Cheri Gillett’s Post

The Joys of Building Community Through Events  There’s something magical about watching an event come to life, the laughter, the connections, the shared moments that leave people with memories they’ll cherish forever. As someone who loves creating events for my community, I find immense joy in seeing those smiles and hearing those stories. But behind the scenes, it’s a rollercoaster of challenges. Every successful event has its fair share of hurdles, unexpected "fires" to put out, last-minute changes, and keeping everything aligned with the budget. It's not always glamorous, but that's where I thrive. I love the thrill of problem-solving under pressure, of turning chaos into calm and making it all look seamless from the outside. It’s about blending creativity, organization, and adaptability to craft something beautiful for others. When it all comes together, I feel a deep sense of pride. It’s not just about the event itself, it’s about the journey to get there. The behind-the-scenes team effort, the quick decisions, and the small wins along the way. Here’s to building community, one event at a time.

There are two things I do in my community that are pretty unusual: 1️⃣ I host events for canceled members Once I changed my view of canceled members from "people who left The Upside" to "people who graduated from The Upside," my world changed. I started hosting Upside Alumni Events for, yes, our canceled members to bring them back together, build community, and provide a way for them to continue supporting one another. What started as an experiment where I wondered if anyone would even show up... ...has turned into some of my favorite events of the year. Seeing their faces together again reminds me of the wide impact my community makes and the genuine relationships we've fostered. 2️⃣ I let people look inside before they commit. For years, I've hosted an Open House where interested folks can meet me and learn more about our community before applying. I don't see a lot of other community leaders doing this (but I think they should!). At the Open House, I give folks a behind-the-scenes live tour so they can see for themselves what's inside, get their questions answered, meet some of our members, and experience a taste of one of our flagship programs, Office Hours. In fact, achem, I'm hosting one of these events on June 7! RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/grGzDNVq Now, I have an actual/serious question for my LinkedIn community: Is it “cancelled” or “canceled” ?? 🙃 My team and I can’t seem to agree. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 👋 I’m Erin Halper. 💪Champion of independent consultants. ✨Leading a community where consultants go to work on the business side of their business. 🔗RSVP to the Open House: https://lnkd.in/grGzDNVq ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Image description for accessibility: sign that says CANCELLED

Love love love! ❤️ Laura Gibson - Your event beautifully highlights the deeper purpose of #alumni events, the power of human connection and how alumni events can bring out the best in the #community. I wholeheartedly agree. As alumni professionals we should invest more time in refining and curating our events to facilitate more moments of #magic and #joy and the focus should be on the #WHY with alumni as our primary audience. However, the question remains: 🤔 How can this be effectively measured? 🤔 What KPIs can we use to capture the success of creating meaningful connections? After all, joy is immeasurable.

3 days to go before iHypnosys Life 🌟 *The Power of Community Events: Where Connections Thrive* 🤝 Community events are more than just gatherings—they’re spaces where people come together to share ideas, celebrate milestones, and build stronger bonds. The power of a community event lies in its ability to create connection, inspire collaboration, and spark new opportunities. Whether it’s a workshop, a celebration, or a discussion, these moments remind us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. Community events bring diverse perspectives together, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. They’re a platform for growth, learning, and collective celebration. When we gather, we amplify our shared strengths and create ripple effects that extend far beyond the event itself. ✨ *Why Community Events Are So Powerful*:  - *Foster Connection*: They bring people together, strengthening relationships and building networks.  - *Inspire Collaboration*: By sharing ideas and experiences, community events spark innovation and mutual support.  - *Encourage Growth*: Workshops, talks, and activities provide tools and insights for personal and collective development.  - *Celebrate Achievements*: Coming together to celebrate milestones inspires collective pride and joy. 🌿 *How to Make the Most of Community Events*:  1. *Show Up with Openness*: Approach each event with curiosity and a willingness to connect.  2. *Engage Actively*: Participate in discussions, workshops, or activities to get the most out of the experience.  3. *Share Your Perspective*: Contribute your ideas and insights to enrich the collective conversation.  4. *Follow Up*: Build on connections made at the event by staying in touch and exploring collaborations. 💬 *Discussion Prompt*: What’s the most impactful community event you’ve attended, and how did it shape your journey? Share your experience in the comments below! Let’s celebrate the power of community events and continue to gather, learn, and grow together as we create a stronger, more connected world. #PowerOfCommunityEvents #StrongerTogether #ConnectionAndGrowth

📢 New Blog Post Alert! 📢 I'm excited to share my latest article: "Building Community Through Events: How Small Hospitality Businesses Can Make a Big Impact" As an independent hospitality business owner, are you looking for ways to strengthen your community connections? In this post, I explore how hosting events can be a game-changer for your business and your neighborhood. Key takeaways: The power of events in fostering community bonds Practical tips for small businesses to host impactful events How community engagement can drive business growth Read the full post here: https://lnkd.in/ecMyWzCG #SmallBusiness #Hospitality #CommunityBuilding #Events What strategies have you used to build community around your business? Share your experiences in the comments!

🥹Hosting events is incredible, but it can also be isolating if no one around you understands your drive, ambition, and desire to build something big. ❤️In Experiences, you’re not just joining a program—you’re joining a powerful community of event hosts who share your goals. 🔥We’re all about raising each other up, sharing stages, collaborating, and connecting. These are people who get it, who’ll cheer you on, and who’ll support you every step of the way. 😩If there is one thing I have missed out on it’s having a support system of people who “get it”. ❌There isn’t a community anywhere specifically for us crazy people hosting events. 🙌So, I have created it, and I want you to join me and get the support you need. 👏🏻If you’re ready to stop going it alone and finally be surrounded by others who share your drive, this is the space for you. 🥂And as a thank you, you will also: 💫 Be invited to the Speakers Dinner at PeakeFest. 💫 Event Launch Bundle worth £500 If you’re working towards getting your passion project off the ground next year, then you want to be with me and this community xxx https://lnkd.in/eezkZ-9c

For over a decade, I was privileged to execute events that brought hundreds together—conferences, mission-driven performances, and community projects that inspired change. Each event was a testament to the power of creativity, planning, and the joy brought from getting down on the dance floor. These days, my focus is a little different. As a mom of two young children, my “crowd” is my family; my events are the moments of magic we create at home. On New Year’s Eve, the stakes aren’t the logistics of a 400-person gathering but the sparkle in my kids’ eyes as they count down to a new year with us at 7:30 pm. As I dream of incorporating my experience of event planning into the public sector through social work, I carry with me the same passion, precision, and creativity that brought large-scale events to life—now infused with the heartfelt lessons from planning intimate, impactful memories for my family. Here’s to building new connections in 2025 and creating even more magic for 4 or 4,000. #EventPlanning #CareerJourney #CreativityInAction #NewBeginnings

Years ago (more like 20 years ago—ouch, time flies!), I assigned myself some ongoing “homework.” When I noticed interesting ideas while out, I thought about how to apply them in my business life or career. Then, when I began to focus on engagement, my self-assigned homework changed a bit. I notice when I feel engaged and see if I can apply the engaging experience to my context. Party dynamics can teach us much about professional events, so let’s learn a few lessons from party hosts🥳. https://lnkd.in/eZU2kJ7a #ElevatingEngagement #Associations #EventPlanners

Looking to tap into a new pool of clients? The answer might be closer than you think. In the video below, I explore how engaging in local community events can be a powerful yet often overlooked strategy for finding new clients. Learn how to: - Increase your visibility by sponsoring local events or attending community gatherings - Build trust and connections with potential clients who value local engagement - Position yourself as a trusted and recognizable figure in your community Imagine becoming the go-to service provider in your local area simply by being an active participant in community events. This could be the key to growing your client base. Watch the video, and if you find it useful, share it with your network! Have questions or want to share your experiences? Leave a comment below—I’m here to help.

Some days I tune into LinkedIn and feel like all the event advice is saying we're all doing it wrong. We're not embracing the latest trend or fad. And it can be discouraging. But then I remember the feeling of walking by a table of academics, talking about something I truly don't understand, and think "Nope. THIS is why we do events. To bring people together to talk about what matters to THEM." And it's not about how long the keynote was, or if the registration page has 2 fields or 15 to enter. It's about how we bring communities together and what is important to THEM. Events aren't meant to all be designed in the same way. When we are talking about trends in the industry we need to keep in mind that the entire event needs to be designed for that particular community. That is where the gold is found.