Get Involved -- State Theater Volunteer Shifts

I could write a blog about how cold it is outside and how I don't remember what life without a down coat is like (seriously. I have one in both black and khaki. They go down to my knees...the khaki one kind of looks like a trench coat, which is great because if all else fails I can solve mysteries.), but instead I am going to make sure everyone is aware of a wonderful volunteer opportunity that the Young Professionals program offers.

Let's start out with a few very important questions:
1. Do you enjoy making new friends?
2. Do you enjoy volunteering and supporting local establishments?
3. Do you enjoy free movies at The State Theatre?
4. Do you enjoy eating a whole bunch of popcorn & sipping on some free soda?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you should consider volunteering at The State Theatre! The Young Professionals work concessions and help to usher every fourth Tuesday of the month. You get the opportunity to interact with movie-goers, help out a well-known Traverse City establishment, mingle with other YPs, and most of the time you are invited to watch the featured film during your shift!


...and did I mention free popcorn and soda? Or that you receive a free voucher to a future show?

The weather may be on the chilly side, but the State Theatre is nice and warm. You can sign up for a shift and check out other YP events right here.   The next opportunity to volunteer is next Tuesday, February 26th. Argo is playing. You really cannot go wrong with Argo.

We hope to see you at future State Theatre volunteer events and at the Young Professionals meeting tomorrow morning (Thursday, February 21 -- 8am at the Chamber).

Attention: New Guest Bloggers Needed!

On a scale of 1-10, 1 being "mehhhh" and 10 being "that sounds like a great opportunity!"... how interested are you in being one of our 2013 TCYP Guest Bloggers?

For those of you who are not aware or are new to the blog, we have a guest blogger on the first week of each month to spice things up a bit. We love allowing our YPs to share their unique experiences so that our readers can see how well rounded the TCYPs really are (see -- we aren't just making it up!).

We are currently on the hunt for a few more guest bloggers for our 2013 calendar year, so please read the following qualifications and if this sounds like something you were born to do (or that you'd just be a good fit for... I tend to be a bit dramatic), please email me at Meaghan@EventsNorth.com.

1. You must live in the Traverse City area
2. You must be a member of the Traverse City Young Professionals program
3. You must be between the ages of 18-40 (although you would have had to already cover this requirement in #2)
4. You have a unique story to tell that would interest readers -- whether it be how you came to live in Traverse City, why you stay here, anything in relation to your own personal experience with TCYP.
5. Please be able to keep your blog post interesting.If you wouldn't want to read something, chances are your readers won't either.
6. Type like you speak. Blogs are meant to tell a story and allow you to utilize your own voice. I have a whole lot to say and anyone who knows me is aware that there is a really great chance I'm going to ramble...hence why I type out my blog posts the way I do.
7. You have to care about Traverse City and all that it has to offer. If you're writing about the area and the YP program and you aren't actually a fan, you're not going to fool anyone. It's going to show. Passion is powerful
8. You cannot use the blog post to promote your business. This is not the place for that -- if you happen to have an exciting job, we'd love to hear about it...but a blog post that is blatantly an advertisement for your organization is not what we're looking for.
9. You have to sing me a song while standing on one leg.



....#9 was a joke. But on a serious note, please contact me if you're interested! We'd love to have you on board.

Guest Blog: Valarie!

It is time again for another guest blog. This week's guest blog is brought to you by Valarie Handy (who is an extremely involved TCYP, especially with our volunteer-related events). Take it away, Valarie!

I’m a small town girl. I’ve lived in Traverse City my whole life. I didn’t even move away for college. I landed a great job right out of high school that has allowed me to plant roots in my hometown and I couldn’t be happier about the decisions that have brought me to where I am today. My position with USDA Rural Development has provided me the opportunity to travel throughout the country and the world. In my travels near and far I’ve noticed that more and more people are beginning to know of our little city tucked away in the north woods. As I get more involved in the community through the Traverse City Young Professionals and other avenues I am meeting more and more people who have moved here from other places.

When I was younger I remember hearing comments about “those people” the “out-of-towners” who were moving to Traverse City. I always liked meeting new people and hearing about the places they came from, but quickly learned that not every local Traverse Citizen felt the same. I thought that our community was improving how we treat newcomers until I recently heard a story from a friend who is working as a paralegal at a local attorney’s office and moved here from Boston by way of Colorado and Detroit. He told me how he was at work one day talking to a Traverse City native about a crime that had just occurred in our community. It was something that would have been rather small in the cities he had lived in, but here it was all over the news on the way into work. His co-worker’s reaction to the crime itself was not the disturbing part of my friend’s story. It was her comment after discussing it a bit. She said something to the extent of “see this is what happens when you people move into our town.” My friend’s reaction was “us people from the east coast who wear blue blazers with gold buttons?”

I was appalled when I heard his story. I realized that since I enjoy finding out about where people come from and how they came to be in Traverse City so much I began to assume our whole town was full of locals who want to share this community with good people from all over the world. I was wrong. Whether my friend’s co-worker meant her comment as a joke or as an “every outsider but you” sort of statement is beyond the point. We live in a country built on the premise that we are a melting pot and that’s what we need to continue building ourselves into.

I work with municipalities all across Northern Michigan on building, maintaining and adding value to essential community facilities. Someone I met through work once told me that invisible fences are for dogs, not people. I completely agree with that notion. It shouldn’t matter which side of a City or Township line you live on or whether you have lived in Traverse City your whole life or not. A good idea is a good idea. We all live in this community together so it shouldn’t matter who an idea comes from as long as it makes the community better as a whole.

Since the aforementioned story from my friend was told I was accepted into and completed the Leadership Grand Traverse program offered through the Chamber. There, I was pleasantly surprised to find that even as a Traverse City native, I still had a lot to learn about our community. As I continue learning, I just want to point out that everyone comes from somewhere. Whether you were blessed to be born in a beautiful town like Traverse City or you’ve made your way here through trials and tribulations from all over the country or the world, I’m glad you made it here. I look forward to working with you in whatever aspect of the community drives you. Thanks for making Traverse City your home. 

Baby it's Cold Outside.

It's snowing.

It's snowing a lot.

A small part of my Florida-girl self dies inside with every single flake that falls from the sky, but for the most part, I feel a little bit more confident and independent with each flurry.

Why? To answer that, I will refer back to last "winter"...you know, the one where the lowest temperature was around 20 degrees (and that was what? Maybe once?). Where my idea of "a ton of snow" was around an inch or two, which would immediately melt the next day because the temperature would shoot back up to mid-forties. Well, to me that winter was intense. It was terrifying. I was freezing.

Not only that, but everyone laughed at me when I complained about the cold and told me that I was in for "a real shock" when I experienced my first winter...which is happening. Right now.

Winter is here and I am surviving. Heck, I'm doing better than surviving. I'm double-layering and getting use out of my multi-colored gloves and hats. My knee-length down coat is now a staple in my wardrobe. I give myself five extra minutes in the morning to brush snow off my car. Am I cold? Absolutely. Am I surviving and embracing these winter winds by strapping on my snow-boots and making my way outdoors? You bet I am.

So, this week's blog post is a reminder to embrace the "young" in young professional and engage in some outdoor winter activities. Rent some snowshoes and hike the dunes. Make a snowman or at least start a snowball fight -- this is prime packing snow right now (or so I've heard...I'm still not exactly a snow-expert). Take your kids/friends/significant other on a sledding date. Hit up the slopes and go snowboarding (they're open after work...you have no excuse!).

If this Florida girl can make her way outdoors and come back unscathed(other than some extremely rosy cheeks. Who needs blush, right?), so can you!

Help to Maintain those Resolutions with Lunch & Learn!

If you're like me, your New Year's resolution may have something to do with keeping healthy, staying fit, or just trying to get in the best shape ever (Sidenote: these have been my resolutions for the past five-ten years. However, my Birthday is January 5th, so hopes of strictly dieting are ruined every year by temptation via Birthday cake).

But! Fear not -- our first Traverse City Young Professionals Lunch & Learn can help you to keep up your healthy habits and get into the best shape of your life. Seriously.

On February 20th at the Country Club from 11:30am-1:00pm, we will be having our first Lunch & Learn of 2013. In addition to the wonderful (and well-rounded!) meal that will be offered, we will also have some excellent presenters to give you tips and tricks to staking in shape.  

Some of our presenters are as follows:

Sebastian from Formative Fitness will be speaking about baby steps to get moving or how to set a plan.

Yen Yoga and Fitness will also be in attendance speaking about yoga and general health.

So, keep those resolutions in tact and sign up join us on February 20th for some Lunching and Learning.

I intend on learning a few ways to step up my gym-game and eat a little healthier along the way (I even purchased frozen yogurt instead of ice cream in preparation...just one example of the baby steps that may possibly be discussed.)

Chamber Annual Dinner... and being a little more prepared this year.

As most of Traverse City's professionals know, the Chamber Annual Dinner is coming up on Friday, January 25th. This will be my second Chamber Annual Dinner, so I know a little bit more of what to expect.

If you were wondering, or even if you were not wondering -- I'm going to inform regardless so it doesn't really matter either way, last year's Chamber Annual Dinner was my first ever "Networking Event" of any sorts. It was also the first time I had to figure out how to wear a cocktail dress and heels without freezing in 20 degree temperatures (I succeeded thanks to a long, black peacoat). I was completely clueless as far as what to expect, nervous, and feeling very out of place. Thankfully I was attending with Allison Beers, who I'm still convinced knows everyone who lives in Traverse City.

Allison introduced me to some extremely influential and important individuals, helped me to learn the best and most appropriate ways of distributing my business card and making introductions and also how to properly balance being social and professional at once. She also let me know that I was absolutely not allowed to take a photo of my meal to upload on to Facebook (I was cringing as I type that. I clearly had a lot to learn). 

Well, with a year of experience under my belt, I really felt that I was going to head into the Chamber Annual Dinner completely prepared...and then they went and changed the entire format.

Instead of having groups sit at rounds of 10, there will be cocktail tables and a few tables and chairs. Instead of  a formal (but still delicious) dinner and presentation throughout, we are going to be offered a delicious assortment of food and a short 45 minute presentation.

Judy Harrison and the Swingshift Band will even be on site to provide entertainment and -- I'm sure -- a whole lot of dancing. 

I don't know about you, but I am excited. I think that this fresh take on the Chamber Annual Dinner is an excellent idea, even if I have to rework my entire game plan for the evening. 

This year, I'll make sure to pack my dancing shoes as well as plenty of business cards. Hope to see you there --oh, and make sure to stop by the Traverse City Young Professionals Pre-reception from 4:30-5:30pm in Aerie!

A Young Professional's Reflection on a Year in Traverse City

So, I've been living in Traverse City for an entire year now -- my official anniversary was January 6th.

Last year this time, I was just settling in. I was learning the in and outs of snow driving. I did not really have anyone other than my boss and a few people I'd met here and there that I could consider a good friend. I was not even thinking about dating. Shoot, I wasn't even really thinking that I would end up living in Traverse City past my three month internship.

Well, this past year has brought on a whole lot of change. While some people tend to stay away from change, I embrace it. I say "Bring it on!"

I now have a respectable amount of people who I could call up on a moment's notice and ask if they'd like to get together for dinner or a weekend outing...including my boss. I can even recite the specials for local Traverse City restaurants on cue -- half-off sushi at Firefly, anyone? I'm in a relationship (it's going well, thank you for asking). My internship turned into a full-time job at Events North, so now thoughts of remaining in Traverse City linger every single day.

I'm ready to see what 2013 has in store for me and for the rest of Traverse City's Young Professional Community.


....although I still have not perfected the art of driving in the snow.