NORWICH – Young professionals will have a chance to meet, network and play some cards at the Tri County Young Professionals’ first Chenango County event of the year.
TCYP President Kerri Insinga has issued an open invitation to professionals in Chenango, Delaware and Otsego Counties to attend the organization’s first Pitch Tournament on Sunday, Jan. 25 at Ives Cream in Norwich.
“Anyone can come,” said Insinga, the group’s co-founder.
Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and the tournament itself will begin at noon. The cost to participate will be $20 for individuals, $35 for teams of two. Single players will be paired up for the competition. Those interested in participating are encouraged to sign up by Jan. 16.
No experience? No problem. Just come a little early.
“If anyone wants to learn or brush up, we’ll teach you,” said Insinga. She and other members of the TCYP board will offer a refresher course and practice rounds starting at 10:30 a.m. that morning.
The pitch tournament will be the first fundraising event for the group, which has been in existence for just over a year. Until now, TCYP’s activities have all been supported by corporate sponsorships and membership fees.
“It all goes back into the program,” said Insinga of the money raised from the event.
It’s hardly high stakes, but there is prize money up for grabs: $125 for first place and $75 for second. Third place gets “ups,” which Insinga explained as the pot each team contributes to when they don’t meet their initial bid.
Those who don’t triumph at cards will have other chances to win with door prizes, raffles and 50/50s. To further sweeten the deal, TCYP will be providing refreshments courtesy of Hoppie’s in Oxford.
And of course, there is the opportunity to get together with other young professionals.
“It’s all about the networking,” said Katie Ives, owner of Ives Cream. Ives, who is one of TCYP’s founding board members, is donating use of the party room above her shop for the fundraiser.
For her, she said, TCYP events are an opportunity to meet like-minded people and promote her business. And they reinforce the fact that being a professional does not preclude being young.
Ives said her favorite part of the organization is the chance to “loosen the tie a little bit” with events geared toward young professionals like herself. She used golf as an example. Everyone has golf tournaments in the summer, she said. The TCYP version? Mini-golf.
Most of the group’s activities draw professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s, Insinga explained, although there are no official age requirements or restrictions.
“We’re all facing the same challenges,” said Insinga. There is a misconception, she explained, that there aren’t young professionals living and working in upstate New York. Not only are they here, but there are plenty of benefits to living outside the city.
“We have a great quality of life,” said Insinga, who juggles a full-time job with WCDO radio, a small business of her own and is raising a family.
Having networking opportunities encourages young professionals to stay in the area, she said.
“We try to do (an event) once a month at least, and we bounce around between the three counties,” Insinga explained. Expanding these offerings will be one of her goals for the coming year. Eventually, she said, they would like to have events in all three counties every month.
TCYP’s upcoming events include a Comedy Night on Feb. 7 at the Silo Restaurant in Coventry and a trip to see a Binghamton Senator’s hockey game on Feb. 27.
While all events are open to both members and non-members of the organization, there are advantages to membership, said Insinga. Many of TCYP’s activities are discounted for members, and with the TCYP ID card, discounts are available at area merchants as well.
For more information on these and other events, or to become a member, visit www.tcypgroup.org, email info@tcypgroup.org or call Kerri Insinga at 267-8541.