YPs in the News!

I am pleased to share that YPW member, Jesse McCurry, has recently been named to KansasBio Panel. The panel is composed of 34 people from a variety of businesses and institutions statewide. The panel will be testifying on behalf of legislation related to their subject matter expertise as well as voicing the industry's position on policy matters.

Jesse was specifically named a subject matter expert in accounting and management for ethanol.

Congratulations Jesse!

Wichita

A new video highlighting Wichita from digitalBrand.

You've got time. Trust me.

I'm too busy. I don't have enough free time. I don't want to miss my favorite show.

Blah.

You have plenty of time to get involved in YPW, Visioneering, or any other organization that will advance your career. Trust me.

As a trainer for Monster.com, I have the pleasure of teaching high school seniors about how time is one's most precious commodity. Many people whine about money, but time is way more valuable than money.

Time is a funny thing. Everybody has the exact same amount of hours in their week. 168. That's it. You, me, Bill Gates, Bono, Obama, Ryan Seacrest (ok, bad example... he is everywhere though.) You sleep for about 60 hours a week once you account for your weekend slumber and you work 40-60 hours per week depending on your job, the economy and your passion. Not a whole lot of time left.

If you are looking to further yourself in your career, and really, who isn't, then you need to become involved in organizations that can further your skills in areas of your life that you may be lacking. You may need more leadership skills, organization skills or need to enhance your speaking skills. Whatever you need to do, YPW can help. As long as you get involved of course. Join us at our next Envoy Presentation and let us help you find where you could best utilize your skills, and gain new ones.

There are several action teams that allow people to become involved. I've recently started on my second one and I've got to say, they are the single best way to meet and learn about the future leaders of our community. I know so many YP's mainly because of my involvement in Action Teams. Some are my greatest friends.

Check out this page. There are several different events to jump-start your involvement in YPW. If you need somebody to hang with, look for me, or any one of the other Ambassadors rockin our sweet green name tags at events. We like people. We like to talk. We love YPW.

If you'd like a more personal touch- hit me up. We'll chat. Seriously. Here's my email: brewmaster@rcompanies.com. Don't spam me. We'll fight. I'm like a vicious teddy bear. Cute with big teeth.

There's more than enough time to get involved. Tivo Lost and get out there. You may meet some peeps and learn something about Wichita that you never thought existed.

See you Thursday at the Pulse Mingle.

Stewardship in the Community

Last evening highlighted the blooming opportunities for YPs through the event “Stewardship in the Community: A Panel Discussion on Civic Involvement.” Panelists were Charles Eby (loaned executive & community volunteer, Martin K. Eby Construction), Sheryl Wohlford (President & Co-Owner, Automation-Plus, Inc.), Christine Schneikart-Luebbe (Dean of Enrollment Services, WSU) and Bev Morlan (Executive Director, American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter), and Sean Balke (Senior Consultant, The Arnold Group) was the moderator. This group provided a variety of viewpoints about becoming more involved in non-profit boards.

Some of the key themes for the evening were:

• Completely understand the commitments, expectations and roles.
• Boards are a great way to network, both professionally and socially.
• Find involvement opportunities you are passionate about to have the best experience.
• Community involvement opportunities provide a development opportunity beyond what is provided at the workplace.
• Boards often have a formal intake process, so one of the best ways to get involved is to begin networking and volunteering within the organization.
• The tasks encountered on a board vary by age of the organizations. Board members of younger organizations typically do more hands-on work, whereas board members of older organizations typically serve accountability and governance functions.

As a YP involved in a couple of community boards and some other volunteer activities, I can honestly say that I feel good about the difference I have made in the Wichita area while at the same time developing my own leadership skills. Panelist Bev Morlan, Executive Director at the Miway-Kansas Red Cross Chapter, states, “An organization cannot provide services and support to a community without the leaders of that community being their voice and helping set the direction and culture for an organization.”

I’m often asked ‘What do the YPs think about this topic?” Organizations in the area are seeking YPs more than ever before. If you’re wondering how you can connect with organizations seeking YPs, the following options offer a variety of ways to educate yourself on what opportunities exist. The upcoming Visioneering R3 launch on Feburary 12th will allow YPs to learn more about Visioneering. The Board Placement section of the YPW website is a place where area non-profit boards have reached out to YPs for more involvement. In the near future, there will be a new feature on the YPW website listing volunteer opportunities. Take the initiative and get yourself out there in the community. It’s not so much a resume item as it is a real chance to make a difference and have your voice heard.

YPs in the News!

I am pleased to share that YPW member Angela Schroeder has recently been selected as one of five nominees for the Society of Women Engineers New Faces of Engineering Award for 2009. She will be competing with top nominees from other professional engineering societies. The winner will be announced during Engineers Week (Feb 15-21, 2009) and featured in USA Today.

This award honors engineering professional that are 30 years of age or younger that have made a positive impact on the image of engineering. Angela is a Senior Engineer at Cessna Aircraft Company here in Wichita and has multiple degrees.
(Have news that you would like shared? Send the information to me at harreguin@wichitachamber.org)

Technology has come to the White House

Yesterday Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. With his presidency he is promising change and one such change is a new addition to www.whitehouse.gov. Check out the new White House blog!

Visioneering Wichita

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One of my favorite things about living in Wichita is that as Young Professionals we are given unique opportunities to shape the future of our community. One of the best avenues for this is by getting involved with Visioneering.

Visioneering Wichita was launched in 2004 to create a long range plan for our community. This plan was crafted by the community with over 16,000 citizens participating in its formation. We have over 15 active groups of volunteers who are adopting strategies in Education, Economic Development, and Quality of Life to name a few.

I urge you as a Stakeholder in the future of this community to get involved in the process of Visioneering. Now is a great time to plug in as we approach our 5 year review of the document to make sure that it remains relevant and on point.

YPW is holding an event on Feb 12 to get specific feedback from Young Professionals for our review, revise, and refocus efforts. I invite you to participate with us. Your input, ideas and energy are critical if we want to have a vibrant and progressive region for years to come.

If you have questions or want to know more, please contact Suzie Ahlstrand at sahlstrand@wichitachamber.org

Review, Revise and Refocus

On Thursday, February 12, YPW will host a launch event for Visoneering’s Review, Revise and Refocus initiative. This program will introduce members to this Visoneering project and give them a jump-start on how to get involved. This event will be at no cost and a pizza lunch will be provided. Contact Heather Arreguin at 268-1170 for more information.

Click here to register!

Rock your next presentation!

Rocking your next presentation, or any presentation for that matter, will be one of the most important things you do all year. How you do it will set the tone for your future. Are you prepared? Do you know your stuff?

I just returned from an intense weekend of speaker training in beautiful Dayton, OH. After three grueling days of work, and some much needed sleep, I wanted to share with you some tips I received that can apply to you in your next presentation.

1. Know what YOU want to say

You may be quoting somebody, referencing material or in my case have a full-blow script to memorize. Make sure you know the point of whatever you are referencing and how you'd say it in your own words in case you are stuck.

2. Be the best YOU you can be.

A lot of speakers, especially when they are new, try different styles. Be yourself. No style fits you perfectly, much like there isn't anybody like you on the planet. Be yourself and create a comfort level with yourself. Practice in front of a mirror. It'll blow you mind.

3. SMILE

Seriously. Smile. And when your face hurts so much because you have been at it for an hour, do it some more.

4. Gestures

Your nonverbal gestures are going to be huge. 80% of public speaking isn't said, it's observed.

5. Be prepared

The world's most spontaneous and conversational speakers are that way for a reason. They are prepared. They look like they are lost, but they're not. Dramatic pauses speak so much louder than many words. Be prepared and rehearse. It's pretty similar to acting.

6. Don't give up- Choose your attitude.

I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed many times. Guess what. The people that you talk to DON'T CARE about anything in your private life, just that you can kill a presentation. I know you've felt this, but when you say the words "meeting," "presentation," "speech" or the dreaded "lecture," you are automatically setting a tone. Monotone. Suprise the audience by being dynamic. They'll get a lot more out of the presentation and won't look at their watch as much.

Taking these few things in mind the next time you have to present your budget or annual report can set you up for success. The more you prepare and know answers that are going to come up, the better you'll be and look. Do it. Own it. Rock it.

-Ryan E. Cole is a member of the Young Professionals of Wichita. He is a motivational speaker and coach for Generation Y members. You can check out more information on his blog or website.

Focus Groups on the Environment

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The University of Kansas School of Medicine plans to hold 60 community focus groups to gain feedback on the current state of the environment. This project will be a benefit to the Wichita area as the planet is faced with new challenges in the 21st century. Involvement in the environmental issues is important and will only move forward unless this generation takes a strong lead.

Check out this article from The Wichita Eagle. Click Here.

We will keep you informed as we get more information.

Store Closing!

As reported by Bonnie Bing:
Bo Di Cea Boutique (2556 N. Maize Road) is closing. All merchandise is 75% off now until Jan. 24.

Big Winners at The YPW Debonair New Year Affair

Congratulations to these big time casino winners at our annual New Years Eve party!

1. Trish Inslee
2. Erin Lewis
3. David Wilder
4. Abi Griffin
5. Sarah Derreberry
6. Nora Rodriguez
7. Amanda Fawver
8. Preston Brynn
9. Julie Welch
10. Jeff Gradman

Thanks to everyone for coming out. See you next year!