Fuse Blog
Getting EnFuseIastic About Twenty-Ten!
Posted Jan 27, 2010 by breanneFuse’s fifth year is set to be a big one, complete with exciting events, beneficial changes, and continued opportunities.
Along with a change in leadership from Breanne (who’s shifted her focus full-time to Membership Development at the Chamber), to me, we’ve ushered in our new pay-per-event Fuse membership structure, and we’ve launched into our itinerary of events for 2010. It’s a busy time for Fuse, and as a young program, we’re growing as we go to serve our members and community in the best capacity possible.
Our first event of the year was a big success. We had a packed house for the Fuse Lunch Discussion With Don Ness at Mr’D’s on January 21st. Every last seat was filled, every place setting graced with a plate of tasty ravioli, and Fusers enjoyed an address from mayor Ness. Following his remarks, the mayor fielded an engaging round of questions from the audience. It was public discourse at its best (and tastiest!) Thanks to Kolquist, Seitz and Goldman for sponsoring the lunch.
We’ll be holding a free event at the Kitchi Gammi Club on February 25th at 5 pm.
Access Northland:Getting Your Foot in the Door is made possible by the generosity of our friends at the Kitchi Gammi Club, who will be hosting Fusers who pre-register for the event. We’ll enjoy tours of the historic building, along with a brief presentation and door prize drawing. This is your big chance to get a peek inside the exclusive landmark. The Kitch is also providing one free drink ticket per Fuser and a cash bar. There is a dress code: business attire dress (mandatory coat and tie for men, complementary attire for women). Make sure to hop on to the Chamber website events page to register, then shine up your shoes and join us!
Stay tuned for more exciting developments and blog posts from Fuse insiders. See you at the next event!
Why College Students Should Care About Fuse Duluth and the Chamber
Posted Nov 23, 2009 by breanneLast year I spoke about Fuse Duluth and the Chamber to a group of college students. I did the usual hyper active description about the power of Fuse Duluth, the influence of the Chamber and how much fun involvement in the two was.
Being the salesperson that I am I immediately sensed the reactions of the group from their body language and facial expressions. Their reactions? Disbelief. Why should they believe me? I had to put myself in their shoes.
I asked the question, "Why would college students not get involved in Fuse Duluth and the Chamber?" Three hands went up right away. Below you will see their objections and my responses to them.
1. "I don't have time. I am already involved in clubs, work, school and have my own networks."
My response: If a really good paying job opened up at a cool company would one of your friends or coworkers hear about it? Would they tell you about it? Do they know what you are looking for in a job? Can any of them even tell you what you are going to school for? The people you network with in clubs, at work and at school know your personality but many of them are not in a position to help refer you for a job or internship. Networking in Fuse Duluth and the Chamber will help you build relationships that will be fruitful for your future career!
2. "I already know that I'm moving to the Twin Cities after graduation. I don't need to get to know the local business community."
My response: To say this is similar to saying that people who work in Duluth know nothing about the Twin Cities business community. Many college students do not realize the number of Duluth companies that have a Twin Cities location. Networking in the Duluth Area will open doors in communities not only in the Twin Cities but across the country.
3. "I don't know what I want to do after graduation. I'm not ready to start applying for jobs so why would I network?"
My response: Not sure what to do? Then you need to network now more than anyone. Come to a Chamber event and meet people who are working full time jobs right now. Ask them what they do, how they got to where they are now and what their education and background is. You will be amazed at the career paths people have taken. And you may just be inspired!
Convinced yet? Please share this with a college student you know.
Is This a Blog About the Lunch Panel Yesterday? ... It Depends
Posted Nov 20, 2009 by breanne"It Depends" was the phrase of the day yesterday during the last Fuse Duluth Lunch Panel of the year. Dave Cook, Career Service Manager, from DBU puts it this way "when looking into furthering your education, the first question you need to ask is, 'why?' What's in it for you, what is your goal?"
Indeed there were many people in the audience who are considering furthering their education and they are not alone. With the current economy, there is a trend of adults going back to school for a technical, bachelor's or master's degree. Panelists shared with us that it takes 12-16 months between the initial inquiry to the time a person applies for a program. In that time, prospective students need to gather as much information as they can to help make this big decision.
Some websites shared at the lunch event yesterday were the following:
- US Department of Labor Statistics for information on different jobs, wages and other employment trends.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for information on state/local statistics and trends.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for information on financial aid to help pay for school.
For more information on this topic including comments and statistics, please read the Fuse Duluth section of the January/February edition of the Duluthian magazine.
Thank you again to the College of St. Scholastica for sponsoring the lunch!
A Holiday Bonus Desktop Design
Posted Nov 17, 2009 by breanneHappy Holidays! Martin Sawinski of 3FIVE Designs has donated a Fuse Duluth desktop design as a gift to Fusers. Click on the link below, download and put it on your desktop today.
New and Final Fuse Duluth Desktop Design
Posted Oct 26, 2009 by breanneCheck out the new Fuse Duluth desktop now available for download. See attached for the new design. Add this to your computer to show your Fuse pride. Another great idea… use it as your background on your Blackberry or iPhone. This is the fourth and final design in a 4 part series for the Fuse Duluth branding and website launch. FYI: This and other Fuse Duluth desktop designs were created by Martin Sawinski of 3FIVE Designs, Inc.
Do you have all the desktop designs? Get the rest of them by clicking the links below and Fuse your space now!
4th Quarter -check out the attachment below.
