inside919 Business Divas -- to Continue ... or NOT ... that is the Question

[Leslie Flowers, Change Agent]

In response to Bev's email about the possibility of disbanding this group as a result of low attendance/activity, here are my thoughts.

I sometimes join groups because they 'look good,' I have great intentions, go to one or two meetings, and then do little or nothing.

What I should do I think in that case is remove myself if I am not going to be active.

I love the luncheons and would like to see them closer to 540/40 and 60 minutes only.

I am a worker bee (regular job) so taking off 2 hours (and more) to go to Davis Dr. can be challenging.

So my take is if I am not going to be active, I can remove myself and prefer airport locale for one hour luncheon.

[Deirdre Reid]

I've enjoyed the last two luncheons and would like to see those continued. I know that not everyone can take off the time to drive to and from a luncheon, so the low turnout is understandable sometimes. However, sometimes a small group is better for relationship building.

I would suggest that future lunches not be held at the downtown Marriott as they're really expensive -- I won't be able to go to any future ones there (maybe that was a switch because of the summit). Perhaps alternating between two locations with free parking -- one closer to Durham and one closer to Raleigh -- so folks can make the ones that aren't such a far drive during lunch hour.

Keeping the program under an hour is a good idea -- you can always have a hang out and chat time at the end for those with more flexibility but making sure the program and lunch is finished within an hour is a good idea, Leslie.

That's my two (or more) cents!

[Janice Russell]

As far as the monthly luncheons, the biggest draw back for me is not knowing the speakers far enough in advance. I made a decision in 2008 to not attend meetings just to attend meetings. This is true for all of the networking/business groups I belong to. While one part of meetings is to meet people and network, another part, if it is a meeting with a presentation, is that I will gain new knowledge or insights. My schedule is booked several months in advance. While I pencil in regular meetings, if I don't know topics until a week or two before, it is likely that I have booked a client as I can only hold a "I don't know the applicability of the topic" spot open in my calendar for so long.

As far as low attendence at the Conference, Bev, I already shared my thoughts with you the Friday of the Conference.

Depending on how the conversation flows, I will follow Leslie's lead and can remove myself from the group.

[Heather O'Sullivan Canney]

I think revisiting/clarifying the intention and purpose of the group would be helpful.
Is the purpose to network and learn? A chance for like-minded women to get together and share?

People rarely join a group to 'support it', they join and participate because they see a value in it. Then they support it:)

[Marge Carter]

When someone joins a group I feel it is there responsibility to come. Not just join and not attend some do this just so they can get their name out there. That is not the purpose of the group.

I enjoy coming to the group. Each time I have learned something new that has helped me in my life.

A few times I have not beable to attend as my husband has committements of meeting a client for SOC then I would stay home and babysit our grandson which we do 5 days a week.

You may not know it but you can easily ask to have just salad and soup at the luncheon:which costs. 9.95 and not 15.00 which I have several times.

When someone joins they should come, and not just come when a presenter they want to hear.

maybe we could have different locations to have luncheons.

thanks for being there when I needed you.

[Olalah Njenga, Speaker & Author]

Everyone touched on key points of consideration, so I'll address something that I haven't heard yet.

What about desire?
What does each member desire in terms of contribution and take away from this group?

The purpose of the group, location of the meetings and the cost of lunch really don't matter much if we are not addressing the real desires driving participation (or lack thereof).

How about we have a discussion around desire and move from there?

[Leslie Flowers, Change Agent]

Love these responses! Here is what is coming up for me based on everyone's responses.

1. The group needs a purpose (desire or want).
2. We each need to identify our own purpose for attending.

Group:
1. Purpose can be to simply network socially and build relationships and have speaker.
2. Purpose can be to mastermind! 2 Business owners each month get 30 minutes to share where they are and 'gather ideas' from one another.

Personal:
1. Your purpose can be to simply network socially and build relationships and have a speaker. This choice might be for your balance.'
2. Your purpose might be just to glean content from speaker.
3. I always ask myself this question when an event comes up: will this event take me closer to my goal or move me away from my goal?

Purpose is your intention. You get to choose. In fact conscious choice is the only thing we have that other living things do not AND it's all we can control anyway.
Vision is how we want this group to 'show up' for everyone.

I personally like the mastermind idea and no speakers. We'll learn plenty during their mastermind session. Here is where we really focus and offer ideas in a true mastermind fashion. It means that you want to be generous with others and are open to contribution from others.

My own purpose for these events is for life balance. I am so often wrapped up on business that I don't get to connect with other women and just LAUGH for an hour or so!

Having said that, I would be honored to facilitate a tightly guided mastermind session over lunch. I am masterfully skilled in this venue.

To clarify for myself, I have no intention of not being active or not attending -- regardless of locale. I wrote the discussion in first person intentionally .. to spark creative thought.

So? Where are you?

[Donna M Rogers]

Good points here.

The Business Divas show 153 members. All I can say is there are a large number of women losing out on what this group has to offer.

We all can find places to network and to hand out business cards. Is that what we really want?

I would hate to lose this opportunity to be in the presence of fun, caring, committed, smart, professional women.

Once upon a time the founder of a group I was apart of asked "What would make you join a group? and What would make you leave a group?"
I'll add, Are you looking to give or are you looking to get? Leslie's comment on balance is key. Can you give without receiving? (If you think you can I want to know where you think you are getting it from.)

That said. I'm in as long as there is a Business Divas, I want to participate. Without my participation, I can never hope to have this or any group I'm involved in be what I want it to be!

[Janet Daughtry]

All good points. I personally love the group, even though I don't always get to attend. I have always assumed that the purpose of the group is for networking and to support one another in our businesses. Never hurts to define or redefine why are we doing this?

I would like to see the meetings a little shorter in length and I am also wondering if location is a factor in keeping people away. I think rotating locations could offer more options. Having said that, people always make time for the things that are important to them!

I would love to see the luncheons continue and personally would hate to see it disband.

[Paige Armstrong, MSW, LCSW]

I joined Business Divas via inside919 becasue it looks like a really dynamic group of women. I can see that it is. Although I have never attneded any of the events or luncheons, I agree with the previous comments, about time, location, and advance notice of upcoming events/luncheons.

I would also like to add some additional feedback which I hope you will find helpful. When I registered with Business Diva's, not one person from the entire group contacted me to welcome me, educate me more about the group etc. I am not offended because I realize that we all have extremely busy lives as women and business owners. However, I can't help but wonder how there might be a missed opportunity to build relationships with the members that do sign up via inside919. Pat Howlette sets a good example by contacting every new member that joins inside919 by sending a welcome message. Is there a way to set a team of leaders that could take on this task to create relationship with new memebers. In addition, the sponsors of inside 919 contact the new members to welcome them too. A simple hello and welcome can go a long way in beginning a strong relationship. I know if I were to attend the luncheon or any other event, I would have received this, but not sure why I didn't via inside919?

I welcome the opportunity to attend luncheons but would often find out about them within a day or two of the event and then already have clients that are generating revenue scheduled. I also would have liked to have attended the weekend event, but already had commitments for an out of town training on women and marketing.

I think it is fantastic that you are posting the question to get the feedback to see how to move forward and continue or not. I hope my feedback is valuable to you. Paige

[Allison M Auerbach]

When the group comes together it can be very powerful. If you decide to keep the group going I think there should be more structure and regulation. Many members have been lax on attendance for the luncheons and events. That is what is screwing us up.
I have found some very powerful women in the group that I look up to business wise. We do have potential to do some amazing things.
Allison

[Julie Jones]

Seeing as I'm new to this group and haven't yet attended any luncheons or events, I do hope the group continues. Everyone has made great comments and suggestions. I like the idea of rotating the location of the luncheons and having only one hour for them. I also think Leslie's MasterMind idea would be fantastic with this group! Do we only meet once/ month for the luncheons? Are there other meetings as well? It would certainly be helpful to have a regular schedule, and post it in one location for all to see.

[Gloria Chavis]

I do not think this group should end. I wish that your activities were in the evening. At this time I am unable to meet during the day.