Networking can be defined as: The practice of gathering of contacts, the process or practice of building up or maintaining informal relationships, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages such as job or business opportunities.
Networking is sometimes an overused term, but the definition given above definitely describes what happens when our members get together oneon-one, in a chapter, in social media, or at our national conference. Two people getting together for a cup of coffee may not feel like networking, but there is much information exchanged. Discussions about where to find a certain thread or the color and type of fabric used for a client’s garment or how to deal with the construction of a garment are but a few exchanges that might occur between two individuals.
On the chapter level, networking can evolve even more. Chapters many times will invite an outside speaker to come and give a presentation to its members. This presentation is a springboard to an active discussion during the meeting and continued interactions in the days and months to follow. If a chapter chooses to do a community service project, the networking that occurs is not only between its members, but reaches the local community and lets others know about ASDP. Of course, this may spark someone who has been considering a sewing business into action and possibly more members for ASDP.
Facebook, blogs, Go to Meeting, Go to Webinar are some examples of social media in which networking occurs. In the past year, our national board has started utilizing Go to Meeting for its monthly meetings. Go to Meeting has made board meetings more intimate in that feedback is given not only verbally but also through facial expressions. I feel much more connected to other board members because of this face-to-face interaction.
The ASDP annual conference is networking on a huge scale. Not only do members converse with each other, but there are also ample opportunities to learn a new skill, or listen to how others solve a particular sewing issue. Meeting together, learning together, shopping together, socializing together, touching fabric and notions together, laughing, hugging and supporting each other is what conference is all about. This physicality of being together is much more than any Go to Meeting, blog or Facebook could ever be.
I am very pleased to say that we had ten brand new ASDP members who attended their very first conference this year! It is my hope that these new members, some of them young enough to be my daughter, will continue their relationship with this organization. It was truly a delight to meet them and find out about their businesses, future plans, and to feel the level of professionalism they have.
A majority of conference attendees state that by the end of conference, “with all of the information and networking, their brain feels like mush.” This issue of Perspectives contains quite a bit of conference related material. It is our way of sharing a bit of conference with everyone. Enjoy!
Written by Teresa Nieswaag, President
