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WYPs Message - A Look Back...
Jessica McCaslin - Co-President WYPs
Happy Birthday WYPs! This June we will be celebrating two great years of Whatcom Young Professionals. I am so proud of what this organization has become since the kick off event in June of 2006 at the Lakeway Inn. Many of you have been members from the start and even more of you have joined the excitement since then. When thinking back to the initial meetings with Jodie Beatty (co-founder) and Pat Rowe at the chamber to our 12 person advisory council today I am so grateful for all of the hard work that has gone into this organization. Our current advisory council spends countless hours preparing for our upcoming events. I want to give special thanks to each of them for all they do to make this organization what it is and making it their own.
A lot has changed with the WYPs in the first couple of years since we started. We are growing up and with growing comes change. We now have a professional website that was created and is maintained by Patrice Valentine of Net Solutions. Our professional development series has also received a makeover and is now called the Adventures in Success. Stephanie Artino has taken it upon herself to make each one of these "adventures" a huge success.
Have you gotten a call from the friendly voice of Kelly Arnold or Drew Graham yet? These guys make everyone feel like they are part of the group with their welcome calls and have grown our membership with their efforts. Each one of our monthly socials are an event not to miss because of our talented social committee: Erika Arnold, Troy Wills, and Anny Havland. I wish I could use their skills to plan my social get togethers.
Amy Nicol keeps us in line and reconciled as our treasurer, you'll see her smiling face along with Erika's at the check in table at each event. Can you believe all of the press the Whatcom Young Professionals has gotten in the past year?! Thanks to Tally Rabatin, the Whatcom Young Professionals is in one or more local publications each month!
Last, but certainly not least, we all need to give a BIG thank you to Jodie Beatty. Jodie has taken over running this entire organization this past year since I had my little girl. She stays on top of everything that is going on and attends nearly every event. Next time you see her tell her thank you for all the hard work she puts into this organization.
And finally, if one position weren't enough, some of our council takes on the job of waking up early each week to lead our morning buzzes. Make sure you join Troy Wills, Anny Havland, Stephanie Artino and Jodie Beatty for coffee soon. Thank you to all of the council members (current and past) for making this organization more than I ever imagined it could be.
 The Power of The Press Release
By Tally Rabatin
In business we are continuously trying to find new, inexpensive ways to not only promote our businesses but also gain credibility from our potential clientele. Setting your business apart from all the rest can sometimes seem daunting, especially if your resources are limited. So for all of you who feel this way let me introduce…. the press release.
Press releases offer business professionals a way to get current, exciting information out to a vast array of people. Not only does it make your business top of mind, it also promotes YOU! Getting information out to the public about awards, promotions, or philanthropic involvement, lets them relate to you on a personal level. The human aspect of a company is what retains and attracts clients, so use it. Press releases humanize your company by showing that you reward achievement, you are involved, and most importantly you care.
Of course all of us have seen the many tidbits in the local business sections of newspapers and magazines, and you probably wonder how can I do that? Well, get ready because I am going to give a little Press Release 101, the dos the don’ts, and of course the quick and dirty tricks to a great release!
DO….
#1- Make sure that information is current, within the last 60 days.
#2- Get to the point. Press releases should be packed with information but succinct- only a couple of sentences.
#3- Make it newsworthy. Promotions, Name Changes, Anniversary, or Achievements. If you wouldn’t care about it, why would the rest of us?
#4-Send a photo! A photo is important, and if it is used, gets you even more promotion and connection with the readership.
DON’T….
#1-Make it personal. Press releases should remain professional.
#2-Exaggerate events. Keep it factual.
#3-Forget to add contact information. A simple URL works great!
#4-Forget about deadlines. Getting information to sources well before they go to press makes their lives easier and gives you an advantage over the competition.
QUICK TIPS:
#1- Use a professional. There is a multitude of local professionals whose sole job is writing press releases. If you have a big announcement that you want to be heard, I suggest using a professional service. They know the contacts and can practically guarantee at least one media source will pick up the release.
#2- Create a template. This allows you to get a well written, factual, and succinct press release out quickly if you are facing a deadline.
#3- Get to know your local media contacts. Introducing yourself and mingling at a WYPs social will give them a name to face association.
#4- If at first you don’t succeed; try, try, again! If your release does not get published don’t give up. Continue sending them… something is sure to come of your diligence.
And lastly, do not doubt the power of a press release. Press releases linger in people’s information banks significantly longer than advertisements. You will be happily surprised when someone recognizes you from your release photo, or feels comfortable contacting you and chatting about your latest achievement that happened months ago! The power of a press release is infinite and you never know what might catch the eye of a potential client.
Happy Writing!
Overheard @ The Buzz
By Anny Havland and Troy Wills
Yo…Yo…Yo…it is once again time for the latest addition of “what is going on and where is it all going down at”. Anny Havland and I were just talking the other day that we can’t believe it is already May and that Cinco de Mayo has come and gone…the year is almost half over! For those of you that were at last months social at the Silver Reef…can you believe Sterling the Magician’s magic show? He is one talented teenager is all I have to say! For those of you that didn’t attend...you missed a great show! Alright down to the dirt…after all that is what you are all reading this for…right?
The Bakerview buzz has some dirt to spill…yes the rumor is true that Ms. Anny Havland is back leading her buzz after her maternity leave. I hear that everyone is so excited to have you back! Anny…it is so tough being you…missed, loved and wanted! The life you lead. A special thanks to Jodie Beatty and Tally Rabatin for doing an excellent job holding down the sleeping beauty’s buzz. Anny will be sifting thru the dirt to spill the juiciest of juice in the next addition…stay tuned!
Okay moving onto the dazzling Downtown buzz, I hear the attendance has been simply outstanding! I have been told that record numbers of members are gathering each week to talk about their businesses…excellent work and that is what I am talking about! More to come from you down- towners…I have my sources reporting back to me on what is going down!
Let’s see…what can I say about the Barkley buzz? We have been having a solid turnout as well each week. Lately we have had a few new test drivers attending WYP’s to see what it is all about. Dr. Kelly Arnold has brought his new chiropractor Eric to the buzz…great addition to Barkley Chiropractic. Alan from Special T Tinting and Signs dropped by checked out the buzz and got caught up. We also had Scott Hume bring his new baby daughter Claire to our buzz. Do I hear a BYP’s being formed (Baby Young Professionals?) Between Claire, my son Hunter and Anny’s boy Ryker and Jessica McCaslin and Patrice Valentine’s daughters we have a great start!!! Molly from Simply Organized was saying that this is one of her busiest times as many people want their home’s organized and cleaned out…and she is the girl for the job!
I am signing off until next month. If you are not already attending a morning buzz I hope you can start joining one that is convenient for you. However I have to warn you…make sure you are careful what you are saying because it might just be overheard.
Buzzing off to a location near you…
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