Check out the March edition of the YP Loop for info on upcoming events and YP news. Thanks to all who suggested that I start a page on MySpace, Linked-In, etc. That is a work in progress…until I have more time to delve into that, the PDF version will have to do. I welcome submissions to the YP Loop – due by the 15th of the month. Advertising is also available; e-mail baxter@greaterakronchamber.org for more info.

There are two great events coming up next Thursday, March 13:

1. Distinguished Service Award and Outstanding Young Citizens Scholarships will be awarded by the Akron Jaycees at a banquet held at the Tangier, starting at 6:00 p.m. For more info, e-mail akronjaycees@netzero.net.
2. Guinness & Glass, hosted by ArtCetera, will be held at Akron Glass Works, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more info, e-mail events@art-cetera.org or go to www.art-cetera.org.

Young Professionals of Akron (YPA) Event - Social Networking at The Office
Date: Thursday, February 28
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: The Office, 778 N. Main St., Akron
Map: Click here for a map of The Office
Parking: Spaces available at side/rear of building
Details: Come and enjoy our casual networking event and get connected with other Young Professionals in the area.

ArtCetera Event - Behind the Scenes at the Akron Art Museum
Date: Thursday, February 28
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High Street, Akron
Map: Click here for a map of the Akron Art Museum.
Parking: Parking is available in the High Street municipal garage directly across the street from the entrance of the Akron Art Museum. Parking is $1.00 per half-hour or $6.25 per day. Parking is free for guests entering after 6 pm on weekdays.
Details: The event will feature a guided tour through the Museum and an Art Talk with Registrar Arnie Tunstal. Afterward, we'll head across the street to Crave for networking and hors d'oeuvres, provided by ArtCetera (cash bar).
Cost: Free for ArtCetera Premiere Members / $20 for ArtCetera Standard Members / $30 for Guests
RSVP: e-mail events@art-cetera.org

The Akron Urban League Young Professionals are hosting "Mingle in the City" - a fundraising event to benefit the Akron Urban League and the Akron Urban League Young Professionals on Saturday, February 23. The evening includes hors d’oeuvres, the sounds of a soulful DJ, and a bachelor and bachelorette auction for the lonely hearts among us.

Event Details
Mingle in the City
Saturday, February 23
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Akron Urban League
440 Vernon Odom Blvd.
Akron, Ohio

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance by contacting Stacy Smith at (234) 542-4150 or e-mailing stacy901@aol.com.

The Greater Akron Chamber is proud to present the YPN Speaker Series Presentation: "Making Your First Impressions Count" on Tuesday, February 19.

Event Description
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." How many times have you heard that phrase? In our instant gratification, techno-world, people are faster, computers are faster, lives are faster. Your first impression counts, and it may be the only chance you get to make the sale, close the deal, raise the money, or get the job. This session will arm you with some tools you can use to make sure your first impression, and all subsequent impressions, really do impress.

About our Speaker
Our speaker, Kay Stephan, owner and founder of Classic Protocol, Inc., has over 25 years experience as a teacher and business coach. She served as Director of Adjunct Faculty for the University of Akron at Wayne College, retiring from the university as professor emeritus in 2000. Kay has provided Business Etiquette training to large firms such as AstraZeneca, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Cinergy of Cincinnati and universities such as The Ohio State University, Wisconsin University, University of Iowa’s MBA Orientation program, Mississippi State University, and Bradley University.

Details
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
President's Hall, Akron Urban League
440 Vernon Odom Blvd.
Networking & Registration - 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Lunch & Presentation - 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Cost, including lunch, is $25 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members.

Click here for more info or to RSVP online.

If you listen to WKDD, I'm sure you already know that the annual "Have a Heart, Do Your Part" Radiothon benefitting Akron Children's Hospital kicks off today. This evening, from 7:00 - 9:00, members of Young Professionals of Akron (YPA) will be volunteering their time to cover the phones, taking pledges from callers.

I encourage all Akron area YPs (and others!) to call in this evening or sometime this weekend to pledge your support. Call 330-543-0981 or toll free 1-866-543-0981 or donate online by clicking here.

Grab your friends and loved ones and head to Mocha Maiden this Thursday, February 7 for their Vino Amore Wine Tasting. This event features 10 wines from the Portfolio of Superior Beverage, and includes appetizers and entertainment. Tickets are $25 in advance (call 330-374-1114) or $30 at the door.

Thursday, February 7
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Mocha Maiden
17-19 Maiden Lane
Akron, Ohio

I've been trying for the past several months to come up with a good way to provide up-to-date information on the goings-on and upcoming events of all our region's YP organizations. I tried using an online calendar - didn't work out because the categories weren't conducive to YP stuff. I tried an online newsletter - didn't work out because too many e-mail addresses on my list were blocking the e-mail from getting through. Below is a link to my latest attempt, a printable PDF e-newsletter. Technologically, it's pretty basic, but I figured it might be easier for YPs to be able to save it/print it/forward it/read it in the john/whatever. Let me know your thoughts!

YP Loop: February, 2008

For Christmas, my Dad got a Wii. After he unwrapped the Wii and got my cousin Allie to hook it up to the TV for him, all the "kids" (I put kids in quotes because we range in age from 10-35; those of us who don't have kids are kids.) and half of the adults crowded around and fought out who was going to play which game against whom. Pretty soon we had a pretty intensely competitive game of bowling going on.

When my turn to play came around, I tried to get out of it, but my cousins wouldn't let me. They all knew they would beat me - my eye/hand coordination is sub-par, I've never been that big into video games, and I've always been horrible at sports. I can't hit, catch, or throw any type of ball. I was the only kid on my pee-wee T-ball team who consistently struck out. Not kidding.

But I got an "A" in Bowling 101 in college (it was based on effort and improvement, not on score), so at least I had that going for me when I took the controller into my hand and secured the strap around my wrist. I tried to recall all the tips I learned so many years ago about staying low to the ground on release and lining my ball up with the arrows and following-through. I took a deep breath, took my three steps, swung my arm back, brought it forward, released the ball and followed-through.

Wouldn't you know it - I got a strike! On my first try! And then I got another. And another. And another. For the first time in my life, I was actually winning a video/sports game. Pretty soon, I had racked up the highest score of the evening. We were all stunned. Silence filled the room. It was the best Christmas ever.

So, that's a pretty long story to explain why I'm so excited about our Mixed-Up Bowling event on January 31. I haven't been real bowling in a long time, and I can't help but wonder if my few shining moments on Christmas will carry over into real life. Maybe I'm not as bad at bowling as I think I am. Maybe I won't have the lowest score of the evening. Or maybe I will. Either way, I know I'll have fun, and I hope you'll join me so you can have fun too. For just $20, you'll get two games of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and pop (any other drinks you want are on you), and you'll get to network with other cool YPs from Greater Akron. Check our website for more info and to RSVP. Don't forget to B.Y.O.S.!

The Greater Akron Chamber is excited to announce the debut of a new programming series targeted toward young professionals. Marketed under the name "Young Professionals Network," YPN for short, the series features networking and professional development events designed to bring together YPs from throughout our region, regardless of affiliation with any particular YP group. Membership in YPN consists simply of joining our mailing list, and is open to all interested parties. Click HERE to join YPN's mailing list.

Click HERE for more info and to check out YPN's 2008 Calendar of Events. Due to limited space available, reservations and pre-payment are required for all YPN events. Reservations may be made online or by calling (330) 237-1244.

YPN is a program of the Greater Akron Chamber, sponsored by FirstMerit Bank.

I had my annual performance review yesterday. For some reason, I always get really worked up prior to my review, and I'm not sure why. I know myself pretty well, and I'm honest with myself about what I'm doing well and what I could do better, but I always freak out before my review.

Yesterday was no exception. I watched the clock all morning, dreading the arrival of my 10:30 appointment. I felt nauseated, and I kept having weird hot flashes, then cold flashes, then hot flashes…almost as if I had a fever. I went to the bathroom in 10 minute intervals. Luckily, Becky (my boss) hates giving performance reviews about as much as I hate receiving them. We are a good pair. I was in & out of the meeting room in 20 minutes flat. Becky was quick and to the point, and she knows me better than I know myself in some ways. Despite the fact that my review was much less painful than some of my past reviews have been, I couldn't be happier that I don't have to go through that again for at least six months, until my mid-year review.

For those who are also performance-review phobic, I wish you luck. If you ever want to commiserate, drop me a line!

Also, I want to apologize for my long absence from posting. So sorry about that. Lately, I just don't know what to say, so please, please, please e-mail me any thoughts you have for topic suggestions or issues that should be brought to the attention of our YP community. And I welcome guest posts, so please let me know if you have something to post.