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This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on October 5th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This month, FUSION will launch its mentorship pilot project, an initiative that will aim to create links between young adults and individuals who have been successful in creating meaningful living and working opportunities for themselves in the city.

The program will target young adults, and will aim to increase their awareness of the variety of career and volunteer opportunities and prospects that exist for them here in greater Saint John, and help create stronger links to their communities and an enhanced sense of belonging with involvement. It will also be an opportunity for an intergenerational dialogue, which will encourage an increased appreciation of the both the similarities and differences between the generations that exist within the different generations that make up the city’s workforce.

FUSION has been working with the New Brunswick Population Growth Secretariat over the last several months to develop the program. A similar pilot project will also be executed in the Chaleur region by the Synergies Chaleur organization.

Applications will be available at the launch event and a handbook has been developed to help guide participants in getting to know each other and set the parameters for their relationship. Successful applicants will participate in a training session scheduled for late November, which will provide opportunities for the mentors and those they are advising to get together over the course of the six-month program. Otherwise, the project is designed to be largely informal in its structure, and participants will be encouraged to establish their own goals for the program in the hopes that it will foster relationships that continue to live beyond the project’s completion. It is hoped that the mentors and those they are helping will continue to learn from one another and share their experiences living and working in greater Saint John.

Mentorship traditionally sees a person learn from an older, wiser colleague. For the purpose of this program, a mentor is defined as a trusted adviser, willing to share their experience and knowledge, and provide support to those they are advising as they set out in their careers and lives. Mentors will be represented by a variety of professions and volunteer organizations so as to bring a wide range of experiences and expertise to the program.

While there are certainly merits to the traditional mentorship experience, this program will aim to nurture a mutually beneficial relationship for both sides. However, more and more, members of different generations are working side-by-side at work and in the community; the program will give participants to find common ground and learn from each other.

The official launch event for FUSION’s mentorship program will take place Oct. 14 at Happinez wine bar, 42 Princess St. For more information, visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on September 28th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This week, the local chapter of Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) will host its first event of the season and will open its doors to greater Saint John women interested in learning more about the organization.

The focus of the event is “A-ha moments” and will be an opportunity to meet women from different sectors of the business community who may not otherwise be brought together to socialize, and learn about moments or people who have inspired them to take a particular course or make a change in their lives.

“What we’ve found is that everyone, women in particular, have lots of calls on their time. We want to give them an opportunity to do something that is interesting, engaging and fun,” says Christina Taylor, chairwoman of CWC’s regional board. “Women are quite often looking for a place to have a voice in an audience that is receptive.”

CWC is a national organization dedicated to the advancement of women in broadcasting and communications through strategic networking, target professional development and meaningful recognition; its members attend events and can participate in educational and professional development opportunities. The Saint John Chapter – formed in 2002 – is the only chapter east of Montreal, and was the first women’s networking group in the city at the time; it has since grown to a dedicated membership of 40, with a distribution list of approximately 200 women in the region and hosts five to six networking events each year.

Though it targets women in the communications and ICT sectors, the Saint John Chapter has broadened its mandate to appeal to women in business, from a variety of sectors, careers and backgrounds. The national organization offers programs and educational opportunities for its members from the ICT sector, but the local events have appeal for most working women looking for networking and professional development opportunities. The idea for the A-ha Power Hour had its foundation in a past CWC event.

“What is an a-ha moment? Something that makes you reflect on what you’re doing and causes you to make a change,” says Taylor. “It could be a big thing, or it could be something that reinforces something you knew all along or made you recognize you’ve veered off course.” Special guest speakers Mary Ann Gallagher, owner of Benjamin Books and Shadow Lawn Inn, community volunteer Victoria Clarke and Louise Steward, Irving Oil Refining Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility will share their own a-ha moments, and books from CWC’s ‘recommended reading’ list will be highlighted.

Aha! Power Hour – CWC’s first networking event of the season, will take place on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Thandi Restaruant, 33 Canterbury Street.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on September 7th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

As part of Small Business Week 2010, the Saint John Board of Trade is bringing in one of the world’s top business leadership experts for a rare public presentation. Robin Sharma, author of 11 best-selling books, including The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari and The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and Life, will be in the city for a public speaking engagement.

He is one of the most widely read authors in the world, his work has been published in more than 60 countries and nearly 75 languages, and he has worked with some of the world’s biggest corporations including Nike, FedEx, General Electric and Microsoft. His talk, Lead Without a Title – The New Way to Win in Business, is based on his most recent book – one of the best-sellers on the business book list today – and will focus on employee leadership at all levels in an organization.

Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task.” For many young people in the workforce, being a leader is something we aspire to, rather than how we see ourselves now. We are able to start learning and thinking about these things from the outset of our careers, which puts us in a unique position, since the field of business leadership is one that did not really exist for past generations to the extent it does now. Some of the tips found online in Robin Sharma’s 73 Best Business and Success Lessons blog post include: Leadership is no longer about position – but passion. It’s no longer about image but impact and “lucky is where skill meets persistence.” The ideas are not necessarily new, but it is always helpful to be reminded to reflect on the way we conduct ourselves at work and in the community, and seek opportunities for self improvement.

Having read – and learned from – authors such as Sharma since joining the working world, I think there is a lot of value in the business leadership genre, especially for those of us just starting out in our careers. Many of the lessons and tools are really applicable to all areas of life, whether you work in business or not.

Regardless of the organization in which you work, or the position you hold within it, there are important lessons to be found in the world of business leadership. Many of the world’s business leaders are considered role models not just because they achieved wealth or success, but because they did it in a unique or inspiring way.

The Saint John Board of Trade will present Sharma for a breakfast event on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre. The event will begin at 8 a.m. with registration and networking, followed by Sharma’s presentation. Early bird tickets, available until Oct. 1, are $149 for members of the board of trade, and $199 for non-members. Tickets will be $199 for members and $249 for non-members from Oct. 1 until the event.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtlpr.ca.

We were all expecting the worst; but, Hurricane Earl seems to have passed us by here in Saint John, NB.

As a precaution on Friday, Harvesting the Arts was delayed one day just in case the weather was bad.

Today’s TJ had a great article on the Festival, check it out below:

SAINT JOHN – As FUSION’s Harvesting the Arts festival enters its seventh year, main organizer Jessica Gozdzierski wants to make the festival “bigger and better” than in the past.

“Harvesting the Arts Festival started as a FUSION event on the Market Square Boardwalk and the pier around the Hilton, now part of Harbour Passage,” Gozdzierski said.

“The idea was artists showing work at tables along the boardwalk toward the Hilton and then along the Hilton boardwalk was food from Hilton’s kitchen.

“Down the boardwalk toward King Street were more artist tables and the dancers and musicians had the stage at Market Square in front of more restaurants giving samples. The circle at Market Square was the kids’ circle.”

This year, the festival takes place in King’s Square in uptown Saint John on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event was originally scheduled for today, but was moved back a day in anticipation of Hurricane Earl.

As in the past, the festival will highlight the best in music, food and arts the province – specifically Saint John – has to offer.

“There’s the music portion of it where we have a stage and musicians and bands perform that are local to Saint John. Then we also have tables set up for artists and food vendors and artisans. We try and fill up King’s Square,” Gozdzierski said.

“We also have the food alley portion of the festival, where food vendors that are local are able to sell their food to the public.”

Harvesting the Arts is free of charge, and Gozdzierski said there will be a tent that the musicians will play under and seating will be available.

Local band Girls Would Kill are headlining the musical entertainment, with other acts scheduled to perform.

“A lot of (the musicians) performed last year and they were really well-liked by the crowd. A few of them are new,” Gozdzierski said.

She added the festival’s organizers are always looking for new people to get involved in Harvesting the Arts.

“We love to see new people, that’s what it’s all about.”

Harvesting the Arts is all about uncovering the hidden arts talent in the area.

“It definitely uncovers emerging artists, whether they’re musicians or painters or food vendors. I think it makes people more aware of them,” Gozdzierski said.

“It’s getting bigger as the years go by. It’s a really great festival to highlight local talent from around New Brunswick.”

The name itself represents both the time of year that the festival is held in and the purpose of the festival, Gozdzierski said.

“The name Harvesting the Arts, not only does it make reference to when it takes place but it also makes reference to what’s happening at the festival and how we’re harvesting and gathering local art and artists and musicians.”

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Artists: SudsMuffin, Christy Clarke, Tracy Gavin, Zitawear, Erin Howell Sharpe, Sheila Howell, Jennifer Nicholls, Krista Hasson, Nawal Doucette, Leanne Grey, Jocelyn Bichard, Doreen Boyd, Mary Collier Fleet, Van Martin, Alison Smith, Gillian Salmon, Scott Marshall, Mallory Driscoll, Kate Thorne, Pallavi Singh, Chylynn Brideau, Emma Barlow, Abby Matthews, Dafna Mildenberger, Sarah Jones, Jocelyn Bichard, Sarah Gautreau, Andrea Locke, Angela Black, Yolande Clark, Joel Bustard. Roxanna Morrow, Marissa Rignanesi, Heather Rice, Kathy Rumson, Donna Mackinnon, Fabiola Martinez and Jacqueline Marcoux.

Musicians: Girls Will Kill, Josh Peters and True Grit, Mike Biggar, Keith Facey, December Fall Out, Quonset, Meatus, Kristina Trites, Earthbound Trio, Meka, Mitch and Matt Soucy.

Dancers: Bellydancing with Nawal Doucette.

Food Vendors: Happiness is Homemade, Kalra Neerja – Indian Food, Perry McCullum & Heather Acker – Lobster Rolls, hot dogs, hamburgers, Makhoul’s Cedars.
Designated Areas: Karate Korner with Joe Hatfield, Butterfly Bisque – children can paint pottery, InterAction Children’s Theatre – children work on putting on a play together, Colouring station for children, Indigo reading circle, Face painting with Cathie Wilson.

Learn more about Harvesting the Arts Festival 2010 here!

Be sure to stop in, it will be a fun day for the entire family.