"Live First, Work Second"

Way back when ypB was just a gleam in LEAD Brevard's eye, a woman from Next Generation Consulting, Rebecca Ryan, was hired to conduct an in depth report on attracting and retaining YP's in Brevard County. See the results of this full report HERE.

This same woman has just come out with a new book describing the YP mentality when it comes to choosing a job and where to live. And what better person to talk about these issues? For almost ten years now, Rebecca and her team at Next Generation Consulting have spent time listening to over seven thousand young people talk about their work and life priorities. "Live First, Work Second" speaks to the paradigm shift in thinking of the next generation. No longer do America's brightest new minds expect to work in the same company for 30 years. Today's YP's will have multiple careers and possibly dozens of jobs. Company loyalty is quickly becoming a thing of the past, and it is being replaced by a quality of life measure, both inside the workplace and out.

How do you feel about this topic? Did you pick to live here in Brevard first, then find a job/career, or vice-versa?

You can get your copy of Rebecca Ryan's book HERE. We would love to hear your reviews! Leave us a comment below!

YP's meet with Comissioner Mary Bolin

ypB's Social Committee Chair, Eric Camacho, shares his experience meeting Brevard County Comissioner Mary Bolin below:

On Wednesday, September 5, several members of ypB's Oversight Committee took part in a unique opportunity to interact with Brevard County Commissioner Mary Bolin. Having met previously with Kristin Bakke, President/CEO of LEAD Brevard, and Bino Campanini, Chairman of the Board of Directors of LEAD Brevard, Commissioner Bolin graciously offered to meet said members and listen to their needs and interests.

Upon arrival, Commissioner Bolin's guests were treated to a tour of her office, which is located in Brevard County's Government Center in Viera. The walls throughout her office were adorned with historical artifacts donated by the North Brevard Historical Society Museum. In addition, she explained to them that all of the furniture in her office is recycled, which meant that all of it came from a storage facility as a way to save county funds. The group then moved into the conference room for the start of the meeting.

Many topics were covered during the 90-minute meeting. The effect of the current housing market on young professionals was largely discussed because many YPs cannot afford home ownership and, as a result, find employment elsewhere. Also at issue, the need for more nighttime entertainment and venues. Young adults tend to travel to areas outside the county for after hours enjoyment, including places like CityWalk in Orlando.

Other issues were discussed amongst those in attendance. While there was no predetermined agenda, the meeting was productive and informative. Commissioner Bolin was able to reach out to the YP demographic and obtain valuable information about their needs and interests. Meanwhile, for those fortunate to attend, they viewed it as a critical step towards bridging young professionals and community leaders.

Let us know what issues are important to you and how you think your community leaders can help. Leave us a comment below or send an e-mail to info@ypBrevard.com.

Beach and BBQ!

Calling all ypB volunteers! If you've ever wanted to get more involved in your community, now is your chance. There are a couple of volunteer opportunities coming up this month and we need your help.

Saturday September 15th is Keep Brevard Beautiful's annual Coastal Clean-up at Pelican Park in Satellite Beach from 8am to Noon. This cleanup effort is the only event at which volunteers are urged to record all of the items they collect. The Coastal Cleanup is part of a world-wide litter reduction effort. For more information on this event, please visit the Ocean Conservancy website. The data from the event are used to educate our community about the problems associated with marine debris and the role we play in solving those problems. Trash bags, gloves and sunscreen will be provided. Don't forget to bring drinking water and a snack if desired. Free T-shirts while supplies last!

If beach cleaning isn't up your alley, then why not volunteer to work at the 6th Annual Grant BBQ Festival on Saturday September 29th? Enjoy live music and awesome BBQ while you help raise money for107.1 A1A's Toys 4 Kidz! Volunteers can work in blocks from 9am to noon, noon to 3pm, or 3pm to 7pm/8pm. The jobs vary from selling tickets, running ice/supplies to vendors, selling soda/water and selling T-shirts.

All interested volunteers please contact the Volunteer Committee Chair, Brandon Percy, at bpercy@ESINC.CC

Also, if you have any volunteer opportunities that you would like us to help organize, please leave us a comment below!

2007 Young Professionals Summit

The 2007 Young Professionals Summit is coming fast, and our very own Adam Gracia, Dawn Hamilton, and Michelle Verkooy are heading to Louisville, KY September 14th and 15th to represent Brevard County!

So I bet you're all wondering what the heck the Young Professionals Summit is, huh? It's a yearly event where Young Leaders from all across the country, and globe, congregate to address the generational leadership gap and engage in dialogue around “cool” communities and the attraction and retention of young talent in our communities. Attendees will learn how to build strong YP Organizations, increase their individual leadership effectiveness, and be inspired by how their peers are building better places to live and work.

We here at ypB prefer to think of this Summit as less of a gathering, and more of a "movement". The 2006 Conference in Madison, WI was our first taste of how much momentum this movement has really gained across the country. There were attendees from more than 30 states, and they all were practically bursting with ideas and passion for their own organization. We left the 2006 Summit with a renewed sense of excitement about what we were trying to accomplish in our own community. This year, with 2 years experience under our belt, we hope to gain even more insight into how we can better this organization.

So, fellow ypBers, here is the part where we would like to open up the forum to all of you. Dawn, Michelle and Adam will be your representatives for Brevard, and they are ready to take your concerns and suggestions with them to the Louisville Summit next weekend. What ideas do you have? Is there anything you would like them to discuss on your behalf? What are we doing well that we should share with the rest of the country's YP's? Leave us a comment below or send an e-mail to info@ypBrevard.com.