Network Columbia: Boost Your Business Every Tuesday

Issue #142

08 Jul

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌤 Columbia Weather - Mostly cloudy with a high of 93

👉 Network Columbia: Boost Your Business Every Tuesday

📰 New Tennessee Laws Effective July 2024

🤼‍♀️ July 13: Benefit Wrestling Show & Silent Auction For Tornado Relief 

🩸 July 10: Blood Drive at Muletown Rec

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

📣 We Want To Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details! 

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Monday, July 8th

Tuesday, July 9th

Wednesday, July 10th

Friday, July 12th

Saturday, July 13th

Sunday, July 14th

Network Columbia: Boost Your Business Every Tuesday

Marty Ness-White and the Network Columbia group

There’s a new business networking group in town!

Network Columbia was started by Marty Ness-White, co-owner and designer at Kitchen Solvers, a few months ago and it’s quickly attracted a great group of local business people, many who are loyal attendees every week. 

When: Every Tuesday from 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Where: The Factory at Columbia, 101 N. James Campbell Blvd.

We asked Marty to share about why she started Network Columbia and what makes this group special… 

Did I really need to get myself involved in one more thing? No. Did I feel something needed to be started for the right reasons? Yes! And when the perfect location presented itself and with only one morning I was available to do it, I locked it in and ran with it.

Having networked for years in Rochester, NY and being very engaged with other networking groups, I wanted to bring the best I had experienced to this group, but keep it local!

I have never been a fan of paying for networking or being required to bring leads for others, one needs to focus on their own leads! However, we all know that when we spend time getting to know others and in the natural flow of business and life we make connections that organically present opportunities for people we know. At least that is how it is supposed to work, right?

The beginnings of this group was made up of people I already know, and most of them knew each other from other groups, but once these few new local Columbia people came it blew up with excitement and engagement. More so than I usually see at all the other networking groups. 

After the structured round robin pitches and asks people wanted to spend time asking questions of other businesses and needs to really get to know more about their hows and whys. This was so intriguing to me! In most groups you'll have a good chunk of people that only come to give their pitch and leave if they do not get instant leads. As we all know (or should), some may be lucky enough to get leads on the spot, but it truly is about consistently showing up and getting to know and support others. That's when the real relationships develop that drive others to refer and connect others.

So, why did I really start this group? There really wasn't any open, free, and structured networking in Columbia! Much of it is membership based and the group members are required to recruit for and attend regularly, it’s open mingle which is difficult for the more introverted, or a specific "only" type of attendee (women only). None of these felt right or good to me. Also, the other great networking groups didn't want to start a group in Columbia. But Columbia is awesome, a big small town, and it's filled with a lot of local small businesses. I really wanted to develop the opportunities for local small business to grow and support other local business! It's the only way us small businesses will survive and thrive. It is very different here. 

This group has become very tight! Many stay long after the meeting is over, then go elsewhere to continue their discussions and everyone seems to be really invested in developing these connections. I often sit there listening to all the conversations and think, wow... this is so awesome! 

If you’re looking to connect with other business owners in Columbia and grow your network of relationships, we highly recommend you come out and give it a try! 

RSVP on the Facebook Event here.
Join the Network Columbia Facebook Group here.

New Tennessee Laws Effective July 2024

Here are some of the over 200 laws that took effect on July 1 after the 2024 legislative session.

Abortion
SB 1971: As enacted, creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor if certain conditions are met.

Adoption
SB1738: As enacted, enacts the “Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act,” which generally prohibits the department of children’s services from requiring a current or prospective adoptive or foster parent to affirm, accept, or support any government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parent’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs; makes related changes.

Artificial Intelligence

HB 2091: As enacted, enacts the “ELVIS Act,” defines and adds “voice” as a protected personal right; adds commercial availability of a sound recording or audiovisual work in which the individual’s name, voice, likeness, or image is readily identifiable to considerations for determining whether non-use has occurred; makes other related changes

Criminal Offense

HB2198: As enacted, increases the penalty for the offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony.

SB2570: As enacted, authorizes a person who suffers loss or injury as a result of a defendant intentionally obstructing a highway, street, or other place used for the passage of vehicles or conveyances to bring a cause of action against such person to recover compensatory damages from the loss or injury.

Education

HB1909: As enacted, enacts the “Laken Riley Act of 2024,” which generally prohibits a public institution of higher education from prohibiting adults lawfully present on the institution’s property from carrying a nonlethal weapon for purposes of self-defense; allows certain exceptions.

Environmental Preservation

SB2691: As enacted, prohibits the intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight.

Marriage

HB2041: As enacted, prohibits marriage between first cousins.

Public Health
SB2782: As introduced, creates a civil cause of action against any person who intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports an unemancipated minor within this state for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure, regardless of where the medical procedure is to be procured.

Complete List: View over 200 laws that took effect on July 1, 2024, here.

July 13: Benefit Wrestling Show & Silent Auction For Tornado Relief

A huge night of wrestling for a cause. Come help us raise money for the victims of the May 2024 tornado that went through Maury county.

When: Saturday, July 13th, 4PM
Where: National Guard Armory, 844 N. James Campbell Blvd.

RSVP for this event here

July 10: Blood Drive at Muletown Rec

Muletown Rec will host a community Blood Drive, Wednesday, July 10th! Donating blood is a vital act of kindness that has numerous benefits. It helps save lives by providing essential blood to patients in need, such as those undergoing surgery, trauma victims, or individuals with chronic illnesses. Our Maury Regional Hospital has recently reported that due to the tornado's victims, donations are needed.

Please stop by on Wednesday from 10 AM - 2 PM! Each donor will receive a t-shirt while supplies last, so get here early!

🎵 This Week’s Live Music 🎵

Monday, July 8th

Alyssa Hart, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

Tuesday, July 9th

Jay Hoppus, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM
Summer Songwriters Series
The Rebel, 6:30-8:30 PM

Wednesday, July 10th

Grace West, Puckett's, 6-8:30 PM

Thursday, July 11th

Taylor Hughes, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM
Stevierock, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM

Friday, July 12th

Brandt Archer & Damien Boggs, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Kelley Ann Williams, Ransom Spirits & Provisions, 7:30 PM
Craig Morris & King Cotton, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Escape, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, July 13th

Nick Bentley, Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Music on the Ridge - Box of Rox, Amber Falls Winery, 3-7 PM
Erick Turner Band, The Tilted Mule, 7 PM
Stevierock, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Yonder Grove, Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Backlit, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, July 14th

Music on the Ridge - John Salaway, Amber Falls Winery, 1-5 PM
Don McKinnon, The Tilted Mule, 3 PM
Level 77, The Rebel, 4 PM
Archer, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 5-8 PM
Brian & Aletha Golden, Puckett's, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

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