May 2022 - CREW Calgary aka “The Pool Heater”

We all realize that we are living in a world of how things are perceived.?Social media platforms have always allowed us only a certain view or angle into any piece of reality.?With the increase in dependence on these platforms, comes our task of determining what is real and what is perceived in the content viewing.

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It made me think past media’s bias and into our day to day lives where biases exist.?Are we ourselves actually aware or are we perceived to be aware??I’m looking simply into how one walks the talk.

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Last November, our CREW Calgary Board and Committee Chairs gathered for our tri-annual strategy session.?As most would not be surprised, one of our main focuses for the next three years was to have a strategy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.?As we all patted ourselves on the backs for the revelation, the more daunting task was to determine what this meant.?Isn’t that what CREW Network was founded on, DEI for women in CRE??This is WHAT WE DO.?But is this reality or is it perceived??

A few things immediately occurred to us in this process:

?1.??????A DEI Taskforce must be struck to determine where we are underproviding as an organization.?Yes, the first thing you do is realize that you can always do better regardless of what stage of the game you are in.?Welcome Yamilee Brierre, who is currently exploring this initiative and allowing CREW Calgary to determine what things we need to do next.?

2.??????Our Mission and Vision statement didn’t feel complete.?For 2022, we are changing our statements to include ‘and diverse talent’ to encompass all individuals within our organization that require support. ?

·????????CREW Calgary’s MISSION is to be a leading voice for women and diverse talent in the Calgary commercial real estate industry, fostering networking, professional development and the achievements of women and diverse talent. ?

·????????Our VISION is to be the association of choice in Calgary, to promote and support the advancement of women and diverse talent as leaders across all disciplines of Calgary’s commercial real estate industry.

3.??????Not all classes of membership in CREW Calgary have equal rights.?In our current bylaws, we prevent some classes of membership from becoming Officers of the organization (President, Secretary, Treasurer).?It doesn’t matter how qualified or talented the individual is, CREW Calgary accepts their membership but will not accept their ultimate advancement and contribution. ?

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CREW Calgary, as a welcoming community, are perceived to be inclusive but are not fully inclusive in reality.?A glass ceiling currently exists for some of our own members.?I understand historically why this bylaw was established; the protection of the organization to remain centrally focused on commercial real estate and not to the businesses that support the industry.?Now, by allowing full representation from all membership levels, an organization not only grows but acquires depth to establish who they are going to be in the future.

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In June, you will receive a call or email from one of your Board of Directors asking for your proxy to change this piece of governance to allow all members of CREW Calgary to be able to rise to the highest representations.?Our mandate is to allow any member to apply for Officer positions and trust the decision-making process in the Nomination and Governance Committee, who reviews all applications for Board and Officer positions to determine who will lead CREW Calgary into the next year.?The best of the best will rise, regardless of membership classification, and our organization will improve in the future because of it.

Not often do I allow someone to read my draft blog, but I decided to share this one with a colleague.?“Now help me understand your conclusion”, he said. “CREW is like a pool heater. Every pool owner knows that you never directly heat the pool, you heat the hot tub first and let the hot tub water spill into the pool to heat it. It’s a much more effective and consistent way to change the temperature of a larger body of water.”

He's so right. The ability of CREW Calgary to face their own DEI perception shortcomings and publicly adjust to reflect a clearer reality, will ultimately spill over and change the temperature of the CRE industry as a whole. Walk the talk CREW Calgary and be the pool heaters for change within our organization and through our industry.

R.?