Council Bluffs Realtor® Byron Menke Receives Good Neighbor Award from the Iowa Association of Realtors®

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Byron Menke, winner of the 2011 IAR Good Neighbor Award

CLIVE, IA (11/14/2011)(readMedia)-- The Iowa Association of Realtors® (IAR) congratulates Council Bluffs Realtor® Byron Menke as the 2011 IAR Good Neighbor Award winner. The IAR made the announcement at its Annual Awards Luncheon held in West Des Moines this fall. The Good Neighbor Award, which recognizes IAR members that are making positive changes in their communities by helping others, is sponsored by the Realtor® Foundation of Iowa (RFI).

Menke, who is an auctioneer, licensed broker associate and co-owner of United Country Loess Hills Realty and Auction in Treynor, was nominated for his work with the Micah House, an emergency homeless shelter located in Council Bluffs. The Micah House provides a safe, secure and nurturing environment for families and single women who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness. Menke assists the Micah House by donating his auctioneering services, which have helped raise more than $34,000 in the past few years. As part of the Good Neighbor Award recognition, the Realtor® Foundation of Iowa donated $1,000 to the Micah House in honor of Menke's contributions to the organization.

Menke is also very involved in his community volunteering his time and services as auctioneer for annual fundraising events for the following organizations: Iowa Western Community College Black Tie Event, Jennie Edmundson Hospital Spirit of Courage, Ollie Webb Center, Hearts of Hope for Children's Hospital, Heartland Family Service, Lutheran Family Service, Pottawattamie County Conservation, Pottawattamie and Mills County 4H Auctions, and several local high schools. Menke also serves on the Board of Directors for Westfair, where he has been serving as president for the past two years.

"Byron is such a positive and energetic person. It is not surprising that he shares his time and talents to help others in his community," says Kurt Schade, 2011 president of the Iowa Association of Realtors®. "We are happy to be able to recognize his ongoing and outstanding efforts."

"It is an honor to receive this award, especially given the contributions of the other deserving nominees. It's great to be able to give back to these organizations and their communities that have been so good to me over the years," shares Menke. "There are hundreds of Realtors® around this state that are involved and give back to their communities every day, and I'm very proud to be a part of that Realtor® family."

Ashley Okland of West Des Moines, who passed away this year, was the Good Neighbor Award Runner-Up. Peggy Zufall of Ottumwa and Retta Ripperger of Creston received Honorable Mention. The Realtor® Foundation of Iowa made donations to each of these nominees' respective charities as well.

The term Realtor® is a registered trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who follow a strict code of ethics as members of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). The Iowa Association of Realtors® is the state's largest real estate professional organization representing nearly 7,000 members and affiliates. Realtors® are the number one voice for real estate and defenders of home ownership. To find a local Realtor® visit SeeIowaHomes.com.