Prioritize the pipeline to make the most of face time

Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by nevonnemcdaniels in Community Voices

Technology was supposed to give all of us more time to relax and recreate.

Unfortunately, just the opposite has happened. Technology has become a super pipeline, directing more messages and information to each of us than we could have imagined possible just a few years ago.

According to a report published by the University of California, San Diego, the average American adult encounters approximately 100,000 words each day. They come at us in many different forms including text, print, broadcast and e-conversation.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, My Space and hundreds of other social networking sites combine with blogs, e-mail and Web sites to saturate our lives.

As a result, our time is allocated much differently today, and one-on-one, face-to-face communication has really taken a hit. The days of business people meeting over a cup of coffee to discuss the economy and share strategies have been replaced by automatic news updates on hand-held electronic devices and computers, e-mail and social networking.

How do you know what’s true and relevant? How do you prioritize the surge through the pipeline?

The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce has a simple solution — turn off your computer, put your Blackberry on mute and take advantage of numerous opportunities to network face-to-face.

The chamber’s nearly 600 professional members represent an impressive cross-section of our area’s business culture: corporations large and small, public agencies, home-based businesses, nonprofits, retail stores, service-based businesses, professional services … you name it, you’ll find members at chamber of commerce events.

And you’ll be impressed with the wealth of information available from brief conversations over hors d’oeuvres or lunch.

Here’s a preview of chamber activities members can take advantage of in the next few weeks:

• Legislative Hotline, 7:15 a.m. Fridays throughout the legislative session in the chamber board room. Learn what’s going on in Olympia and talk with legislators via live phone link about the measures that may affect your business.
• Wenatchee Venom Tailgate Party, noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Town Toyota Center. Meet the players and people involved in the valley’s new arena football team.
• Expert Series, 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 17 in the chamber board room. Joel Rankin of Clear Focus will share the attributes and assets of Windows 7, and answer questions.
• Business after Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Confluence Technology Center. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, see what’s new at the CTC, and network, network, network.
• Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Banquet, March 4, Wenatchee Convention Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for networking; dinner begins at 6:45. More than 400 area business leaders are expected to attend. This year’s banquet is sponsored by Sabey Corporation; entertainment is sponsored by Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. Call 509-662-2116 for complete information and to purchase tickets.
• Economic Indicators, 7:30 a.m. March 18 at the Confluence Technology Center. Chamber members will hear from Aran Raha, executive director of the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, as we kick off our new seminar series designed to keep chamber members informed on relevant economic issues.

Chamber membership is an excellent investment, and members who take advantage of chamber events compound the benefit. The chamber has a special offer for you if you join before March 1. Call 509-662-2116 for information.

Kristina Stepper is the principal of J Russell Creative Marketing. She and her husband Eric launched the company in 2001 to provide full service marketing and advertising support for businesses and organizations throughout Washington. She holds a degree in communications/advertising from the University of Washington. Her professional career has included owning a local women’s clothing store, managing promotions for a local mall and working at Wenatchee Valley College in a variety of administrative roles before returning to the private sector in her current position. Her professional expertise includes organizational management, strategic planning, project management, copy writing, consulting, teaching seminars and workshops, and grant writing. She currently serves on the board of directors for Serve Wenatchee Valley, and as president of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Stepper can be reached at kristina@j-russell.net.

Read more about: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce