A new season of opportunities at AREW.

It's the beginning of AREW's 29th season, a time when the new officers and board meet to set goals and begin the planning that will launch the new season in September.

As in previous years, AREW will again dedicate itself to raising the bar on the value of being both a member and sponsor of the real estate industry's largest and longest-running association focused on the personal, professional and business development growth of women real estate professionals.

While the times have changed remarkably since AREW was founded in 1978, women having made tremendous strides in leveling the playing field in one of the world's most competitive real estate cities, AREW's mission remains relevant and constant. Our goals are to provide educational opportunities at the highest levels of association experience; create numerous, quality opportunities for business development networking in an environment conducive to generating long-term relationships; and offer the opportunity to make a difference in the greater community.

Unlike most industry associations which focus on one area of expertise, with its diversity of membership at all levels of the industry, AREW provides a unique environment to network with professionals in noncompetitive disciplines. Providing opportunities for productive networking that create business is a hallmark of participation in AREW. And, at AREW, networking is not gender-specific. Our luncheons, seminars and receptions are open to both men and women from the industry at large.

Another strength of AREW's diversity is the intermingling of professionals from the full spectrum of the industry creates a provocative mix of ideas, information, opinions, interests and expertise. It's a stimulating dynamic which is uniquely combined with AREW's collegiality, a philosophy adopted by the association's founders which has persevered and thrived for going on three decades. While AREW's collegiality facilitates easier, friendlier networking, it is the quality, quantity and diversity of the membership that makes it outstanding.

AREW offers a rich schedule of educational and networking opportunities each season. Luncheons, held the first Tuesday of the month from October to May (excluding January), feature some of the industry's most dynamic real estate executives--movers, shakers, innovators and facilitators of new projects and new ideas. Topics are always timely, often ahead of the information curve.

Of particular note are AREW's panel discussions which provide diversified points of view from experts in specific industry segments (both hotel and retail were featured last season), as well as topics such as how women real estate executives reached the top of their fields.

The luncheons, held at Club 101 at 101 Park Avenue at 40th Street, begin with an hour of networking. Members attend luncheons at no charge as part of their annual dues which also includes an Annual Meeting in June for members only.

AREW's seminars provide informational tools designed to improve real estate knowledge and skills, from new techniques for productive business networking to financial planning. Behind-the-scenes tours highlight distinguished new developments, such as our pre-opening tour of Time Warner Center and 7 World Trade Center, as well as emerging neighborhoods such as DUMBO, and unique developments such as Chelsea Market, usually with a project's developer or high-level executive as tour host.

AREW also holds Industry Leader Breakfasts.

An exclusive benefit of membership, breakfasts are hosted by top-level women executives and limited to 20 members to facilitate intimacy and accessibility.

Networking is the focus of our fall and mid-winter cocktail receptions.

We strive to hold events in intriguing venues, such as newly opened, or not yet opened to the public restaurants, hotels or meeting spaces.

Additionally, the AREW Charitable Fund supports Women In Need (WIN) through a variety of activities and provides scholarships to students in real estate-related educational programs.

In May 2006, the Charitable Fund ended its season with an historic first: a breakfast honoring Bruce Mosler, president and CEO, Cushman & Wakefield, as AREW's first Man of the Year, net proceeds from which benefitted WIN.

AREW also offers one of the most all-encompassing and cost effective sponsorship programs among real estate associations which, among other benefits, includes hundreds of message exposures in weekly eblasts and our monthly newsletter, at events and on our website.

AREW prides itself on being on the cutting edge of industry trends and topics and also as an association that excels at providing the platform for our members and sponsors to build relationships in real estate.

We invite you to learn more about membership in or sponsorship of AREW by calling [phone] or logging onto www.arew.org.

To experience the power of women in real estate, as well as some of the most productive networking in the industry, you need to experience AREW.

BY ANNE TESHIMA, 2006-07 AREW PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, CLASSIC REALTY LLC