The Bismarck-Mandan YP Network is home to several recurring events. Read to learn more about each event!
Annual Themed Party
The YPN holds an annual themed party to get everyone out (and in costume!) to socialize and have a fun time in a more novelty way. Past themes have included 70’s disco, superheroes, “why is this in my closet?”, and 80’s.
Chill-N-Bowl
This event was first organized in 2009 as a fun activity that combines a bowling tournament with a chili cook-off. The first year had seven bowling teams participate. In 2010, the number of teams doubled and we added a charity aspect holding a silent auction where proceeds went to Capitol Shakespeare. Since then, the event has developed into the largest fundraiser for the YPN. In addition, the Chill-N-Bowl traveling trophy has become a highly coveted piece of hardware!
Due to the incredible success of the event, the YP Network has also used it as an opportunity to give back to the community by donating a portion of the proceeds to various charitable organizations. The YPN’s non-profit partner (a charitable organization from the Bismarck-Mandan community chosen by the YPN on an annual basis) is invited to also raise funds at this event. A portion of the proceeds, combined with any funds the organization raises at the event (by holding a raffle, silent auction, etc.) is donated to that charity. This is a fun event that brings out the competitive spirit in all of us!
Cinco Annual Celebration & Annual Meeting
It’s the YP Network’s birthday! The YPN gathers on or near Cinco de Mayo in honor of the organization’s formation on this holiday in 2005. This is the network’s largest annual event and also its annual meeting where we elect our vice president, present annual awards, and introduce the next round of YPN leadership whose terms run from May to May.
Entrepreneurs Among Us (E-Among Us)
E-Among Us is an event created by the Entrepreneur Team to showcase local entrepreneurs and businesses in Bismarck-Mandan. The event allows our members to visit locally-owned businesses in the community to hear their success stories. It gives YP’ers an opportunity to meet the owners of local businesses, hear their stories and ask questions in a relaxed environment. Business owners give a brief presentation outlining how they started, some of the challenges faced, and factors that have contributed to their success. The dialogue then commences to an informal Q&A session that allows YP’ers to ask questions. Q&A sessions have lasted from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the business. YP’ers are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to gain insight into how they can become more successful in their own careers as well as use the opportunity to network with successful business owners in our community. We typically hold these events at the place of business, either over the noon hour or right after work.
Epic Impact
The YPN has held this annual event since 2014. Speakers at this event have a story making a truly “epic impact” on attendees by sharing their stories of trials and triumphs and how their struggles have led to success. Speakers in the past include V.J. Smith, Todd Houston, Joe Torrillo, Janine Shepherd, Charlie Plumb and more.
Failing Successfully
Failing Successfully is a global movement and event series that shares stories of professional blunders. There will be four people to get up in front of a room full of strangers to share their own professional failures. The event is about personal mistakes, outcomes and lessons learned from it. The stories of the business that crashes and burns, the partnership deal that goes sour, the product that has to be recalled, we tell them all! A handful of local business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, educators (you name it!) have been invited to speak to our YPN about their failures in the past that have made them successful in the present.
First Thursday Social
Aptly named for their scheduling, a first Thursday social takes place on the first Thursday of a given month. These socials are just for fun and networking; a great way for new members to get involved and meet other members!
Monday Mingle
Monday Mingles are for the social butterflies (or those aspiring to be!) We meet at a fun restaurant or bar in Bismarck or Mandan to mingle with one another and get our social fix while networking with fellow YP’ers.
Stepping Up
Stepping up is an annual event that was created to have career conversations with local high school students. This project allows young professionals to speak personally about how they chose their life-career paths, university, a degree (reasons for changing degrees), moving out of state & coming back to ND, and building work experience which has lead them to their current jobs. Students have really enjoyed hearing from our young professionals in the past and we are excited to keep this event going in the future!
Very Merry Membership Celebration
This festive event wraps up our year and allows us one more fundraising opportunity to support our non-profit partner for the year. VMMC hosts the holiday sweater contest, games, prizes, and upcoming involvement opportunities for the new year.
YP Day
Each year the YPN picks a deserving project in Bismarck/Mandan that allows us to give back to the community that gives us so much! The YPN rotates between Bismarck and Mandan each year. Members and nonmembers are encouraged to join us in these service projects. Projects we’ve done in the past include painting and sprucing at Sleepy Hollow in Bismarck, painting and restoring the ND Railroad Museum in Mandan, and more.
YP Roundtable
The YP Roundtable was started by the Entrepreneur Team (E-Team) in 2011, created to give YP’ers access to ‘big-name’ speakers that we normally wouldn’t get to meet at regular YPN events. The focus of the event is on entrepreneurship and how to be successful in business. We typically target individuals who have ties to North Dakota (i.e. Dave St. Peter, President of the Minnesota Twins is a graduate of UND and came to speak to us). The speaker will give a brief presentation on how they got to where they are today followed by an extensive Q&A session. The event is designed to allow YP’ers to ask questions they normally wouldn’t get to ask if they attended a typically presentation given by these high-caliber individuals. The focus is on Q&A so YP’ers shape the event and the discussion around the things that are of most interest to them.