I believe in the power of networking.
Let’s define network. A network is a group of individuals, businesses, or organizations that affiliate with each other, that “connect” in order to better achieve something they’ve not been able to do on their own. Networks come together to discuss challenges, share ideas and tips, and collaborate on joint projects better done at a larger scale. Networks offer a means to get where we want to go faster, smarter, and with better overall results; they help strengthen a community.
Networks of invested rural people are what drive local efforts to enhance their economy and improve their quality of life.
Since moving to Ely in January 2019 I have worked as a server at a local restaurant, an administrator for a local healthcare provider, and an independent contractor for a local small business owner. I have served on the Ely Folk School Board of Directors, as well as the Minnesota North Vermilion Advisory Board. I currently manage Boundary Waters Connect, an economic and community development program. I also work for the Ely Tourism Bureau as a liaison and the host of the What’s Up Ely Podcast. Wearing these hats, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with dozens of local businesses and nonprofit organizations on various projects and community events.
It is from this vantage point that I can see that many of our disparate institutions are facing similar challenges. Whether it’s financing, human resource management, volunteer stewardship, technology integration, marketing, or succession planning – we’ve all got something to learn and opportunities to grow, but many of us are at our maximum capacity. How to squeeze one more project into our work plans?
There is plenty of work to be done, an abundance of vision, but yet there are barriers to achieving our full potential.
I’ve been working with a committee of local business owners and nonprofit organization leaders to discuss this very topic, and we believe an essential part of the solution to any of our common challenges will be collaboration. We believe in the power of networking. And so we are hosting an Ely for Ely [Networking] Workshop on Monday, November 18.
Let’s gather together to share who we are, what our respective organizations are working toward, to discuss challenges, share ideas and tips, and imagine how we might collaborate in service of solutions to said challenges.
Additionally, this Ely for Ely workshop will segue into a monthly networking and professional development gathering on the mornings of the second Tuesday of the month starting in January 2025. These monthly gatherings will be free to attend and open to all, they will feature facilitated networking as well as a brief professional development presentation by a local or regional expert on topics such as marketing, financing, accounting, human resources, and more – as influenced by those who attend the workshop, as we learn about your interests, challenges, concerns, and curiosities.
And so on behalf of the committee of folks hosting the Ely for Ely Workshop, we sincerely hope you will consider joining us on November 18 at the Grand Ely Lodge. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the workshop will begin at 9:00am. The cost of registration is $20 (with scholarships available); registration covers continental breakfast, a lunch buffet, and an afternoon snack. The workshop will end at 4:00pm, at which time participants are invited to an optional, free happy hour at the Ely Folk School.
Registration for the Ely for Ely Workshop will open on Tuesday, October 1. The deadline to register is 9:00am on Monday, November 11.
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