Category Archives: SPS Newsletters

SPS Newsletters

Announcing SPS ChiTAH Collaboration

Posted on by

Dear SiliconPrairieSocial Readers,

On March 28, 2013, Arthur Zards, President of XNet Information Systems & founder of SiliconPrairieSocial (SPS) and Jim Huguelet, President of The Huguelet Group LLC & co-founder of Chicago Tech After Hours (ChiTAH) jointly announced plans to combine a large portion of SPS into ChiTAH to form a major technology networking series for the western Chicago suburbs.  SPS, which began holding events in 2007, and ChiTAH, which began holding events in 2009, host regular networking events that have drawn nearly 2,000 attendees from the technology community together over the past 7 years.

“ChiTAH has always had the same philosophy as SiliconPrairieSocial: connecting local members of the technology community with their peers for the benefit of everyone,” said Zards. “I’m excited to be able to see the mission of SPS continued through ChiTAH in the years to come.”

“Silicon Prairie Social served as inspiration for creating ChiTAH several years ago, and through the years we’ve borrowed several SPS ideas for organizing and running ChiTAH events,” said Huguelet.  “Being able to bring SPS and ChiTAH together is a great development for the suburban technology community.”

In the future, large networking events will be held under the ChiTAH moniker but will include past participants from SPS.

SPS, however, will not be vanishing completely. While the majority of group’s membership and resources will be merged with ChiTAH, SPS will be transforming into a more intimate, small-scale peer group specifically designed for business owners and C-level executives who wish to share information and explore ideas with a close-knit, trusted group of business individuals.

The objective of this transformation is to ensure that SPS members have access to the growing group of tech-minded individuals that ChiTAH provides, while bringing the SPS event itself back to its roots of creating meaningful dialog between local business leaders. As Zards states, “By combining SPS and ChiTAH resources, it allows both of our groups to provide networking opportunities to all types of individuals with all types of networking needs.”

The first combined event, ChiTAH 008/SPS 2013, is in the final stages of planning for spring 2013 and is expected to be announced in the next week.

SPS’s first peer group will also be announced soon, so stay tuned for information!

For more information on Chicago Tech After Hours, please visit http://www.chitah.org/

Thank you for your readership these past years. We look forward to meeting you in our peer group and at ChiTAH events!

The SiliconPrairieSocial Team

Announcing SPS Restructuring to New Peer Group

Posted on by

Attention SiliconPrairieSocial Members!

You’ve probably noticed that you haven’t received an SPS newsletter recently and may have been wondering why. Well, to be brief, as local newspapers have begun requiring registration and fees in order to view their articles, it’s been getting more and more difficult for us to supply quality tech articles and events to you.

So, in an effort to get back to our networking roots, we’re refocusing SiliconPrairieSocial on what it was built upon, honest, in-person collaboration.

Today we’re announcing the creation of a new, more intimate SiliconPrairieSocial. We will be hosting monthly, small-scale peer groups at XNet’s office in Lisle, IL. The objective of these peer groups is to bring together business owners and C-level executives who wish to network, share information, and explore ideas with a close-nit, trusted group of business individuals. Think of it as a Vistage group, but without the fees.

Guest speakers will be presenting new technologies, business concerns, or just explaining an idea to help spark conversations during meetings. These peer groups are built to get you networking and collaborating, and through that, improve your business.

If you are interested in attending our next peer group meeting in April, please just send a short reply email to us at info@siliconprairiesocial.com.

Stay tuned for another exciting announcement next week concerning SiliconPrairieSocial!

Thank you for being a part of this, and we look forward to continued networking with you in the future.

Sincerely,

The SiliconPrairieSocial Team

Event Announcement! SiliconPrairieSocial Golf Outing and Networking Event

Posted on by

On Wednesday, September 19th, join us for a golf outing to network in true SPS fashion. In an effort to continually build community within SPS, we will be making this outing an annual event to support a local SPS reader’s cause. This year we will be supporting SPS member Mike Cipriano, whose daughter, Genevieve, recently lost her leg due to a rare form of bone cancer. The outing will be hosted at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, IL and post-outing refreshments will continue just down the road at 3 Corners Grill & Tap.

This isn’t just any ordinary outing though. Along with supporting a local reader, this event will focus on connections by placing each golfer in a foursome with whom they seek to network. Remember the “I need” and “I know” stickers from previous events? Well, once again we’ll be paring those who need with those who know. Are you an IT professional? Ride with others in your field. Are you a marketer? Hit par with someone who may need your services. Regardless of your background, we’ll partner you with individuals seeking to network and learn the suburban tech scene.

             This Year SiliconPrairieSocial is Supporting…

In the Fall of 2011, Genevieve was just starting her junior year of high school. She was in many ways a typical teen with a wide circle of family and friends. In a few short months her and her family’s lives were dramatically altered by a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that primarily affects teens. Genevieve fought through the tests, chemo treatments, and the resulting illness. Ultimately, her doctors determined that her best hope for a healthy future required that her right leg be amputated. The surgery took place on April 23, 2012. Though the journey has been brutally difficult, Genevieve has survived an on July 2nd, she completed her final chemo treatment.

As her recovery progresses, Genevieve is looking forward to going back to school, pursuing her artwork and most of all, walking. The family and friends of the Cipriano family are raising funds for her medical expenses and her prosthesis so that she can walk again without crutches. It is their hope that a new leg will give Genevieve the confidence and the mobility she needs to improve the quality of her life.

              Come Out and Play a Round…

Come play a roundof golf, network, and support a truly worthy cause. Rumors are someone may be sponsoring some drinks after the outing. If you are interested in sponsoring this event with us, please contact us at info@siliconprairiesocial.com or call us at 630-983-6064.

Event Details: 

Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012                                                                            Time: 11:15 am – First Tee Time at 11:45 am                                                               Location: Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: Course 1 – 12294 Archer Ave., Lemont, IL 60439     Post-Event Location: 3 Corners Grill & Tap – down the road at 12371 Derby Road, Lemont, IL

Tickets are $79 and can be obtained at: http://sps-golf.ticketbud.com/outing-2012

Questions: info@siliconprairiesocial.com | 630-983-6064

Crossing Wires: Technology and Play at the Evanston Art Center

Posted on by

Technology has traditionally been used to make what functions function faster, easier and more efficiently. We expect computers, robots and machines to continue to take over the performance of chores and ramp up the production of goods. But what happens when technology is used for the non-functional, to make what is functional less functional? What happens when technology, especially high technology, is used for art or for play? Continue reading here. 

Altered Detail, Mired/Wired/Tired by Toby Zallman