Always Amazed at the Benefits

Since gsSCENE started it has always amazed me of the different opportunities and benefits the group has been given. It seems venues and restaurants all want to host gsSCENE for events and businesses want to know how to get young professionals at their location. Obviously, it goes against what everyone thought when gsSCENE started that it wouldn't last and there weren't any "young professionals" here.

Recently gsSCENE members have been given another one of these amazing opportunities to participate in a really cool event. Terri DeCenzo from Coastal Carolina University spoke with me about getting gsSCENE members to a speaking engagement and book signing for Elizabeth Gilbert. For those of you that don't know, Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love. A New York Times Bestseller and even a hit movie staring Julia Roberts! Litchfield Books has set up for her to come speak at Pawleys Island Community Church. Unfortunately sometimes news of events along the Grand Strand don't get the attention of everyone and people end up missing out on some great events and opportunities.

For gsSCENE we are lucky to have groups, venues and people in our community making us aware of these events. And it's even better when we get special invites. So don't just look at gsSCENE as networking at gsSCENE events, you can network at all events. And you when you network you can find out about more networking!

Details of the event are on our calendar and we hope to see you there!

Are YOU the next YP of the year??

gsSCENE and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have been recognizing the Young Professional of the Year going on three years now. Each year the amount of applications and nominations we receive is growing! It amazing me at all the wonderful things young professionals are doing on the Grand Strand AND to think that they are all part of gsSCENE. It also makes me wonder, why are people so shy in letting people know what they do.

In this award, self nominations are encouraged. And no, we aren't just saying that. A lot of times young people are very modest and a lot of people aren't aware of all they actually do. Especially when people are active in several groups like gsSCENE, Rotary, church groups, alumni groups and many more. So in reality YOU are the only one that can give yourself proper credit. AND you shouldn't be modest and not let the world know all the great things you do! So if you are this person or you know someone like this...nominate yourself and nominate your friend and get them to let you in on all that they do along the Grand Strand.

Nominations are being accepted until August 25 and you can get more information at gsSCENE.com.

The Blog and gsSCENE Heat UP

I will be the first to admit the gsSCENE blog needs to pick up it's feet and start blogging more! So as we roll into year of committees, projects, events etc. The blogging will get a makeover!

gsSCENE has been on somewhat of a summer break...but that break is about to end in a BIG way! We have some awesome new projects and events coming up. On July 30 alone applications for gsLEAD and gsSCENE Ambassadors are due. These are two GREAT ways to get involved with the organization AND get involved with the community. We have a the gsSCENE Summer Happy Hours at Market Common where gsSCENE members can enjoy a relaxed happy hour every Friday night at a different restaurant at Market Common followed by awesome live music by a variety of different local bands.

So now that gsSCENE has taken a little summer vacation, we are ready to get things moving again!

Your gsSCENE Membership Card

Hopefully you have your card and hopefully you have tried to use it at any of the participating vendors. And a bigger hopefully is that they took the card and recognized it to give you the discount. When gsSCENE first came out with the membership cards, some establishments weren't accepting them. The cards were new, staff weren't aware of them or maybe they just missed the staff meeting where they were covered. BUT as the year has progressed, the cards are getting more attention and they actually work! No one wants to be that person that tries to get a discount and gets turned down, so some might not even try, but even if your waiter or waitress don't know about it, have them ask and chances are the discount will be honored.

Keep checking out the web in the next few weeks to see the NEW venues participating in the membership cards. Let's just say not only does gsSCENE allow you to network with all kinds of young professionals, but we also help you stay on your budget!

But the Socials are Too Big!

Ok it's official, gsSCENE's socials are large. In fact some say too large. We want more socials. We want less socials. We want smaller socials. We want larger socials. We get it all the time and trust me gsSCENE TRIES to be everything to everybody. So we created something that we think might help some of the issues. Starting Feb. 4 as a new member (or an old one) you can come to our new member orientation. Why you ask? Well for one, we will have our new ambassadors there. These folks are there so that everyone will know SOMEONE at gsSCENE events, big or small. They will welcome members as they sign up for gsSCENE and introduce them to existing members in the group. gsSCENE feels this is a great way to not have people feeling the socials are too big and hard to meet people.

There are also several other options for those that don't even want to go to the large socials including Morning Rush, educational classes and new member orientation.

Morning Rush Continues!!

gsSCENE had been around for about 8 months and we started hearing that while people liked our big socials, they wanted something smaller. The events committee created a small networking committee and they created Morning Rush...Networking Breakfast. The object was simple...have gsSCENE members there, in a small group and force them to network. Well, it sounded a lot easier than it was.

If you have been to more than one Morning Rush, you might notice they have all been different. That's because gsSCENE has been trying out different techniques that allow everyone in the room to network with everyone, all the while not being TOO cheesy! Well whichever time gsSCENE members came, they must have enjoyed! gsSCENE always asks participants to complete a survey and the response was great!

Croissants Bistro and Bakery will continue to support gsSCENE and host the Morning Rush...Networking Breakfasts in 2010. In fact, we already have two dates set. Check out www.gsSCENE.com to see when they are and register soon, because space is limited!

Kicking off the New Year Right!

gsSCENE is kicking off 2010 with a community service project for Habitat for Humanity. On January 9, gsSCENE members and friends will be helping to give the Habitat for Humanity of Horry County Resale Store a face lift. With paint brushes in hand, (no prior painting experience required), gsSCENE looks forward to starting 2010 with a community service project.

Want to come? Register at www.gsSCENE.com