Women's Council's Leadership Academy

This August marked the 13th anniversary of Women's Council's Leadership Academy. More than 250 local, state and regional leaders gathered in Chicago for two days of training, where they learned how to build and strengthen chapters by delivering on our value proposition.

"I am so thrilled to have made it to Chicago and to have participated in this empowering learning experience," wrote Judi Abbott, who attended Academy as a representative of the new East Valley Chapter in California. "I met such amazing, successful, professional women of passion and dedication."

Click here for a slideshow of pictures from Academy. Not only did these leaders review the business skills needed to manage their chapters, they also covered ideas and techniques for delivering top-notch programs to drive participation in Women's Council at the local level.

We are experiencing a new business environment, where communication techniques, technology and even regulations are changing rapidly. We want to hear your ideas on how this information can best be delivered to you. These incoming chapter leaders could now use your input on delivering programs of greatest interest to you and your colleagues.

Would you attend a last-minute networking event posted on Facebook to meet tonight to discuss industry trends with your peers? Would you enjoy a brown bag lunch where a local government affairs official can cover today’s new legislative decisions?

We encourage you to post your experiences or programming ideas to our Comments module below or to our Facebook page. This will help to deliver the message to all the chapter leaders across the U.S. so the best ideas can be implemented as soon as possible. You can also reach your local chapter leaders in our searchable database to communicate directly with them.

What about the next fundraiser? We all like to have fun, so let's combine the business knowledge with the "fun" and the "raising," while we remember that "we are a network of successful REALTORS®." Our brand is associated with professionalism, and our members are among the most experienced and educated REALTORS® in the industry today. This is why Women’s Council is the place to go to get the most up-to-date information in the industry.

When planning the next fundraiser for your chapter, ask yourself or the committee in charge, "is this the image we want to convey to the public about our organization?" See if a business spin can be added to the next fundraiser that is planned. Chances are, if there is a benefit to an event, especially a business benefit in today’s market, more people will participate. As the saying goes, "The more the merrier."

In the meantime, be sure to register for our next business event that will also be jam-packed with education, networking and fun. The National Conference in New Orleans runs November 2-8, and be sure to check off "WCR" as your primary affiliation when you register.

We also hope you'll join us for the Inaugural Dinner for 2011 President Margo Willis and her leadership team on Saturday, November 6. Knowledge. Friends. And fun. I'll see you there.

Anita Davis, ABR, CRS, GRI, PMN
2010 Financial Secretary
Long & Foster Real Estate
Baltimore, MD
anita.davis@longandfoster.com