Attention Young Professionals: Come Out of Your Social Networking Shell! Posted 2/14/2013
Social networking isn’t just for the virtual world. Sure, we all get excited when we get a new facebook friend or someone requests to join our LinkedIn networks; but these don’t serve as a replacement for actually meeting and interacting with other people. Call me old school, but I still enjoy “social networking” in the real, tangible world. Fortunately, The Virginia Living Museum and The Mariners’ Museum are thinking about young professionals and how to help them connect in person.
A little over a year ago, both museums started clubs for young professionals. The Virginia Living Museum launched R.O.M.P. and The Mariners’ Museum created The Crew. Both clubs give their members a variety of benefits. Aside from providing opportunities for young professionals to meet and mingle, memberships to the clubs include museum privileges, free and discounted admissions to events, and invitations to member only events. But, despite their similarities, the clubs are very different.
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The Virginia Living Museum’s membership group, R.O.M.P., “Reaching Out, Meeting People”, gives young professionals opportunities to meet up at VLM for evenings filled with socializing, networking, and entertainment. Organized gatherings, open to members and nonmembers, are held every other month. VLM’s Amanda Hupp serves as a welcoming and friendly host, mingling amongst members and guests. After socializing and networking over some light and tasty food and beverages, the group is invited to learn a little something about the museum. Each meeting has a special activity planned. Dan Schatt, a R.O.M.P. member, enjoys the opportunities of “getting behind the scenes and seeing how they care for all the animals”. Previous meetings have including learning about how the museum prepares food for the animals and how VLM maintains their elaborate aquariums. Dan adds that R.O.M.P meetings are a way to “meet some great people”.
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The Mariners’ Museum started their membership group, known as The Crew, as part of their initiative to encourage young professionals to support the Museum and the community through building partnerships and sponsoring events. The Museum holds a number of fun events that are designed to attract young professionals. The 2013 “First Thursdays” kicked off in January with “What do you do with a drunken sailor?”. These social events offer live music, food and beverages, raffles, and a special exhibit. Other events, such as “Party on the Patio” and “Battle of the Beers”, are strung throughout the year. The Crew serves as a host for a number of these events. Elizabeth Jackson, Proposals and Grants Coordinator for the museum, describes The Crew not simply as a meet up group, but as a way for the museum to “encourage young professionals to take on leadership roles which can help with their professional development." As The Crew continues to grow in membership, The Mariners’ Museum intends to turn it into an independent group. Crew Members will have the opportunity to create its own board. The board members will define their roles and responsibilities and select members for leadership positions. They will also be able to create new traditions and plan their own events and fundraisers.
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Both R.O.M.P. and The Crew play an important role in their museums. They help promote and support their museums. They reflect how each museum can be appealing to a broad range of age groups, including young professionals. Whether you’re feeling adventurous, looking to meet new people, or interested in fun ways to support your community, R.O.M.P and The Crew have you covered. More information regarding the benefits of becoming a member, how to become a member and upcoming events can be found on the museums’ websites.
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The Crew will be hosting a happy hour at Luckies in Hampton on February 22nd. For more information and to R.S.V.P. contact:
Fagel Baer, Membership Coordinator
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R.O.M.P.’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 13th. The activity planned for the evening involves learning about the museum’s nocturnal animals.
For more information, contact:
Amanda Hupp, Outreach Coordinator
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