Do you ever have a day or week that is stacked with events? That’s pretty much how I feel all the time, but this coming week is crazier than usual!

On Wednesday, November 17th, I was asked to participate in 5 really awesome events, many of which occur at the same time. (Don’t they always!?)  According to my mom, I burn the candle from both ends, but squeezing in five big events in one day was too much even for me – especially because one of the opportunities was to test drive a Chevrolet Volt from Detroit to Chicago!  Alas, I had already committed to a speaking engagement that same day… well two actually!

So… whether you are local to Chicago or not, you’ll have two opportunities to hear me speak on Social Media, one is free and based in Chicago and one is a pay-to-play webinar which will be held online.

I am honored to participate in Campbell & Company’s “It’s Hip To Give! How to Tap In to the Next Generation of Philanthropists” Webinar on Wednesday, November 17 at 12:00 pm CST. This is going to be a great conversation about how to motivate younger generations to give and volunteer.  I feel very strongly about volunteering and it is so important it is to give back to the community, so I am very much looking forward to being a featured panelist alongside Randi Blume, President of Young Professional Group for Little city Foundation,  Jill Koenen, Co-Chair of the Young Professional Board Advisory Council for San Francisco’s Make a Wish Foundation, and Dave Steadman, the Director of Annual Giving at the St. Albans School.  I was asked to speak wearing my Co-chair of Steppenwolf Theatre Company Auxiliary Council‘s Membership and Marketing Committee hat.  We will be discussing what steps a non-profit organization can take to build relationships with younger generations.  This webinar is open to the public, and you don’t need to be in Chicago to attend since it’s an online event.  The session fee is $95.

Later that evening, for Chicago locals, I am so excited to announce that I was asked to lead a University of Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable. I will be co-presenting an evening discussion entitled “Work Your Network: Relationship Building Strategies for On- and Offline Sales Success” with Paula Giovacchini, president of Gio Group at the Gleacher Center (450 Cityfront Plaza, Room 100) on Wednesday, November 17, from 6-9pm CST.  The primary focus will be on building and maintaining your personal brand, and establishing your online identity.  Participants will learn how to make a cold connection a warm one and how to grow your personal and professional network through various social channels, on and offline.  You’ll walk away with new skills to help save time and enhance your ability to build trusting relationships with clients and prospects.  This will be my first Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable, and I hope you will consider coming. I’d like to think the content is the best part, but it is also free to attend!

Funny story about Paula and I, we are actually a proof-positive networking success story, so it’s only fitting that we tackle this very important subject together!  Paula and I met through a mutual client earlier this year, when I presented a Social Media Overview Lunch and Learn at the University Club.  We clicked right away, stayed in touch, and built a relationship on the foundations of mutual respect and a complimentary skill set.  Paula brings over 20 years of experience developing business leaders through communications, emotional intelligence and leadership skills – and I know I will learn a thing or two as well!  This presentation will be interactive, and includes sales and marketing tips (no, they are NOT the same thing!) for relationship building both online and the old fashioned way, in person!  (I play the role of the hip/savvy online expert.)  Together we hope to generate great conversations that will cross the generational divide, with a Gen X’er and a Baby Boomer at the helm!

I hope that you will be able to join me for either or both events!  If you can’t make it, don’t worry -  I promise to write timely follow up recaps on both presentations.

Related posts:

1. Share the Love! Who Have You Connected With Online?
2. LOVE Your Personal Brand
3. Presenting at Social Media Bootcamp Rockford

Transitioning to the working world can be tough after 4 years in college.  New found responsibilities come in the form of getting a job, finding a place to live, keeping a household budget – now imagine on top of all that, adjusting to life post Cancer treatment.  Each year, more than 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. For them, transitioning into the “real world” after treatment can be a daunting, and sometimes overwhelming, prospect. Samantha Watson, the founder of The SAMFund, knows this as well as anyone – she is a two-time survivor of cancer herself.

The SAMFund is a unique non-profit organization created to assist young adult survivors of cancer with a successful transition into their post-treatment life, by providing financial support through the distribution of grants and scholarships.

So what does Cornhole have to do with Cancer?

In an effort to support young adult cancer survivors, The SAMFund is proud to present “The 2nd Annual Cornhole for Cancer Survivors Bags Tourney” on Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 from 6:30-9:30pm at Joe’s Bar in Chicago. The event will feature a bags tournament run, open bar, a silent auction and raffle prizes including: Two Chicago White Sox Jim Beam Club tickets, a stay at The Maud House, a Lincoln Park Bed and Breakfast, a Murder Mystery party for 20 guests, and many more. Attendees will be able to mingle, socialize and network throughout the evening, while playing cornhole and helping young adult survivors move forward with their lives after cancer!

100% of the proceeds will go directly to The SAMFund for Young Adult Survivors of Cancer, a unique nonprofit dedicated to supporting young adults as they move forward with their lives after treatment. Over the past five years, The SAMFund has awarded a total of $500,000 in “living grants” to individuals across the country; these awards cover a wide range of needs including living expenses, medical bills, family-building, insurance premiums and health and wellness, among many others. “Your support and contributions matter,” says SAMFund founder Samantha Watson, “The $10,000 raised at the 2009 event allowed us to award five additional grants to young adult survivors last fall – we’re hoping to raise even more this time around so we can provide this same support to even more young adult cancer survivors!”

Please consider join us tonight for fun, games and inspiring words by some of The SAMFund’s Midwestern grant recipients. Your support makes a difference!

If you are unable to attend and still want to contribute to this great organization, we thank you in advance!

Related posts:

1. Cornhole for Cancer Survivors! The SAMFund is Coming to Chicago!
2. Show Off Your ‘ Stache, Raise Money for Men’s Health

What would you do to support men’s health? Would you grow a moustache? Would your still smooch your man if he grew a moustache?

I bet you would if you knew about Movember, an annual, month-long celebration of the moustache, highlighting men’s health issues – specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

A Mo Bro starts Movember – the month formerly known as November – clean shaven, and grows a moustache all month long, garnering support from friends and family in the form of donations.  The moustache has become a symbol for men’s health, much like the pink ribbon is for breast cancer. In addition to raising money for beneficiary partners – the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, sporting the moustache opens the door to get men talking about a taboo subject – their health.

Raising more than $47 Million in just 5 years, Movember has created the world’s largest movement for men’s health. Members of the Movember Chicago movement did their part when they held the 1st Annual Movember Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at The Basil Leaf Café.

The fundraiser featured celebrity guests appearances including former Buffalo Bills football coach Marv Levy who lead the Bills to six division championships (including four consecutive American Football Conference Championships from 1988–1991).

The highlight of the evening was the Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction, in which single Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (women who support their guys) stepped up to the auction block to raise money for the Movember Foundation.  Prize packages featured high end items including: multiple $600 vouchers for laser treatments, gift certificates to host restaurant Basil Leaf Café and others including Citizen Bar, Zig Zag Restaurant, Mickey’s Bar & Grille, a two night stay at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, and many more – raising over $5,000 benefiting The Movember Foundation!

Related posts:

1. Join me for The SAMFund’s Cornhole for Cancer Survivors Benefit
2. Cornhole for Cancer Survivors! The SAMFund is Coming to Chicago!

Have you ever felt a drawn to an organization knowing it was only a matter of time until you became involved? That is the story with Step Up Women’s Network and me.

My friend has been raving about Step Up, an organization offering teen empowerment and professional mentorship development opportunities for women of all ages.  I knew I had to learn more about Step Up, Thank you to my friend Nicole Simonds!  She invited me to their membership event, which was held at the Hotel Sax on November 12th, I then posted it on my networking calendar for all to see.  Within 48 hours, Managing Director, Gina Marotta, invited me to the event.  Thank you ladies!

What a fabulous night – Gina opened the evening with a call for women to “take inspired action,” which is exactly what I did when I become one of Step Up’s newest members.  The goal of SUWN is to advance women in their careers and leverage the talents and skills of members to offer year-round teen empowerment programming focusing on leadership and self-esteem, college and career development and health and well being.  Appropriately, Gina quoted Eleanor Roosevelt who said “there is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” I wholeheartedly agree!

Felicia Hernandez a junior at North-Grand High School in Chicago and young adult member of Step Up Women’s Network praised the organization for showing her “how to rise above your past to get to your future.” The theme of inspiration rang true when her classmate, North-Grand Senior Jasmine Johnson shared that being a member of Step Up was “the best thing that ever happened to her,” and she got a laugh from the crowd when she explained that Step Up opened up networking opportunities for her “before I knew what networking was!”

I was inspired by the these amazing high school students who were so excited about their futures – full of possibilities and opportunities.  I had the added benefit of hearing Genevieve Theirs, CEO of Sittercity (and professional opera singer deliver!) the keynote address.  Genevieve shared stories of her inspiration for Sittercity, the largest online database matching sitters and parents (and caregivers) with over one million user profiles nationwide.  Genevieve grew up the eldest of 7 siblings, and stated simply that she was “a babysitter that made choices…to help young girls.” And you can too!

Its never too late to join Step Up Women’s Network, as one of the newest members I invite you to visit their site, and ask you to do what you can to help invest in the future of women and girls!  If you are inspired reading this you can “give something nice” during Step Up’s “Sugar and Spice” holiday campaign – you give $25 with all proceeds benefiting Step Up Women’s Network, a national nonprofit membership organization driving social change by connecting and advancing women and girls. For making a donation honoring a woman who has made a difference in your life – and Step Up will send her an email letting her know how special she is to you!

As if making a woman in your life feel warm and fuzzy wasn’t enough, as an added incentive for your donation you will receive 10 e-coupons for $25 each, redeemable by shopping online – featured brands include Hotel Sax and Sittercity and many more! It’s a win-win for all of the ladies in your life.  Sugar and Spice runs exclusively from November 25 – December 25, 2009, and is limited to 500 e-coupon packages. For more information visit, www.suwn.org or cal 312-235-3277.  Thank you in advance! (Check back for details when we get closer to 11/25!)

In the spirit of inspiring women – who are the women that have made a difference in your life? I can’t promise to email them all personally to tell them, but you should!

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