Press Release- Wine N Greet, An Overwhelming Success!

April 13, 2006, Boston, MA--The Boston Chapter of the Network of South Asian Professionals (NetSAP-Boston) had an overwhelming response to a new event this year “Wine & Greet” organized on Thursday, April 13th. The new concept enables people to make many contacts in a short amount of time. The event was attended by 50 people from the Boston area. Many NetSAP members and non-members RSVPed for this event, but due to the size of the venue, seating was limited. NetSAP plans to pursue this event again in a couple of months.

The setting for this event was at the intimate and cozy Vinalia Restaurant, located on Summer Street in Boston. The entry fee included a complimentary glass of wine and a chance to network with individuals, in a non-traditional manner. The concept of the event was well-thought and was set up in such a way that everyone in the room gets to spend at least 5 mins with each other. The individuals sat across each other and conversed about various interests and topics. A few ice-breaker questions were given to each person to provide ideas for conversation topics. Inbetween coversations, people also got to taste different wines. The event put both "outgoing" and more "reserved networkers" on a level playing field. An after event mix and mingle session ensured that people got to interact more. Everyone came away with meeting new people and building a wider network.

One attendee, Pankaj Gupta, mentioned that he liked the idea of the “Wine & Greet” and that it was “really helpful to establish new connections because the setting compelled people to interact with each other. This is a very good initiative.”

Another attendee, Kiran Ganda, had a few words to say about the event: “It was such a good idea as it really facilitated interaction and introductions. In the past, I have attended a couple of NETSAP events (happy hours) and found it difficult to talk to people because most people seemed to know each other. The Wine and Greet really drew people who a) wanted to meet new people and b) needed a non-intimidating, secure, relaxed atmosphere to do so. I think NetSAP should continue to hold such events where interaction is easy. I would definitely go to another Wine 'n' Greet event”.

Bhairav Mehta, who moved to Boston recently and was attending the event with his wife felt that the Wine 'n' Greet event definitely helped them know more people in the Boston area and build their network.

Pallavi Chhabra, NetSAP Social Co-Chair and the organizer of the event, mentioned that, “Wine ‘n’ Greet was definitely a huge success. It gave people the opportunity to get together in a very comfortable environment. At the end of the event, it was like a ‘big happy family’. Wine ‘n’ Greet was more so targeted towards people who are not very relaxed in talking to others in a regular bar environment but on the other hand are certainly interested in meeting new people. The event drew people closer to one other and built new friendships to cherish! We would definitely like to host similar events in the future. It was a great way to represent NetSAP as a social organization!”

Pictures from the Wine 'n' Greet event will be posted soon on the NetSAP photos page at http://www.netsapboston.org/photos. The next NetSAP event is the monthly happy hour at Caprice on April 27th. A community service event is also planned for April 29th, 2006, Saturday at the Long Island Shelter Farm. Please contact Siddharth Pandit, NetSAP Community Chair, at community@netsapboston.org for more information on this opportunity!

About NetSAP-Boston:
Founded in 1995, the Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston) is a professional, 501c(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the professional, political, cultural and civic needs of the South Asian community in the Greater Boston area. We seek to unite South Asian professionals, nurture leadership, and build partnerships in the New England area through professional programs, networking events, and community service efforts. NetSAP-Boston is part of NetIP-NA, The Network of Indian Professionals, North America. For more information on events, membership and other initiatives, visit www.netsapboston.org. To learn more about NetIP North America and other chapters in other cities, visit www.netip.org.