This month YPN encourages you to:

• Go back to school and help YPN's ongoing initiative to support McClure Elementary School.
• Be heard on the Voice of the Young Philadelphia survey.
• Submit last minute ideas for the YPN tagline contest.
• Take advantage of special YPN discounts to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s events.

Click here to see if you made the photos from January’s YPN event.

Drop Everything and Read with YPN and McClure Elementary School!

Through the Young Professionals Network’s participation in Greater Philadelphia Cares Day, YPN was able to establish a relationship with the students and staff of McClure Elementary School. In an effort to continue the growth of this relationship and support for the school’s initiatives, the Young Professionals Network held a book drive at December’s monthly networking event. Stemming from this book drive, YPN and McClure Elementary have created the Drop Everything and Read program. This is your opportunity to get involved!!! We are looking for over 25 volunteers to read to the students and interact with them in their classrooms. Join your fellow YPN members and influence the life of a child while instilling a lifelong love of reading.

To register, please email Jackie Shapiro by February 19th at jshapiro@greaterphilachamber.com.

Drop Everything and Read
Monday, February 26, 2007
9:00 AM-10:30 AM
4198 N. 6th Street (6th and Hunting Park)
Philadelphia, PA 19140

You must provide your own transportation to McClure.

McClure is a K-4 school and there are 25 classrooms. We are looking to have 1-2 volunteers to read per classroom. The students will select the book that the volunteers will read that day to the class.

YPN board joins forces with Young America PAC and Young Involved Philadelphia for Voice of Young Philadelphia: Discuss, Decide, Vote

Election Year 2007 is now upon us and it poses to be a pivotal one for the City of Philadelphia - especially for Young Professionals in the area. With the Mayor and City Council races already underway it is important to not only seek change with our respective votes, but to understand the issues facing the city so that we can help to make the changes necessary for Philadelphia's future. Whether a working professional or a student, we all have views and opinions on the direction the City is going.

The boards of the Young America PAC, Young Involved Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional Network along with the help and insight of the Committee of Seventy have teamed up for a series of programs called Voice of Young Philadelphia: Discuss, Decide, Vote. It is our goal to bring together Young Professionalsfrom across the Philadelphia region, all with different ideas and visions for the City of Philadelphia's future, so that we can learn and discuss the issues facing the city, and individually decided on the candidates we view will make the most difference so that on May 15, 2007 Young Professionals across the city are educated voters. Through this series of programming we will invite the candidates running for office across the city to social events, and panel forums so that we can learn their positions on issues facing Philadelphia; before finally listening to the debates to get a final perspective.  By putting this series of programs together, it is the hope of the organizations listed above, that young professionals from our organizations will come together so that we will have a stronger and louder voice in moving the Philadelphia further in the years to come.

Before our programming begins, we want to hear from you - members of our respective groups - on what you view as important issues facing the Philadelphia at this time. We have put together an online survey to gather this information. While some events are already in the planning stages, with the survey results we want to make sure to include programming that meets the goals and needs or our memberships so that we are all informed voters in May. We hope you will take the time to fill this survey out before 5 pm on Friday, February 9, 2007: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=298253031370

LAST CALL. TAGLINE CONTEST.

What… Win a free dinner at a restaurant of my choice?

Yes, it’s true. YPN is holding a Tagline contest and the winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to a restaurant of their choice.*

How? Get creative and come up with a tagline for YPN. (Examples: Volkswagen “Drivers wanted.” McDonalds “I’m lovin’ it.”)

Where? Submit your suggestions to ypn@greaterphilachamber.com with yourcontact information. All ideas are welcome.

Why? Because you like good food, you like YPN, and you’re really creative and have a knack with words.

* The restaurant must be a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

*DEADLINE FOR ALL CONTEST ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 15, 2007!!!

* Winner and tagline will be announced at the March YPN event. Winner will also be notified by e-mail.

YPN Discounts

YPN is an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Due to this relationship, we are thrilled to offer all YPN members special discounted rate at these upcoming events.

24th Annual Mayoral Luncheon

Wednesday, February 14, 2007
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Program

Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel
17th & Race Streets

PHILADELPHIA—THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE—was named by our forefather, William Penn, who envisioned our beloved city as a place of freedom, equality and greatness. Today, Philadelphia boasts a rich culture, strong heritage and vital economy, on which we continue to build.

Join the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Comcast Family of Companies, for our 24th Annual Mayoral Luncheon as Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street shares his vision for the final year of his second term and thoughts on relevant issues awaiting the next Mayor.

Guests will also be given opportunities to voice their opinion on the most important issues surrounding the upcoming mayoral election. In an initiative to educate the public and contribute to the knowledge of voters, representatives from The Next Mayor—a collaborative project of WHYY, the Philadelphia Daily News, and The Committee of Seventy—will be on hand to interview members of the business community about issues that need to be addressed in the upcoming election.

In addition, two Philadelphia high school students will be honored for their community service with the Gus Amsterdam Leadership Award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship towards higher education.

SHARE THE LOVE—We invite you to be a part of the Mayor's passion for education by bringing a new or well-conditioned book to the luncheon. It will be donated to Philadelphia Reads, and will be given to a deserving young person as a tool to success.

*Members of the Young Professionals Network will receive a special rate of $60 and should register directly with YPN to receive special benefits. Please call (215)790-3677 or e-mail jshapiro@greaterphilachamber.com.

Region on the Rise: A Construction and Real Estate Development Summit

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Program

Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel
17th & Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103

SAVE THE DATE for the 2007 Region on the Rise event! Please check back to this site for further details on this event.

JOIN YOUR PEERS as industry experts meet to discuss the most important issues affecting the development and construction sectors in 2007.

The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the General Building Contractors Association to present this important seminar. Experts in regional construction, real estate, design and engineering will participate in this day-long event. In addition to informative panel discussions, breakout sessions and a rapid-fire interview session with noted regional figures, you will have opportunities to network with industry colleagues and build your business.

Exhibiting opportunities: tabletop displays are available for purchase. Price includes a 6' skirted table, two chairs, two tickets to the event and listing in our exhibitor guide. Contact Iris Forman at iforman@greaterphilachamber.com or at 215-790-3775 for information or to register.

*Members of the Young Professionals Network will receive a special rate of $45 and should register directly with YPN to receive special benefits. Please call 215-790-3677 or e-mail jshapiro@greaterphilachamber.com.

Women in the Workforce

Friday, February 23, 2007
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Program

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
Liberty Ballroom
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia , PA 19107

This program will gather influential women to share their experiences on successful networking, self-promotion, self-branding and effective mentoring.
Following a brief keynote introduction and program overview, six prominent panelists will participate in a 20-minute, pre-determined, rapid-fire Q&A regarding their background and experience, as posed by the keynote presenter. Immediately afterward, attendees will be broken into groups, and panelists will rotate among these groups, providing more in-depth information and interaction on the topics of networking and mentoring.

Women of the workforce, lets raise our status!

Keynote & Moderator:
Barbara Taylor, Partner, JanBara & Associates

Distinguished Panelists:
Renee Amoore, President, The Amoore Group
Terry D'Alessandro, Market C.E.O., Sovereign Bank
Karen Buchholz, VP, Administration, Comcast Corporation
Meryl Levitz, President & C.E.O., Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation
Judith Mondre, President, Mondre Energy, Inc.
Christine Serenelli, President, SUNRx

*Members of the Young Professionals Network will receive a special rate of $35 for a single ticket, or a package of three for $30 per person, and should register directly with YPN to receive special benefits. Please call 215-790-3677 or e-mail jshapiro@greaterphilachamber.com.

Are you a new member of YPN?

Want to meet other new members and get an overview of the organization? Join YPN Board members John White and Lawrence Williams on the first Wednesday of every month at the Chamber for YPN New Member Orientation.

The next YPN New Member Orientation will be on Wednesday, February 7 at 5:30PM. The orientation is an hour and will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce located at 200 S. Broad Street (Broad & Walnut) on the 7th floor. Please confirm your attendance by emailing your contact information to jshapiro@greaterphilachamber.com.