interactiveAmy.com

Happy New Year, friends!

In honor of 2010, I have a new profile picture… for now anyway, this avatar might have a shelf life. What do you think? Can I wear a Happy New Year hat all year long?

New Year, new avatar!

I am very excited to welcome 2010, in more ways than one! Even though interactiveAmy officially launched in March 2009, I can now say that I have been in biz since last year, yahoo!

Here are somethings I’ve learned along the way:

As it turns out, blogging is not my preferred method of communication. I much prefer micro-blogging – short bursts of updates, in 140 characters! I am not abandoning my blog, but you can follow my mirco-blogging adventures on Twitter, or on Facebook, which I update much more regularly than my actual blog!  However, I have heard from many that they enjoy what I write, so for you, I will make a better attempt to update more often.

I really do look like my avatar! One of my favorite compliments to receive is when someone tells me I look like my avatar. I certainly hope so, since it really is me!  Best of all is knowing that my voice comes through my tweets, blog posts and in person.  I love it when people tell me that I am the same on & off line! I strive to be!

I need help from yoU! This is where you come in – what kind of things would you like to hear about on my blog, in my tweets or on the speaking circuit – a recap of networking events, projects I’m working on, conference summaries, life philosophies? Please let me know how I can best be of service to you!

Don’t forget – if you are planning a Chicago event, activity, conference, seminar, happy hour, etc. I would love to include it on my Chicago Networking Calendar, please email me details, and I’ll spread the word!

Hope 2010 is happy, healthy and prosperous for all!

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!

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!