FAQs about Short and Sweet: A Networking and Speed Dating Event

1) Is it networking or is it speed dating?

Well, it is both! We have a networking portion and a speed dating portion.

2) How does speed dating work?

Well… The ladies sit at a table and the guys rotate around every 3 minutes. Everyone will have 20 dates in one hour.

3) How do you get your speed dating matches?

Everyone is assigned a letter or a number. After each date, each person will check of a confidential check list whether or not you would like to exchange contact information with one of your dates. The sheets will be collected and tabulated by the planning committee. In the next few days after the event, if you have a match then you will receive an email with the email contact information of the person you matched with at the event. Because of this setup, there is no pressure and people will have an enjoyable evening of mixing and mingling.

4) What is the age range?

The age range is from 23-35.

5) Where is the money going towards?

Part of the money goes to Doctors without Borders for the Haiti Earthquake Relief fund. The other part of the money will go towards activities for SNMA’s Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) which will be held here in Chicago from March 31- April 4.

6) I’m in a relationship. Can I still come to the event?

Absolutely! This event is a fundraiser. You can come and mix and mingle with fellow SNMAers, students from various professional schools throughout Chicago, and other professionals. You will also qualify for the giveaways and the raffle.

7) Is there any food there?

Yes! We have nice chocolate desserts… J

8) Are there any giveaways?

Yes! We have ‘date night’ giveaways for first dates OR for those who in relationships. The giveaways include a wine tasting event, movie tickets, and a coffee date. We will also have a raffle for a nice restaurant in Chicago…

9) Should I attend?

Of course you should attend! It is a mixer with a twist! You will have fun conversations and chocolate desserts with Chicago’s finest. Also, it is one of the few opportunities to meet other students and professionals in the Chicagoland area. We are hosting the national SNMA conference this year and we need to rally the troops to show our visitors how we do it in the Chi! AND this fundraiser is going towards both AMEC activities and Doctors without Borders for Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Text Messaging: Friend or Foe

My friend went out with a guy the other day for a first date. She was impressed with him calling her up and asking her out. We were both quite excited for the possibilities of this new suitor and smitten with the fact that he called. Nonetheless, our conversation turned into a deeper reflection.... How sad is it that such a simple act has such a lasting impression????

Back in the day (and I only mean 5 years ago), men called you on the phone to get to know you and ask you out on a date. This time period was exciting! You and your potential would talk for hours getting to know each other... sharing hopes, dreams, and different life stories... talking into the wee hours of the night knowing you have to get up early to go to work. Oh.. but work did not convince you to get off the phone and go to sleep. And every conversation grew in length despite the fear that one of you would run out of words and the communication fountain would eventually dry up. Somehow you never ran out of those words and your affection continued to grow. Every conversation built anticipation for the first date and the first kiss and beyond....

What happened to the good ol' days??? Last year I proceeded to go through an entire dating cycle (introduction, dating, and breaking up) ALL through text messaging and email. How is that possible? Text messaging, instant messenger, and email are suppose to be supplements to conversation. People are suppose to use these forms of communication for cute messages and quick updates. They are not suppose to dominate how we communicate with one another or how we date! It is not acceptable to text someone to ask them out on a date. However, somehow we have gone over to the dark side! Breakups, makeups, and arguments... All on text or instant message or email. What happened to the art of expression? Few people actually seem to want to chat on a phone these days. All these forms of communication should bring people closer... And in some instances they have... Long distance does not seem so long when you are in constant communication. I think what has happened is everyone with a slight insecurity (i.e. most of us) has decided to use texting, etc. as a way to cover up those awkward moments in getting to know another person. You cannot stutter through texting and you can be as bold as you want. However, many have failed to recognize that dating should be awkward.... It makes the process exciting and keeps the anticipation going! In the past, I would get pre-date jitters every time I went out with a new guy. No matter what I was calling a girlfriend for a pre-date pep talk. Now, I cannot get excited. Text messaging me does not make me feel connected. I want to hear someone's voice or feel like he is thinking about me because he called to say hello. All of this texting, etc. feels unnatural... It seems lonely and disconnected. I do not want a man to tell me he cares about me through text... Well, I do not mind if he tells me through text BUT not just text... I want him to hear him say it and I want him show me.

So in the face of bigger and better technology we have created a bubble where we can communicate less and hide our emotions more... Text messaging: Dating Friend or Foe. Well, I vote Foe. We already have enough barriers in making real connections with people. Let's put down our key pads and talk... Real talk. I miss the good ol' days.

So what's your vote?