the course of 24 years in the military to work for his
association, continue his professional development, and
serve as an advocate for Realtors® and the real estate
profession. He is active with the local chapter of the
Women’s Council of Realtors® as the Education/
Programs Chair. Blaine has earned the Military Relocation
Professional (MRP) and Florida Military Specialist (FMS)
Certifications. He is currently working on completing the
Accredited Cape Coral Residential Specialists (ACCRS)
Designation.
Blaine also remains committed to his community. He is
a member of the Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida (a
nonpartisan club dedicated to fostering a better
understanding of civic issues), the Veterans Association of
Realtor® Professionals, American Legion Riders, and the
Fraternal Order of Eagles. He also continues to help raise
money for various events and activities that support the
needs of veterans and children year