How was our meeting (FEBRUARY 14th, 2012)

Howard and Yvonne Bisk – http://www.BannersAmerica.com

Happy Valentine’s Networking Chocolates, raffle prizes and a great group of people.

Betsy and Bob Maniotis – http://www.BetsysBaskets.com

It was a great meeting with new business owners, as well as members. Yvonne & Howard made it fun by giving us all chocolate Valentines. ~ Thank you Yvonne & Howard!

Florence Bleich – FBleich@ft.newyorklife.com

This meet up was very well run. Both Yvonne and Howard were welcoming. There were many business entrepreneurs there networking. It is a good idea to have everyone stand up and introduce themselves as we did.

Barry Lites – BLites@bdllaw.com

The meeting was well attended and very well organized. I enjoyed the presentations and learning about the various businesses of the members.

Janet and Rick Matteo – http://www.usamdt.com

Excellent experience, would highly recommend, We attended our first meeting last month
& we like this group very much. No pressure, comfortable yet productive atmosphere, no membership fee or requirements, the location is nice, food was good. Met a nice mix of business people”

Gretchen Gillman – http://www.gretchengillman.jhilburn.com

Yvonne & Howard are genuinely wonderful people. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to meet you and to join this group! Dennis, who is a fixture (barkeeper) from the venue Residence Inn, was wonderful as well! Looking forward to next month’s meeting and everyone who is returning as well.

How was our meeting (JANUARY 10th, 2012) ??

Howard and Yvonne Bisk – http://www.HowardsHomes.com

WOW, what a crowd. Over 50 people showed their interest in networking. And from the reactions many made good contacts and/or learned new things that can benefit their business.

Axel Calderon – http://www.DesignerDentalStudioNY.com

Very nice group of people the organizers are enthusiastic and organized

Sabir Semerkant – http://www.TheVitaminCreek.com

Loved the 60-second elevator pitches. If the organizers can introduce a featured speaker to talk about a specific business challenge like Business Insurance, Finance Management, Human Resources, etc. that would make this meetup even more awesome

Kenny Eisman – http://www.Uniliteinsurance.com

A little too long but got to meet a lot of people

How was our meeting (December 13th, 2011) ??

Rus Carbon – http://www.sdrweddings.com/
Very informative, and it was great to connect with other like minded hustling entrepreneurs.

Howard and Yvonne Bisk – http://www.HowardsHomes.com
The meeting on December 13th was surprisingly rewarding for myself as well as for many of the other attendees. Several people made comments to me that they met people that they were going to connect with later in the week. I definitely met people that I will be connecting with. We had many new professionals,  they were surprised that they had a very easy time adjusting to our type of networking event and they will be returning next month.

Leslie Orloff – http://www.ieee.org/
It was good to meet fellow LI’s with common interests, but there were some people who spoke too long.

Barbara Synnott – New York Life
The meeting was well attended and well run.

Bill & Rosa D’Anna – http://www.shop.com/markettausa
Howard and Yvonne did a great job! It was our first meeting and it met all our expectations.

Betsy Maniotis – http://www.BetsysBaskets.com
It was a great meeting with a huge turnout. I met a lot of new people with interesting businesses.

Proudly showing some testimonials ;-)

http://www.LearnAndPlayLevittown.com

Since enrolling Tyler at the start of the school year, Donna and I have been very happy with the level of care that you provide. We feel that Tyler’s social skills are developing nicely due to the daily interaction with the other children and the crafts and activities you have planned on a daily basis.
Your thorough communication and the pictures you email us are great and we love the news letters you send out.
We would highly recommend your daycare to any family or friends we have, and you are more than welcome to use us as a reference anytime.
Thanks so much,
Brian and Donna Crummy
Levittown, NY
November 2011

My two girls attend Learn and Play Levittown, my 3-year-old and soon to be one-year-old. Naturally, as any working parent would be, I was worried about them and how they would react. Would my 3-year-old cry? Is my 7-month old too little? Of course I was filled with guilt and concern. I am pleased to say that three months later, I don’t even blink at the thought of their well-being and happiness at Learn and Play. They love it! My 3-year-old doesn’t even want to leave sometimes. She has made friends and genuinely feels at home at Learn and Play. And my soon to be one-year-old is thriving. Yvonne and everyone at Learn and Play is so loving and caring. Yvonne always shares photos and updates us on their day. My 3-year-old comes home with activities she’s done. I cannot say enough as I sit here and think about the experience that my children are having. But what’s been a true blessing is that I can get through my day at work without worrying them. Thank you Learn and Play!
Stacy
November 2011

My children have been going to Learn and Play Levittown for the past few months and love it. They are learning so much and are having a ton of fun in an environment that is caring and safe. I never worry about their well being when they are in the care of Miss Yvonne. Heading to work every day is made easier because my children enjoy going to Learn and Play. Thank you Miss Yvonne and Howie for creating a wonderful environment for my children to be taken care of when I am at work. Everything you do is really appreciated. – Diane Drescher, Levittown, NY

When I returned to work after taking an entire year off following the birth of our second child, I was dreading putting the kids in to daycare. It’s been three months now and the kids absolutely love it there. Every day they bring home some sort of arts and crafts project that they made, or my older one comes home with some sort of school work that he did there. Ms. Yvonne, Ms. Ellen, and Howie are always so interactive with the children. It really gives a working parent peace of mind knowing that your children are in a safe nurturing environment, when you yourself can not be with them during the work day.
C – Levittown

http://www.LearnAndPlayLevittown.com

How was our 5 year anniversary meeting (October 11th, 2011) ??

Mia Cartalemi – http://www.strongarmoverheaddoors.com/
Eddie, my partner and I were very pleased with this meetup

Edward F Mullally IV – http://www.StrongArmOverheadDoors.com
After attending our first meeting with this group on their 5th year anniversary – it’s no wonder they were nominated the best of Long Island! Thank you and Congrats!

Howard and Yvonne Bisk – http://LearnAndPlayLevittown.com
Our 5 year anniversary was a huge success. Everybody enjoyed drinks, cake and lots of networking. Patch.com even sent a reporter to write a story about our group – http://massapequa.patch.com/articles/long-island-entrepreneur-hits-milestone
On to another 5 years !!

Cathy Rogan – http://www.prudentialelliman.com
This was my first meet-up. I thought it was great. Enjoyed meeting other entrepreneurs. Meeting was informative, informal and friendly. I look forward to attending future meetings

Brian Cohen – http://www.toastmasters46.org
As an attendee and as a presenter of one of the Long Island Entrepreneurs group I can tell you from first-hand knowledge that this is a great set up. I especially like the fact that everyone has an opportunity to give their elevator speech to all of the attendees. Congratulations Yvonne
Brian – Strategies Of Success

Jason Molinet – http://www.jasonmolinet.com
I’ve been to a Meetup with Yvonne. Very productive.

Doug Feldman – http://www.arcappartners.com
Great format. Yvonne is a phenomenal facilitator. The strong turnout is a testament to that. I look forward to the next one.

Debbie Viola – http://www.DebbieViola.com
Congratulations on your accomplishment. Putting together and coordinating wonderful meetings for five years is no small task. Yet you always do such a great job. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to attend lately due to scheduling, but I think of you often, and hope to see you soon. Happy Anniversary!

Bill McCartney – http://www.Cbmoves.com/ronkonkoma
Congrats!!! I know how much time and effort you put in to helping other people… Thank you

Christine Ripa Segal – http://www.innerbeautyworkshops.com
You deserve a medal for all you do! Congrats!!

Sandra McCarty – http://www.sminboundmarketing.com/
It was an awesome evening of celebration and networking. Yvonne Osinga-Bisk you are a very important part of our business community and I thank you for serving us so selflessly and so tirelessly. Congratulations on your 5 year achievement.

Alison Gilbert – http://www.MarketingBytes.biz
I had hoped to attend you milestone event. I have so much to thank you for in my career. Please accept this post as my thanks. You are one of the most generous, true spirits I have ever met. Have a great celebration. All the best!
Fondly,
Alison and friends

Diana Wenutu – livingwellness2001@yahoo.com
Hi Yvonne and Howard.  Thank you for all the great work you are doing!  I attended my first meeting in October and was hoping to be there again November 8. Prior meeting date was just moved up from the 15 to the 8, so I will look forward to seeing you both again in December 13.

Howards Homes Testimonial…

Click on the image to ENLARGE

 

 

 

After the meeting – September 13, 2011

 

If you take a minute to fill out the ‘rate the meeting’ section on Meetup.com after you attend one of the meetings, you will get your name and link posted on the very popular Long Island Entrepreneurs Blog. Just like these people did:

 

Alyssa Yuchowitz – http://www.numisnetwork.com/alyssa

This meetup was fantastic! Everyone there was professional and nice! It was very organized in the way it was run. I went to the first one last night, 9/13/11, and I will definitely be attending more in the future!

 

Jerrold Schwartz – http://www.JerroldSchwartz.com

Nice to see new faces in the crowd. Great presentation by Missing Child TV.

9/11 and Meetup…

I received this inspiring email from the founder of Meetup.com. If you are one of the people who regularly goes to business networking events, you are one of the people that were not scared off by 9/11 to go outside or talk to strangers.

9/11 didn’t rip us apart

I don’t write to our whole community often, but this week is
special because it’s the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many
people don’t know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.

Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought
local community doesn’t matter much if we’ve got the internet
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I
hoped they wouldn’t bother me.

When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they’d normally
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being
neighborly.

A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring
people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was
born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet — and
grow local communities?

We didn’t know if it would work. Most people thought it was a
crazy idea — especially because terrorism is designed to make
people distrust one another.

A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months
after 9/11.

Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it’s
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups… a wild variety of
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common — except one
thing.

Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and
motivate each other, they babysit each other’s kids and find
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It’s
powerful stuff.

It’s a wonderful revolution in local community, and it’s thanks
to everyone who shows up.

Meetups aren’t about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it
weren’t for 9/11.

9/11 didn’t make us too scared to go outside or talk to
strangers. 9/11 didn’t rip us apart. No, we’re building new
community together!!!!

The towers fell, but we rise up. And we’re just getting started
with these Meetups.

Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)
Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
New York City
September 2011

After the meeting – August 9, 2011

If you take a minute to fill out the ‘rate the meeting’ section on Meetup.com after you attend one of the meetings, you will get your name and link posted on this very popular Long Island Entrepreneurs Blog. Just like these people did:

Jerrold Schwartz – http://www.JerroldSchwartz.com
Great meeting! Gets better every time!

Patrick Picarsic – http://www.cpsfinancialservices.com
Very organized. Needs more mingling booze time!

Howard and Yvonne Bisk – http://www.HowardsHomes.com
What a crowd! What a turnout! Thank you to all who came to the meeting. And thank you Christine Segal from Inner Beauty Workshops – http://www.InnerBeautyWorkshops.com for your talk on healthy lifestyle choices.

Another great week ;-)

Yes, it is hot, hot, hot.Yes, all our electricity bills will be over the roof. Yes, we stayed inside more then we would like to.

BUT I love every day that ‘Learn and Play Levittown‘ is open!!

How can you not love having little arms embrace you, how can you not love seeing these shining eyes and big smiles, how can you not love hearing these giggles, how can you not love listening to their pretend play, how can you not enjoy them trying new foods and liking it???

Yes, I LOVE WHAT I DO every day!!

Yvonne