CAR Conference 2009 Crested Butte
Digressions from the CAR Annual Conference
Last week I attended the Colorado Association of Realtors Annual Conference in Crested Butte. It was extra-fun for me because I can say “I grew up there.” The quotes are intentional, because I don’t mean I grew up there in the traditional sense—but then nothing about Crested Butte is traditional. I arrived there in my fully-packed 1969 VW bug in 1971 after a two-year stint in the corporate world of Chicago, where I was born and raised. One visit to Crested Butte and I just had to “tune in, turn on, and drop out!” I’m sure many of you can understand my wanting relief from the city life in 1971. My, my, how Chicago has improved since I lived there! So, what was the draw to Crested Butte?
First of all, my favorite sister (both my sisters are my favorites) was living there with my two favorite nieces (all my nieces are my favorites), and as you can tell, I love my family! Second, the sun shone the whole time I visited. The hiking was exhilarating and almost all the residents were close to my age! Everything was in walking distance, all 500 residents were friendly, and when passing by strangers it was protocol to flash the peace sign and say “peace” or “peace, man.” This was a long way from the Windy City and corporate life! Oh, and my first winter there proved that the winters felt much warmer in the Rocky Mountains than in Chicago, and skiing was a great sport.
The opening event at the Conference was held at a Maxwell’s restaurant on Main Street. It was originally built in the early ‘80’s by a family I knew well, the Garcia family, and was known as The Idle Spur. Gary Garcia (who passed away a few years ago) and his wife, Carol, are native Mexicans. Gary was an Eastern Airline Captain. He humbly claimed the only reason they hired him was to meet their minority quota. I have lots of great stories about the Garcia family and the Idle Spur (which was very creatively re-named by the locals while imbibing there). So if you ever catch me in a bar, just ask me to tell you the stories, including when Gary ran for Mayor. (Please don’t ask me for the locals’ name for the Spur. You can figure that out on your own.)
So I’m in Maxwell’s, certain I will know at least a few Realtors, and wondering if the man I met on Match is there. I wander around the tables and recognize a face here and there, people I didn’t know very well but I know weren’t Realtors back then. I am invited to park with some folks from Grand Junction. We have a friendly chat and then I’m off to the appetizer buffet. In line there is a cute, short, stocky balding man ahead of me. We chat along the way and he flirts and starts to fill my plate.
He asks to sit at my table, then introduces himself as “Mickey.” Surprised that I hadn’t recognized him, I blurt: “Mickey Cooper!” He looks taken aback, wondering who I am. After I blow his mind back with who I am, I introduce him to the other folks at our table, and explain that he once was the Mayor of Crested Butte. They were impressed, I’m sure.
Mickey and I reminisced about some of our greatest shots (of both kinds) playing pool in the yesteryear at Kochever’s turn-of-the-century bar, which exists exactly as it did when I left there twenty-something years ago: Same bartenders and same locals holding up the same bar! We also recalled a particular hot tub party we had attended (we were so daring when we were young), and Mickey brought up the disgusting “Bath House,” which fortunately was short-lived. I know a very respectable man in Steamboat who claims to have frequented that Bath House on his weekend trips to CB from Denver. You know who you are, and I promise not to tell.
Maxwell’s also offered a fabulous steak dinner, of which a plate for me appeared thanks to my old friend. The Man from Match showed up and we talked until my favorite niece, Sherrie, stopped by to make sure I had seen all the Realtors she knew I knew. As with Mickey, I hadn’t recognized any, so she guided me around to visit them, some of whom weren’t so titled when I left there in 1985 for my 12-year jaunt in Denver on my way to Steamboat Springs. We wandered, visited, and reviewed in sound bites the status of folks we knew in common, our lives, our children—the ones I knew as toddlers now grown (like my oldest), some with families of their own, others I never met and now away at college (like my youngest). It was a gratifying experience, indeed!
The rest of the conference was also very educational and fun. The Keynote Speaker at our luncheon meeting, Terri Norvell, was terrific! She provided a physical demonstration that what we think of ourselves is far more powerful than what anyone else thinks. The two classes (legal update and short sales facilitator) were full of info I needed. That evening I took a break and missed the cocktail party and silent auction (where’s that Realtors’ $200 Paper Trail book I bid on at lunchtime? I was sure I would win it for $40), but came rested and fully costumed in my “Hippie” clothes for the “Flower Power” dinner and dance. I sat at a table with the Man from Match and met Realtors from CB, Pueblo, and Grand Junction. We shared regional stories like mine about the peace sign and we danced to the DJ’s ’70-‘80’s era music. It was a blast!
Next morning, at the International Committee business meeting, I sat with the CB Realtor I met at my table the night before. All present agreed that because there is not a lot of business to discuss at our meetings, we will begin to have speakers on international subjects and the global economy. I can’t wait for the next meeting!
I have learned so much about the business and have made so many contacts since I began travelling for Realtor expos, conferences, and classes. Everywhere I go and meet other brokers, I have a great time learning, making connections, seeing old friends, and making new friends. Next stop is the FIABCI-USA (International Federation) Fall Business Conference in Denver, September 11-13. I couldn’t ask for a more interesting job, especially given the current economy. I am creating an enjoyable career and look forward to many more years of connecting, having fun, and doing deals with people from around the globe!