Enjoying almost fifty participants and raising $319 for Senegalese children in danger of dying of malaria, the May 13 session of BE CONNECTED to Effective Networking was an undeniable success.
Starting at 4:00, we could tell it was going to be a special night when the buzz started to build early, a buzz I attributed to the prospect of saving lives with Project Safety Nets. As volunteer Lee Tyree assisted us in welcoming our guests with free issues of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, the room gathered an undeniable momentum that turned into something truly emotional when SagePresence screenwriter-in-resident Bill True introduced of Ann Dillard, the Plymouth Rotary Club member in charge of Project Safety Nets.
Bill set a powerful tone for the evening, which only continued to build as we delivered our newly modified presentation, which stressed group practice and experience more than ever. As we covered the Thinking, Feeling, and Talking of networking, the excitement in the room grew undeniably palpable.
Finally, everyone in the room was ready to get to the networking. They now knew what to do and how to do it, so we let them loose, and the atmosphere just bubbled over into a joyous cacophony of professionals discovering how they could help each other.
Everyone ate, drank and networked until we called everyone back together again to learn how the experience of applying new networking skills went for people.
The feedback we got was tremendous. People had discovered newfound freedom in an activity that they had always experienced to be challenging and frustrating. Stories were told about possibilities and opportunities being born in the room.
Lee Tyree did two drawings for Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal give-aways, and Ann spoke to the room about the difference everyone was making for Senegalese children that night, as they ate and drank and networked.
This was truly a special night for SagePresence. We've had fantastic BE CONNECTED events in the past, but this was the first that was dedicated to something larger than us, larger than the professionals we're dedicated to helping. This was about giving to the world outside ourselves, saving lives as we grow professionally.
Thanks to one and all who participated!
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