Fuse Blog

Social Media Conference 2010

The frontiers of social media are yet being charted- the peaks and valleys logged, and
productive areas increasingly populated by tech-and-marketing savvy individuals and amateur explorers alike. The amount of terrain in the online world of social media can seem overwhelming, but effective use of social media has become an essential part of cutting a path to professional, personal, and business success. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to provide a map and compass to help you navigate the scene, through our second annual Fuse Duluth Social Media Conference.

On August 2^nd at Lake Superior College, learn from area experts on how you can use the opportunities and vehicles of social media to move your business or organization forward with the least investment of resources.

A variety of sessions will be geared toward both people who are new to social media and those who have begun promoting their business or organization through social networking. In addition to the breakout sessions, conference attendees can enjoy a vendor showcase, including refreshments, and an opportunity to network with other attendees, presenters, and businesses.

Join us August 2nd, 2010 at 12:30 pm for some fun, informative sessions with a few great, upbeat social butterflies. Be sure to REGISTER NOW to reserve your spot. www.wliinc8.com/duluthmncoc/cwt/external/wcpages/wcevents/eventregistration.aspx

For questions email Lara at lwilkinson@duluthchamber.com or Hannah at fuseintern@duluthchamber.com

See you there!

Seeking Mentors!!

What is College Connection you might ask?

                Well! Let's check it out!

The College Connection Progam is an initiative of Fuse DUluth, the premier program for young professionals in the Duluth area. It brings together students from partnering colleges and schools and mentors from our community. The mentor-mentee relationship allows students to get to know professionals in a field related or relevant to their interests, who can provide them with guidance, insight, experiences, and connections that can be pivotal in helping them learn about the world of work and the local employment market. College Connection has been a resounding success since its inception, and along with pairing mentees and mentors, Fuse also hosts several College Connection events each year: the Kickoff, Speed Networking, and the Wrap-Up. College Connection runs concurrent with the typical college calendar year.

What does it take to be a Mentor?

Enthusiam! A willingness to share your professional expertise, and an interest in helping grow young talent.

What are you supposed to do together?

It's nothing too pain-staking don't worry.

Set goals so that you are both on the same page. Some activities could include, lunch and/or coffee meetings, informational interviews, job shadowing experiences, or just sharing advice, wisdom and knowledge-sharing. See? Nothing too crazy!

Interested? Contact Lara Wilkinson-Director of Fuse Duluth lwilkinson@duluthchamber.com or Tad Johnson-College Connection Chair tadulous@gmail.com for more information!

Getting EnFuseIastic About Twenty-Ten!

Fuse’s fifth year is set to be a big one, complete with exciting events, beneficial changes, and continued opportunities.

Along with a change in leadership from Breanne (who’s shifted her focus full-time to Membership Development at the Chamber), to me, we’ve ushered in our new pay-per-event Fuse membership structure, and we’ve launched into our itinerary of events for 2010. It’s a busy time for Fuse, and as a young program, we’re growing as we go to serve our members and community in the best capacity possible.

Our first event of the year was a big success. We had a packed house for the Fuse Lunch Discussion With Don Ness at Mr’D’s on January 21^st. Every last seat was filled, every place setting graced with a plate of tasty ravioli, and Fusers enjoyed an address from mayor Ness. Following his remarks, the mayor fielded an engaging round of questions from the audience. It was public discourse at its best (and tastiest!) Thanks to Kolquist, Seitz and Goldman for sponsoring the lunch.

We’ll be holding a free event at the Kitchi Gammi Club on February 25^th at 5 pm.
Access Northland:Getting Your Foot in the Door is made possible by the generosity of our friends at the Kitchi Gammi Club, who will be hosting Fusers who pre-register for the event. We’ll enjoy tours of the historic building, along with a brief presentation and door prize drawing. This is your big chance to get a peek inside the exclusive landmark. The Kitch is also providing one free drink ticket per Fuser and a cash bar. There is a dress code: business attire dress (mandatory coat and tie for men, complementary attire for women). Make sure to hop on to the Chamber website events page  to register, then shine up your shoes and join us!

Stay tuned for more exciting developments and blog posts from Fuse insiders. See you at the next event!

Why College Students Should Care About Fuse Duluth and the Chamber

Last year I spoke about Fuse Duluth and the Chamber to a group of  college students.  I did the usual hyper active description about the power of Fuse Duluth, the influence of the Chamber and how much fun involvement in the two was.  

Being the salesperson that I am I immediately sensed the reactions of the group from their body language and facial expressions.  Their reactions?  Disbelief.  Why should they believe me?  I had to put myself in their shoes.

I asked the question, "Why would college students not get involved in Fuse Duluth and the Chamber?"  Three hands went up right away.  Below you will see their objections and my responses to them.

1. "I don't have time.  I am already involved in clubs, work, school and have my own networks."

 My response: If a really good paying job opened up at a cool company would one of your friends or coworkers hear about it?  Would they tell you about it?  Do they know what you are looking for in a job?  Can any of them even tell you what you are going to school for?  The people you network with in clubs, at work and at school know your personality but many of them are not in a position to help refer you for a job or internship.  Networking in Fuse Duluth and the Chamber will help you build relationships that will be fruitful for your future career!

2. "I already know that I'm moving to the Twin Cities after graduation.  I don't need to get to know the local business community."  

My response: To say this is similar to saying that people who work in Duluth know nothing about the Twin Cities business community.  Many college students do not realize the number of Duluth companies that have a Twin Cities location.  Networking in the Duluth Area will open doors in communities not only in the Twin Cities but across the country.

3. "I don't know what I want to do after graduation.  I'm not ready to start applying for jobs so why would I network?"  

My response: Not sure what to do?  Then you need to network now more than anyone.  Come to a Chamber event and meet people who are working full time jobs right now.  Ask them what they do, how they got to where they are now and what their education and background is.  You will be amazed at the career paths people have taken.  And you may just be inspired!  

Convinced yet?  Please share this with a college student you know.

Is This a Blog About the Lunch Panel Yesterday? ... It Depends

"It Depends" was the phrase of the day yesterday during the last Fuse Duluth Lunch Panel of the year.  Dave Cook, Career Service Manager, from DBU puts it this way "when looking into furthering your education, the first question you need to ask is, 'why?'  What's in it for you, what is your goal?"  

Indeed there were many people in the audience who are considering furthering their education and they are not alone.  With the current economy, there is a trend of adults going back to school for a technical, bachelor's or master's degree.  Panelists shared with us that it takes 12-16 months between the initial inquiry to the time a person applies for a program.  In that time, prospective students need to gather as much information as they can to help make this big decision.

Some websites shared at the lunch event yesterday were the following:

• US Department of Labor Statistics for information on different jobs, wages and other employment trends.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for information on state/local statistics and trends.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for information on financial aid to help pay for school.

For more information on this topic including comments and statistics, please read the Fuse Duluth section of the January/February edition of the Duluthian magazine.

Thank you again to the College of St. Scholastica for sponsoring the lunch!