Dedham resident David Gorden said everything is taken care of, the only thing he asks attendees to do is BYOBC – bring your own business cards.
It has taken almost a year to get off the ground, but Dedham Civic Connections will hold its inaugural networking event on Dec. 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Vinny T’s at 233 Elm St.
The group’s aim is to bring the Dedham business community together, from the faces at Town Hall to business owners in the Square to the average resident, in a “nonchalant way,” to talk about the needs of the town, said Gorden, the groups’s co-chairman.
“My goal for this event is to help us learn more about the people we live next to and work with everyday,” said selectwoman Sarah McDonald, who also is helping organize Dedham Civic Connections.
Gorden hopes that by providing a networking opportunity residents and town employees will connect and ultimately “learn more about town government procedures and civic opportunities in general.”
“Into my second year of serving, I still haven’t met everyone involved in the dozens of departments, boards, committees and civic groups,” said selectmen Paul Reynolds, “Dedham Civic Connections is our way to say loud and clear that to enjoy a vibrant, participatory democracy, that it actually matters that we know each other.”
As a member of the town’s Conservation Commission and an environmental scientist, Gorden said he has organized several successful networking functions.
He pointed to one networking event in April 2009 with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions. Gorden said conservation commissioners often hit a roadblock in communicating with surrounding towns. During the April event in Lowell, commissions from neighboring towns gathered to talk about various issues that affect their communities, he said.
Gorden said he is applying his past experience with networking events when organizing programs through Dedham Civic Connections.
“Personally I really want to see this succeed. It is a way to get everyone together employees, civic groups and business owners,” he said noting that in Dedham many of the business owners are also residents. “It is a chance to meet the people behind the curtain.”
| If you go What: Dedham Civic Connections networking reception When: Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Where: Vinny T’s of Boston, 233 Elm St. RSVP: DedhamNetwork@gmail.com |
The networking event is also the perfect place for job seekers to connect with local businesses, Gorden said, stressing that the event is open to all residents.
Needham Bank is sponsoring the event, and there is no cost to attendees. Gorden did emphasize that space is limited, so reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail DedhamNetwork@gmail.com by Friday, Nov. 20. Gorden said Dedham Civic Connections is planning a second networking event for spring 2010 and is looking for an event sponsor.
At the end of the day, Gorden said, Dedham Civic Connections is about the community.
“If we can help the town connect with itself, that’s worth the whole thing,” he said.
Dedham Transcript editor Andrea Salisbury can be reached at 781-433-8322 or by e-mail at asalisbu@cnc.com.
