organized 1948
As Chairman of the Young Men’s & Women’s Real Estate Association of New York, (YM/WREA), my worst nightmare became a reality when we were forced to postpone our Annual Golf and Tennis outing last months because of a severe rainstorm. The storm actually occurred the Sunday before the event, on Father’s Day. However , the golf course was too drenched to open the following Monday. As you can imagine, it was a huge challenge to alert over 190 people that we wouldn’t be playing tennis and golf that day. However, I must say it’s a testament to the strength and camaraderie within YM/WREA that everyone helped pass the word along so that virtually 100 percent of out members got the message and have signed on for the rescheduled Outing to take place on Monday, August 13th.
During our 53 year history, YM/WREA has grown and thrived like many other real estate organizations that strive to serve the commercial real estate industry having grown from approximately 24 members in 1948 to over 400 members at present. I believe what seta us apart from other organizations is the sense of camaraderie, that great desire on the part of our members to assemble, share information and enrich ourselves both professionally and personally by learning from great mentors in New York real estate such as Lewis Rudin, Eugene Hegy, Earl Altman, Bert French, and the late Edward S Gordon, all who were past chairmen. Unlike many other groups, efforts to recruit new members is not the main focus. Rather we concentrate an member retention by insuring our monthly luncheons feature the best speakers, that our social events are the most innovative and by giving back to the community through our charitable contributions which include our Annual Blood Drive, raising money for multiple sclerosis and sponsoring mentor programs for students to introduce them to the real estate industry.
It is not easy to become a member of YM/WREA. Not only must a applicant be dedicated to the profession and truly keen to further his or her real estate career, but he or she must meet stringent qualifications. We also are a uniquely-structured group in that while our core members are all under 45 years of age, it is our senior members’ knowledge and experience that enriches us.
Membership in the YM/WREA is sought after. It is an honor and a distinction to be a part of a group that included such successful contemporary real estate professionals as Barry Gosin, Raymond O’Keefe, Mitchell Rudin, Kate Coburn, Nicola Heryet, Paul Massey, Gerry Nocera, Rick Clark and last year’s chairman, Mark Lauzon, to name a few.
Our website, which we recently established, is an excellent resource for our membership, not only keeping the informed of upcoming events, but serving as an excellent tool to keep our membership information up-to-date, and facilitate and expedite communication between our members and our organization. We also envision it as a great way to maintain the organization’s history, share listings, and serve as an advertisement for who we are and what we are about.
As is our tradition, we strive to enlighten out members my inviting true real estate leaders to speak at our monthly luncheons. I am pleased to announce Larry Silverstein, President and C.E.O., Silverstein Properties, Inc. has just confirmed he will address members and guests on Sept. 11. This year we’ve had a stellar roster of speakers, among them:
Barbara Corcoran, Chairman, The CorcoranGroup, Inc.
Lawrence D. Ackman, Chairman, The Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group, LLC
John Zuccotti, Chairman, Brookfield Financial Properties
Anthony E. Malkin, President, W & M Properties
David R. Greenbaum, President & C.E.O., The Mendik Company, (A Division of Vornado Realty Trust)
Kathryn S. Wilde, President & C.E.O., New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and N.Y.C. Investment Trust
Further, each year, at the Annual Real Estate Board’s Dinner, held in January, the organization presents the prestigious ” Young Real Estate Man / Women of the Year Award” to the member whose knowledge, skills, integrity and high degree of ethics has contributed most to his or her profession and the community. Last year’s recipient was David J. Koeppel.
A special thanks to this year’s board, for their efforts and dedication that have not only made serving as Chairman a great experience for me, but have answered the call to make our organization even better.
—Joseph A. Grotto Jr.