First of all, happy New Year to all of my readers! I hope that you and your families had good family reunions, all shared wonderful meals, and that everyone is ready to focus on new priorities and do some Fresh Thinking in 2012!

Our Flash Bash was another huge success on the final Thursday of 2011 as the B2B team demonstrated once again, that we have our finger on the pulse of a new way for the Hudson Valley to network. The Flash Bashes are held in between our thrice yearly B2B Bashes, with this one held at Paula’s Stone Cottage Wine Bar. Paula, in her usual fashion, welcomed everyone personally and made sure that we were well cared for.

Sometimes I am purely a Development Strategist, but at the B2B Bashes I put on a different hat – or maybe wear two at the same time – and introduce my nonprofit friends to the for-profit community. These events are so much more than opportunities to check out cool Hudson Valley venues and meet area businesspeople and neighboring nonprofit leaders. The Bashes are highly targeted networking events that connect organizations with resources that have common interests so that everybody, nonprofits and for-profits alike, benefits. Our B2B events are social gatherings that people want to attend again and again. The Bash team works the room to make sure everyone is drawn into conversations with no wallflowers allowed! Join us at the next Flash Bash and see for yourselves! Sign up on Twitter or Facebook to get updates on the Flash Bash.
It’s fun, it’s free and it’s great for your business.  
But we will only advertise the Flash Bash through our social media outlets. So you must connect with us either through Facebook or Twitter to get the invitation.

While it’s fun to introduce for-profit businesses to nonprofit organizations, it’s also tremendously rewarding to educate them on the challenges that nonprofits face. These business leaders already have an interest in helping the community, offering new ideas and critical information, with in-kind commitments that will support the nonprofit infrastructure in our region.   They understand the tremendous importance to connect with the organizations that add value and meaning to the Hudson Valley.

Every time we hold a Bash event, something important happens for those who come.

It’s official..our next B2B Bash will be held at Barnaby’s (New Paltz) May 31, 6-9pm.  The New York City Bash is scheduled for September.  Venue still under wraps and you definitely won’t want to miss this one!