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.

Due to the steady stream of candidate appearances, rallies, commercials, ads, mailers, etc. that we have been bombarded with over the past several weeks, I doubt there are any YPs in Greater Akron who don't know that tomorrow is election day in the state of Ohio. What some people may not know, however, is that this election is much more than the Presidential Primary.

You will also be casting your ballot for the offices of:

• County Executive
• Ohio Supreme Court Justice
• Congressional Representative
• State Senator
• County Council
• and more!

Depending on your precinct, your ballot will also include:

• METRO RTA levy
• bond issues
• school levies
• Sunday alcohol sales proposals
• and more!

Check out the Summit County Board of Elections website for more information on all of the candidates and issues as well as the voter regulations.

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.

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.

This morning, I was thrilled to see the Akron Beacon Journal's endorsement of Kelli Crawford, one of Greater Akron's young professional leaders, for Akron City Council (Ward 10).

The ABJs editorial team noted that Kelli's experience in politics and government makes her rise above her competitors. She is employed by Summit County as a Public Information Officer. Previously, she was a baliff for Summit County Juvenile Court and a case worker for Oriana House. She spent the past two years working closely with Ward 10 Councilman Garry Moneypenny, attending monthly Ward 10 meetings and communicating with other Ward 10 citizens. Her chief priorities are:

• Improving and cleaning up neighborhoods.
• Maintaining parks and schools, especially to continue the momentum of the East High School/Goodyear Middle School construction projects.
• Focusing on neighborhood safety, including crime and speed reduction.
• Fighting to keep Goodyear here and working on economic development opportunities to strengthen East Akron.

Kelli is a shining example of a young professional (26!) who is actively engaged in our community and working to improve it. I encourage all Akron young professionals, whether you're in Ward 10 or not, to get out and vote on Tuesday, September 11. As the late author Louis L'Amour eloquently stated, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”

Have you seen the “Best of Akron” feature in the July issue of Akron Life & Leisure magazine? On page 43, you’ll see that Akron’s Young Professionals Movement was voted in as the runner up in the Best Local Trend Category!

This is amazing news! It’s fantastic that the efforts of our region’s YPs are being noticed. In fact, not only are they being noticed, but they’re being noticed by enough people that YPism grabbed 2nd place in a vote conducted by write-in ballot. Wow!

I want to comment, however, on the use of the word “trend” to describe the YP movement. (more…)