SoCal Networking Event Organizations - Weekly Updates 10/19/09

Weekly updates to the main SoCal Networking Event Organizations list. Please let me know if know of other organizations to add, or if you have any feedback on events.

Name: GroundUP Business Group
Sites: http://www.meetup.com/GroundUP-Business-Group/, www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2294960, www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=166092799697
Self-description: "This group is for individuals who are considering starting a business and have two questions in mind “Is it for me?” and “How I can find out?”. And, for small business owners who are looking for ways to improve their businesses.

GoundUP has 3 main goals:
1. Spread practical advice to individuals thinking about business startup.
2. Have business development guidance for entrepreneurs & small business owners.
3. Allow members to network and benefit from each other's expertise and encourage referrals between members. "
Frequency: Monthly
Cost: Free
Review: None
Added 10/9/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: OPEN/Ventura Highway Mixer
Sites: finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/VenturaHighwayGroup
Self-description: "Open mixer for members, alumni recruiters and hiring managers. Feel free to bring a friend!"
Frequency: "every month on the second Thursday." Marriott Courtyard, 191 E. Cochran Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065
Cost: Free
Review: None
Added 10/9/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: Allegiance - VOC Networking Luncheon
Sites: http://www.allegiance.com/
Self-description: "Limiting Participation. The concern we all had was to keep this from turning into “one of those events” where every consultant, insurance agent and attorney pounces on you with their business card. To this end, only Voice of the Customer practitioners at end-user companies are invited to join us – all due respects to everyone from other disciplines."
Frequency: Unknown
Cost: Free
Review: "invitation only, Peer-to-Peer Luncheon for VOC Executives." I've had someone write me about trying to get into this networking event who found her RSVP rejection letter "shocking".
Added 10/9/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: CloudCamp
Sites: http://www.cloudcamp.com/, groups.google.com/group/cloudcamp, www.linkedin.com/e/gis/122638/0D9CD04B30B4, www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10128776220, twitter.com/cloudcamp, twitter #cloudcamp, friendfeed.com/cloudcamp
Self-description: "an unconference where early adapters of Cloud Computing technologies exchange ideas. With the rapid change occurring in the industry, we need a place we can meet to share our experiences, challenges and solutions. At CloudCamp, you are encouraged you to share your thoughts in several open discussions, as we strive for the advancement of Cloud Computing. End users, IT professionals and vendors are all encouraged to participate."
Frequency: Various times across the U.S. (and internationally)
Cost: Free?
Review: While not exactly a networking group, anytime you can get together with your peers you're networking, right? The LA event has passed - not sure if there will be returning, but perhaps elsewhere in SoCal.
Added 10/10/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: Murrieta For You/NAFE Network
Sites: http://www.4younetwork.org/
Self-description: "For You Network™ is a business network for women business owners in Southern California. There are 19 women business networking groups, called Local Connections, in the San Diego, Riverside, Orange County and Los Angeles area for you to promote your business in a professional, but relaxed athmosphere. We are a women's business networking organization affiliated with the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE)." "The meeting consists of Networking and a dynamic speaker."
Frequency/Location: Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 11:30 to 2:00, at Carrows on Madison Ave in Murrieta, CA
Cost: "Cost is $15.00 meeting Fee members $20.00 meeting Fee guests and then the individuals are responsible to order their own lunch and pay the restaurant direct." To RSVP contact Robbie Motter, Director at 888-244-4420 or email rmotter@aol.com.
Review: "Their mission is to help women grow both personally and professionally"
Added 10/13/09 by Todd Zebert as told by Robbie Motter (who runs this event)

Name: South Orange County For You/NAFE Network
Sites: http://www.4younetwork.org/
Self-description: "For You Network™ is a business network for women business owners in Southern California. There are 19 women business networking groups, called Local Connections, in the San Diego, Riverside, Orange County and Los Angeles area for you to promote your business in a professional, but relaxed athmosphere. We are a women's business networking organization affiliated with the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE)." "The meeting consists of Networking and a dynamic speaker."
Frequency/Location: 4th Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm, at Sarducci's Depot Restaurant in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Cost: "Cost is $15.00 meeting fee members $20.00 guests, and then attendees order dinner from the menu and pay for their own dinner direct to restaurant." To RSVP contact Robbie Motter, Director at 888-244-4420 or email rmotter@aol.com.
Review: "Their mission is to help women grow both personally and professionally"
Added 10/13/09 by Todd Zebert as told by Robbie Motter (who runs this event)

Name: Tech Brew in San Luis Obispo
Sites: http://www.sbtechnology.com/slotechbrew/
Self-description: "Santa Barbara's best networking event for technology professionals finds a regular home in San Luis Obispo.
Keep up on what's new on the Central Coast. "
Frequency/Location: Second Monday of every month, 5:00pm - 7:30pm, Mother's Tavern, 725 Higuera St. Downtown SLO, CA
Cost: Free?
Review: None
Added 10/13/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: iLearning Lab
Sites: http://www.ilearninglab.com/
Self-description: "To provide access to exclusive Personal and Business Skill Development content previously available and affordable to only Fortune 500 Companies.
Free Education-Based Networking Events are hosted worldwide. These unique events showcase the exclusive content granted to us by some of the world's best known Speakers, Authors, and Trainers.
Our Competitive Advantage is that "on the same stage" we also showcase the talents of local, trusted advisors who know their community's needs best."
Frequency/Location: Every week or two. 16940 Von Karman Avenue - Second Floor, Irvine, CA 92606
Cost: Free
Review: Note that their website is being revised, but the calendar and RSVP system is working. These aren't just networking events, but 4Q09 events also include "Social Media Mania: How Not To Go Crazy From The Hype" and "Human Resources: Should a Small Business Owner Care?"
Added 10/19/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: SoBayJSWT - Elle Oliver
Sites: *by referral*
Self-description: "We use [a format] which has been so effective for individuals in job search to help them structure their search project, establish their priorities, stay focused on their goals and support them through the process. We ask that participants be prepared to share copies of their resumes (and marketing plans if they have one), use their positioning statement to introduce themselves and tell the group of the highlights of their search and where they can use support. Everyone is also asked to share their goals and commitments for the upcoming week.

Participants are asked to arrive on time, be prepared to share their own stories as well as leads and contacts so that all participants have time to contribute and be supported during the 2-hour meeting. Therefore, although the group is not limited, it is not conducted in a large networking format but rather as an ongoing support team. We are not focusing on increasing our numbers but rather on creating value for the participants. After a person attends a meeting, we invite them to our Yahoo! group where they can post their resumes, post and access leads and recruiter lists, etc. We use this means to invite each person to our meetings on an ongoing basis and obtain their RSVPs. "
Frequency/Location: Weekly. El Segundo, CA
Cost: Free
Review: I attended last Friday and Elle (previously a Director of Professional Services and Career Coach at Lee Hecht Harrison) is a great facilatator. This is not your standard big-bunch-of-people networking event - it's job search coaching, and sharing. Recommended.
Added 10/19/09 by Todd Zebert

Name: Linked !n Long Beach
Sites: www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2018826,
Self-description: "You are invited to join a new distinct group for LinkedIn professionals who are either located or have business connections in Long Beach, California and the surrounding cities. Long Beach, CA is centrally located between Los Angeles and Orange County, two of the largest economies in the world (Air Force One even landed here), and is home to thousands of businesses and individuals who are your potential contacts. The primary mission of this group is to help "Linked !n Long Beach" members network, learn, grow, connect and build a professional online business network."
Frequency/Location: First meeting: Kavikas Grill & Bar
95 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Cost: Free
Review: I'm going to try and make this.
Added 10/19/09 by Todd Zebert