Jump start your summer off right with networking at the 1st Day of Summer Networking Mixer! Join the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce membership on June 21st at The Lobster Loft Restaurant from 5:00 pm to 7pm for an evening to connect with friends and colleagues or to meet new CMC Chamber members in an informal atmosphere.  Be sure to bring plenty of business cards to build your professional contact network and to create new business relationships.   

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and great networking awaits you! Check out the host venue, View The Lobster Loft on FaceBook here.  

Please RSVP by Friday, June 17,2011 by clicking here.   

Effective Business Networking: Working the Room

'Working the room' is a truly effective business networking skill that will help you quickly establish new connections and contacts with quick informal meetings.

Working the room - what does this mean and how can you be good at it?

You walk into a room full of people and at best think 'where on earth do I start?' and at worst say to yourself, 'I just want to turn round and go back out.'  If these sound familiar then rest assured you're not alone. They are most people's initial reactions when faced with a room full of strangers.

'Working the room' is a term given to that process, when networking, of moving effortlessly from one person to another.

Approaching others

So perhaps you find the most difficult thing is going up to people and introducing yourself - just remember that everyone is in the same boat as you - they are here to network and therefore expect and hope you will do just that. Just follow these tips for working the room and your confidence will soar.

1. Make the first move - introduce yourself to others rather than waiting for others to come to you - this allows you to choose who you talk to and you'll be thanked by the other person.
2. To ease yourself in try heading for that one contact you know however don't stick with them - after all you already know them.
3. Look for lone people to speak to - think how pleased they will be to talk to you, after all they want effective business networking, not just standing around watching others.
4. Look for contacts the same height and age as you to make connections with - this can help you feel more relaxed at the outset, and choose the sex you feel more comfortable networking with.
5. Decide whether to approach groups of people depending on how they are standing. E.g. if there are a couple of people more or less standing side by side then this means they are open to being approached. If a couple or a group appears 'closed' with all parties facing each other then it may be more difficult, so save them until later.
6. As you join a couple or group, listen to what they are saying, wait for a lull in the conversation, ask whether you may join them and introduce yourself.

Moving On

You've introduced yourself and you've had a good conversation with someone, but the meetings finished and you know instinctively it's time to move on...what do you do?

Be prepared to move on, it's all part of effective business networking - once you feel that you have gained all you need from your new connection it is time to move on to the next person- remember that the other person will probably be feeling the same way too.

Move on by:

• suggesting you go and get a drink or something to eat
• by introducing them to someone else asking them to introduce you to someone else you know
• saying 'I know your time is precious so I shall let you continue networking'
• saying 'thank you for your time...perhaps we could arrange a meeting another time when we can talk at greater length'
• if all else fails just say 'well shall we go and introduce ourselves to some more people now?'

 Students from the following groups recently became stars of their own Disney show as part of the Disney Performing Arts Program on April 2nd and 3rd:  

• Ocean City High School Red Raider Marching Band
• Ocean City High School Red Raider Concert Choir

Bill Parker of Parker & Partners Named Absecon Citizen of the Year 2011

On June 21, Bill Parker will be named Absecon Citizen of Year for 2011. The non-partisan award was established in 2005 to recognize an individual or family who has made a major contribution to Absecon and the surrounding Atlantic County area.

This year's honor is being awarded to Parker, in large part, as a result of his dedication to and efforts on behalf of the Absecon Education Foundation. He is both a board member and founder of one of the organization's most successful fundraisers, the Pedal-Paddle-Run Great Absecon Race.

The race was conceived more than ten years ago by Parker, then President of the Absecon Education Foundation, as he was kayaking the back bays of Absecon. It is a 6-mile bike ride, 1.5-mile kayak tour and 2.4-mile running race that has raised over $200,000 to date to fund teacher grants, technology initiatives and curriculum enhancements in Absecon schools..

"I can still remember our first event, held just ten days after the tragedy of 9/11. Every participant crossing the finish line was carrying an American flag. It was a very moving day," said Parker.

Equally as heartwarming is Parker's unwavering commitment to his community. As founder and chief creative officer of Parker & Partners Marketing Resources, Absecon's Citizen of the Year has dedicated his firm to providing pro-bono services to various regional non-profits including the Absecon Education Foundation, the United Way, the Ronald McDonald House and Robins' Nest Inc., an organization that provides vital children's services throughout the region.

As a member of the Executive Board of the Noyes Museum of Art, Parker is working with museum officials to craft an effective marketing plan to support the organization's mission. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way and is an active member of the Absecon Business and Commercial Development Corporation, having formerly held a position on its Board of Trustees. Parker is also an active member on the ACIT Advisory Board.

While Parker's humanitarian efforts are no joke, he first thought his new title was. He said, "Many of my friends are true practical jokers. It took some convincing that I was actually being honored with this award and not on the receiving end of a prank call."

Newfield National Bank Supports Troops 

The employees of Newfield National Bank, along with David Surdam of Chemglass joined forces to supply "Treats for Troops."

Treats for Troops was the idea of Lisa Miles and Michele Sterchele, both employees of Newfield National Bank. They held a candy drive among their co-workers to collect goodies for some of the troops serving aboard the USS Enterprise, Joe Sterchele, Michele's husband, got Chemglass involved and formed a partnership to ship the sweets overseas to the troops. The Vice President of Chemglass, David Surdam, generously donated the packing and shipping of the candy.   

Newfield National Bank is a locally owned and operated financial institution serving Cumberland, Gloucester and parts of Cape May counties. Chemglass is locally owned and operated scientific instrumentation company manufacturing customized glassware worldwide.