Welcome to Another Year with Connect!

We meet every other Wednesday, with some minor adjustments for our summer picnic and during the holiday season. Get out your calendars and schedule our meeting dates for the year ahead:

January 7 & 21
February 4 & 18
March 4 & 18
April 1, 15, 29
May 13 & 27
June 10 & 24
July 8 & 22
August 5....Picnic on Thursday evening, the 20th
September 2, 16, 30
October 14 & 28
November 11...Elections!
December 9

A BIG Networking Extravaganza Thank you!

To all 140 of you who attended last nights Networking Extravaganza at Souk, we thank you! What a wonderful opportunity to meet the variety of business professionals around town. As promised, below is a link to the matrix that includes all of networking groups who attended last nights event and a little bit of info on each.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/18/1872556/Matrix_4_22_08.pdf

A big thank to Souk for hosting such a superb event. If you would like more info on Souk please visit the website below.

http://www.soukllc.com/

Connect is currently looking for a few good men and women. For more information about our group please send an email to info@Connectpdx.org. Please include your business type and a snippet about yourself and your business and we will get right back to you.

We look forward to Connect-ing soon!

Connect Supports Friends of the Children Supported by Oprah!

On ABC’s new hit show, Oprah’s Big Give, contestants are challenged to change the lives of complete strangers. Now Oprah and ABC have challenged Portland to give big!

Oprah and ABC handed over seed money toKATU’s Family Matters program and asked “What would you do?” KATU took the challenge and created Oprah’s Big Give: Portland Pays It Forward to benefit Friends of the Children.

From March 17 through April 18, 2008, KATU AM Northwest hosts, Helen Raptis and Dave Anderson, along with KATU News’ Natali Marmion and Rhonda Shelby will invite businesses and viewers to donate cash or goods and services to Friends of the Children or bid on katu.com’s online fundraising auction, featuring a variety of great items including HDTVs, golf clubs, even activities with local celebrities! Friends of the Children will recieve 100% of the proceeds of the online auction.

Their goal is to raise $100,000 and they can't do it without your help!
Starting today, join KATU & Family Matters to pay it forward and make a difference in the lives of children who need your help.

Answer the Challenge - Click here to learn moreClick here to donate today

Networking Extravaganza hosted by Connect April 22nd, 2008

Together with Souk we are hosting a Portland area Networking extravaganza and we would like you to join us. To receive more information on the event and/or to be added to the invite list, please send an email to info@connectpdx.org

Details:
The Portland area is choc full of groups to support both aspiring & established business people. In response to tremendous feedback from previous networking events, souk & Connect are teaming up to host the next Networking Extravaganza.Hear from over a dozen networking/connecting organizations and find one that meets your 2008 career goals. Walk away with a matrix of info about each participating group. Meet new biz contacts. Meet up with friends. Lots of great reasons to come.This is the event for you if:You are looking for a networking group to join.You already belong to a group, but want to join an additional one.Joining a group doesn't fit right now, but an opportunity to network does.

When: Tuesday, April 22; 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Where: souk, 322 NW 6th Avenue, Suite 200, Portland
RSVP: Required as space is limited to 180 attendeesCost: $5/attendee to cover LIGHT refreshments.

Welcome! About Connect.

CONNECT – Networking with Purpose

What is Connect?

Connect is a not-so-traditional networking group. While dedicated to generating new business opportunities for its members, Connect also strives to promote philanthropic community events like the Smart Gala.

This isn’t your everyday pass-out-cards-and-wait-for-the-phone-to-ring networking; this is networking withpersonality and heart.

What’s so special about Connect?

Connect members believe that there IS enough time in the day to manage successful careers and to help others. We believe that with critical mass, we can more effectively contribute to the world around us, both as professionals and as humanitarians.

But this isn’t about sugarcoating – this is about a determined commitment to at least one Portland charity per year. This dedication to giving back serves two purposes for Connect members; it provides them with a rewarding connection to the community and, by raising Connect’s profile, promotes their professional goals.

How does Connect work?

Connect meets twice a month for lunch in a private room at Wildwood Restaurant in Northwest Portland. Membership dues are $15 per quarter. Each member of Connect represents a single profession (i.e., real estate agent, accounting, graphic design). This focus of one business category per person eliminates the possibility of conflict or competition within the organization. To protect Connect’s reputation, each member instructs the group about his or her best business practices.

This education process along with the charisma of Connect members encourages a natural flow of business leads. In the year since its inception, Connect has generated more than 100 business transactions for its members.

Recruiting @ Connect

Connect is always looking for a few good men and women. We are always open to meeting you. If you are interested in joining Connect, please send an email to info@connectpdx.org