Ignite Speed Networking - March 2010 Newsletter

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Some great events coming up in the next couple of months!

Our esteemed Director of Pyrotechnics, Betsy Mangum, will be speaking at Illuminate on April 14th at the Kent Valentine House. Go Betsy!

All of our events are great of course! But one of our upcoming events is extra-special. If you get the chance, check out the Swaders Sports Park event on April 29th (see below). It will be a truly unique Ignite Speed Networking event! Instead of rotating from table to table, you'll be rotating from driving range to go-karts, to laser tag, to mini-golf, and so on. Networking has never been so much fun!

And now it's time for...

NETWORKING IN HISTORY
Each month I'll be giving you clues to an important famous networker or event in history where networking played an important role. You send me your guesses. The first one or two people that get it right get a special prize sent to them (It won't be a trip to Maui, but it's better than a pen) and bragging rights in next month's newsletter!

Here we go...

This person is a well known character straight out of American History. Probably the most famous networker of the 18th century. He is most famous for a particular event near the beginning of the American Revolution in which his acumen as a networker directly impacted the fate of the United States. He had a counterpart that performed a similar feat (now almost unknown) which was pretty much a failure because he was not as well connected.

Send me your guesses!

NETWORKING TIP

Introduce Your Social Network
Organize a quick "networking" get together of your social friends and contacts. Even though you may not think of them as business contacts, they probably still need (and want) to network. Help them all out by introducing them to each other.

A quick lunch, cocktails, or bowling for 5-10 people might be just the right combination. Make sure it's light and fun with enough time for people to talk but not so much time that it's "too" personal. (i.e., Probably not a long road trip.)

"It allowed a room full of strangers to become acquainted, and made for a smooth transitioning follow up. This is the future of effective networking."

Andy Fulghum - Atlantic Logowear

EVENT TIP

Attendees - Your Best Source Of Help
Don't be afraid to ask for help from your attendees. Particularly if you have long-standing members or an event that has been around a while.

You'd be surprised at how many people are willing to chip in to staff registration tables, setup before-hand, make phone calls to bolster attendance, and maybe even clean-up afterwards. (Well, you may not want to press your luck with that last one.)

Many people will jump at the chance as it gives them more exposure and helps to multiply their own networking efforts.