It’s mid Summer in Texas and as usual…it’s hot. Like really hot. But luckily Hometown Networking Group meets in the cool of Kyle IHOP every Wednesday morning. Here we can come in and beat the heat and have a good cup of morning coffee and mingle with some friends. If you need more than that…then order some of their amazing breakfasts. You walk away knowing that all is right in the world.
Education Moment: Trish Wilder with Edward Jones shared some networking tips in today’s Education Moment. She covered 6 networking strategies: 1)Hone your elevator pitch, 2) It’s all about how you make ‘them’ feel. 3) Shift from a ‘getting mindset’ to a ‘giving’ mindset 4) Find new ways to connect, 5) Be responsive and 6) Be an advocate for yourself, Many of the strategies might be familiar to business owners, but often, we get so busy doing the business that we forget the basics. It’s always good to have someone remind us. Thanks Trish!
This week’s Member Spotlight was Stephanie Murphree with Republic Veterinary Hospital.
Stephanie shared her path from birth, on an airforce base in Massachusetts before making her way to today, Owner and Vet at Republic Veterinary Hospital here in Kyle Texas.
Stephanie shared that she did her undergrad at Baylor University before heading to Africa with the Peace Corp (yep she was in the Peace Corp!) How cool is that!! Not so cool however was the fact that she caught malaria which cut her stint in Africa a bit short. But still how many people can say they were in the Peace Corp, went to Africa and/or caught malaria? After being back in the states awhile Stephanie worked with Green Peace organization and several other interesting jobs before she decided to go back to school and 
become a vet.
Stephanie admits her job as a vet is a lot of work BUT she says it’s also a lot of fun. How many people can say they had to pry a lizard’s (or was it an iguana…are they the same thing?) tooth off its owner’s finger during the middle of the night? Seriously she’s been around long enough to have a bunch of stories.
While Stephanie has her own cat and two dogs, when asked her favorite animal she said, without hesitation, cats. She loves them so you know you’re furry baby will be well taken care of by Stephanie and her staff.
Republic has a myriad of services including:
Exams – International Health Certificates – Dental Care – Laboratory Tests – Surgery – X-rays – Microchips and while it’s always a sad event, their office also sensitively handles Euthanasia.
The Republic Veterinary Hospital is located in the same shopping center as Fox’s Pizza at 154 Elmhurst Dr, Suite C, Kyle TX 78640. You can call the office at 512-269-0738 and find out why you can trust your pet to their care.
And who else has clients that are this cute?????
Upcoming Events:
Labor Day is just around the corner so be sure you have the Kyle Hot Air Balloon Festival on your calendar: Remember to 
hold open Labor Day weekend for the Pie in the Sky Balloon Festival. Last year was the first year and despite the lousy weather we had over 12,000 visitors. The estimate for this year’s even bigger and better festival is 20,000 people coming to the event! As part of the event the Rotary Club is going to try for the Guinness World Record for the most ‘KYLE’s’ in one place. That means your first name, middle name or last name can be Kyle, or Kylie. So if you’re a ‘Kyle’ or you know a ‘Kyle’ have them go to the Pie in the Sky website for info on how to enter. We only need about 250 ‘Kyles’ to make the Guinness World Record. Be a part of history!
The event runs from Friday afternoon August 31st through Sunday September 2nd packed full of events. Check out the schedule and come back often for updates! Pie in the Sky Balloon Festival Schedule of Events
Sip and Savor: The Rotary’s annual Sip and Savor is right around the corner in the fall so keep your eyes peeled for info regarding date/time/location.
Workshop on how to improve your SEO : Rob Oskins from Blue Crest Media, is still planning on having a training regarding easy ways (he promised even I can do it) to use videos to improve your SEO and position on Google. Date/Time and location is still up in the air.
Upcoming meeting, Member Spotlight and Education Minute Speaker Schedule:
JULY
25th Ron Martin Ron Martin & Associates (and Hemp Oil) Education Moment: Trish Wilder- Edward Jones
August
1st Jeremy McBoom Mathnasium of Kyle Education Moment Celeste Messer – Adkor Group with Maxavenue
8th Chad Holmin Like New Building Solutions Education Moment Irene Melendez – Broadway Bank
15th TBD Education Moment Rob Oskins – Blue Crest Media
22nd TBD Education Moment Trish Wilder – Edward Jones
NOT A MEMBER AND INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE HOMETOWN NETWORKING GROUP?
Come check us out. We welcome you to join us on Wednesday morning and meet some great local business owners. What have you got to lose? Your first breakfast is on us! Dues are $60/quarter or $200/year. If you’re not ready to commit or can’t manage to come every Wednesday but you would still like to connect? We have an option for you. You are welcome to come any time you’d like and pay $10.
The group meets every Wednesday morning at Kyle IHOP 5401 Kyle Centre Dr, Kyle, TX 78640 (I35 Southbound Access
Rd, just South of Kyle Expressway and I35 intersection). Informal networking begins at 8:15, Meeting begins at 8:30 and ends promptly at 9:30.
You can find out more about our group at: https://hometownnetworking.org