O.C. Board of Realtors Celebrates 100 Years of Service

By MADDY VITALE The Ocean City Board of Realtors has hit a lot of milestones over the years, from realtor members selling properties to families and businesses throughout the island, to the countless hours volunteering for charitable events. But the biggest accomplishment is without a doubt this year with the board turning 100. One of the reasons for the organization’s staying power is that it is rooted in the community, Ken Sedberry, past president of the board and current member of the board of directors, explained Thursday. “The realtors do a lot for the community. We have a lot of volunteers who do the clothing and food drives. Many of our members volunteer their time. We really do serve the citizens, property owners and guests of the resort.” On Dec. 19, 1920, a group of 24 residents, including three women, met in the Commissioners Chamber of City Hall to hold the first official meeting of the Ocean City Real Estate Board. Just three months before, on Sept. 30, 1920, it was granted a charter by the National Association of Real Estate Boards, according to a board of realtors press release. Some of the initial members included names associated with the founders of Ocean City, including three women with the last name of Lake -- Caroline, Marion and Estella. The back of the 1920 photo of the original board of directors displays the members' names. (Photo courtesy Ocean City Board of Realtors) Today, there are eight women on the board of directors and, as in years prior, a woman is president. This year, Kathy DiGuglielmo is president. There are 500 members with 27 offices throughout the island. “What is unique about it is everyone gets involved and jumps in,” said Sedberry, who is in charge of the board’s public relations committee. “The fact we have stayed alive as an organization for 100 years is amazing – especially since we are just on this island.” The board will host a gala to celebrate the major milestone on Sept. 26 at the historic Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. “We will commemorate all of the rich history of the years,” Sedberry said. “Each office will receive a memory board that they could use to put pictures and other items on the boards to display at the gala.” Sedberry said a member recently shared with him a vintage postcard from one of the offices. “I am getting a lot of materials from other agents and from the other offices, and we are hoping to have the memory boards back by early May,” he noted. “The celebration is really about our board being in existence for 100 years, all of the volunteer work the board members do, and how we want to support the city of Ocean City. We help the community out and enjoy doing it.” For more information, visit the Ocean City Board of Realtors at www.ocbor.com. The Ocean City Board of Realtors office is located at 405 22nd Street.