2022 CREW Calgary President's Message

January 1, 2022.?Most of us opened our eyes that morning, hoping for the dawn of a new era.?So many COVID promises broken for almost two years had left us wishful, but skeptic.?Travel was available for some (with many hoops to jump through), downtown offices were opening to workers, and it seemed the last of the precautions and restrictions were scheduled to lift.

Rose-colored glasses, that tinted grey for the first few months, held a bit of a cloud over Calgary and our organization.?Not another year of this.?One of my main mandates as 2022 President was to ensure the foundation of our organization was solid, so that whenever the recovery occurred – we were ready.?Membership and Sponsorship are crucial to our success.?Without them, we have nothing.?The Board decided to extend the membership discount for 2022, giving companies and individuals a great, cost-effective reason to support. Our membership numbers remained strong, growing monthly, even past discount deadlines.?Even though our first event of the year was changed to virtual due to continued restrictions, there was a great turnout and the membership buzzed with excitement.

People believe that the Membership Committee only has duties at the beginning of the year, with the initial surge of renewals and new members.?Committee Co-chairs Edward Tsang and Ashley Dundas, along with Board Liaison Chantal Wing, would let you know differently.?Memberships run strong all year, from opening, through mid-year and the fall 15 for 12 season.?Not only that, but they also work with the Events committee to put on member events.?A dedicated 12-month team that also works closely with CREW Network to ensure registrations are accurate and updated.

In 2021, the Board decided to bridge Sponsorship dollars through 2020 into 2021.?No new ask, with new delivery due to COVID disappointments through this time.?Going into 2022, there was a large question mark if Sponsorship dollars and commitments would continue.?Would companies see the value in our organization’s offerings??This was so important to our continuing initiatives.?Fortunately, CREW Calgary had a strong set of Co-Chairs on the Sponsorship committee of Aman Bhatti and Julie Laws.?Supported by Brittany Block as Board Liaison, the mountain was scaled and not only were the budgeted Sponsorship dollars attained but surpassed.?A win for the ages, that not only gave us ongoing support, but validated CREW Calgary’s worth in the Calgary CRE community. The second ask for the annual golf tournament was just as successful, ensuring that our mandates and events could continue bringing value to our members through 2022.

Thank you to all our Sponsors who have supported us through 2022 and over the last 17 years.

The spring brings new beginnings, but our newly merged Mentorship-Foundation committee were already placing completed tick boxes next to 2022 initiatives.?Before the middle of February, Co-Chairs Sue Paton and Laurae Spindler along with Board Liaison Wenting Wu and Chapter Champion Carla Barney had handedly completed the Chapter Challenge Trifecta.?Now this may seem trivial to some but let me fill you in on some backstory.?Of the over 80 Chapters Globally, many never achieve the Trifecta, which is a $1000 overall donation, 100% Board donations, and 50% member donations to the CREW Network Foundation.?CREW Calgary completed this in the first 45 days of 2022 – the first in Canada and one of a handful of chapters to do so that early.?We might take for granted that this is achieved by our chapter annually, but it does not go unnoticed by CREW Network.?The continued support to the program by Gillian Lawrence and Sue Paton has led them to achieve 2022 Visionary Status (number 104 and 107 in CREW Network history) of $10,000 USD each lifetime giving and serves as a continued step on keeping the program alive and well in our Chapter.

Not only was outstanding Foundation work being completed, but our Mentorship program was growing by leaps and bounds.?A glean in the eyes of the Board and Committees back in 2018, a strong support for the program made it the most successful in its short history in 2022.?Such interest, that more mentors had to be recruited and some enthusiastically took on more than one mentee!?What great strides in just over three years, to develop a program from scratch that takes hold and shapes our organization for years to come.

And then the rose-colored glasses that turned grey, turned majestic rainbow – better than any Pride Parade held.?Restrictions lifted and life started feeling a bit more normal.?Events, events, events.?So happy to have in person events again.?Jenn Currie and Tiffiny Malkin, with the assistance of Board Liaison Carla Barney, started making magic.?Members were so enthusiastic to meet face to face that the Events Committee couldn’t organize fast enough.?An insatiable appetite that kept being filled monthly.?We are so proud of the attendance, quality, and depth of our events that everyone can’t stop talking about them. In 2022, one initiative was to organize larger events in coordination with other Calgary CRE organizations.?Connections with NAIOP, CCA, BOMA were in the forefront of our minds.?The mayoral event was one of the first large-scale offerings post restrictions in conjunction with NAIOP, and what a success.?Dine arounds, project tours, networking events – all supplying members with a much-needed return to business through 2022.?And the year is not over yet.?Keep your eyes on social media for more upcoming events to finish the year.??

One thing that was kept forefront in the minds of the Board came from the Strategic Planning Session in late fall 2021.?Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.?And not just the obvious DEI, but inward organization looking DEI.?It was time to light the match called Yamilee Briere to take time to investigate what DEI means to improve CREW Calgary’s mission and vision.?Self-reflection as an organization is difficult, as analyzing one’s faults is not easy to hear or understand.?Our Board went down the path of assessing the inclusion and glass ceilings within CREW Calgary and understood quickly that when talking about DEI externally, we were not inclusive within our own membership.?June 21, 2022, a Special AGM was held to pass the Fifth Amended and Restated By-Laws to include all levels and types of memberships to serve as Officers of the Board.?No longer would any member of CREW Calgary be limited in service and would now be allowed to rise to any position within the Board.?In less than a week, a resounding 118 votes were cast in support to easily exceed the 75%-member acceptance requirement.?

I congratulate all members in support of shaping CREW Calgary to walk the talk.

One consistent, through COVID and throughout the years, is the CREW Calgary Annual Golf Tournament and now – the newly minted in 2021 Mini-5 League and Pamper & Play Event.?COVID can’t kick us down, and these events kept going through thick and thin.?Even when we couldn’t have a tournament, the outstanding Co-Chairs of the Golf Committee, Amanda Blacktopp and Kim Wiltse, along with Board Liaison Patricia Verburgt, just kept those ideas coming.?No tournament??Then we will start a small league to network.?A novice to golf??Pamper and Play is for you!?2022 did not disappoint.?Sold out and almost fully sponsored, the event is renowned for its fun, prizes, relaxed day, and networking opportunities that no other tournament has.?Thank you all who keep this tournament a success and continue to raise funds for CREW Network Foundation.

COVID had been trying on our Recognition Committee.?The 15th Anniversary Gala was cancelled in 2020, 2021 and in 2022.?Without a vehicle to recognize members in our organization formally, Co-Chairs Jan Renz and Annick Kabeya tried to make small steps prevalent in honoring great achievement by our members.?It didn’t seem to be enough for 2022 though, so the Co-Chairs, along with their Board Liaison Christy Thompson, wowed the rest of the Board by bringing forward a brand-new event.?On October 6, the Inaugural CREW Calgary Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon took place at the Glencoe Club, honoring excellence in volunteers that is long overdue.?This event bridges towards the Gala in 2023, that will recognize achievements in all fields of commercial real estate.?Planned for late Spring/early Summer of 2023, this formal event is sure to be one you will not want to miss.

I’d be amiss to not wrap up with the Committee that plays behind the scenes but is woven through every aspect of what CREW Calgary does.?The Marketing Committee of Crystal Stus, Amy Kelso, and Kayla Browne tirelessly, along with Past-President and Board Liaison Larissa Svekla, keeping you informed of everything that our organization has to offer.?We often note that the best work can be done, but if no one notices, it may not be recognized.?Well, this committee has imaginably grown in 2022 to touch all aspects of the ever-changing social media and technology world.?They run a full-time volunteer business within CREW Calgary, and we are thankful for them, their ideas, and their enthusiasm.?Can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2023 and thanks for all the material for the slide show!

Anita Arora, Tracy Taylor Fullerton, and Larissa Svekla rounding out our Board Executive for 2022.?Our busy lives did not get quarterly meetings as planned, but the side bar conversations and honest advice kept our smaller than usual team always cohesively running.?Anita, the way our members look up to you for your ethical advice is admired.?Tracy, you place an additional level of validity to our thoughts and concerns with your standing in the CRE community.?Larissa, your levelheaded and professional guidance always kept a steady opinion.?Without all your leadership, we wouldn’t be where we are today. And to Associations Plus, who are there to support continuously, we give our gratitude.?Charlene Roth-Diddams, I hope we were the calm in your storm this year.

As we walk steadily forward into the final days of 2022, CREW Calgary has so many successes yet to achieve and so much to be proud of this year.?We made it through with flying colors.?For the first time in our history, we have achieved large Chapter status of over 200 members.??

Numerous members in our Chapter are representing Board, Committees, Leadership Program and Councils at the Network level.?We have a solid relationship with CREW Network and continue to support them, attending Summits and Convention with a strong representation.?And most importantly, our Chapter members have strong ties to each other.?Friendships have developed, support given, spirits lifted.?Continue the great work members and volunteers because it is worth it, and it does make a difference in the CRE community.

R.