Crossroads Club and LinkedIN Live Events Merge

Crossroads News | March 9th, 2007

When I initially started The LinkedIN Project of DC, I was just interested to see who would come out and how the first LinkedIN Live of DC would turn out. The first event was a great success with nearly 50 people showing up. But I also notice where there can be some improvements and some of the challenges that lay ahead.

After some deliberation, I have decided that it will be in the best interest for all involved that I merge The LinkedIN Project and the LinkedIN Live Networking event with The Crossroads Club.

I was browsing around on the LinkedIN Answers section and I ran into the networking organization, Integrated Alliances which is based out of Denver, Colorado. It is lead by Mike O’Neil. It was when I saw his business model for networking events and how it is integrated with LinkedIN, that convinced me that I should be doing something similar. IA is a business networking organization with montly networking events. IA also has their monthly LinkedIN Live Denver events which is free and for the general LinkedIN Denver population.

After looking over Mike’s model, it convinced me to create a similar model. There will be some slight differences b/w The Crossroads and IA but the goal will be the same– to add value to local area business professionals.

I thought about it and it’s just too much work for me to maintain two different websites, two groups of volunteers and staffing, and two agendas. That’s just too much for me especially when I am busy running my own business. Of course, indsight is 20/20 but hey, you live and learn. Some of the benefits will be that staffing events will be easier, promotion will be easier, backoffice support will be easier and much more.

From this point forward, LinkedIN Live DC will be a Special Interest Group event under the umbrella of The Crossroads Club. We still intend to keep the events free unless we need to pay for space or food for future events.

If you are on The LinkedIN Project mailing list, please be sure to sign up to The Crossroads Club mailing list as I will phase out the LinkedIN mailing list.

We’ll see you guys soon!