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HISTORY OF WCR

On a train ride home from the National Association's convention in Washington, D.C. in 1924, the California Real Estate Association formed a Women's Division.

Fourteen years later, Joseph Catherine, the 1938 president of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (then called the National Association of Real Estate Boards) encouraged the formation of the Women’s Council after being impressed by the California group and the immense potential of women in real estate.

At the time, NAR was already 30 years old and most decisions were still made at the Local Board level. Unfortunately, most Local Boards were still resistant to women. However, the National Association was ready to recognize women in real estate and a positive vote resulted in the formation of a women's division at the Annual Convention held in Milwaukee in November of 1938. Thirty-seven ambitious women represented nine states at that meeting and WCR's inception.

• Through the decades, WCR's membership growth reflected the vast number of women choosing a career in real estate. Women began to recognize the immense benefits of careers in real estate combined with a WCR membership.

In 1984, WCR established the Leadership Training Graduate (LTG) designation. Communication, personal power, group dynamics, meeting management, public speaking and technology were part of the program, which fostered leadership and professionalism in careers and personal lives.

1998 saw the creation of the annual WCR Leadership Academy, which in its very first year won the prestigious Leadership Development Trophy in Chapter Relations from the American Society of Association Executives. The Academy provides over 200 local chapter presidents-elect with in-depth chapter management training so that they embark on their year truly equipped to lead their chapters with confidence.

In 1999, the Council approved a Statement of Diversity: The Women's Council of REALTORS® empowers its members to embrace and celebrate diversity in the marketplace.

At the 2003 National Conference in San Francisco WCR launched the Performance Management Network Designation.

It's a next-generation REALTOR® designation designed from the ground up to bring you real-world skills that will keep your business out front and on top of a dynamic real estate market.

Today, with more than 260 Chapters and 14,000 members, WCR is the 17th largest U.S. Women's professional organization and has one of the most successful communication networks in the NAR family. Chapters include men and women who support the objectives of WCR and are interested in serving the industry, the community and fellow REALTORS®.