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News Archives (20-Feb-02)
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2/20/02 Twenty-First Century Business Networking But a business network is like a community: there are room for lots of them, and they thrive to the extent that their members do well through their participation. Of course, tradition is also an important part of every community. We're not striving to be different for its own sake. But whether we like it or not, the businesses of the 21st century have changing needs and requirements. What makes us different is that we recognize this and strive to build on it. Our goal is to identify the needs that 21st-century businesses have, and evolve a network that meets them. The local businesses we are aiming to reach can be of any size, industry focus, or organizational strategy. Increasingly, size does not matter. Sophistication and touching the customer does. Many large corporations, such as those in telecommunications, appear to be completely demoralized; others seem to be hermetically sealed to outsiders.
(More to come)
What is 21st-century business networking anyway? We like to say, "This isn't your father's Chamber of Commerce." That's not because we don't appreciate the Chambers. We're members of the Somerset County Chamber, and the Bernards Township Chamber as well, because we support all kinds of business organizations and associations. 
Now that the bloom is off the Internet rose, millenial fever has evaporated, and September 11 has left us with a lasting sense of our own vulnerability to technological attack, businesses face several important challenges. It's not enough just to be profitable. It's also necessary to be relevant.
This is exactly our focus. By being relevant to the needs of local businesses, we can be profitable and make a difference doing so. We can deliver what companies need, which is more business, more collaboration, more access to tools and to resources to get the job done. 
Even big companies need to have a local presence: if they don't work their own back yard, they're passing up an important opportunity. Henry Ford's goal was to pay his workers enough so that they could afford to buy cars for themselves from the company, and this would help sustain his market. You want your company to buy and sell more locally because this represents an efficient, underutilized market and will strengthen the prosperity in your own neighborhood. Companies which do this prosper. Those that do not will, in the end, find that their passing is not mourned (or even, sometimes, resisted by their own staff).
Here are some of our immediate objectives:- to enhance our local business portal, as a site that features local business news, resources, and online services
- to place our business directory of over 5000 local companies and branch offices online in a searchable format (certain features will only be available to members
- to implement member-only password-protected access to premium features
- to develop a local resource guide for area businesses
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| Long Distance Plan |
| Satellite Internet Access |
| 1/25/02 Networking Plus Kickoff Pronounced "A Great Success" We saw a number of people exchanging leads and heard a lot of positive feedback. All in all, a very good beginning. Mark your calendar for 8AM to 9:30AM on February 22nd for our next meeting. We will be trying to find a bigger facility to handle the growing number of people that we expect will attend (especially if everybody brings a guest as suggested), and if you have a large meeting area to contribute or any suggestions for space, let us know. If you arrange to get us flyers or brochures (30 to 40 copies) for your business, we will aggregate them and create some kits to distribute to attendees at the next meeting. We will also start taking names of businesses and people who would like to make a 6 minute presentation. Contact us if this is something you would like to do. And PLEASE let us know you're coming so we can plan properly. | |||||
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| If you have a story to tell, or one you'd like to see featured, send it to us at hillsbusiness@gotco.com. We'll feature it on the site, and make sure that members know about it, through our monthly e-letter. |
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