I have a marketing group networking social today. That’s a fancy description for a happy hour. The sponsoring entity is the Austin Marketing Syndicate, a professional organization I co-founded soon after the economy cratered in Q4 2008 that left so many of us on the sidelines out of work.
Membership in the Austin Marketing Syndicate (AMS) was robust throughout much of 2009. Attendance at our weekly meetings was between 25 and 35 people. The executive committee I sat on prepared an agenda for each meeting that focused on learning and career development. We delved into most every traditional marketing discipline, but put extra emphasis on the new social media tools that were getting serious traction in corporate America. Every meeting provided value for me, and based on the energy and interaction of the attendees, it was clear most everyone agreed. Seeing the same faces at the next meeting removed all doubt.
All of that talent needed a purpose, too. So we aligned ourselves with the Ronald McDonald House-Austin and offered our services pro bono. The charity was all-too-happy to accept and we were put to work. An AMS committee wrote and submitted the application that won the Ronald McDonald House a $10,000 Google AdWords grant. Members wrote content for their website. The Syndicate has raised over $3,000 for the Lights of Love 5K annual fundraiser and we’ve provided pre-race preparation and race day staffing for the event. Throughout the year, we call attention to the charity’s mission and support their social networking efforts. It’s a wonderful and very rewarding relationship.
In 2010, hiring picked up and it seemed that at every meeting someone announced they landed a new job. Good jobs that paid well. It was exhilarating. Finally, it seemed we had turned the corner and marketing was needed, desired and valued again to develop strategies, manage product portfolios and customer relationships, launch programs and help drive revenue.
During much of 2011 the hiring trend has continued. New faces appear at our bi-weekly AMS meetings and occasionally someone announces they have a new job. And we continue to support Ronald McDonald House-Austin.
The icing on the cake is the quarterly AMS networking socials. Alumni members are invited and it’s exciting to hear their war stories. Most are doing very well and I’m thrilled for them. I’m also grateful they remember their colleagues at the Austin Marketing Syndicate and take the time to share their time with us.
I need to wrap this up. It’s time to go to the social.
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