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FairfieldCountyOnline (www.fairfieldcountyonline.com), July 2005
"Growing Social Club Celebrates One Year Anniversary in Fairfield County"
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“I grew up in Fairfield County and though I’ve always loved it, I’ve found it can be difficult to break in and create a satisfying social experience. If you reach a certain age and are not married, the suburbs are simply isolating. You drive to work, sit in a cubicle, you drive home—alone. When I asked others about this, I learned I was most definitely not the only one feeling this challenge,” said Kate Berg, the founder of Avenue B Club, LLC.
So last year Kate started Avenue B to make it easier for people with similar interests to meet, plan and participate in group events –and to stay in touch with one another easily. Avenue B is a new kind of social networking club aimed at 30+ year olds in Fairfield County who are seeking to extend their connections and expand their social circles.
Typical members are newcomers to the area (singles and couples are welcome), expatriates, re-located professionals and people who have experienced a life change such as divorce or break-up. Others simply work long hours and do not have excess time for planning and organizing but still crave interesting outings and new fun people. |
Typical members are newcomers to the area (singles and couples are welcome), expatriates, re-located professionals and people who have experienced a life change such as divorce or break-up. Others simply work long hours and do not have excess time for planning and organizing but still crave interesting outings and new fun people.
Avenue B (www.aveb.net) kicked off last June with a series of events that included a private billiards party in Fairfield, a sunset cocktail gala on the waterfront in Stamford and a beach barbeque at Tod’s Point in Greenwich. The events drew a combined total of over 250 people and proved that hard working Fairfield County professionals want to know where the fun is. Typical of the events offered by Avenue B include poker and game nights, wine dinners, community projects, hikes, theater and film outings, and golf, tennis and volleyball games.
Kate Berg is a veteran of the technology industry, having spent more than 15 years building communications programs for companies such as Gartner, KPMG and New York based Internet research firm Jupiter.
“I’ve always been passionate about technology—and about the art of matching people, places and interests,” said Kate. “This club is an extension of that passion, helped along with a website that operates as the ‘virtual clubhouse’ that helps people enhance their personal social communities. When I was developing the business and would ask people about this idea, there was so much excitement, I knew I was onto something.”
Sports, Social Activities and Private Website Creates Community for Members
The club features a private database-driven website and real world events related to food & wine, arts & culture, community outreach and more. From Greenwich to Shelton, members seeking connections through a richer and more varied social scene use the club’s website, www.aveb.net, to make plans, get information on local happenings and share their views with one another.
“The club is now one year old and the community is taking on a life of its own. I watch the relationships and activities that are forming and I’m amazed by the energy and generosity coming from the members. We’re in the middle of planning a fundraising benefit now for the Lupus Foundation, because two members who have Lupus found each other and came to me with the idea. A young couple with a new baby just offered their house in West Palm for a Labor Day group trip. We’ve decided to charge everyone a modest fee and donate the money to a worthy local cause. It’s awesome to see real community like this being built.”
Power Partnerships
Avenue B is in the process of establishing key partnerships with a growing group of preferred businesses in the area. Many offer Avenue B members special rates and discounts, and in return these marketing partners gain visibility through descriptions and links to their own websites on www.aveb.net, and build relationships with their target clients via the growing “viral” network. The partners include Go Vertical Climbing Gym in Stamford, William Pitt in Westport, Bernard in Ridgefield, Elie Hammou Salon & Spa in Greenwich, Mecca Restaurant in Norwalk and the Fat Cat Pie Company in Norwalk. In the future, Avenue B intends to court larger sponsors such as auto companies and sports associations since her core demographic is the same audience these groups are after.
To help local non-profits and community groups achieve their goals, Avenue B promotes their missions and raises their visibility in a variety of ways. For example, Avenue B hosts sailing outings on the SoundWaters schooner and recruits volunteers for local art and charity events. Avenue B is sponsoring a kayak for Kayak for a Cause at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Saturday, July 23 to benefit a host of worthy groups including the Hole in the Wall Camp for children with cancer.
For more information on Avenue B, visit www.aveb.net or write to Kate Berg at kateb@aveb.net.
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