"Connect" Celebrates its First Birthday!

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Connect Members at Launch
Following its launch at the University of Ballarat by Cr Judy Verlin on 13 October 2011, CONNECT has now been established for twelve months - and what a great beginning.

The program commenced in November 2011 with a session on Work-Life Balance - a good topic in the run up to the Christmas season. Other sessions have included "Event Management"
 and "Connecting for Free"  (see details under past events)

In August, we toured the Mars Chocolate facility in Ballarat.  Members were interested not only in the modern factory facility but also in learning more about the company's people focussed philosophy and egalitarian corporate culture. And the chocolate bars passed the Connect stringent taste tests!

In November, Public Speaking @ Prospects afforded members and their guests an opportunity to pick up some useful tips on public speaking from Dr Jessie Harman - as well as enjoying a great lunch at  Prospects, the University of Ballarat's training restaurant.

Connecting@Christmas at the North Ballarat Sports Club in mid December was a good way to finish the year.

And on to bigger and better things in 2013!

What/Who is Connect Networking?

Connect Networking is a professional association of Office Professionals from organisations which are members of Committee for Ballarat.

Objective of the Network
The general objective of the network is to increase the knowledge/skills of Office Professionals (Office Managers/Co-ordinators, Executive Support, EAs/PAs) so that they are better equipped to provide increased levels of support to business executives

Benefits
Four areas of benefit toOffice Professionals are anticipated:
1.  Networking: to build personal and professional links and relationships between Office Professionals

2.  Personal/professional development:  to provide a forum or other form of interaction in which Office Professionals are able to learn from each other or from guest speakers

3  Sharing of information: to share information about “tools”, suppliers/providers, venues for functions, contacts, or other resources that will enhance the Office Professional's work and company interests.

4.  Knowledge/awareness: to increase the knowledge and awareness of Office Professionals of companies and organisations, and of projects and activities in Ballarat and the region (including role and activities of Committee for Ballarat)

Proposed Structure/Format
The network will be a loosely-aligned group with functions and activities initially organised and partially sponsored by Committee for Ballarat.

Connect will meet on four occasions each year eg February, May, August and November – normally at a breakfast or lunch time function.

While the meetings will focus on and encourage networking, at least two meetings per year will provide a professional development opportunity with a guest speaker or another professional development activity.
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