IAMC works as hard on its networking events as it does on its education programs. The preferred locations are attractive and interesting. They contain things to see, hear and do. Forum attendees should want to go there. There’s attention to the amount and layout of the space. Too little room and too much noise make conversation difficult. Afterwards, when you’re back home you should be able to recall what was said in each exchange and be satisfied that you had both the opportunity and a supporting environment to share ideas and bring up important points with each person you met.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Professional Forum’s networking events should come close to fulfilling this ideal:

• Mill City Museum

  The first event, the Sunday [Sept. 20] evening Early Arrivals Reception takes place at Mill City Museum. This modern facility, showcasing the machinery and inner workings of a 19th century flour mill, is built so that it seems to project from the ruins of an actual facility of that era, Washburn-A Mill. The museum's Web site explains, “At the industry’s peak, the Washburn-A Mill was the most technologically advanced and the largest in the world. At peak production, it ground enough flour to make 12 million loaves of bread in a day. The city grew up around the mills, which received grain via rail lines stretching across the Northern Plains grain belt into the Dakotas and Canada. After World War I the milling industry in Minneapolis began to decline. ...The Washburn-A Mill closed in 1965.” In an effort to preserve historic structures, the Web site says, “Working through the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, the city cleaned up the rubble and fortified the charred walls of the mill in the late 1990s. Shortly thereafter, the Minnesota Historical Society announced plans to develop Mill City Museum.”


• The Monday [Sept. 21] evening networking event happens at Orchestra Hall, home of the Minnesota Orchestra. “The hall was built in 1974 with the goal of providing as nearly perfect acoustics as technologically possible at the time. Visitors will notice the huge cubes hanging from the ceiling, which were designed and placed to deflect sound to all 2,450 seats,” says a description in vacation.away.com. The IAMC delegation will be treated to music by Trio Bella, professional string musicians, as they sample refreshments, converse with friends and tour this striking facility.


• The third in the series of Minneapolis-St. Paul evening networking programs takes place at the architecturally remarkable Landmark Center [on Sept. 22]. The facility's Web site says it “was built in 1902 and originally served as the Federal Court House and post office for the upper Midwest. In the 1970s, a group of determined citizens saved the building from the wrecking ball and restored it to its previous grandeur. It was on the National Register of Historic Places and re-opened to the public as Landmark Center in 1978. Today, Landmark Center serves as a cultural center for music, dance, theater, exhibitions, public forums, and hosts countless special events.”

Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis

Now that you know how IAMC puts together its events and the specific venues to look forward to in Minneapolis-St. Paul, you’re all set to begin planning for this Forum. Make a list of who you’d like to meet there. Then, you can start setting up your networking engagements by sending e-mails such as this, “I’ll be at the IAMC Forum in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Let’s meet at the Landmark Center Reception the evening of Sept. 22.” If you still need to register for the Forum, click here. Remind those you want to meet to register too.