Texoma Community Credit Union | Business After Hours | 1/31/19

What’s an Open Circuit? 

Open Circuits are action teams that focus on one of five topics: Downtown Wichita Falls, Modern School Facilities, Intern Wichita Falls, Bike-Friendly Community, and Lake Wichita. With their Open Circuit team, members monitor their assigned community topic and update the rest of The Circuit quarterly at the team program. To successfully complete this task, members may be required to attend relevant events, forums, meetings, etc. and prepare a statement to deliver at the quarterly team program 

What’s a Closed Circuit? 

Closed Circuits refer to each Circuit member's plan of action and requirements include: attending one official city or county event and writing a one-page summary of the proceedings annually (city council, school board, county commissioners’ court, 4a board or 4b board).

How much does it cost to join The Circuit? 

There is no cost to join The Circuit! 

What are the age requirements to join The Circuit? 

Members must be between the ages of 18 and 40. 

What are the age requirements to be a mentor? 

There is no age requirement to be a mentor, but a minimum of at least 5-10 years of specific industry expertise is preferred. 

What's the time requirement for mentors?

How long are Circuit Board terms? 

Board members serve one-year terms that run January through December of each year. 

How are members matched to their mentor? 

Mentors and members are matched together based off professional compatibility using a unique weighted matching system that takes into consideration industry, experience level, and areas of interest. This information is gathered when members and mentors join for the program through the registration form. After the initial assessment is finished, each match is reviewed bi-weekly by an internal match committee meeting. This committee will also review special cases, such as mismatches, ties and multiple matches to the same mentor.  

How is the mentor matching system’s weights broken down? 

When conducting the matching process, industries are weighted at one point, experience level is matched at two points and each of the three areas of interested at weighted at three points each. A match can receive up to twelve points total between the three above listed categories. A match is considered compatible at a 67% match or higher, which is eight out of twelve points.  

How long will it take for me to be matched with a mentor?  

New members can expect to be matched with their mentor within 10-15 business days after they register for the Circuit. Sometimes a new member will not have an obvious mentor match when they first join, promoting our mentor matching committee to actively recruit a quality match from the community for this new member. If this happens, the new member will be updated as new information is received.  

THE CIRCUIT GUIDELINES

To ensure that Circuit members are receiving maximum benefit from the organization, we ask that they earn at least 16 points within each calendar year to remain in good standing. Points can be earned with any combination of the following:

One (1) Point:

• Attend a monthly membership program. 
• Attend one (1) meeting with your mentor.
• Participate in one (1) sub-committee of The Circuit, as applicable. 
• Attend one (1) Business After Hours or Wake Up Wichita Falls Powered by the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce.
• With your Open Circuit team, monitor an assigned community topic and update the Circuit membership quarterly at an assigned monthly membership program.
  • To successfully complete this task, you may be required to attend relevant events, forums, meetings, etc., and assist in preparing a statement to deliver at the quarterly team program. 

Two (2) Points:

• Attend one (1) BOSS Panel Discussion Powered by the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce at no cost to the member.

Three (3) Points:

• Attend one (1) meeting of the city council, school board, county commissioners’ court, 4a board (Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation), or 4b board and write a brief synopsis of the proceedings as a part of your Closed Circuit. 

Members will be matched with an industry mentor. As a mentee, you should: 

• Have a positive attitude and be respectful of your mentor. 
• Meet with your mentor a minimum of once a quarter. 
• Hold all confidential information in trust and strict confidence. 
• Maintain a professional relationship with a mentor. 
• Make a one-year commitment to being matched with a mentor.  
• Inform the Circuit Board of any difficulties or areas of concern that may arise in the mentorship. 

About the Circuit

Beginning in 2012, Young Professionals of Wichita Falls (YPWF) was formed to offer innovative ways for professionals, 18-40 years old, in the Wichita Falls area to expand their professional network. 

In 2019, YPWF determined that it wanted to transition the focus of its organization from social interaction to professional, leadership, and community development. The Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce helped YPWF restructure into the organization now known as The Circuit.

Three Pillars: 

The Circuit is focused on developing emerging leaders through mentorship, community engagement, and personal growth. 

Mentorship: Every member is matched to an industry expert mentor. This professional relationship is formed on confidence and allows for mentees to receive one-on-one advice and direction from a trusted resource. 

Professional Development: The Circuit creates leaders.  Circuit members are able to attend exclusive Chamber events such as BOSS, Wake Up Wichita Falls, Business After Hours, and exclusive Circuit programs to work continuously on professional (and personal) development.  

Community Involvement: Circuit members will be actively engaged in Wichita Falls by attending and summarizing public meetings, called “Closed Circuits,” and participating in action teams to gather current events information on community-based initiatives, including Bike Wichita Falls, Lake Wichita, Intern Wichita Falls, Modern Schools, and Downtown Wichita Falls, called “Open Circuits.”  

The Circuit is led by a volunteer board and is a program of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce.