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Hurt Locker the war victor
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St. Louis, Mo.: It’s about 18^th in metropolitan area population, but yet we break the top 10 in worst place for men’s health, pollution, and most recently, miserable city. 

Forbes has produced the “Most Miserable” list. Their criteria are unemployment, taxes, commute times, violent crime, pollution, weather, conviction of public officials and performance of sports teams. In Forbes’ justification of St. Louis, it mentions how bad the Rams are. Really? A whole city is miserable because of a football team? If this is true, we have much larger issues to deal with.

I am here to say that St. Louis is not the 7^th most miserable city to live in! In fact, I think St. Louis is one of the best cities to live in. Here are just a few facts of greatness:

•  All the free stuff: zoo, museums, concerts, fairs. Something is always happening and generally on the cheap.
•  Restaurants, restaurants, restaurants.
•  Price of living is affordable.
• The generous spirit of St. Louis: we are in 5^th in the nation for United Way giving.
• St. Louis was voted “best water” in 2007. Take that, Forbes.

What do you love about St. Louis? What are your other favorite cities and why? 

In March of 2005, a ragtag bunch had a vision: get young professionals involved in the community. They knew people in their 20s and 30s were looking for ways to give back, but often didn’t know how.

GenNext was created as a way to solve that problem. Wanting to not just create another YP group, the initial steering committee decided on two unique niches GenNext would fill — service (through monthly projects around the region) and networking (through executive luncheons with top business leaders). 

“When this group began in 2005 with less than a dozen members, it was hard to imagine what would come of the organization in five years,” says founding and current steering committee member Cory Boss. “I’m thrilled with the progress that we’ve made and the foundation we’ve built. We’ve put a model in place that allows members to not only give back to the community by volunteering, but build themselves both personally and professionally with the networking and leadership opportunities that GenNext provides.”

Cory is just one of many proofs of that. He helped found United Way’s Young Leadership Society in 2008. Former steering committee members Christy Oldani and Jennifer Klaverkamp have gone on to join the United Way board. Nearly 20 GenNext members have been awarded the St. Louis Business Journal’s 30 Under 30 award since 2007. Dozens of other members have been connected to nonprofit boards, community leadership roles and professional growth opportunities.

While GenNext has grown and helped develop many young professionals, its core mission remains the same: to give young professionals a meaningful and convenient way to give back to their community, network with their peers and develop themselves professionally.

Though GenNext has grown significantly in its five years, its core mission has remained the same: to strengthen our region by developing our young leaders and involving, engaging, educating and connecting each other in exceptional ways. Last year, more than 500 people attended a GenNext event, gave more than 1,000 hours of community service and donated more than $200,000 through GenNext events and the United Way campaign.

The best part? This is just the beginning. After five years, GenNext has grown into one of the most popular young professional groups in St. Louis. We’re working hard to make your service and social experience with GenNext even better over the next five years. Based on your feedback, here are some of the changes you can look for in 2010…

• More service projects (double the number)
• A new, streamlined way to sign up for projects online
• Weekly updates on the Web site. Sign up for the RSS feed to keep up!
• A forum to learn more about GenNext and voice your opinions

Tell us below: what’s YOUR vision for the next five years of GenNext?

Post a comment with what movie this quote is from. Anyone who posts the correct answer by Wednesday, March 17, at midnight will be entered to win a “Live United” T-shirt. No comments will be published until after the deadline. Play fair — no using IMDB, Google or your movie-nerd roommate.

Congratulations to January’s winner, Alec Engelberg, the lone guy who correctly guessed “Bridget Jones’ Diary.”

Good evening Chris, Amanda & David -

I cannot even begin to express my gratitude and that of Good Shepherd Children and Family Services for the EXCEPTIONAL support you provided us this past Saturday at our RECESS event. Each and every one of the volunteers was on time (if not early), courteous and jumped in with great spirit and enthusiasm for all tasks assigned. I do not know what we would’ve done without the support of GenNext. Please be sure each person knows how thankful I and the team at Good Shepherd are for everything.

A very special thank you to you, Chris — you took every twist and turn in the evening in stride and worked with your volunteers to keep things moving very smoothly. Your positive attitude and calm demeanor were incredible. I cannot thank you enough.  

Finally, as Good Shepherd looks toward pulling this off again in the future, we certainly welcome your volunteers’ thoughts on the evening and things they thought could work differently or better from their standpoint. We are gathering these thoughts from all who participated and welcome GenNext’s as well.

Thanks again for everything!!!!

All the best,
Katie

1. Where do you work?

2. How long have you lived in St. Louis?
I’ve lived in St. Louis since my birth. The only time I was away was for four years when I attended Truman State.

3. How and when did you get involved with GenNext?
I have been involved with GenNext since last March, when I did a service project. I was recruited by Paul Eisenstein. My first project was cleaning up a man’s house. It rained, and we got so dirty and muddy, but it was fun.

4. What’s been your favorite GenNext activity or memory?
I really enjoyed going to the Mary Ryder Home. They were so much fun. We played UNO and they got so competitive. It was hard core competition. I also liked the MLK Day of Service. It was good to be able to serve with the greater community.

5. Why are volunteerism and philanthropy important to your generation?
Volunteerism is a life-long commitment. Right now is the perfect time to get started. It is the basis for everything. I volunteered a lot in college, and after I graduated, I kind of got away from it and missed it. I have been so blessed, so it is great to be able to give back.

6. Where would you like to see GenNext in five years?
I want so much for GenNext. I would like GenNext to become more involved in the other counties that United Way serves. I would also like to see GenNext in other cities.

7. What was your first job ever?
My first job was as a bus girl when I was 15 at Crusoe’s. They put me in the beer garden, where they served chicken wings and beer. I only lasted five months.

8. What TV show is a must watch?
I don’t watch too much TV, and since I can’t get Channel 11 anymore, I haven’t been able to watch Gossip Girl. I don’t have cable, so I don’t have a lot of options. I like The Office, though.

9. Are you Irish? Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! It’s on a work day this year, so I won’t be able to go to the parade in Dogtown. I’ll have to wear something green, or maybe go to happy hour after work.

10. Have you been watching the Olympics? What is your favorite sport to watch?
Yes, of course. I watched the men’s figure skating and it was great to see the American win the gold. I also like the short track speed skating and men’s hockey, when they’re good.

Get connected with key community leaders, ask questions and network with other people involved with United Way. Discover how you help make United Way a leader in our community, how your contribution counts and how you can get involved.

Find the deets and RSVP here.

But we still have one project that NO ONE has signed up for yet.  We’ve left the second shift at the Good Shepherd fundraiser on February 20 from 8:30 - 11 p.m. standing alone like the kid who gets picked last for kickball. 

I know it’s not a great time for those who want to go out that night (or get to bed at a reasonable hour if you’re old like me), but we’ll sweeten the deal and give Live United t-shirts to 15 Gennexters who sign up (and attend!).  Email us (gennext@stl.unitedway.org) if you’re interested.

Or click here to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lswNDYMtsUk

What do you think?  Post your ideas and suggestions for 2010 and help us strategize!