Hartford — About 130 people from the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors joined more than 2,000 other real estate professionals statewide for a rally Tuesday on the lawn of the Capitol to call on legislators, as one official said, to "give us a state that businesses can't refuse to come to."

Holding signs with slogans such as "Build a Stronger CT," "Homeownership Matters" and "Jobs = Growth," realtors heard a pitch for more state teamwork from Geno Auriemma, head coach of the 11-time national champion University of Connecticut women's basketball team.

"What's been done in the last 20 years to make your job easier?" Auriemma asked the crowd.

"Nothing!" the realtors shouted in a reply that Auriemma confirmed.

The coach drew parallels between Connecticut's poor fiscal state today and his early years at UConn, where he inherited a gym with a leaking roof, wooden bleachers and no lockers.

"It was a dump," he said of the school, and the gym was worse than most of the facilities in which his high school recruits were playing.

So Auriemma sold himself and his coaching staff, promising things would get better. And they did, as the success of his team mirrored improvements to the campus.

In the recruiting business, he said, "When people have a choice, you better give them a reason to pick you."

Michael Barbaro, president of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, picked up the theme by telling legislators their aim should be "a state that businesses can't refuse to come to." As the largest trade association in Connecticut, the statewide Realtors group needs to come together and lead the way, he said. "We're going to start to use our influence."

Tuesday's rally was the first salvo, a far better attended event than in past years, according to attendees. Realtors from Windham and New London counties who form ECAR said this year's rally more than tripled last year's participation of only about 40 people, and this was the first time three buses were required.

"The state association wants to galvanize all the Realtors," said Susy Hurlbert, chief executive of ECAR. "We want a Connecticut to sell."

Denise Robillard, former president of both ECAR and the state association, said one of her pet peeves this legislative session is a new Department of Revenue Services policy requiring sellers to put their Social Security number on new property transactions. Violations are subject to up to a year in jail.

"Nobody wants their Social Security number hanging out for the world to see," Robillard said on the bus up to Hartford. "What is wrong with these legislators?"

Marilyn Lusher, current president of ECAR, said she was pleased by the local turnout and was hopeful the large presence in Hartford made a difference.

"That's the hardest part — getting people involved," she said.

l.howard@theday.com