Commemorating Ten Years of Rogers Park Business and Artist Network (RPBizArts)

Think back to May, 2001. The nation had a new President who many feel stole the election. The federal government was enjoying a surplus. A facebook was something we might show to our children while putting them to bed. The price of gas was (inflation adjusted) $1.61. Osama Bin Laden? Few people knew who he was, but he was alive.

Ten years later - how much has changed!

One morning back in May, 2001 a group of local business people and artists* thought that Rogers Park needed a networking organization uniquely suited to this neighborhood. They spoke with Heartland Cafe owner Michael James who agreed to host the meeting and serve breakfast. Around 15 - 20 locals showed up with the goal being to get to know each other, what each other does professionally, and to learn about other community endeavors others were involved in. People exchanged business cards. New friendships and business relationships were established.

On a Wednesday morning in May, 2001, Rogers Park Business and Artist Network (RP BizArts) was born.

A few things about BizArts have changed over the years. Though the Heartland was always gracious about offering their space, in time we decided that the BizArts format offered us a chance to spotlight different businesses and locales around the community. Each month, the venue locations changed.  Also, around 2004 (?), DevCorp North (now, the Rogers Park Business Alliance) got into the act. Given the organizational prowess of it’s Director of Operations, Sandi Price, BizArts became more structured, and better marketed. Monthly “After Hour” BizArts meetings were added each month in conjunction with the breakfasts. (Morning BizArts on the 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9:00; “After Hours” on the fourth, 5:30 - 8:00.)

Some BizArts meetings have been huge successes; others, attended only by a handful of regulars. Yet, throughout, BizArts’ goal has been the same: to offer local business people and artists a chance to promote themselves and to learn what others are up to. BizArts was never intended to be a place to whine or complain or to offer suggestions to improve the neighborhood. We all felt that there were plenty of other venues and meetings for that. BizArts was a place where people can simply meet others in a comfortable and inviting setting, and enjoy the people who live, work and create within it.

For our ten year anniversary, Michael James and Katy Hogan are inviting us back to our original digs at the Heartland, with a BizArts breakfast scheduled for this coming Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 7:30 - 9:00, 7000 N. Glenwood. They are graciously offering us a deeply discounted breakfast buffet, and this website, http://www.rogerspark.com, which co-hosts these events along with the Business Alliance, will throw in a few extra dollars to help fund the meal.

We encourage everyone who has attended BizArts events in the past ten years to make some time and attend our anniversary gig this coming Wednesday, May 11th (and we will have another “After Hours” gig later this month on May 25 - location TBA). We also encourage new folks within the community to attend as well. Show up any time between 7:30 - 9:00 AM, and be prepared to network, eat, and celebrate the beginning of our second decade of meetings.

For those of you not members or advertisers of the RPBA, we encourage everyone to pay $6.00 at the door to cover administrative costs associated with the event. Also, each month we collect canned goods that BizArts contributes to a local food pantry.

* If my memory serves me correct, besides myself, the founders of BizArts were Charlie Didrickson, Tom Westgard, Michael James and Mike Patton (now in NYC), with many others who, in time, became regulars.

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