Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Yammer.

Sure, they’ll keep you connected but they won’t shake your hand, look you in the eye or buy you a drink.

At the risk of sounding retro, I’m here to promote the benefits of real, personal interaction. Sure, social media are the way of the world but there’s still value in working a room, meeting and greeting, power-mingling or whatever you want to call live interactions. In my mind, these activities still are essential for career building.

So, I’m going to walk my talk. As the southeast district representative for the Wisconsin Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society, I’m planning an old-fashioned networking event. It’s open to all members and prospective members, as well as communication, marketing and public relations students.

Why don’t you join us? WHPRMS will provide the appetizers, you can buy your beverages. We can exchange contact info, swap stories, uncover job opportunities and unwind after a long day. And we’ll give out door prizes because we know you love free stuff!

I encourage you to invest an hour or two to meet your peers. It’s a great way to maximize the value of your WHPRMS membership. After the event, you can rush home, grab your laptop or smart phone and friend, follow or link up with your new contacts.

When:                        5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25

Where:            T.G.I. Friday’s at Miller Park, One Brewers Way, Milwaukee

Why:                         See above!

R.S.V.P.             By March 22 to dbernatz@chw.org.

See you then!

P.S. Don’t take my comments as a slam against social media. I know the value of these powerful tools and I want to hear from you — but spare me the post that says “I hate Mondays.” Duh.