Membership diversity: The key to IOREBA's success

Trade organizations like IOREBA are an important part of maximizing career success in any industry. Education and networking are among the clear benefits. Good groups provide venues for making connections and topical information that members can use in their day-to-day ability to make money. Within this context, diversity - in background and in experience - is the key to a strong organization. Refreshing and enriching membership is an important part of achieving this diversity and also goes a long way toward maintaining an organization's vitality. At IOREBA, we are proud to say that our goal of growing our membership 10 to 15 percent in 2008 already has been achieved, and we continue to welcome new faces. We are successfully rounding out our organization from many angles - veteran and new-to-the-business professionals, boutique and global firms, broker members and associate members. We do have an older core membership, but we recognize there is a great, untapped group of young brokers out there. As more young professionals join the organization, there is a great intergenerational synergy that is forming here. For newer brokers, this is a great place to meet some of our industry's most experienced and iconic people. There is a great deal they can learn about tried and true ways of doing business from our accomplished members. At the same time, the industry's "new blood" brings fresh ideas and methods, especially when it comes to incorporating technology in the process. They are making each other better brokers. That's really what it's about. IOREBA represents a nice cross-section of the industry, which is a positive thing in terms of personal growth opportunities. While IOREBA was formed back in the 1920s as a brokers' association, we place a great deal of value in our associate, or non-brokerage, members as well. In fact, I have been an associate member of IOREBA for more than a decade and am pleased to be serving as president for 2008-2009. We have property managers like me, finance professionals, architects, attorneys, furniture dealers, interior designers - and all types of other people involved in the ancillary functions of successful real estate transactions. Simply put, these connections are tools in a broker's toolbox. These benefits reciprocate because brokers are the roots of many leads for our associate members. So why is this a good time to join IOREBA? There is always more to learn - in good times and in bad. But when people are busy, they have less time to devote to "extracurricular" activities. If there is a silver lining to the current economic slowdown, it might be found in the ability of more people to take time out to build their professional connections. Clearly, when times are tougher it is good to nurture relationships that provide opportunities. Yet we are working to make IOREBA invaluable to our members regardless of the economic climate. When we have our meetings, we like people to take away something useful or learn something they can apply in the workplace. IOREBA looks forward to continuing to provide value for our members. We have our flagship events - our Developer's Night and our Golf Outing - and we continue to work to make them better. Our executive committee encourages all of our members to get involved in IOREBA's leadership, to bring new ideas and approaches for our monthly gatherings. This, in turn, helps us continue to offer programming that compels members to attend not just because it's another meeting but because the content holds value. As our membership grows, and more new ideas and perspectives are brought to the table, it is becoming easier and easier to meet this objective. David Violette is the president of IOREBA and vice president of Colliers Houston & Co.'s property management division, Somerset, N.J.