MAY 2008                                                                         a monthly e-newsletter of the Young Professionals Network

 


YP SPOTLIGHT

Ryan Fenstermaker

Employer
1st Source Bank

Job Title
Small Business Banking Officer

Hometown
Born and raised in LaPorte, Ind., but now calls South
Bend home.

Hobbies/Interests
Running, playing golf, home improvement projects and volunteering.

Something most people don’t know about Ryan
"I have run four marathons, with my fastest time being a 2:40 at Boston in 2006.  I have also hiked to seven or eight of Colorado’s 14ers (14ers are mountains that peak above 14,000 feet high). I am also one of the co-founders of The Michiana Runners Association (www.michianarunners.org) which is a non-profit whose purpose is to better the running community in Michiana."

How have you benefited from your involvement in YPN?
"I have formed many strong professional connections through my involvement with YPN and by networking at YPN events. I have also picked up a lot of good practices on a variety of issues. The opportunities that YPN provides to the young professionals of this community are outstanding. I have been able to have conversations with our political representatives, learn about volunteer opportunities and listen to great speakers on a variety of important and relevant topics. I am proud to serve on the Advisory Council for YPN because of the countless benefits that this organization provides to the young professionals that live and work in Michiana."


YPN Promotes Civic Engagement with Mayoral Roundtable Discussions

Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea and South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke opened their doors to a small group of YPs for roundtable discussions this past month. The discussions were organized by the YPN Civic Engagement
work team.

“Our goal is to maintain an open dialogue between the cities and young professionals to encourage civic engagement,” said Civic Engagement
co-chair Amy Hill.

At the roundtables, the mayors shared recent economic growth and development successes and their vision of the future for their city. The meeting also provided an outlet for YPs to candidly discuss quality-of-life initiatives, the education system and other issues of importance to YPs.

Max Black, an account executive for WVPE Public Radio and resident of Mishawaka, attended the first roundtable with Mayor Rea and appreciated the opportunity to talk so openly with the mayor. “I was really impressed with the level of detail Mayor Rea shared with us on future development and am happy he’s open to receiving feedback and suggestions from YPs on a variety of issues,” he said.

Future YPN roundtable discussions will be held on a quarterly basis in both Mishawaka and South Bend. An invitation will be sent to YPN members in advance of each meeting however, participation is limited to 15 people on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dealing with Difficult People
Do you know a jerk at work?

On April 24, more than 70 YPs gathered to discuss just that at a Lunch ‘N Learn titled Difficult People in the Workplace – AKA: Jerks at Work.

Feature speaker Kara McClure of PeopleWorks presented typical myths about difficult behavior, why some people choose to use it (because it works) and when and how to confront it.
 

Types of difficult behavior
    l Personal attacks
    l Belittles
    l Yells
    l Disrespectful
    l Ignores
    l Nit-picks
    l Steals credit
    l Won’t listen

General Tactics
    l Don’t get hooked!
    l Pause and breathe
    l Avoid “you”
    l Monitor non-verbals
    l Use listening skills
    l Speak and look assertive
    l Call a time-out

Speak & Act Assertively
    l Actively listen by restating
    l their issue
    l Use “I” messages
    l Describe boundaries
    l Don’t let them detour

Problem-Solve
    l Ask open-ended questions and find
    l out what the issue really is
    l Give them options and solutions

 

Before you decide to confront a challenging person in the workplace, Kara suggests that you consider if it will be worthwhile. Is the person important to you? Does their behavior affect you and other co-workers?


  

COMMUNITY CORNER

Put on Your Running Shoes
The 25th annual Sunburst races will be held on Saturday, May 31 beginning at the College Football Hall of Fame and ending at the University of Notre Dame. The races include a marathon, half-marathon, 5K run, 10K run and 5K fitness walk. Race start times and registration details can be found online at www.sunburstraces.org. A pasta dinner and family fun walk will be held on Friday, May 30 to prepare for race day.

Relay for Life®
The American Cancer Society’s signature event, Relay for Life®, brings together community members whose lives have been touched by cancer. Participants on a team raise donations and take turns walking (or running) over a span of 24 hours. Several Michiana Relay for Life® events are scheduled in May and June, including South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, New Prairie and Niles. Visit www.relayforlife.org for dates/times, to make a donation or to register a team!

Music to Our Ears
 Mishawaka kicks off the summer season next month with outdoor musical performances that cater to a variety of tastes: A concert featuring the South Slope Cut Throats will be held to celebrate the city’s 175th birthday and will take place in Beutter Park on Thursday, June 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

New for 2008, “Music on the Deck” features live music and refreshments at the Eberhart Petro Golf Course. The Dave Thomas Band will perform at the opening event on Friday, June 6 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.

 

The Battell Bandshell Series features the Michiana Concert Band on Monday, June 9 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Battell Park. Don’t forget a lawn chair or blanket!

 

The Beutter Park Concert Series is back! This season’s first concert is on Thursday, June 12 beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the Steve Foresman Band. Concessions available.

 

Fridays by the Fountain

The “Fridays by the Fountain” series in downtown South Bend returns on June 13 with the Shake N Chill band. The event will be held every second Friday through August from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Jon R. Hunt Plaza outside the Morris Performing Arts Center. Enjoy musical performances and lunch selections available from various downtown vendors.

 

We Need Your Input!

We will be adding several new components to the newsletter in the coming months and we are seeking your input.

 

Your Michiana

If you would like to share what things you enjoy and recommend in the Michiana area (from visiting museums, attending theatrical or musical performances, volunteering, participating in outdoor activities, etc.), please let us know!

 

Young, Professional & Political

The 2008 election is heating up, and we want to hear from you! We are seeking YPs to give us political views – at the local, state and federal levels.

 

E-mail your feedback to Lindahl Wiegand at wiegandl@sjrmc.com or Anneliese Woolford at awoolford@cbresb.com.

Feel free to write as much or as little as you want, however, be specific and please keep your comments professional and relevant. The publishing of feedback is at the sole discretion of the YPN Newsletter work team.

READING CORNER

It’s Okay to be the Boss
By Bruce Tulgan

Kara McClure, a local business consultant and presenter for the April Lunch ‘N Learn, has recommended Bruce Tulgan’s book, “It’s Okay to be the Boss,” as one to help manage those difficult personalities in the workplace.

In Tulgan’s book, he points to a problem he calls an under management epidemic at all levels and across all industries in America today. Tulgan, an expert in the dynamics of the younger generations, talks about his Top Seven Management Myths in Today’s Workplace.

  1. The Myth of Empowerment: Almost everyone performs better with more direction from someone with more experience.

  2. The Myth of Fairness: True fairness is treating people based on what they deserve from their performance.

  3. The Myth of the Nice Guy: Real “nice guy” managers do what it takes to make their people successful.

  4. The Myth of the Difficult Conversation: Being a strong manager means those conversations rarely occur, and when they do they are not so painful.

  5. The Myth of Red Tape: Learn the red tape and learn to focus on things within your control.

  6. The Myth of the Natural Leader: The best managers are those who learn and practice good management skills.

  7. The Myth of Time: The reality is that you don’t have the time NOT to manage.   

Do you have a book you would like to spotlight in the YPN E-Newsletter? Let us know! E-mail Lindahl Wiegand at wiegandl@sjrmc.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS
 


Thursday, May 29, 2008
Continuing Education - Is it Time to Go Back to School?
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Gibson Insurance Group

So you have a little “real life” work experience under your belt. Is it time to go back to school to further your education? Dr. P.N. Saksena, director of Graduate Studies at IUSB, will share information about local opportunities to continue your education. He will discuss the added value of an MBA, along with ways YPs can prepare themselves for the time and financial commitment of obtaining an additional degree. REGISTER NOW
 

Have an idea for future YPN event programming? We want to hear from you!

The Large Events and Lunch 'N Learn teams work hard to provide you with solid, beneficial programming. We are looking to you for input on future programming. What topics would you like to see covered in upcoming YPN events? Or, if you ever have any suggestions on possible speakers, let us know. E-mail your ideas/comments to Shari Carroll with The Chamber. Thank you!
 

Kicks for Kids
Adult Kickball Tournament
Saturday, June 21

Kicks for Kids is an Adult Kickball Tournament to raise funds for Friends of Child Abuse Prevention Services (FOCAPS) and ‘BASS Club.  The Kicks for Kids Tournament annually draws more than 180 participants from the Michiana Area. This year, the tournament will be held at Clay Township Park (off Laurel Rd.) in South Bend on June 21
at 10 a.m.

There are a few sponsorship spots and kickball team openings still available. For more information on Kicks for Kids, please visit www.Kicksforkids.info or contact Cecile Taylor at ceciletaylor@gmail.com or 574.329.0339.
To read more about this event, click here.



 MORE YPN EVENTS

CHAMBER EVENTS
'BASS EVENTS
 


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