A Firsthand Account of Our Fall 2014 Networking Event from First-time Attendee Merle Benny:
The first discovery of the evening was that PS 450 is not a public school. It is the popular midtown restaurant where we gathered on Monday evening, November 10, for the Association of Nonprofit Specialists Fall Networking Event. Turns out a bar can be a great place for learning!
Everyone was eager to network. Many, including me, didn’t know a lot of people, but it was easy to move around the room and introduce yourself – even if that’s not your comfort zone. Good food and discounted drinks may have helped the conversation flow. I left with a pocket full of business cards from interesting people with a wide range of expertise. By the next morning I had several new LinkedIn connections, a couple invitations to coffee and the start of a collaboration. Wow! That’s what I call a night on the town.
Meeting interesting people may be its own reward but I think it makes us better at our work, don’t you? In the long run the organizations we serve gain from our increased knowledge and connections.
True to the Association of Nonprofit Specialists tagline, this was an evening of “Building Collaboration, Capacity and Community.” We were a crowded room full of nonprofit enthusiasts, sharing our interests and experiences. I was inspired. I learned. I had fun. I look forward to what comes of my new connections and to meeting you at the next networking event!
– Merle Benny of Thinc. Creative
The Association of Nonprofit Specialists will continue offering a range of educational programs and networking events in 2015, so join our mailing list and keep an eye out for event announcements.
