About The Denver Entrepreneur Meetup Group

Our Mission Statement
We meet to provide a professional, secure, and open atmosphere to discuss business challenges and opportunities, provide each other with honest advice, leads, further education, and moral support.

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The Denver Entrepreneur Meetup is open to all entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Denver (CO) Metro area. The meetings provide us all with an opportunity to expand our circle of business contacts and friends. Our monthly speakers share tips and advice to help each of us grow our businesses.

This group is focused on, and most useful for the small business person (hands-on owner/operator) who sells a product or service they create. Network Marketers, although welcome, are encouraged to join the group that is focused on their unique needs: The Denver Network Marketing Group - http://networkmarket....

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The Denver Entrepreneur Meetup events take place in a SALES FREE ZONE. Have you ever been to a "Networking" event and felt that you were being pitched and badgered for the entire time? It's not fun. That's why we've declared our meetings to be a SALES FREE ZONE. We would like everyone who attends to feel comfortable knowing that they won't be subjected to an onslaught of sales and recruiting pitches during our Networking time.

The other reason for the SALES FREE ZONE concept is pretty simple. We run into people all the time who tell us that they tried Networking, but it didn't work. When we ask about their Networking experience, we often find that the person went into meetings expecting to generate immediate sales. Anyone who thinks he's going to generate a lot of sales by attending a Networking event is setting himself up for a bad experience; it's probably not going to happen. Instant sales isn't what networking is all about. It doesn't build lasting relationships, which are the basis for good business.

Networking is about learning and sharing business experiences; it's about forming strategic alliances. Networking is about developing lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with other entrepreneurs. It's about listening to others and expressing genuine interest in them and what they do. Networking is about earning the trust of others. It's a great way to grow a business!

We draw upon our vast resources to bring in high-caliber speakers who can speak knowledgeably about topics that can help you run your business more productively and profitably. On occasion, we host a networking mixer, a more casual affair without a speaker, to help our members get to know each other better.

This group is different from most meetups and networking events you've attended. We meet for education, support, and interaction with other entrepreneurs. Compare what we do to other educational and networking venues - we charge you nothing, while they charge anywhere from $25 to $99 or more.

Our meetings start with 30 minutes of open networking. If you show up just in time for the speaker, you've missed the most important part of the meeting.

Each meeting ends with 30 second elevator speeches. It's a good way to get a feel for what everyone does. As time allows, we also conduct Brainstorming sessions in which one attendee shares a problem with the group. Then, the group shares thoughts and ideas for overcoming the problem (30 or 40 heads are usually better than one). We always start and end the meetings with plenty of time for Networking.

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Our Policies and Procedures:

• We always meet on the 4th Thursday of the month, in the same location.
  
• Meetings are always scheduled at least a month in advance.
  
• On those occasions when we have a mixer instead of a meeting, it is scheduled at least 30 days ahead of time, with directions and a map to the venue.
  
• We always start and end on time.
  
• Everyone has an opportunity to give their 30-second commercial to introduce themselves during the meeting.
  
• We have open networking 30 minutes before, and at least 15 minutes after the formal meeting
  
• For people who want to continue conversations with other members once the meeting and networking time is exhausted, we provide maps noting all the local restaurants and coffee shops, so they can adjourn to one of those venues.
  
• We do not charge a fee to attend. Our sponsor, Your Marketing Gal, covers all expenses.
  
• Our meetings are a “Sale Free Zone”, which means that no one is allowed to try to sell to anyone else at the meeting, nor may they contact them after the meeting to sell them something. They also are not allowed to add anyone’s email address to their mailing list or newsletter without their permission. If we find out that a member violated this rule, they are removed from the group.
  
• The meetings are not an "introduction" for the organizers to sell you their products and services.
  
• We follow an agenda so the meetings have a good structure.
  
• We bring in high-caliber speakers who speak about subjects pertinent to the membership (entrepreneurs/business owners).
  
• There is always time for interaction with the speaker, and Q & A after their talks.
  
• We have brainstorming sessions as time allows.
  

Membership requirements are simple:

• A fully completed profile is required for membership.
  
• Members must honor the "Sale Free Zone"
  
• Members who RSVP "Yes" twice, and do not attend, will not be taken off the membership list.
  

We would rather have a small, active group, than a large group of inactive members.

To join our group, you must have a complete profile. To stay in the group, you must visit the website, or attend meetings regularly. Therefore, people who meet the following minimum criteria are considered inactive and removed from the group:

• They have an incomplete profile - or -
  
• They have not visited the site, or attended a meeting within the past 6 months
  

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I look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,
Jo Guerra
Organizer

This page was created by John & Barbara Bailey, the previous organizers. I am also following their vision for this group.