July 9

NDYP Summer Vacation
To give our writers and editor (we love you Sarah!) a break, NDYP will only have one email newsletter in July and August. We will return to our weekly schedule in September. The NDYP website will remain updated.

Newsletter Survey Results
Thanks to all of you who responded to our second annual newsletter survey, and to those of you who left comments! We took them all under consideration. See some of the results below, as well as a few changes we plan to implement, thanks to your suggestions:

Member Profiles
69% of you read the member profiles and we plan on continuing this feature, with a few suggested tweaks to the questions. We choose who to feature by taking a random sampling of YPs from across the state.

Readability
Some of you noted that the newsletter appears to have a gray background (no white behind the text). This is not how it is designed, and we need your help figuring out which mail program does that. If you have this problem, please email dalzell@trainingnd.com and let us know which mail client you use. We will try to resolve this issue soon. Thanks for letting us know!

Format
Some of you mentioned you would like to see a new format for the newsletter. This might be changing down the road; stay tuned!

Stats
Most of you get your YP news from your local YP newsletter (67%) and the NDYP newsletter (46%). That is followed by the local and NDYP websites and Facebook. 49% of you are in the age 25-30 demographics and 58% of our readers are women compared to 42% men. There are about 1,000 emails on our mailing list right now.

What you want to read
54% of you want to see more stories about what other YP networks are doing in the state, while 49% of you want to read more about other YP networks best practices. We will be working to incorporate these requests, starting with our September newsletter. If you are interested in writing or reporting on these topics, please email dalzell@trainingnd.com with your contact information.

Volunteers
We have contacted all YPs who showed interest in writing for the newsletter. If, for some reason, you did not receive an email from us (Junk mail filters can be tricky!), please call Catherine at 223-0707. She would be happy to discuss newsletter opportunities with you.

June 18

Serve on the State YP Board
The North Dakota Young Professionals (NDYP) board is seeking nominations for at-large members. If you are interested in being involved in YP at a statewide level, please send your name, email address, phone number and brief bio, as well as a paragraph about what you could bring to the NDYP board, to dalzell@trainingnd.com by June 25.

Confidence, Couture and Chanel
Face it; we like to emulate the lives of the rich and famous. We idealize their lives and lifestyles. However, very few people realize the trials which faced these individuals and what bitter obstacles they had to overcome to reach their position.

The Power of Networking
Networking is an important part of any job. Heck, it’s a big part of why we all joined YP. It can help us get fresh ideas and perspectives to enhance the way we work. Here are a few tips for making your networking a success.

June 11

Take the NDYP newsletter survey
Please take two minutes and let us know what you think of the NDYP newsletter. Your responses will help us improve the newsletter for the next news year.

NOW! Or else...

Host the 2011 or 2012 GPYP summit
Did someone from your network attend the GPYP summit? Then your network is eligible to host the summit in 2011 or 2012! The letter of interest application has been released and is due July 1. Download the letter of interest (.doc) today. A letter of interest is not a Request For Proposal (RFP) and does not mean that your YP network has to commit to submitting an RFP. However, your network must submit a letter of interest in order to be eligible to submit an RFP and receive additional information.

How to Inspect a Used Car
At some point in your life, you’re going to buy a car. Maybe you want to replace that college vehicle. Maybe you want to transition to something more befitting of your lifestyle. It can be tough, if you don’t know what you’re looking for; but this column will help you out.

What’s with those new Sun Chip bags?
Recently, there’s been a change in chip bag technology. Frito-Lay’s Sun Chips (10 ½ oz. size) now come in a biodegradable bag. Crazy, huh? They may be a little louder than the original bags, but I think they’re worth it!

May 28 

Come Together, Right Now
 
It’s hard to believe the Great Plains Young Professionals Summit is only days away. It seems like just yesterday when the idea was hatched and the plan was set in motion. Bismarck-Mandan agreed to host, with Jerry Haas leading the way.

The idea for this event was originally inspired by the national summits held by Next Generation Consulting and the thought that a regional event would be more beneficial to our networks and those around us. We have more to gain by sharing commonly held struggles, successes and failures in communities of similar size and social structure. From nationally acclaimed authors and presenters to local YPs and topics, the Great Plains YP Summit promises to be a worthwhile endeavor and a great opportunity.
 
The mission of the NDYP is to connect communities while connecting the individual. This summit certainly adheres to that guideline; it provides information and resources for all facets of our lives by empowering us and helping us to grow personally, professionally and civically. We aim to create a stronger network of Young Professionals, not only across North Dakota, but across our region. These few short days will no doubt make a long and lasting impact. This summit promises to be highly informative, educational and certainly fun. It will be a time for great reflection, discussion and fellowship. What a fantastic opportunity for all those involved! We look forward to seeing you all there and hope you will enjoy the ride. I know I will.
 
Connecting Communities, Connecting You,
 
 
Aaron Hill
Fargo-Moorhead Young Professionals Network

May 21

What's holding you back
professionally, socially or personally?

Get ahead at the GPYP Summit. Register Today

Who can attend? Anyone age 21-40 (you don’t have to be a YP member).

Why should I attend? You can develop yourself personally and professionally, network with people across the region and learn from local and national speakers.
 
Will it be boring? Absolutely not! With so many speakers covering a range of topics, this summit will be catered to your needs. Plus, there are social events Thursday and Friday night, and a charity volleyball tournament and socializing Saturday afternoon after the Summit.
 
How can I register? Go to www.gpypsummit.com now!
 
What's the cost? $99 for all three days including meals. Show your boss the GPYP Summit Agenda; they’ll be so impressed, they’ll probably cover the registration fee!
 
See you there!

June 3-5
Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence

People Skills
We gravitate toward people who are authentic and easy to connect with. We’ve all witnessed the classic people person. Remember that social butterfly at the last YP function you were at? Remember that employee who can talk with anyone?

May 7

What to do - By Melissa | What to wear - By Emily

Board Positions Available
NDANO is currently seeking leaders to serve on its board of directors. Individuals serving in this capacity provide leadership to a vital and growing organization that strengthens communities and enhances quality of life by engaging and ensuring a strong charitable sector.
 
Please consider sharing your valuable time and knowledge with NDANO. To learn more about this opportunity, contact NDANO Board Governance Chair Gail Bollinger at 232-2452 or NDANO Executive Director Dana Schaar at 258-9101 or 888-396-3266.

May 2

Online Learning
Just imagine you could learn the same concepts you did in college for free. Or if you’re in college but are struggling with a particular subject, imagine what it would be like to receive online tutoring for free, wherever and whenever you need it.