Full disclosure: I joined Young Professionals on a whim, and it wasn’t even my idea.  About seven months ago a friend and I were talking about how to meet new people in Grand Forks, and she suggested joining YP. I was like “Sure. I’ll give it a go.”

What I found was an organization in transition with a new Executive Director and an influx of new members full of good energy, bright ideas, and great potential. I became hooked. Over the last several months I’ve continued to watch YP solidify itself as an engaged organization working to improve the quality of life for all Grand Forks’ residents.

Recently I learned that I’ve been elected the new Community Involvement Chairperson by the GGFYP Board of Directors. I’m excited to play a larger role in YP and look forward to helping you connect to Grand Forks and Grand Forks to you. Feel free to contact me with ideas or questions at community@ggfyp.com, here on the blog, or out on the town.

Needless to say I’m glad my friend suggested joining YP, and I’m pleased I tried something different. If you haven’t tried something new lately, I encourage you to do so. Who knows where it might lead?

(P.S. I also decided about 7 months ago to learn how to use chopsticks. I’m so proud I wanted to show off!)

This weekend features plenty of winter fun! Hone your curling skills at GGFYP’s Curling Party and Chili Cook-off, venture out to Lincoln Park for Greenway Ski Days, or head to Ralph Engelstad Arena to cheer on the UND women’s hockey team against Bemidji State.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Live Jazz 

• ‘l Bistro, 7: 00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Enjoy live jazz music by local artists, appetizers

UND Women’s Basketball

• Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, 7:00 pm
• vs. Houston Baptist

Friday, Feb. 3

GGFYP Curling Party & Chili Cook-off

• GF Curling Club, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
• Learn to curl and enjoy a warm bowl of chili
• Admission: $5

MedPark Toastmasters Meeting

• Altru Clinic Building 1, 12:10 pm and 12:55 pm
• Practice communication techniques and develop leadership skills

UND Women’s Hockey

• Ralph Engelstad Arena, 7:00 pm
• vs. Bemidji State

Saturday, Feb. 4

NDMOA Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 5:30 pm
• Dress is black tie optional, valet parking available
• Reservations – $125/person or $110/person for table reservations

Greenway Ski Days

• Lincoln Drive Park, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Family friendly day of ski clinics, ice skating, cross-country skiing, sledding, horse drawn sleigh and more
• Chili feed, beverages

UND Women’s Basketball

• Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, 2:00 pm
• vs. Texas Pan American

UND Women’s Hockey

• Ralph Engelstad Arena, 7:00 pm
• vs. Bemidji State

Sunday, Feb. 5

“Winged Shadows: Life Among Birds” – Art Exhibit

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

‘An Old Time Radio Show’

• Fire Hall Theatre, 2:00 pm
• Step back to 1959 as the quriky folk of Turnup, TX present a live studio broadcast of their annual Turnip Days Festival
• Tickets – Adults: $15, Students (w/ID), Seniors, Military: $12

Let it be said: I love the North Dakota Museum of Art (NDMOA). If you and I ever happen to find ourselves in conversation, just know I’m bound to mention NDMOA. And if we find ourselves in a subsequent conversation, and you have yet to visit NDMOA, I will happily and emphatically escort you there. With this mind, I was excited to attend a Young Professionals sponsored luncheon for UND faculty and staff held at NDMOA.

The luncheon’s purpose was to “ . . . discuss ways that faculty and staff may be able to connect with each other and with the Grand Forks Community in an effort to enhance quality of life.” Nearly 100 people RSVP’d for the event, and after opening statements by UND President Kelley, Amanda Bentow, Tyrone Grandstrand, and Stacey Heggen, we got down to the nitty gritty . . . talking.

But not talking just to talk; talking to connect. A topic and list of questions were located at the center of each table throughout the room. Each participant found a topic that interested him or her and sat down at that table with six or seven other people and began chatting. After several minutes time was up at that table, and everyone moved to another table of his or her choosing. Before you knew it handshakes were happening, business cards were being exchanged, and phrases like “Yeah, man. Nice to meet you. We should grab a beer sometime,” were overheard. (True story).

I joined in on conversations at the “Leadership” table, the “Working with Students” table, and the “Staying Connected” table. While at the latter table planning my next strategic move, I glanced at the “Family Entertainment” table and thought “Wait a minute, why am I not over THERE?” Now, if my mother had been in the room she would have said, “You’re not over there, Shana, because you’re single, with no children, and no family in the entire state of North Dakota.” (Good thing Mom wasn’t there.) I saw a golden opportunity to plug the upcoming free Family Day event at the North Dakota Museum of Art and charged straight over to the “Family Entertainment” table.

After introducing myself with my singleton, child-free status (and ignoring the initial odd looks I received), I moved right along with things to do for families in Grand Forks, starting with free Family Day the last Saturday of each month at NDMOA. The conversation was lively, ideas were shared, and new friendships made.

Now let me share some of those ideas with you. Here are some good websites for things to do in and around Grand Forks . . . for those with kids and those without.

North Dakota Museum of Art (come on, you knew it was coming)

CulturePulse. The largest database of arts and cultural events in Grand Forks

Grand Forks Park District

Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau

Turtle River State Park

If you haven’t made it to a Young Professionals’ event yet I hope to see you at the next one; and if you haven’t checked out NDMOA yet, what are you waiting for? If you know of any good websites or fun things to do in or around Grand Forks, please leave a comment letting me (and other YPs) know. We YPs are a great resource for one another and frankly, just darn good company.

What most companies do is if they have a marketing budget of lets say $12,000 for the year, they divide it up equally into $1000 per month. Well who says that’s the way it has to be done? Advertising has reached a critical mass of white noise. People are so accustomed to seeing and hearing advertisements they don’t have any effect on them. Can you name more than one company you heard an advertisement for on the radio on the way into work this morning? Most people can’t.

One strategy to beat the white noise effect is double budget marketing. Instead of spending your $1000 per month, try spending $2,000 per month for three months then take three months off of advertising. You still will spend the same budgeted amount for the year but the cycling effect will stand out to the consumer. Another benefit to double budget marketing is by spending more in that three-month period you can often negotiate larger advertising packages at better rates.

For more marketing tips, check out S&S Promotional Group on Facebook

See it HERE!

Thank you, Lt. Gov. Wrigley!

Geez, what a busy morning. Emails, meetings, phone calls . . . but regardless, I’d decided today was the day I was going to attend my first Lunch n Learn, so off to the Blue Moose I went. Little did I know what I was getting into. Had I known I would have left there with so much good information and a new friend, I would have gone to one of these things sooner.

The presentation today was by Cynthia Shabb of Global Friends Coalition. Yes, I serve as a mentor for a Bhutanese family through Global Friends Coalition, however I had not heard Cynthia give a presentation before and I learned quite a bit.

Did you know that . . .

. . . 91 “New Americans” were resettled in Grand Forks in 2011? And that between 80 and 100 are expected for 2012?
. . . the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce has an Immigrant Integration Initiative?
. . . the majority of  “New Americans” resettled in Grand Forks are from Nepal?
. . . there are over 12 African countries represented in Grand Forks?

Cynthia discussed the term “refugee,” the life of refugees, and refugee resettlement. Once refugees are settled in the United States, the term “New American” applies. Cynthia also talked about the importance of volunteers and mentors for New Americans in conquering the cultural learning curve. If interested in learning more contact Global Friends Coalition:www.gfcoalition.org.

After the presentation when everyone was hurrying back towards work, I found myself in a fun conversation with a new GGFYP member originally from Cameroon. She mentioned that by her estimate are over 100 people from Cameroon in Grand Forks. She also mentioned that she has been living in Grand Forks and attending UND for nearly four years, and prior to joining GGFYP she had not had Grand Forks’ residents reach out to her in friendship or offer to introduce her to the city. FOUR YEARS. All I can say is I’m glad she joined GGFYP, and I’m sorry it took so long!

I’m proud to belong to an organization that welcomes people from all backgrounds, works to connect its members to the larger community, and believes in the positive future of Grand Forks. If we take the time to learn from each other, extend a helping hand, and provide a pat on the back for a job well done, Grand Forks will continue to prosper, as will each of us.

By: Shana Wiley

This weekend, GGFYP hosts its ‘Annual Launch’ event at the Alerus Center, the UND women’s hockey team takes on St. Cloud State in a two game series at Ralph Engelstad Arena, and the Ski &  Bike Shop hosts its annual Winter Play Day.

Thursday, Jan. 19

Live Jazz 

• ‘l Bistro, 7: 00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Enjoy live jazz music by local artists, appetizers

Break the Silence Tour – CVIC

• CVIC Office, 11:00 am
• Free, one-hour tour of CVIC office to find out more about local violence and see what CVIC is doing to make the community safer for all

Friday, Jan. 20

Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals ‘Annual Launch’

• Alerus Center, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
• Learn about what YPs have been up to and hear about GGFYP’s goals for 2012 and beyond

‘Alice in Wonderland’ Ballet

• Empire Arts Center, 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
• Presented by the ND Ballet Company
• Tickets: Adults – $15, Students – $12

UND Women’s Hockey

• Ralph Engelstad Arena, 7:00 pm
• vs. St. Cloud State

Family Night at UND Student Wellness Center

• UND Student Wellness Center, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Please bring a clean pair of tennis shoes
• Cost: $10/family
• Click here for a list of activities

Saturday, Jan. 21

PCB: Professional Bull Riders & Montgomery Gentry

• Alerus Center, 7:30 pm
• America’s premiere bull riding tour and Montgomery Gentry live in concert
• Tickets – Adults: $34, Children 12 and Under: $14, VIP Seats: $54 – available at the Alerus Center Box Office

Ski & Bike Shop Winter Play Day

• Turtle River State Park
• Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, and more

UND Women’s Basketball

• Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, 2:00 pm
• vs. Utah Valley

2nd Annual Sunshine Walk & Fun Run

• Ralph Engelstad Arena, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Fundraising campaign to benefit the Grand Forks Community
• For more information on the Sunshine Foundation, click here

UND Women’s Hockey

• Ralph Engelstad Arena, 7:00 pm
• vs. St. Cloud State

Sunday, Jan. 22

“Winged Shadows: Life Among Birds” – Art Exhibit

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Everything for Weddings and Proms

• Alerus Center, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• Fashion show, dozens of vendors

HAHN-BIN Concert

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 2:00 pm
• Tickets – Adults: $15, Students/Military: $5, Children 12 and Under: Free

One of my all time favorite marketing “rules” and one that’s gained in popularity in recent years is simply known as the 80/20 Rule (aka the “Pareto Principle” in honor of Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto).

A quick Google search will get you all the details about the rule and its history, but I’m going to give you the basics here and show you how applying it to your Small Business Marketing can make or save you a small fortune.

At its most basic, the 80/20 rule says that with just about anything you do, approximately 80 percent of the results you get will come from 20 percent of your efforts. Of course the numbers you see may vary and you’ll find this to be true with many things in your personal life, but as it applies to your business, this means that you’ll typically find the following to be true in Small Business Marketing…

• 80 percent of your business will come from just 20 percent of your customers
• 80 percent of your sales will result from just 20% of your sales force or your marketing and advertising efforts
• 80 percent of your customer service or support issues will come from just 20% of your customers

Take just a moment and think about your own business and how you can apply this rule to your benefit.

A good place to start is by identifying your ideal client or customer, those special 20% that provide you with most of your business, and thinking of ways to get more new clients like them. What type of advertising attracts these customers?

For more marketing tips and tricks, ‘Like’ S & S Promotional Group on Facebook.

This weekend, enjoy live music by local bands, take in an art exhibit, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, travel to Winnipeg to cheer on the UND men’s hockey team in the 1st annual U.S. College Hockey Classic.

Thursday, Jan. 5

Live Jazz 

• ‘l Bistro, 7: 00 pm – 10:00 pm
• Enjoy live jazz music by local artists, appetizers

Open Mic Night

• Mike’s Pizza, 9:00 pm – 12: 30 am
• Listen to music by local bands

Friday, Jan. 6

MedPark Toastmasters Meeting 

• Altru Clinic Building 1, 12:10 pm - 12:55 pm
• Hone your communication and leadership skills in a friendly environment

“Winged Shadows: Life Among Birds” – Art Exhibit

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday, Jan. 7

Picture This!

• GF Public Library, 10:00 am
• Learn to transfer photos from your digital camera to your computer, crop photos, removed red eye, and more.
• If you have a digital camera, please bring it with you to class

U.S. College Hockey Classic – Winnipeg

• MTS Centre (Winnipeg, MB, Canada), 7:30 pm
• UND men’s hockey vs. Clarkson University
• Tickets available online, here

Sunday, Jan. 8

“Winged Shadows: Life Among Birds” – Art Exhibit

• North Dakota Museum of Art, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

If you haven’t filled out a form yet, here you go!
Get to know your neighbor

Return your answers and a picture to stacey@ggfyp.com!