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The outline to this portion was developed by the Young Professionals of Milwaukee and adapted by the NDYP. Used with permission.
Determine need
Create a formation team
Don't lose your focus in details
Figure out your target market
Pre-Launch
Launch
Stuff we wish we had known
Determine need
What benefits would a YP group bring to your community? Check out our Discussion Questions to get the coversation started.
Create a formation team
Define what a YP group might do and why. Decide who sits at the table. If your chamber is starting a YP group, include representation from the young professionals in the community.
Don't lose your focus in details
In the early stages, the formality of bylaws and websites are less important than determining need and direction of a YP network. Have a clear understanding of what the YPs in your community want to get out of having a YP network before you craft pages of supporting materials.
Figure out your target market
Who is your target market? Is it farmers and rachers, or bakners or advertising executives? Young families or single people? What demographic does your group draw? From that, put your purpose/mission to paper. Most YP groups include ages 21-40, with some expanding to 18 year olds and up into the “young thinking” category.
Pre-Launch
The Formation Team plans the kick-off. The event does not have to be expensive, just creative and well planned.
• Include an "icebreaker" element – remember that most of the people don't know each other!
• Most YP launches are social events with a light professional development element.
• Generate a “marketing” email that YPs can forward among their peers.
• Send out a press release.
• Take photos.
Launch
Your launch should include the following:
– Time for the YPs to mingle–remember that they may have never met before.
– An icebreaker such as giving everyone a list of traits; “glasses, red hair, insurance salesperson”, and finding the people who match.
– Information about YP networks and how they work in other communities.
– Takeaway for the people attending; a great speaker, original venue, fun social.
– Call to action; offer the attendees a chance to join the team and attend the next planning meeting.
Next Steps
Hold your next “planning meeting” and brainstorm with the expanded core group. Create teams (See Structure QuickStart guide).
• Plan one or two events in the near future.
• Construct event evaluations to determine value of events to members, what they would like to see next, etc.
• Review members’ reactions and plan next events accordingly.
Stuff we wish we would have known:
Save and organize all names, addresses, and emails of potential network members! Your membership list is the network’s most important asset!
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