Spotlight Members of the Month - Affiliate Member
 Ann LoRusso
LoRusso Appraisal Services
I was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Eleuthera, Bahamas, then moved to Long Island, NY. My Mom moved down here to Cape Coral and the whole family pretty much followed. I certainly have seen a lot of changes in a city I have grown to love since 1975.
I have 3 children, 2 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, all living in Florida. I consider them my greatest accomplishment! Additionally, I have made many friends since moving to Cape Coral who are a big part of my life. Since joining Cape Coral Women’s Council of Realtors, my group of friends has grown in quantity and quality. My life never would have been so complete without this outstanding organization of lovely women that care and are always there to support each other.
I sort of fell into appraising. I was doing a Grocery Newsletter that was being distributed all over the world. One of my prized possessions from this endeavor is a letter from the President of Anheiser-Busch complimenting me on my newsletter and stating how much he enjoyed receiving it. In 1984, a friend asked me to help him open up his appraisal office, that’s when I got the “appraising bug”. I did both for a while, but decided appraising was what I was meant to do. I love my job, I love being an honest appraiser and having the integrity to stand by my values. Over the years I have earned the respect of my fellow community. That means so much to me!
I am available 7 days a week and promise to always do my very best to provide a quality appraisal report. I truly believe the Real Estate Community will get through this somewhat troubling time with team work, such as can be found in Women’s Council of Realtors.
Lastly, I would just like to thank Cape Coral Women’s Council of Realtors for the camaraderie of this awesome group of women.
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Spotlight Members of the Month - Realtor of the Month
 Rose Genovese
Realtor
Century 21 Birchwood
Twenty-nine years ago my husband & I packed up our family & moved lock stock & barrel to Fort Myers. We left our family & friends, but looked forward to a new start in paradise. Fort Myers was a very small town back then, but we loved it. My children however did not feel the same way. We had difficult adjustments, but we made it. My husband, Anthony began working as a watchmaker at Jacobs Jewelers , now Bailey Banks & Biddle & I worked in a clerical position for fresh flower brokers. After about 4 years at that job I knew that there was something better for me, so I decided to give real estate a try. Twenty-three years later I'm still here selling real estate. Real Estate can be a roller coaster ride, but has been very good to me, so I wanted to get involved within our real estate community & give back. Twenty years ago I became a member of WCR and found so many benefits to being a member. The education opportunities, the networking, the support & knowing that you have friends as well as professionals that you can trust. It's the Give Get principle. In 1999 I was honored to be elected president of our chapter. I enjoyed every moment of that year. Without the cooperation & help from my officers, committees, & members I could have not made it. You can't go it alone. I am proud to be part of an organization of educated motivated & hard working professionals. As far as I'm concerned WCR members are the CREAM OF THE CROP! We have three daughters and two grandchildren. They all live in Fort Myers, what a blessing! May 4, 2009 Anthony & I will be married 46 years, WOW!
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 John Ringland
Community Self Storage Who is John Ringland?
I was born in San Diego, California on May 16, 1958 and spent my childhood growing up in a number of states while my father, Chuck Ringland, was stationed at various naval bases as a pilot. Our family eventually settled in Indiana where I attended high school and college and met my wife, Laura. Shortly after she and I had our first child, in 1982, we moved to the Tampa area to live a life of snowless driveways. In the sunny winter of 1992, my family and I moved to a small city called Cape Coral so I could help my father start a construction company. Since then I have been fortunate enough to call the city of Cape Coral my home.
In 2003, I opened a self storage facility, Community Self Storage, on Chiquita Boulevard. This has allowed me to provide the city’s residents, who lack basements and extra space, with a secure, Class A facility accompanied by a beautiful, Southwest Florida-style façade and friendly atmosphere. Most recently, my construction company, Ringland Development Corporation, built the Chiquita Professional Center. This center, located on the corner of Chiquita Boulevard and Gleason Parkway, will be a perfect headquarters for the city’s premier real estate specialists once the market is back on track! ?
I am very much a family man. I love to spend my evenings with my beautiful wife of 27 years, Laura. We are fortunate to be able to share those times with our sons, Charlie and Matt, our daughter, Rebecca, and our son-in-law, Kyle. Additionally, my wife and I cherish our role as grandparents to the amazing Jayden, who is Rebecca and Kyle’s son. On the weekends, I enjoy getting together with my brother, Russ, of Ringland Construction, and his family, along with my sister, Dr. Kitty Ringland, DDS, and her daughter, Katie.
If I’m not with my family, I'm probably playing with my honey bees while collecting rich, Southwest Cape Coral honey. If you still can’t find me look up and you might be able to see me dancing among the clouds in my airplane. I almost forgot, you can also find me on Facebook where I love making new friends.
I would like to thank the Women’s Council of Realtors for this opportunity and it is a pleasure working with you. ______________________________________________________
We invite all members to join us at the District V Forum!
May 21st at Paseo in Fort Myers.
RSVP by by MAY 13TH!
Click here for flyer
Our Cape Coral Chapter is responsible for donating a basket for the Forum representing Italy. We are in much need of donations for the basket such as a red and white checkered tablecloth and napkins, wine, wine glasses, cheese grater, pasta tongs, gift certificates, chef's hat and apron and anything else with an Italian flair. Please contact Kim Russo at kimrusso@bankcapecoral.com or 443-8359 for more information. Call Kim to have items picked up or you can drop off items at Community Bank of Cape Coral, Sellstate Priority and Towns Title. As always we appreciate the continued support our members give us, we wouldn't be a Gold Chapter without you. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we will see you at the Forum. Oh… tickets are available for sale for a chance to win our basket along with the other five baskets for a donation of $5.00. To purchase tickets contact Michele Schafer at 292-7370 or Debbie Towns at 243-4513.
______________________________________________________ "Support the troops"
Our Cape Coral WCR Chapter is proud to announce that we will be collecting items at our monthly meetings for our troops overseas. Our Soldiers can use such items as hand sanitizer, small bottles of shampoo and conditioner, soap, playing cards, puzzle books, chapstick, pens, pencils, individual drink mix packets, coffee, hot coco, beef jerky, protein bars, nuts, popcorn, tuna, baby wipes, magazines, cards, cigars, toilet paper, batteries, socks, phone cards, zip lock bags, etc. Items like these are helpful, but the greatest is the ongoing support from the home front. We ask our members to help by bringing items for donation to each meeting. ______________________________________________________
Realtors, Help Your Sellers Prepare!
Article of interest....
"Smart moves for preparing a home with pets to sell"
by JJ Jones
CLICK HERE to read this helpful article!
______________________________________________________ New Book about a WCR Groundbreaker: She’s 98, goes to work every weekday — parties, lobbies, donates, campaigns — and still finds time to compose songs on her ukulele. Meet real estate legend, and Women's Council's 1957 National President, Ebby Halliday. Now, you can read her fascinating story in Ebby Halliday: The First Lady of Real Estate. ______________________________________________________
Short Sales: When Is an Offer 'Accepted'?
When should you disclose a seller's acceptance of short sale offer?
By Bruce Aydt | May 2009
Q. I recently sold a property that was heading into foreclosure and the buyer’s agent wanted the listing changed to "pending" in the MLS as soon as the seller accepted the offer. But shouldn’t the status be changed only after the offer is approved by the lender?
READ MORE
PHOTO GALLERY! Everyone had a great time at "If the Shoe Fits"
CLICK HERE to view photos! Click here to view photos from our last luncheon!
Thank you Terry Frith and Carrabba's!!
CLICK HERE to view photos! Everyone had a blast at the CCAR Trade Show!
Thanks to everyone who participated!
CLICK HERE to view photos! ______________________________________________________
Optimists live longer and healthier lives: study from WCR FL/News You Can Share
Source: Julie Steenhuysen (03-05-2009)
Optimists live longer, healthier lives than pessimists, U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a study that may give pessimists one more reason to grumble. Researchers at University of Pittsburgh looked at rates of death and chronic health conditions among participants of the Women's Health Initiative study, which has followed more than 100,000 women ages 50 and over since 1994. READ MORE
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City News 
