AREW readies for 13th year in action.

AREW readies for 13th year in action

The 1991-92 year promises to be a tremendously exciting one for the Association of Real Estate Women. Drawing on our experience and success in providing newsworthy and educational programming over the past 12 years, AREW will continue to draw the industry's most noteworthy speakers to its events.

Already scheduled to speak at AREW's luncheons this year are Daniel H. MacEachron of Bechtel Park Tower Properties LP; Margo Grant, vice president of Gensler & Associates; Alexander Cooper, award-winning architect and planner of Battery Park City; Leanne Lachman, vice president and trend analyst for Schroder Real Estate Associates; and Lynn Povich, editor-in-chief of Working Woman Magazine. Last year's sell-out series of seminars, "How to Build a Building", will be repeated because of so much interest in the program. Another seminar will discuss the environment and its impact on real estate. Boardroom breakfasts and brown bag luncheon meetings of members in the same specialties are also on the agenda. In addition, AREW is planning walking tours as well as several other seminars.

In its 12 years of existence the Association of Real Estate Women has flourished, growing from a nucleus of 35 to a current membership of over 190. Chartered in June 1979, the organization was formed when there were relatively few women in commercial real estate. That is certainly not the case today!

However, the aims of the Association have remained consistent with those AREW held originally: to provide a forum for women, to encourage professionalism and to create business opportunities for women in real estate. AREW members, female and male, are appraisers, developers, accountants, architects, investors, lawyers, consultants, commercial and residential brokers and bankers. This broad mix in membership affords AREW members a very wide and effective networking web.

Even in these recessionary times, AREW has been successful in maintaining and gaining membership thru its activities and programs. In addition to AREW's monthly luncheons at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, AREW sponsors educational seminars throughout the year. This past year AREW luncheons featured Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messenger; David Lawrence, senior vice president at Hines Interests; developers Joshua Muss, Abbott Stillman and Howard Milstein; Carol D. Nichols, managing director of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America; Richard Rosan, senior vice president of Park Tower Realty; and hospitality industry expert Stephen W. Brener.

AREW's seminar programs covered a wide range of topics. "How to Build a Building" included on-site sessions on reading proform as, reading blueprints, tenant buildout and running a "smart" building. These educational reviews attracted early risers and were generously sponsored by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Hammerson Properties, Turner Construction and Hines Interests.

"Affordable Housing: A Growth Area for the 90's" was moderated by AREW board member Paula Wexler. Speakers included prominent representatives of the city's agencies and developers and bankers specializing in this important area.

"Investment Opportunities in Distressed Properties" was moderated by AREW founder Merle Gross-Ginsburg who, along with Dick Byrne of Chase Manhattan Bank, Jim Kuhn of J.D. Kuhn Properties and Norman Peck of Schroder Real Estate Associates informed members and guests of how to take advantage of the market for troubled commercial buildings.

"The State of the Residential Market" featured the top residential brokers and marketing consultants in the City: Barbara Corcoran, Marilyn Harra Kaye, Adrienne Albert, Susan W. Bird and Nancy Packes, and was moderated by Jane Gladstein.

A career seminar "Will there be a career for you in real estate in 1991" was repeated twice by popular demand. Our final seminar, moderated by former AREW President Sybil H. Pollet, "The Women Who Run City Government," was a "Who's Who" of New York women in government: Rosina Abramson, executive director, Department of City Planning; Laurie Beckelman, chairperson, Landmarks Preservation Commission; Gail Benjamin, executive director, Land Use Committee of the City Council; Barbara Fife, deputy mayor; Felice Michetti, commissioner, Department of HPD; and Carol Slater, general counsel, Department of Buildings.

AREW publishes a monthly newsletter which includes information on all luncheons and seminars. AREW is a member of the National Network of Commercial Real Estate Women which is comprised of 27 organizations around the country. The total membership is over 2,000. National Network publishes an annual directory including all members' names by chapter, both alphabetically and by specialty. NN's regional seminars and yearly national convention provide outstanding networking opportunities for members at all levels.

In 1989, AREW established the AREW Charitable Fund. As early as 1981, only two years after it was established, AREW began granting scholarships. A dinner in 1989 raised over $50,000. This fund has given scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at Columbia and New York University studying real estate, architecture and urban studies.

As we look forward to our 13th season, we hope to continue our reputation of offering some of the most exciting programs in the city. Although women as real estate professionals are no longer a rarity we also believe, and have proven again and again, that there are significant opportunities to be gained by affiliation with a professional group.

We hope you will join us at a luncheon or seminar. Our first luncheon is Tuesday, Oct. 1 when Daniel H. MacEachron will speak about the public/private sector development of the Foley Square Court House. If you would like to receive further information on our programs please call the AREW Hotline at [phone]. For membership details please call AREW's membership chair, Faith H. Consolo, Garrick-Aug Real Estate at 557-9090.

Virginia Millhiser 1991-92 President Association of Real Estate Women (AREW)