Event Spotlight

Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association ::
Lucky Strike Networking
by Juanita Berge, 1 Nov 2006

The Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association (PhIMA) is a non-profit organization created by professionals in the Mid-Atlantic interactive community for professionals in the Mid-Atlantic interactive community. PhIMA's mission is to foster the common passion for and dedication to the interactive medium through various educational and social events. Find out more at www.phillyinteractive.org.

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The Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association (PhIMA) presented an evening networking event on Thursday the 24th of October and, boy, were they a lively group. A downtown bowling alley lounge was the setting and there were no shy wallflowers present. Everyone was up and bowling, sampling the munchies, or engaged in animated groups that kept the roving waitresses occupied. Yes, everyone was making the absolute most of the occasion. They were one merry crowd – not surprising with all of the free wine and beer. And, right in the middle of the proceedings, was the donation table for Alex's Lemonade Stand, a campaign started by a brave youngster to benefit pediatric cancer research.

Thursday evening, the PhIMA folks raised $1400 in donations for Alex's Lemonade Stand, surpassing their $1000 goal. Kudos to you, PhIMA, for setting and exceeding such a worthy and selfless goal!

That evening's event represents a positive trend in our creative community. This trend, I'm happy to observe, involves events that are planned and presented by some of our numerous professional organizations with the purposes of education, networking, or just plain fun while simultaneously benefiting our larger community. It is a development worth noting and emulating. Not only would it be rather easy for your company or organization to arrange such a gathering, but the benefits of such an event are enormous. Surely, it benefits charity, since they can always use cold, hard cash, but your organization will benefit as well. I believe Philadelphia's creative community has a great interest in philanthropic causes; the altruistic afterglow of such events is nothing to sneeze at. Many derive genuine pleasure at giving to others. Also, knowing to whom one's efforts are directed can contribute a good bit to workplace satisfaction – something I know we all can use more of. And, did I mention the priceless PR of such an undertaking?

PhIMA, an organization that is on the fast track to becoming one of the major players in the market, is just the latest organization that has moved in that direction. Formed just this year, the Philadelphia Interactive Marketing Association has experienced phenomenal growth in it's seven months of existence. It isn't any wonder, really. Not only is the interactive community in Philadelphia becoming immense, but marketing in Philadelphia has been an established industry for decades. New web developers are constantly listed in the Philly Creative Guide. Marketing firms go on forever. There are pages and pages of web and marketing outfits at contact sites that encompass this section of the country, this region, this metropolitan area, and this city. There is a vast array of web developers of every ilk clamoring to design your next site. Indeed, it's even more of a wonder that such an organization has just been formed.

Made up of just over 300 members who come mostly from the agency and publishing fields, PhIMA joins BIMA (Boston), CIMA (Chicago), SFBIG (San Francisco) and AIMA (Atlanta) in major markets who've launched interactive professional organizations. A good portion of PhIMA's membership is comprised of out-of-towners, individuals from the New York and D.C. markets. One guesstimate puts it at 70% locals to 30% those from 'abroad'. "It creates a nice balance," says Adam Roberts, one of the founding members of PhIMA. An even smaller percentage are strictly web development folks. "That makes for a viable, vibrant membership base. Our goal is to make Philadelphia a flourishing destination for web-based interactive marketing folks."

They've been hard at work in their seven months of existence. They've already presented three events, including this latest one. In April they held their kick-off soiree with great success and June saw a rich media panel event that featured professionals in marketing, art direction and interactive web fields. Their next event will be another educational forum to be held early in the new year. They are serious about delivering on their mission statement of "fostering passion for and dedication to the interactive medium through various educational and social events."

So, all you interactive pros out there, you can do your part in making Philly a flourishing interactive web city. Add your name and expertise to the hundreds who've already joined PhIMA in making Philadelphia a vibrant, viable interactive community.

Alex's Lemonade Stand can be reached through www.alexslemonade.org.

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