Before you vote, familiarize yourself with the most up-to-date information, including answers to all your frequently asked questions.
We are committed to consistency and commitment in consultation since the announcement of the AREA-CREB® consolidation. This commitment took form in many ways from collecting frequently asked questions from our open houses, member comments online, staff questions and more.
Housed on the AREA-CREB® consolidation Hub we had our CREB® board of directors and executives answer your FAQs about the AREA-CREB® consolidation. Here are a few of them below.
It feels like this initiative is being driven by fear and the opportunity to save money.
The driver of the consolidation plan is rooted in a shared future vision with AREA. The reality is that one cannot consider risk without exposing threats and we’ve made every effort to be factual and reasoned in those assessments.
Saving money is a risky motivating factor and one we have downplayed. It’s an expectation that we would realize cost savings and increased efficiencies through the merger of AREA and CREB®. We know our members are negotiation experts and providing the right level of information to support a lower-cost future and satisfy the need for detail is a fine balance.
What services are we going to lose once the merger takes place?
There will be no loss in products, services, or supports that CREB® members currently receive. There is more information in the slide deck from the open houses as an appendix to the final Consolidation Plan.
How much control are we going to have once we merge?
If the merger is approved, CREB®’s 55 per cent of the AREA members will become direct members of AREA. For the merger momentum to grow, the CREB® member experience in the new version of AREA will need to be very positive. Like our current structure, members have input and are encouraged to participate in our governance.
How does merging CREB® with AREA give us a stronger voice?
Proximity. Currently, CREB® is very close to the day-to-day activities of our members, just as any other local board. AREA has cultivated strong relationships with provincial leaders of both major provincial parties and this proximity affords greater leverage on matters of importance to Alberta REALTORS®. The alignment of that proximity where it matters most creates value from the focused resources AREA would have in the future.
FAQ video series
To continue their efforts, we released a video series of Q&A’s answering questions such as:
- Why consolidate CREB®'s operations . . . and why now?
- How do we ensure accountability and representation in the new AREA?
- What is the plan for the distribution of CREB funds to CREB® members?
- What will change with CREB® offices?
- How would CREB® retain its culture in a merger with AREA?
- What is the decision-making process in a consolidated environment?
Visit the FAQ section on the AREA-CREB consolidation hub for all consolidation information.
See you at the SGM on March 15.
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