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April 30, 1999/14 Iyar 5759, Vol. 51, No.31
New Jewish networking group formed
MICHELLE ACKERMAN
Staff Writer
Do you ever wish you knew just the right person for something you need?
Well, a new Jewish networking group may be able to help.
The group, called Phoenix Networking Group, was co-founded by Lee Eisinberg, a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch; Joel Sherman, a real estate agent with Realty Executives; and Paul Blum, a business broker with Re/Max Commercial Investment.
Eisinberg explains that the goal of the group is to promote and foster business within the Jewish community. They also hope to offer a social component.
"I just think it's an opportunity ... to form a network that is a combination of both the opportunity to do business with each other, and also to do some community service work for the Jewish community," explains Sherman.
Although the specifics of the group are still being worked out, the three founders have so far put together a list of possible projects and ideas, to later be voted on by members. Ideas so far include inviting area rabbis to speak at meetings throughout the year; having each member plan and carry out two "mitzvah projects" each year; working out a rotating schedule under which two members get together at least once a month for a casual lunch to learn more about each other's business; and offering an optional weekly 50/50 $5-per-ticket raffle, in which half the proceeds would go to the winner(s) and half to local Jewish causes.
Membership in the group will be restricted to one person per profession or specialty, and members must be Jewish. Meetings will be held at noon on Thursdays at a to-be-determined hotel in Scottsdale.
The luncheon meeting time, explains Eisinberg, was chosen specifically to offer an alternative to another currently existing Jewish networking group that meets in the mornings. That group, called the Valley Business Network, meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 7:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m. at Emire's, 11811 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. It is also a "non-competing" organization.
Eisinberg says he feels the Valley has a "fairly fragmented Jewish community" and he hopes that this group will "help bring (that) community closer together."
He adds that the group welcomes non-practicing Jews as well as practicing Jews, and that members will be expected to refer business to each other in their respective fields. Members of Valley Business Network are not required to provide leads, although they have the option of doing so.
The anticipated costs of membership in the Phoenix Jewish Networking Group are a $100 initiation fee plus $125 dues per quarter, which would cover the cost of the lunches. Valley Business Network charges a $35 initiation fee plus $250 per year, or $140 every six months.
The first meeting of the Phoenix Jewish Networking Group is scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 6.
For more information, call Eisinberg at (480) 607-8811.
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