As members of the National Association of REALTORS^®, we must always be cognizant of the proper use of the word REALTOR^® and the REALTOR^® logo. The following information is taken from NAR's Membership Marks Manual. You may want to keep it at your desk for easy reference.

The National Association is the proud owner of numerous marks including but not limited to the terms REALTOR^®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE^®, REALTORS^®, the REALTOR^® Logo and the Block "R" mark (which may be referred to collectively as the "MARKS").

The Marks are collective membership marks which serve to identify Members of the National Association and distinguish them from non-members*. Since 1916, when the unique term REALTOR^® was first "coined" or "invented", the public has come to recognize those who use the MARKS as Members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® and, as such, providers of real estate related services consistent with a strict Code of Ethics and the highest standards of professionalism. Member Boards**, through their use of the MARKS, are recognized as Member organizations.

Members are licensed by the National Association to use one or more of the MARKS in connection with or in reference to themselves and their real estate businesses.

Member Boards are licensed to use the term REALTORS^® as part of their name, or in the title of their publication, and to use the REALTOR^® Logo in connection with their name. Member Boards may also be licensed to use the Block "R" mark in connection with a Member Board logo.

When REALTOR^®, REALTORS^® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE^® are used in the text of brochures, pamphlets, newsletters or otherwise in the body of written material, all capital letters and the registration symbol "®" should be used in connection with at least the first use in each section of the body of the written material and in connection with each subsequent appearance to the extent practical. Each use must, however, contain initial capital letters in the body of the text. If all of the copy in the body of the written material is in capital letters, the terms REALTOR^®, REALTORS^® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE^® should be made to stand out by the use of boldface type or by some other means sufficient to distinguish them from words of ordinary use and, in such instances, the registration symbol "®" should be used in connection with every appearance of each MARK.

The REALTOR^® Logo consists of an "R" set in Futura Typeface on a sharply contrasting rectangular background to form a block "R" under which is centered the term REALTOR^®. The relative dimensions of the rectangle, the size of the Futura "R" within the rectangle in relation to the rectangle dimensions, the length and typestyle of the term REALTOR^® and the space between the term REALTOR^® and the rectangle are all important features of the REALTOR^® Logo. These features as well as the color identity between the term REALTOR^® and the rectangle must be observed.

The color contrasts among the three major elements of the REALTOR^® Logo (the Block, the stylized "R", and the term REALTOR^® with the federal registration symbol "®") should always remain consistent, i.e. the Block underlying the stylized "R" and the term REALTOR^® must always be the same color, and must contrast sharply with the stylized "R" and the underlying paper stock or other material.

It may be necessary or desirable at times to use the component elements of the Logo on a dark background. In such cases, it is permissible to reverse the usual color contrast of the REALTOR^® Logo to a light Block on a dark background, provided the background is sufficiently dark to insure a high degree of contrast. When the contrasting colors of the Logo are reversed in this way, the usual colors of the Block, the stylized "R" and the term REALTOR^® must all be reversed so that both the Block and the term REALTOR^® appear in the light color on the dark background.

Hope this helps when you're writing articles, letters, ad material, or using the REALTOR^® logo in your graphics.

See you next week!

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