Get out what you put in

"You get out what you put in." We have all heard this saying and rolled our eyes but nodded contently when we hear the most involved member of a club or organization prompting for our hand in the upcoming fundraiser, award banquet or community service project.

As a new professional, we have the opportunity to become involved in a variety of professional organizations and it is no small quest, take PRSA for example. If you are like me, there are only a few PRSA chapters throughout your state and my closest one meets nearly 2 1/2 hours away. This in itself can make meetings daunting, tack on being away from the office for a day and the dreadful act of having to make small talk without knowing a soul in the room.

I am blessed to be with a Company who has enabled me to become a member of several organizations in our community and throughout the nation (PRSA being one of them). I made the decision to put aside my preconceived notions of what these memberships would bring -- to dive in and see whats out there. It was this decision that brought me to the New Pros and this decision that has me blogging today.

It has been my finding that the formal meetings can be intimidating as a new professional because I feel like everyone else knows each other. It brings all the memories and insecurities of adolescence rushing back and lets face it, I doubt any of us want to go back there. Luckily, with modern technological advances, we have ample methods of communication these days without having to wander into the unknown.

E-mail! This has proven a wonderful way of getting in contact with other members and getting to know a few people within the group. Find out how the group conducts business and see if you can be involved in a conference call. I have sat in on many of them, even without having anything to contribute. They know you are there and will ask your opinon on subjects. I have met many people at our local meetings that remembered me from the conference calls. I was immediately "one of them" because I had been involved in something without ever having to set foot in the door.