By Laura Wright
I must admit, I was a bit nervous. The idea, unfortunately, hadn’t even been my own. You see, a few weeks ago in my Intro to Public Relations course at MRU, our instructor, Sheridan McVean, advised our small certificate class that IABC and CPRS held a joint annual holiday party and that the date was fast approaching. He explained that this event was a great opportunity for new PR professionals to meet and network with more seasoned practitioners in a relaxed and informal setting.
Upon learning of this news, I touched base with Michelle Crossland, one of the event organizers, and expressed my interest in volunteering for the party – registration, perhaps? As someone who is new to Calgary, new to the industry, and actively looking for a new contract, I knew that this was my chance to do some reconnaissance and connect with those in the industry.
On the evening of the event, the warm and welcoming interior of the Hotel Arts lobby starkly contrasted with the blistering winter elements howling just beyond the doors. When I arrived, I anxiously scanned the lobby hoping to recognize Michelle; instead, I saw a familiar face from MRU. As it would turn out, my classmate, Erin Murray, had also taken Sheridan’s advice and the two of us happily ended up working together.
Erin and I were tasked with welcoming and registering guests, providing them with nametags, drink tickets and coat check instructions. Over 150 guests had registered, and Erin and I worked out a prompt system to efficiently greet everyone and provide guests with the information they would need for a successful evening. The best part about working registration was the opportunity to establish a connection with everyone who walked through the door, and to use that initial point of contact as a way to approach particular individuals and groups later on in the evening.
After most of the guests had arrived, Erin and I were relieved from our posts and we were encouraged to network and enjoy ourselves. Delicious hors-d’oeuvres, wine, and beer welcomed Erin and I in the Yellow Door Bistro, curbing our winter chills and easing conversation with others.
I had the pleasure of speaking with professionals who worked in non-profit, corporate and government organizations. I was impressed by the professional diversity of the crowd: there were consultants, strategists and directors who worked in international agencies, local associations and small start-up firms with ties to a variety of interesting stakeholders. I met professionals with roots from all over the country, including my native Maritime region, and promised to connect and keep in touch with my new Calgary friends.
At the end of the evening, I caught up with Sheridan and thanked him for his helpful advice. He asked, for future reference, if volunteering for the event had been worthwhile – I assured him that it most certainly had been.
