YPCV - Making Changes

The Young Professionals of Central Virginia has not only made major internal changes in the last 8 months, but YPCV has also made a difference in the communities that it serves.

Since October of last year, YPCV has added 300 new members/attendees, begun hosting monthly GROW (personal development) and LIVE (community service) events, and has undergone a much-needed branding change. Our reputation prior to October was that of a party group that cared more about hooking up and getting drunk than about true business-savvy networking, education, and service. That's all changed. YPCV has reinvented its self, and that's no small feat. Thanks to outstanding participation from each attendee at our events, the commitment, dedication, and talent of our board of directors, and new and profitable alliances with local businesses, we're "Back in the high life again" (many of you are too young to get that rad 80's music reference).

By the time you have a chance to read this, we will have launched our new website. It's going to be chock full of resources and information for all YPs in the region. Do you need to know what restaurants are recommended by YPs? We've got a list. Do you want to know the best hikes in the area? We've got a list of those too. Would you like a place to ask questions of other YPs and get answers? Great! We have a Forum. We have an interactive guide to the community, articles on how to dress to impress, and links to the Careers pages of the largest local companies.

Visit us at www.ypcv.org

The Monday Blahh...Yayyys!

Is this you on a Monday morning? Or, perhaps any day of the week after a big lunch at King's Island Chinese buffet? (sorry Jonathan)

Mondays don't have to be all about the Blahhs.
Seriously.
I'm learning that, if I get enough sleep during my weekend and I schedule my time in such a way that I'm not doing "worky" things, I can really look forward to hitting the office on Monday morning. This, I expect, will lead me to greater success in my profession.

What supervisor doesn't want to see a smiling worker already at the office when they show up on Monday morning? Right?

On Thursday night YPCV hosted an incredible 535 at Rivermont Pizza. The venue was outstanding and though I'd say that there were only about 60 of us there, we packed out the small-ish area that we had been given and moved into the main bar, forcing the restaurant to call in extra hands to serve food and drinks.

Opera on the James gave us a taste of their Don Giovanni performance, which will be on April 3rd (for tickets call 434-528-3397). I couldn't have been more impressed. I even attended an exhibition that one of the bass performers (Branch Fields) gave on Sunday at a local church. This guy just came to Lynchburg from BROADWAY!
Wow, it was amazing. I can't wait for the 3rd.

Opera is far, far, from my everyday experience, so seeing a performance last night, (along with doing some gardening in the yard), helped me to relax even better than usual.

Today, I feel like a million bucks. In a society where many of us work weekends and late nights, and productivity is our new American Idol, let me encourage you to truly relax on your days off. People who rest better, work better, and people who work better feel better about themselves and get their boss's attention.

YPCV Fills Rivermont Pizza, A Prophecy

Ok, so, I'm not really a prophet. I'm just thinking that with all the comments I've heard in the last two weeks (so many people telling me that they're going), and with the showing we've been getting over the last couple of months, this is going to be a HUGE event. Rivermont Pizza is an awesome venue with incredible pizza and a massive selection of good beer. I can't imagine this Thursday being anything other than crowded, energetic, and stuffed with fun. What's that you say, you want to join us? Well, that could be tricky. It will involve you driving to Rivermont Pizza at 5:35pm and (if that weren't hard enough) going inside and hanging out with your friends (I know!..how tedious).

...

Actually, that's not very hard at all is it?
I'm just being silly now, but you SHOULD come and you should bring your friends too. This will be a great night to introduce them to YPCV.

I'll see you there.

Connections and Connection

The Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual Connections trade show on Tuesday of this week. This was the first time I had attended a trade show on behalf of YPCV (they're pretty darned expensive to get into). I'm not sure if everyone who set up a booth had the experience that I did, but I have to say that there connections, then there are CONNECTIONS.

If you can imagine a large gymnasium filled with tables, set into isles, and each one representing a business (sorta like your 7th grade science fare), then you've got a good image of what the show looked like. We're all trying to get your attention. We're giving things away, making noises, showing videos, and gladhanding (sales jargon for smiling and shaking as many hands as possible) all over the place.

YPCV was able to generate about 15 new members through the show. And, if that weren't encouraging enough, we sold a sponsorship for a 535 and were offered free radio air time by a local radio station.

In my world, that's a great day at the gym.

March on Litter!

YPCV Joins Citizens for a Clean Lynchburg


On Saturday morning, March 28th, YPCV will join CCL and other local organizations and individuals in cleaning up Lynchburg's streets. We'll be meeting at the Community Market on the corner of 12th st. and Main and will serve from 9am-1pm. Free t-shirts are included as well as raffles and food. No cost. Just come and show your tree-hugging side. Help make our community a safer place to live (litter is directly tied to crime) and a prettier place to live.

See you there!!

February YP Voices, a Huge Success

Wednesday Feb. 25th

At 7:30 this morning about a dozen groggy YPs gathered around a hot breakfast on the 8th floor of the Bank of the James Building downtown Lynchburg for a chance to hear a fellow young professional tell their story. Nicole Midkiff, an IT Supervisor at AREVA, kept them laughing and asking questions with stories of how she succeeded at her position. She reminded us to always be prepared, carry a resume, and be ready to interview at the drop of a hat (if you're looking for work). She emphasized the vitalness of finding a mentor and answered questions from the crowd.

Jim, of the James River Catering Company, created a brilliant breakfast of eggs, bacon, bagels, juices, coffees, pineapple, and home fried potatoes. A breakfast that was sure to wake you up with a smile.

Thanks to all who attended and made it such a great success.
Stay tuned for information regarding next month's YP Voices.

Abe

Committee Meetings for ALL to Attend

On Monday night, Feb. 2nd, YPCV will be having an "all committees" meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings in Lynchburg. We'll meet at 5:30 and will be done by 7:00. We would like for YOU to join us. We are looking for YPs from all over the region to be part of our CONNECT, GROW, and LIVE committees. If you're interested in helping us plan 535s, professional education events, or service opportunities, please join us for some wings (or a wrap), good times, and strategic forecasting of our 2009 schedules.

If you have any questions at all, please post a comment to this entry or contact YPCV directly at info@ypcentralva.org.

Have a great weekend! (Go Cards)

Last night (Thursday the 22nd), over 80 of us showed up to support Waterstone Pizza and Brewery. Patrick (Waterstone manager) provided some free appetizers and we did the rest. We kept his pizza oven full for a solid 3 hours while packing out 2/3 of the downstairs and the entire upstairs party room. New faces were everywhere and each of us had an opportunity to make a new friend (or two). Thanks to everyone who came out and laughed with the rest of us. Also, many thanks to Patrick for offering us his restaurant and his incredible hospitality. Please continue to thank him by taking your friends and family to Waterstone Pizza and Brewery on Jefferson Ave, downtown Lynchburg.

Great Opportunity!

Sweet Briar College
2008 Groundhog Day
SHADOWING Experience


WHAT:
Job shadowing is a work experience option where students learn about a job by walking through the work day as a shadow to a competent worker. It is a temporary, unpaid exposure to the workplace in an occupational area of interest to the student. Students witness firsthand the work environment, employability and occupational skills in practice.


WHO:
Anyone can host a student shadow!


WHEN:
The 2008 Groundhog Day SHADOWING Experience will be held in conjunction with Groundhog Day which is Saturday, February 2nd. Because everyone’s schedule is different it is up to you to decide when would be the most convenient time for YOU to host a student shadow during the week of February 4th, 2008.

• You could host a student shadow for as little as two hours - or as much as an entire day
• You could host one student shadow or several throughout the week


WHERE:
At your place of employment. The experience would not require you to change anything about your day-to-day routine. The entire point of the experience is for a student to see exactly what you regular schedule looks like! It’s a great way to get students interested in what you do and in the community.


HOW:
Request a form from info@ypcentralva.org and fill it out, including information about your availability and typical job responsibilities and e-mail, fax, or mail the form back to Kristin Dane Ewing in the SBC Career Services Center by MONDAY, JANUARY 18TH. This information will be shared with Sweet our Briar Students and THEY will contact you to set up the experience.

Contact: info@ypcentralva.org, or

Kristin Dane Ewing, Associate Director of Career Services
ph#: 434-381-6465
fax#: 434-381-6396
e-mail: kewing@sbc.edu

Let's Get it Started!

Hey YPs of CV! I'll be posting upcoming events and information here in real time (which, in this case, means "as I get it"). This means that there is likely to be new info here every day, and probably multiple times a day. So, if you're one of the folk that needs as much advanced notice as possible, this is a great place for you to frequent. This way you won't have to wait for our eBlasts.

I'll start posting, actively, on Monday morning. Thanks for stopping by.

Abe Loper
Executive Director
YPCV