1st – it’s day 19 of National Women’s Friendship Month. Did you know we have two more events in Cincinnati for women? Join us! And speaking of getting together with women …

How often do you network with other women in your community? What friends have you met through social media or volunteering? How can you benefit from friendships and business connections?

On Wednesday this week I had an 8:00 coffee meeting with Vanessa, 10:00 meeting (more coffee!) with Kelley and a two-hour brainstorm session with Joanne. By 1:00, I felt like my day was complete because I had had such wonderful conversations, interesting discussions and collaborative connections. It was awesome! (Like these amazing, inspiring, smart women!)

I met each of these women through networking. Some through events or friends, some through social networking – but all were women that I had the opportunity to meet and am so thankful that the connection that we’ve made. They, along with so many other women who bless my life, are not only business and community connections but also have become friends.

Each Saturday on Girlfriendology we do a little local twist on girlfriends. We’ve shared events for women, Cincinnati entrepreneurial advice/resources and more. So, this week we’re sharing some networking and volunteering groups and opportunities. Perhaps we’ll see you there!?

• GIRLFRIENDOLOGY EVENTS – Sorry, one more plug for our National Women’s Friendship Day events (where we promise you’ll meet some new potential girlfriends!). Sunday: Girlfriend Day at the Ballet (Sunday, 2:00, Cincinnati Ballet) and Girlfriends Happy Hour (Monday, 5:30 – on, Balboa’s on Madison in O’Bryonville). See Girlfriendology for more info on these events for women.
• IMPACT 100 – Impact 100 empowers women to dramatically improve lives by collectively funding significant grants that make a lasting impact in our community. Plus, I’ve attended one of their events and met wonderful women as well as learned more about non-profits who are making a difference in our community.
• CINCINNATI BIZ WOMEN BREAKFAST – Each quarter the Business Courier hosts a ‘Biz Women’s Breakfast.’ I’ve met business contacts and new friends there. It just happened Sept. 11th so will be back in the Winter but you could get on their mailing list for all their events.
• UNITED WAY – One of the best ways to network, and meet new friends, is to volunteer. The Cincinnati United Way offers great volunteer connections at wonderful locations/organizations all over town. (Plus, you’ll just feel good for making a difference in lives and our city of Cincinnati!)
• 85 BROADS – Is a new organization for women in Cincinnati. Or, as they say it: “it’s a network of ambitious, intelligent women who want to inspire each other to blaze new trails, to scale new heights, to achieve not only a life of success but one of true significance.” Plus, it was just a fun group of women who, no doubt, will provide a great community for networking and friendship.
• CINCINNATI WOMEN BLOGGERS – Near and dear to my heart, Cincinnati Women Bloggers are a great group of women who blog and thrive in the social media world. Great women who are smart, talented and fun. Come join us! (Next meeting: Sept. 26th. See the website for more info.)

What other organizations and events do you find helpful for networking? Where have you met your friends or volunteered and made some good connections? What would you recommend to a new woman in town? (Like Cathy I met last night at our Cooking With Caitlin event!)

Tags: Business, events for women, friendship, networking, social media, Social network

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at 6:50 am and is filed under Be a Better FRIEND, Business and Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.