Ron Gates of Alain Pinel Realtors in Los Gatos will take the helm as president of the 2004 board of directors. Serving as directors are president-elect Willi Krauss, W.A. Krauss & Co, Sunnyvale; Judy Jarvis Ellis, Alain Pinel Realtors, Palo Alto; John Tripp, Foundation Trust, San Jose; Myrt Bauer, Windermere Silicon Valley Properties, Mountain View; Joseph Bentley, Alain Pinel Realtors, Menlo Park; Mark Burns, Coldwell Banker, Cupertino; Dennis Byron, Silver Byron Group, Los Gatos; Bob Taylor, Taylor Properties, Menlo Park; Bo Chang, Referral Realty, Sunnyvale; Josephine Gambera, Prudential California Realty, Mountain View; William Lewis, Coldwell Banker, Woodside; Zita Macy, Coldwell Banker, Palo Alto; David Tonna, Windermere, Los Gatos; Toby Vanderbeek, Intero Real Estate Services, Los Altos; Gary Bulanti, Alain Pinel Realtors Menlo Park; Dante Drummond and Leannah Hunt, Coldwell Banker, Palo Alto; Mickey Shaevitz and Alicia Tuvell, Coldwell Banker, Los Altos; Jimmy Kang, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Menlo Park; and Attorney D. Kent Westerberg, Saratoga.

John Tripp, who will serve as treasurer of the board in 2004, was named Realtor of the Year for his many contributions to the organization, including contributions to the budget and finance committee and the political action committee.

"John contributes vast experience and a wealth of knowledge. The enormous amount of time and energy he commits to this association and his community in general has earned him the profound respect of his peers. John is generous, kind, helpful and truly deserving of the Realtor of the Year," said 2003 President Judy Jarvis Ellis as she presented him with the award.

Mike Miehe of Stewart Title in Cupertino was named Affiliate of the Year and recognized for his successful membership drive to recruit new affiliate members of the association. Mickey Shaevitz of Coldwell Banker in Los Altos was selected Committee Chair of the Year for her commitment as president of the association's charitable foundation.

Arvada Darnell of Coldwell Banker in Palo Alto received the Spirit of SILVAR Award for her outstanding community outreach in the areas of affordable housing and cultural diversity.

"Arvada has worked passionately on housing-affordability issues and has urged her fellow members to get involved and give back to their communities. She is someone who never calls attention to her own generosity and truly acts out of the goodness of her heart," Ellis said.

The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors is a 3,000-member nonprofit regional trade association serving Realtors and affiliate members from Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and Los Altos in Santa Clara County to Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Woodside and Atherton in San Mateo County. An information resource for both Realtors and consumers, the association provides ongoing education programs and training, Internet access and online networking as well as mediation programs and legislative advocacy. For more information, check out the website at www.silvar.org.

Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to jnewton@jnpr.com.