Kicking things up a notch pays off for AREW

Summer is an excellent time to take stock of past achievements and set goals for the coming season. At the Association of Real Estate Women (AREW), the newly-seated 2005-06 board has begun work on plans to build upon the past season, which proved to be a banner year.

Founded to provide a format for women real estate professionals to network, learn, be mentored by and create business with other women, AREW's mission of opening minds and doors for women in real estate remains constant. We fully understand and support our members' need to expand their perspectives and knowledge of the industry in an environment that encourages not only learning, but also productive networking that leads to bottom line business.

In 2004-05, we kicked things up a notch with numerous changes and marketing initiatives, among them a luncheon venue change to a location which significantly increased attendance capacity in an environment highly conducive to building business relationships. AREW sought not only to meet, but also to exceed, the expectations of its members by offering the highest quality educational programs and truly productive business networking.

The results indicate that we delivered on our goals. Overall membership increased 20% while new membership increased 65%, annual sponsorship increased 35% over 2003-04 and event attendance, at monthly luncheons in particular, achieved record-setting attendance levels by both members and non-members, sometimes by as much as 50% over the previous year.

In the coming year, we will continue to challenge ourselves to provide member benefits at the highest levels of real estate industry experience.

AREW may be the longest-running and most established organization focused on women real estate professionals, but we are also an organization with a finger on the pulse of the industry. Our programs and benefits have grown in size, spirit and sophistication in tandem with the strides women have made in the real estate industry. AREW has some unique strengths that go beyond size, program quality or its high industry profile. One of its strongest is membership diversity. Many real estate professionals join an association in their area of expertise, but the savviest among them also understand that, in order to create the contacts that lead to business, you need to network with others in noncompetitive disciplines.

AREW, with its diversity of membership, provides that network platform as well as many other opportunities for professional advancement. At every AREW event, you will find women (and men) from all levels and the entire spectrum of the industry commingling. Thus it is that senior level to just starting out real estate professionals, encompassing every known service and product involved in real estate, come together in a spirit of sharing ideas, information, opinions, interests, expertise and business opportunities. The multidisciplinary mix creates a stimulating dynamic.

Another AREW strength is its sense of collegiality.

Although one of the industry's largest, most dynamic and influential associations, AREW events offer a genuine sense of supportiveness, a feeling not unlike sitting around a table with friends.

Though our members are women who change the landscape of the New York City real estate business on a daily basis, the nature of the organization facilitates easier, friendlier networking.

One of the industry's most active organizations, AREW offers a rich, varied and stimulating program of educational and networking events. Monthly luncheons spotlight timely issues and developments with top industry speakers offering information that is often ahead of the curve.

Seminars focus on subjects relevant to professional growth, from creating business relationships online to financial planning and new ways to network. Behind-the-scenes tours highlight exciting and prominent new developments as well as emerging neighborhoods, usually with a project's developer or high-level executive as tour host.

AREW also holds a series known as Industry Leader Breakfasts. An exclusive benefit of membership, the breakfasts are hosted by top-level women executives and limited to 20 members to facilitate intimacy and accessibility.

Our fall and winter networking receptions are among the most dazzling and well attended in the industry.

We strive to hold our events in interesting venues, often newly opened or not yet opened to the public.

As the new season approaches, AREW will continue to reinvent ourselves in tandem with the times and the needs of our growing membership including implementing additional member benefits, focusing on superior facilitation of productive networking and creating even greater opportunities for member to member business.

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, September 27 for our first luncheon of the 2005-06 season when Bruce Mosler, president, U.S. Operations, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. will be guest speaker. For information about AREW membership, sponsorship and events, log onto www.arew.org.

AMY S. APPLEBAUM, 2005-06 AREW PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, JPMORGAN CHASE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP

COPYRIGHT 2005 Hagedorn Publication
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