Pour yourself an espresso because we need to chat about governance and policy.
Yes, we know what you’re thinking … “Do we have to?”
Well, only briefly, we promise, because a lot of the work of the governance and policy department is rarely seen (and doesn’t usually need to be seen). This department at RAE mostly drafts and redrafts, consults and then edits before finally finalizing documents that, well, keep things running smoothly. Truth be told, you will likely only see this department when things aren’t going well.
Governance, simply put:
When governance in an organization is weak, distrust tends to build. This lack of trust can lead to financial and reputational risks and may also lead to legal trouble. So, we do everything we can to keep a strong, solid governance structure.
While the term governance typically drums up images of dust and cobwebs, as odd as it may seem, the system of governance is really quite dynamic. At the core of the governance system is the people, which means that as the people and structures in an organization change and evolve, so too must the governance system.
That’s where the Governance and Policy department comes in. The department works closely with staff and committees to revise current policies and develop new ones. But this work must be aligned with the legislative frameworks applicable to the RAE, including the Cooperatives Act, Personal Information Protection Act and Occupational Health & Safety Act. And there is a careful balance of information in the RAE’s Bylaws, Governance Manual, Rules and Regulations and other policies that must be considered when these changes are made – that’s the boring part.
But that boring part keeps the RAE functioning smoothly. More importantly, it ensures that REALTOR® members can do all the the exciting real estate things without worrying about if the right decisions being made are in the best interests of the real estate profession.
Thanks for making it all the way to the end! We hope something in here was somewhat enlightening. (Or, at the very least, you got to enjoy some caffeine and a light read.)
