RE industry out in force to celebrate AREW's 25th.

Tonight at the Rooftop Ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel, the real estate industry's first and foremost association dedicated to the advancement of women in real estate will celebrate 25 years of quality programs, charitable works and providing outstanding opportunities to advance career development.

The Association of Real Estate Women, founded in 1978, should be justifiably proud to look back upon a quarter-century of successfully paving the way for women in real estate or, as AREW itself puts it, "25 years of opening doors and minds."

The 25th Anniversary co-chairs who oversaw the planning for tonight's gala are two former AREW presidents: Ruth A. Agnese, Appraisers and Planners, Inc. and Patricia Van B. Madsen, Esq., Winston & Strawn. Serving on the 25th Anniversary Committee, in addition to Agnese and Madsen, are Sponsorship co-chairs Faith Hope Consolo, Garrick-Aug Worldwide and Maureen Munroe, Citibank Community Development; Design chair Kenne Shepherd, Kenne Shepherd Interior Design/Architecture PLLC; Venue chair Caroline Salvino; Raffle chair Anne Teshima, Haves, Pine & Seligman; and Nominating Committee chair MarieClaire Cunningham, GVA Williams with Nora C. Coffey, consultant, Louise M. Matthews, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Carol J. Patterson, Esq., Zetlin & De Chiara, and Dorothy Vermeer, H.J. Kalikow & Co. serving on the nominating panel.

From today's perspective, where women are found at every level in every segment of real estate, it can be difficult to imagine that 25 years ago, there were comparatively few women in the real estate industry, few who stayed for any length of time, and even fewer who succeeded. One of AREW's founders and the association's first president, Merle Gross-Ginsburg, recalls, for example, an attendance ratio of 90 men to one woman at real estate events in the late 1970's and a ratio of three women to 1,800 men at the 1975 REBNY annual banquet.

Seeing a critical need for a forum where women could meet, network and support each other's careers, she, together with 10 other visionary women, formed the Women's Committee of the Real Estate Industry of New York as an adjunct to the Real Estate Board of New York, the predecessor organization to AREW.

Appropriately, the first luncheon topic was "Opportunities for Women in Real Estate," a goal which the organization has never lost sight of.

In the ensuing quarter century, AREW's mission has remained constant while it has risen from a fledgling organization seeking to be taken seriously by a male-dominated industry, to a position as one of the real estate industry's most vital, active and trendsetting organizations.

Thus it is particularly fitting that at tonight's gala, AREW will shine a spotlight on "then and now" by honoring twelve Real Estate Women of Outstanding Achievement. These women, profiled throughout Real Estate Weekly, are not only at the pinnacles of their careers; they are, in their various categories of expertise, at the pinnacle of the industry itself, representing the highest levels of brokerage, management, finance, law and professional services.

The awards being bestowed by AREW are particularly apt, not only because AREW is the most stalwart, consistent supporter of women in the real estate profession, but also because one of AREW's enduring strengths is the diversity of its membership.

Unlike other organizations which focus on one area of expertise, AREW welcomes members (women and men) from the entire spectrum of the industry. In turn, that membership ranges from those who are just beginning their careers, to those who are mid-climb on the career ladder, to still others who are at the peak of their professions. The mix makes for an interesting cross-pollination of ideas and opinions, the superb networking for which AREW is known, and exceptional opportunities for mentoring.

AREW is also one of the most active real estate industry organizations. Their programs include monthly luncheons with top industry speakers; seminars on a range of topics that includes finance, health and improving business skills; behind-the-scenes tours that showcase newly constructed buildings, major renovations or emerging neighborhoods; and twice-yearly networking cocktail receptions in addition to the work of the AREW Charitable Fund.

The luncheons are the crown jewels of the organization's programs. Held at the Harvard Club on the first Tuesday of the month from October through May, they begin with an hour of networking, followed by a luncheon which features an industry speaker or panel. The topics are timely, with speakers drawn from the top echelons of development, brokerage, finance, architecture and the public sector.

In the 2002-03 season alone, luncheons have featured Carol Willis, founder of the Skyscraper Museum; Marc Goloven, senior regional economist from JP Morgan; Mary Ann Tighe, president/CEO, New York Tn-State Region, CB Richard Ellis; Veronica Hackett, principal of the Clarett Group; David Thurm, vice president, Real Estate Development, The New York Times Company with Mary Anne Gilmartin, senior vice president, Forest City Ratner Companies; and, upcoming in May, Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman/CEO, Loews Hotels and chairman, NYC & Company.

At tonight's gala, in addition to celebrating 25 years of fulfilling their founders' mission and honoring twelve Women of Outstanding Achievement, AREW will also be anticipating a future as a continuing driving force in the real estate industry as well as reaffirming its commitment to making a difference in the greater community (net proceeds from tonight's event benefit the AREW Charitable Fund) and providing outstanding programs and events for career development and business networking amongst real estate professionals.

A quarter century of success in attracting the best and brightest and serving as the "association of opportunity" for women in real estate bodes well for a future with AREW as one of the real estate industry's most vital, valuable and viable organizations.