Charlotte County Young Professionals

by Michael Neufeld

The Charlotte County Young Professionals (CCYP) celebrates their third year in existence this July.  Since the first CCYP meeting on April 28, 2005 at River City Grill consisting of a handful of friend's membership of young professionals has grown to over 225 members. 

CCYP is a networking organization of dedicated and talented professionals in the age range of 21-40 who are active in the Charlotte County area.  CCYP seeks to enrich our community by creating a platform for our members to build relationships, develop professionally, become philanthropically active, and contribute to the economic development and the quality of life of our community. And indeed, during its first three years, CCYP has made significant contributions to Charlotte County:

After only one year of existence, CCYP membership had expanded to over 100 members.  As the CCYP board of directors started to realize the tremendous opportunities the organization had, the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce began to realize its potential as well, seeking to affiliate with CCYP.  CCYP now partners with the Chamber in a variety of ways and currently has a position on the Chamber board of directors.

Social events for CCYP without question are big part of what attracts potential members to CCYP. CCYP offers many avenues for members with monthly meetings held to network both professionally and socially.  The membership evening meeting is held on the Second Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM at various restaurants throughout Charlotte County, and the "Meet and Eat" lunch meeting takes place at noon on the second Tuesday of the month provide members with networking opportunities. 

Many other events have become a staple on the CCYP menu of social events.  Some of those events are the New Years Eve Party, the annual Pirate Party in September and the Cardboard Boat Races in conjunction with the Redfish Cup fishing tournament every year in April.

The cardboard boat races, one of the CCYP signature events, raises money each year for the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) and brings the community together for a great time of fun, competition and team spirit.  The event grows each year with numerous participants from non-profit organizations, businesses and even family and friends who get together to construct boats from cardboard and duct tape and compete for fastest, most creative, and most dramatic sinking.

In addition to the CCYP events, scores of CCYP members have been very proactive in the community through a multitude of other community organizations.  CCYP works closely with several organizations to provide volunteers and funds to ensure they can continue to enrich the community. 

Funds have been raised for the Visual Arts Center (VAC) through various outlets. 
CCYP has partnered with the VAC during their annual art festival by providing volunteers and raising funds.  Support has also been given in the form of press and sponsoring events at their location.

Also, each quarter the CCYP membership chooses a non profit organization to support whether through donation of goods, volunteering or monetary support. Organizations that have been supported so far are the Animal Welfare League and the Homeless Coalition.  Several members of CCYP also participate in the planning, support and attendance in many of the fundraising functions hosted by community organizations.

CCYP seeks to not only provide financial support to community organizations, but also to develop future leadership.  Many of our members, including our board of directors, hold seats on the board of directors for other community organizations here in Charlotte County.  The future leaders of our community are in place within organizations that influence the quality of life for Charlotte County citizens.

Current initiatives, such as "CCYP Project Voice" seek to provide a means for CCYP members and young citizens alike to have both an individual and collective voice.  A community survey will gather opinions and data from young citizens to gauge how they view the community and how our community can retain them for life.  The project will serve as a building block for the CCYP organization and the community.

Continuing with its growth, CCYP (encompassing all of Charlotte County) has begun the Englewood Chapter of the Charlotte County Young Professionals (ECCCYP). Still in its infancy, this chapter will serve to bridge the gap between the East and West portions of Charlotte County.  The Englewood Chapter will better serve the members of Englewood, add tremendous value to all members of CCYP and increase the voice of young professionals in Charlotte County.

CCYP continues to grow in various ways.  Each year the membership grows considerably and now boasts over 225 members.  While some members see value in the business networking aspects of their membership, others see value in personal relationships they have cultivated.  CCYP has helped to unite young professionals together with other young professionals to foster relationships and provide a bond to keep young professionals in our community.  Members from all walks of life and professions are growing personally, professionally, and helping to enrich our community.  Members are becoming more active and vocal in the public domain through the efforts and encouragement of CCYP.

CCYP also recognizes the ongoing, critical need for strong, efficient, and energized leaders who embrace change as a necessary and integral part of life in Charlotte County.  CCYP will serve as a catalyst to improve their capacity and effectiveness in government leadership roles.

In fulfillment of its Mission, CCYP will continue to seek to enrich our community by creating a platform for our members to build relationships, develop professionally, become philanthropically active, and contribute to the economic development and the high quality of life of our community.

We look forward to the next "phase" of the Charlotte County Young Professionals growth and development.  Beginning its fourth year of existence will bring new leadership to the board of directors and with that, the weight of a changing community upon their shoulders.  Join us in creating a new logic for change and adding to the voice of young professionals in Charlotte County. 

For more information, call Michael Neufeld, Vice President of the Charlotte County Young Professionals, at 941.268.7918, e-mail him at Michael@ccyp.info, or explore CCYP's website at www.ccyp.info.

Michael Neufeld - A writer, and dreamer with a few years in the business world, Michael Neufeld seeks to tell the stories that need telling in order to motivate people to change the things that need changing. Michael Neufeld spends his days consulting business owners of various issues that affect their bottom line. 

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By Michael Neufeld

The progression of divorce forces mean a starting over, seeking a new beginning, and requiring rebuilding relationships with children, renewing their spirituality, and the redirection of personal priorities in life.

No matter what cultural background, maturity range, salary scale or religious conviction, divorce can be overwhelming, demeaning, financially draining (especially if you are providing child support and or alimony), and an emotional roller coaster that never seems to end.

When searching for direction and purpose through this challenging time, the best guide is to look at yourself from the inside and figure out what is really important to you.  Reflection can refocus your life, and provide comfort and solace. Having gone through divorce, it forced an understanding on what I need to improve in myself, not focusing on the faults or shortcomings of others. The thoughts and emotional turmoil of blame, anger, self-pity, shame and pride have been discarded and are distant memories. As a divorced father I questioned how can I move on with my life, amplify my priorities as a man and still be in my daughter's life being a positive force, these are my focus points.

This Fathers Day instead of focusing on you as a father refocus on the responsibilities of being a father. Renewing and recharging the commitment and covenant you have with your children. Children are a blessing. Children are not commodities to be traded, fought over, or bargained for. Their well being should be placed first during this time of upheaval and emotional stress. Children do not cause divorce, but are directly affected by it.

Fathers Day is for divorced fathers also because of the hard work and sacrifices that we make to stay in our children's lives.

No one can take away from you that you are a parent and aid your children's growth in dynamic ways. We may not be physically in the home, but our teachings, modeling and prayers are present in our children's life. Our essence of what we are is shared within our children.

Our first responsibility that we must continue to teach our children is to be respectful in order to get respect, the importance of education to obtain a career, provide for oneself and family and to keep family as a priority. In being fathers in our actions and duties, our children will follow as we set the example of behavior.

We must also direct our daughters to be independent thinkers and aspire to be self supportive, not leaning on being reliant on any man to always provide for them. Our daughters will seek a man similar to our actions, demeanor and emotions even if it is self-destructive at times. We set the foundation on whom they will look for in a mate.

We must teach our little girls that they are empowered with dreams and aspirations to be successful and can be. Our ultimate goal is for them to become responsible adults.  You are one in many ways with your children. Some of these ways are visually evident and some ways will show themselves as your child becomes an adult. Through our lives we as men and fathers have obtained wisdom that we should pass on to our children.

This Fathers Day and beyond be the father your father may not have been to you, be the dad that your children can be proud of and seek for guidance. This is your day to be recognized and no one can take that from you.

Starting over is not easy, but the path can be much straighter, peaceful, comforting and less challenging if we recognize our priorities first and continue to do the right thing by our children. Divorce is not the end of fatherhood just a new beginning and an opportunity to grow. God Bless the divorced fathers, we are still fathers and dads in our children's lives, but must stay involved, concerned and in seek wisdom and guidance.

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Like a lot of nightspots in this town, the clientele of this establishment was younger. Glancing around, I guessed that most patrons were in their 20's or early 30's. And none of them cared about the local Young Professionals Organization (YPO).

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Keeping one's motivation in high gear 24/7 is an incredible challenge given all the obstacles we face traveling the road to success. The lack of motivation appears to continually cross our paths as we grow forward.

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I have invited many people I know from the Sarasota and Fort Myers Areas to visit Charlotte County. These are our neighbors to our north and south and the vast majority of the people I speak with regarding Charlotte County have a negative outlook on Charlotte County or are just ignorant of what we have to offer.

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The CCYP has become an integral thread in the tapestry of our local community. We are invited to the table when our leaders discuss many initiatives. The movement of YPO's are growing nationwide, and their influence along with it. Our members of the CCYP are members of many other clubs and boards throughout the community. The CCYP has a tremendous amount of leverage in Charlotte County. But, one thing all YPOs must ask is, "Who's missing?"

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