History
May 30, 1997
First meeting of Informal Network of Cincinnati Business Support Specialists and Resume Writers. Met Noon – 1:30 pm on the third Friday of the month, in the homes of other home-based businesses in the Greater Cincinnati Area; typically a brown bag lunch. We discussed affiliation with NASS (National Association of Secretarial Services).
1998
NASS evolved into ABSSI (Association of Business Support Services International) some members of our group belonged to ABSSI or PARW (Professional Association of Resume Writers). We continued to meet Noon – 1:30 pm, but changed the location to Perkins Restaurant on Montgomery Road. In September 1998, we met at the Blue Ash Chamber of Commerce. In October, 1998, we met at the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce.
January 1999
Moved meetings to the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.
July 1999
First planning meeting to discuss Chapter Development. Applied for a Chapter Trade Name with the State of Ohio. Became OVBSN (Ohio Valley Business Services Network), a newly formed chapter of ABSSI; the 13th Chapter of ABSSI, which had over 800 members worldwide. Moved meetings to the second Thursday of the month, 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Wrote and adopted OVBSN Bylaws based on the ABSSI Chapter requirements. Chapter dues initiated – $45/year.
September 9, 1999
Blue Ash Chamber of Commerce OVBSN/ABSSI CHAPTER KICKOFF MEETING
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Speaker: John Elliott, Pres of Merex Media Marketing who spoke on “Marketing Your Business Cost Effectively”
Our OVBSN/ABSSI membership benefits:
- Professional Credibility and Identification
- Online Presence and Potential Referrals
- ABSSI Annual Membership Directory
- Complimentary Toll-Free Consulting Line
- The Monthly Industry Focus Magazine
- Deep Discounts on Industry Publications
- $25-$50 Discount on Annual Convention
- 15% Discount on New Horizons Computer Training Classes
- Local Support from/for ABSSI Chapters
Remaining meetings in 1999 were held at the Blue Ash Chamber of Commerce or the Southeast Butler County Chamber of commerce.
January 2000
Moved meeting location to Barnes & Noble at the Sycamore Plaza on Montgomery Road; we met there or the Southeast Butler County Chamber of Commerce. Continued to meet on second Thursday of the month – 7:30 – 9:00 pm.
November 2000
Moved the meetings to Office Suites Plus on Reed Hartman Highway.
January 2001
Continued to meet at Office Suites Plus; met the third Thursday of the month; meeting time changed to 7:00 – 9:00 pm. We started Office Tours in March – which started our meetings at one another’s homes.
June 2002
ABSSI dissolved. Some of our members joined IVAA and/or NRWA, in addition to continuing with our local group. We chose to remain independent of any organization or group, and we chose to meet “informally” as a local networking group of business support services, continuing as OVBSN.
May 2003
Changed the name of our organization to MBSN (Midwest Business Support Network). We meet the second Friday of the month at Panera in Hyde Park from 10:00 am – Noon to network with other members and to provide a resource to VAs in the Midwest.