Social Media Drop-in Clinic May 27

Benefit for End Polio now

My firm, Kring Lerner Group, is hosting a social media drop-in clinic to benefit clients, colleagues, friends, neighbors and End Polio Now campaign of the Rotary Club of Evanston. My husband Joel and I are members.

Drop in with your questions about LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc. between 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday, May 27 to Kring Lerner's office at Coworking Evanston, at 600 Davis in Evanston. Whether you are new to using social media tools, or more experienced, you'll learn something.

Suggested donation to End Polio Now fund is $1/minute.

Come casual. Prepare to leave smarter.
Our credo: There's not such thing as a dumb question. Being an expert is only a relative term. There's always something to learn.

Snacks will be served.

RSVP by messaging me with approximately time we can expect you. Deadline to reply: 4 p.m. on May 27. I ask for this so that if no one comes, I know I can eat all the guac, popcorn, cupcakes, whatever snacks I get by myself.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

By the way, social media for business is the topic of discussion at the next Evanston Women in Business luncheon May 31.

Also, if you're needing a new headshot for LinkedIn or other sites, Kring Lerner's next BizPics shoot is June 12.

.

Hazardous To Your Health: Radiation, Oil Spills, and Coal Mine Collapses

Join a lively discussion on May 10 in Chicago

This just in from journalist Laura Washington...

From oil spills to coal mine collapses, disasters have, unfortunately, become commonplace. And now, after being struck by earthquakes and tsunamis, Japan is facing a nuclear crisis. Closer to home, Chicago is only 60 miles from its own nuclear power plant and Illinois has more of these facilities than any other state in the U.S.

Join us for a panel discussion about how we get our energy, measure the pros and cons, and discuss how the aftermath of recent disasters affect life in our city today.

When: Tuesday, May 10, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Chicago History Museum

Laura will moderate this discussion. Panelists include Henry Henderson, Director, Midwest Program-National Resources Defense Council, WBEZ’s Michael Puente, a bureau reporter who has covered a range of topics related to energy use in the community and Kennette Benedict, the Executive Director and Publisher of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a magazine established by Manhattan Project scientists in 1945 to inform the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons and other catastrophic threats to humanity.

The event is free, but we request you make a reservation on our website http://chicagohistory.org/planavisit/upcomingevents/special-events/in-the-k-now.

.

Monday Toolbox for Chicago-area business leaders

This just in...

Chicago-area professionals are invited to attend the Monday Toolbox hosted by Cynthia Early.

Mission: Local professionals meet biweekly to talk about challenges and successes in the small business arena. Not exclusively geared toward salespeople, we meet to learn how to better connect with our clients, in a positive and open atmosphere.

Group Format: We usually meet the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month for an hour starting at noon at 1131 Emerson St. in Evanston.  So we have the room ready to accommodate everyone, we appreciate RSVPs via 847-328-7853. It's BYOL, bring your own lunch.
 
PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Monday, April 11: In the interest of spring cleaning, Sue Koch and Angie Garbot will talk about How to Clean Up your Image!!  Sue has presented to the Toolbox crowd before, specializing in Social Media and how to get yourself out to the public!  Angie is a professional photographer that will talk about the importance of updating your photographic image, both in print and and online!  Angie specializes in showcasing the real YOU in her work.  Angie will also give us an opportunity to get new head shots taken!

Monday, April 25: Revitalize yourself with this program featuring Heather McCutcheon of Mindful Marketing and JJ Jones of Indigo Studios!  Heather will present her expertise in energy and shakra work to improve your focus and emotional well-being.  JJ owns a studio featuring yoga booty ballet, Zumba, and other dance/movement classes, and she also teaches yoga and meditation classes.  JJ will teach us some conscious meditation techniques which can be used anywhere to make you feel energetic, focused and more rested.

Monday, May 9: Captain Dale Fochs of the Evanston Fire Department will come in to give us helpful hints on staying safe at home and at work during this season of spring cleaning!  We will also talk about other City of Evanston programs that are there to help you at home and in business!

.

Facebook can blurs the lines between personal and professional

Deb Lawrence shares her take on this social media tool

The use of Facebook in the business world tends to cause several different types of reactions. Eye-rolling is very common with those who turn their noses up, and wonder why a rational human being would even consider using something like Facebook for business.  I suspect that these folks have either never been on this website, or have perhaps only seen the movie, “The Social Network.” This is how they have drawn their conclusions as to the usefulness of Facebook.

Personally I have used Facebook both socially and for business. Yes, I did consider whether I wanted to mesh my personal and business lives. But since I don’t have a secret, “double-life” on the wild side, I don’t really care, if my business associates know that I have a golden retriever, two cats, three kids and a great husband.

What has fascinated me, is that in my industry of marketing /public relations, is the ability of Facebook to resurrect friendships and relationships, transcend relationships and solidify friendships on a deeper level. This applies to business as well as personal relationships. 

Many people have said, that I’m a natural networker, and I say, I was networking without knowing what it was, or before it was popular. I enjoy people, and learning about people. I find people interesting. And that is what makes the world go around.

Facebook has become a tool to me in my career. It has helped me to network on a more personal level with many people in the business world. Specifically, I have had the ability to get to know various people who I never would have reached out to in the past. One example, is that when the Skokie Chamber of Commerce has needed a keynote speaker or an emcee for events, I reached out to business contacts through Facebook. Having been connected to various "friends", it was a natural extension of an online relationship. In seeking a win-win situation, I was able to communicate easily through Facebook and provide “details and event links” to the potential speakers.  Entire programs were set up through Facebook.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deb Lawrence is the Business Employer Services & Community Relations for Illinois workNet Centers of Northern Cook County. She was recognized as the Skokie Chamber of Commerce's 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

.

TED Talks for kids and adults

Do you know about the TED Talks?

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, is a non-profit dedicated to "ideas worth spreading".  Started in 1984, TED activities now go beyond annual conferences, which I've yet to get to in person.  I watch the TED Talks online and always come away with an additional perspective on issues I'm already engaged in and a greater understand of issues I'd rarely thought about.

Recently in TED Conversations, a mom asked for recommendations for TED Talks to share with her daughter. Concerned that the results of this very useful exchange wouldn't be available after the close of the conversation, I'm sharing some of the recommendations here, all of which I've listened to too.

All of these are suitable for adults as well.

Jamie Oliver talks about our country's dwindling mortality given our eating habits and how we can turn it around and save our kids.

Young Birke Baehr discusses the dark side of the industrialized food system, his dream of being an organic farmer and suggests not eating food that sparkles.

Young Adora Svitak challenges all to rethink the term "childish".  She thinks learning should be reciprocal.

Gever Tulley talks about playing with fire, knives, spears, appliances, the digital millenium copyright act, cars and how to raise kids to be creative, confident and in control of their environment.

William Kamkwamba discusses building an electricity-generating windmill for his family when he was 14.

Young Sirena Huang plays her violin and discusses the 16th Century technology, design and entertainment value of  her instrument.

Geert Chatrou is an amazing whistler.

Natasha Tsakos discusses the environment between reality and imagination, science and art, creative collaboration and connection, and producing meaningful work. She performs a piece from her show "Upwake".

A mathematician and a magician, Art Benjamin does "mathemagic".

Wow. Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demonstrate SixthSense.

By the way, November 20, 2011 is Universal Children's Day and TEDxYouthDay.

.