Karen Benefield South Orange County Network
2017 President’s Closing Remarks
We had a bit of a hill to climb in terms of our membership, but we were determined to overcome it. We increased our membership numbers by almost doubling them this year and our goal for 2018 is to do that again. When we achieve this it will qualify us as a Mega Network which I believe we can be.
We have a great team of officers in place for 2018 and we have great members. Together we will achieve this goal.
Women’s Council is an organization that is truly a leader in terms building leaders. Eileen mentioned some of the stats earlier.
I’ve been a member for 7 years now and I’ve watched people like those introduced earlier and many others across the state and the country grow and move on into higher leadership positions.
You might be thinking you wouldn’t want to be up here like I am right now and trust me I was right there with you and I’m still not totally comfortable up here. What I’ve learned is that Women’s Council has a way of building leaders sometimes without you even realizing it’s happening to you. The task is to ask and that’s what they do. They ask you to do something, then something else, then something else, and each time you grow a little more. Before you know it you’ve evolved into a leader and you’re up here saying, 7 years ago when I joined this network there was no way I would have believed you if you told me I would be here today!
I encourage you to consider becoming a member or a strategic partner and learn more about Women’s Council. If you want to align yourself or your company with leaders in our industry then aligning yourself or your company with Women’s Council is a smart decision.
You don’t have to aspire to move up into CAR, NAR, or political positions to benefit from Women’s Council. If you want to grow your own real estate business then you’re already a leader of your own business and you will benefit from being a member of Women’s Council.
However, let me clarify something in order to benefit you can’t just become a member and expect referrals and leadership growth to rain down upon you. You have to become an engaged member, you need to get involved on a project team or become a board member then you’ll see the growth and opportunity. We would love to have you join us!
I have a much different feeling going into 2018 than I did going into 2017. We had a great team in 2017 and we have another great team for 2018. We’re building a legacy and have big goals to achieve this year. We have our calendar on the back of the program and Tim Hayden our 2018 Program Director is going to talk for a few minutes about that, but before that I have one more person to thank.
Cheryl is a passionate, determined, creative, and energetic leader! These past 3 years we have spent together on the line, I have learned so much about her, her sense of humor, infectious laugh, determination to make life better for all is Contagious. She will serve you well and will build on all that past leaders have done before her. Give her and her team your full support, engage and be the Positive Ripple she knows you can be!
Training, Training, and more Training starting with the October 2016 businss planning retreat meeting in Long Beach where we met with incoming 2017 state leadership team.
The winner is the East Valley Network, with 25% rejoining! Congratulations to Jennifer Higgins and her leadership team
When I ran as your treasurer my promise to you was to be the member’s member, by that I meant that we are the same, we have different roles, but we are all members of an amazing organization, my hope is that you found that to be be true, and that my role as the leader of this amazing team brought you the tools and resources you needed to be successful.
