The 90th Anniversary Annual Banquet

By Eliezer Rodriguez On October 6th, 1924, the real estate board of the Bronx met at the YMCA to have their first annual board meeting. Dominic Trotta was elected to serve as the organization's first president. At that meeting, the organization planned their first Annual Banquet and it was held at the Schnorer Club of Morrisania. The club was established in 1881 and was located at East 163rd St., east of Third Ave. The most influential figures in Bronx society frequented the club, and it became a mainstay of the Democratic Party for 85 Years. Trotta served as president of the real estate board for four consecutive years from 1924 until 1927 and remains as the longest sitting president. The Schnorer Club of Morrisania Club closed down in May of 1966. Fast forwarding, three generations of the Houlihan family have served as president of The Bronx board realtors, James A. Houlihan, 1940-41, James G. Houlihan, 1961-62 and Daniel Houlihan, 1971-72. James A. Houlihan also served as president of the New York State Association of Realtors. Today, The Houlihan-Parnes Realtors, LLC are located in White Plains. Six years later, Jacqueline Kyle Kall, from Jacqueline Kyle Kall Realtor, became the first female Realtor to be elected as president of the organization and she served from 1978-79. In the organization's rich history, two other families have provided generational leadership. Michael Schmelzer, Tryax Realty Inc., served as president from 1974 to 1976, and is a member of RPAC Hall of Fame, and his son Mathew Schmelzer served as president in 2012. A strong advocate and staunch supporter of the organization, Mark Engel, from Langsam Property Service Corp., served as president in 1988 and again 1990. His son, Matthew Engel, served as president in 2011-2012. Since 1924, the organization has gone through several name changes. In May 2000, the National Association of Realtors approved our current name - The Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors (BMNAR). To date, five of BMNAR past presidents have served as president of NYSAR: Herman Acker, 1937; Frank Mazzetti, 1954; James G. Houlihan, 1965; Michael Schmelzer, 1983; and Susan Goldy, 2012. This spring, Susan Goldy, from the Susan Goldy team at Halstead Property, will join Michael Schmelzer as the only other BMNAR member of the RPAC Hall of Fame. As the borough of The Bronx celebrates its centennial, BMNAR will celebrate the 90th Anniversary of its first Annual Banquet. At the banquet, we will be honoring some special people for their contribution to the real estate industry or for their community leadership. Members and friends that I have worked with over the past year: Ellen Feld, Exclusive Properties Sotheby's International Realty, Realtor of the Year; Perry & Jeffrey Gault, Perry Gault Management Co., Inc., Heritage Award; Sandra Erickson, Sandra Erickson Real Estate, Distinguished Service Award; and the honorable Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Borough president, will be receiving the Community Leadership Award in the year of The Bronx's Centennial. The final three major award recipients are: Karl Brumback, Massey Knakal Realty, Realtor Associate of the Year; Ross Goldenberg and Jason Griffith, Affiliate Members of the Year; and, Anthony Simeone, Ridgewood, Institutional Member of the Year. We will also be honoring members that have been with our organization ranging from 20 to 45 years. Among the honorees will be our first female president, Jacqueline Kyle Kall, this year's only 45 year member. If you are a part of our history, or if you want to become a part of our future, please mark your calendar to be at the Marina del Rey Caterers on April 24th at 5:30 p.m. Then, call my office at 718-892-3000 to reserve your tickets. Eliezer Rodriguez is the association executive of BMAR, Bronx, N.Y.