Last week, we shared the results of the non-binding member poll regarding CREA’s proposed two per cent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) dues increase and the $30 special assessment for the Legal Defense Fund. 

We appreciate those who took the time to participate. In total, 109 responses were received.

As part of our review, we identified that it was possible for members to submit more than one response. Even assuming all responses were unique—the findings do not meet the threshold for statistical reliability. The low response rate was not the outcome we had hoped for; however it is important to recognize that a single opinion poll is just one of several inputs that inform Board decisions. Directors approach these matters with care, drawing on previously reviewed comprehensive meeting materials, additional independent review and research, ongoing industry knowledge, and the perspectives shared by members, all as part of our responsibility to act in the best interests of the membership.

Your Board of Directors is tasked with providing direction to the Chair and Chair-Elect to vote at the upcoming April 14 CREA AGM, based on all of the information they have available to them. This is not a decision we take lightly. Directors will continue to consider member perspectives as part of their deliberations, and we welcome your input. Please feel free to comment on this article or reach out directly—your feedback remains important and will be considered right up until the vote is called.

With an important topic like this, it seems like an opportune time to review the ways CREB^® consults members on various topics and how the organization uses that information.

A few examples of how we’ve consulted with members from the past few months include in-person engagement at the Professionalism Summit on Dec. 8, the member satisfaction survey conducted by a third-party research firm, and the in-house poll on the CREA motions. 

How all this feedback makes its way into decisions can depend on a number of factors. For instance the member insights we heard at the Professionalism Summit were summarized in the Elevating the REALTOR^® Profession: Learnings from CREB^®’s Professionalism Summit report and will inform activities by staff, standing committees and the board of directors in the implementation of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan’s goal to elevate the REALTOR^® profession. These activities include seeking more member feedback through a series of micro-summits.

The member satisfaction survey results are more quantitative and include answers to questions that have been consistently asked in the survey through the years. This provides an objective scorecard of what CREB^® is doing well, as measured by members, and where we can focus efforts for improvement. Because the survey is conducted by a respected third-party research firm (Framework Analytics) using established industry best practices, the results are highly accurate, representative of all of our membership, and readily actionable. Join us at the CREB^® AGM on April 28 to see Framework present the results in detail!

In-house polls, such as the recent poll about the motions at the CREA AGM, aren’t as accurate or actionable, because they usually don’t have enough respondents to be truly representative of the entire membership. That’s why we use them to do a temperature check: how important is this subject to members based on the number of respondents? Among those members, are opinions one-sided or more balanced?

Decision makers—whether it’s the board of directors or staff—consider this temperature check alongside a host of other information in arriving at a decision that they think is best for the organization as a whole. 

CREB^®’s Board of Directors want to hear from you directly—whether in a public forum such as the comments on CREB^®Talk articles, a quick email, a face-to-face conversation at CREB^® Campus, or we can meet at your office. Book a CREB^® In Your Community visit and we’ll come to you.