If you’re looking for a job, internship, or just want to network for the sake of networking (yeah right 
, here are a few network opportunities in the SoCal area (Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, etc):
1. ThinkLA (Los Angeles’ AdClub):
“ThinkLA is a non-profit corporation, founded to promote Los Angeles as a leading center of creativity and innovation in media, marketing, and advertising.”
http://www.thinkla.org
http://www.thinkla.org/contact/newsletter.asp
http://www.facebook.com/thinkla
http://twitter.com/thinkLA
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=53754
2. LA Creative Club:
“The Los Angeles Creative Club is a nonprofit organization of copywriters, art directors, producers, designers, photographers, directors, (okay, just about everybody creative) from the advertising, graphic design, entertainment, and Web worlds all getting together to make LA the best place in the world to do creative work.”
http://www.lacreativeclub.com/
http://www.lacreativeclub.com/laccforum/
http://www.meetup.com/advertising-89/
3. Orange County Advertising Federation (OC AdFed):
“The OC Ad Federation, a chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), is the largest professional organization dedicated to the advertising business in Orange County. We are over 300 members strong, and our community consists of affluent and educated executives and local business owners who touch the advertising industry in numerous ways. This includes ad agencies, broadcast production houses, printing companies, interactive shops, individuals from the client side and many more.”
http://www.ocadfederation.org/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56220789739
http://twitter.com/OCAdFed
4. Orange County AdClub (AAF):
“The OC Ad Club, a chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), is the largest professional organization dedicated to the advertising business here in Orange County. We are over 300 members strong, and our community consists of affluent and educated executives and local business owners who touch the advertising industry in numerous ways. This includes ad agencies, broadcast production houses, printing companies, interactive shops, individuals from the client side and many more.
5. AD2OC:
“For years the young professionals of the advertising, marketing, and creative community have had very few opportunities for career development support, networking opportunities, industry savoir fair, and exciting public service campaigns. Today, Ad 2 OC gives our members the experience and support they are looking for.”
http://www.ad2oc.org
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2234124142
6. LA AdPros (LA AAF):
“Advertising Professionals of North Los Angeles County (ADPROS) is an affiliate of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and is comprised of professionals involved in the creation, production, and distribution of advertising and marketing who are committed to advancing themselves, their businesses, and their industry.”
7. Go to / participate (as professional or as a student) / volunteer for the LA Addy’s Award Show:
or the Orange County Addy’s:
8. Join the OC Marketing & Advertising Professionals community on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=65859
The ThinkLA community on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=53754
And/or any of these advertising-related LinkedIn Groups:
http://www.theadclass.com/jobs/linkedin-advertising-groups
9. Join these Facebook groups:
http://www.theadclass.com/jobs/20-facebook-advertising-groups
10. AAF of Palm Springs / Desert Cities:
“AAF/Palm Springs • Desert Cities is a non-profit organization of professionals dedicated to enhancing the advertising profession through fellowship, education, community service and public awareness.”
11. AAF Inland-Empire:
“Serving the counties of San Bernardino and Riverside and the eastern part of Los Angeles, AAF-IE is a non-profit organization that brings together all the trades involved in advertising, all the buyers of advertising and all the sellers of advertising and support this dynamic industry.”
12. AD2SD (San Diego AAF):
“Ad2 San Diego, an AAF 2008 Award Winner, is a group to help young advertising and marketing professionals learn the ropes of a fast-paced and fascinating career field. It’s an organization for learning, networking, job finding, communication, and maybe most importantly, fun.”
http://ad2sd.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-CA/Ad-2-San-Diego/20332355379
http://twitter.com/ad2sd
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=135060
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-CA/AAF-D15/34922477055
13. San Diego AdClub:
“As San Diego’s oldest continuously operating business association, the Ad Club and its members have an incredible history of legendary business accomplishments steeped in creativity, rooted in public service, and grounded in professional and personal relationships.”
http://www.sandiegoadclub.com/
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=151589
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1797458
14. Portfolio Night LA (IHaveAnIdea):
“The idea of portfolio reviews is nothing new, but the ihaveanidea team wanted to build upon such experiences. To us, portfolio reviews shouldn’t be just a chance for young creatives to get their books critiqued and then sent out the door. We wanted to create a social event to unite the entire national industry, both the present and future superstars, to work on building a bright new generation of ad creatives.”
http://portfolionight.com/7/archives/1889
15. The Multicultural Advertising Training program (MAT):
“The M.A.T. (Multicultural Advertising Training) Program is a volunteer non-profit
organization founded by Jay Chiat in 1992 that creates paid internships for outstanding multicultural college students at many of Southern California’s top advertising agencies and media companies.”
16. AIGA LA:
“AIGA, the professional association for design, is committed to furthering excellence in design as a broadly-defined discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force. AIGA is the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice.”
17. LA ADC (Art Directors Club):
“The Art Directors Club is the premier organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York in 1920, ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect, provoke and elevate creative visual communications professionals around the world.”
18. Orange County Advertising and Marketing Associates (OCAMA):
“Meet other local Orange County Southern California Marketing Professionals to discuss the latest trends, tactics, and techniques. No membership dues, just Orange County networking, marketing education and fun. Find a great employee on the job board or if you are a company post your job and reach the top marketing people in Orange County.”
http://www.ocama.com/
http://www.meetup.com/ocmarketing/
19. Join these advertising-related social networking websites:
AdHoles:
http://adholes.com
AdGabber:
http://www.adgabber.com
DesignerID:
http://www.designerid.com
Ning:
http://www.ning.com/search/networks?q=advertising
or any other from this list:
http://www.theadclass.com/jobs/top-social-networks-media-advertising
Am I missing anything?
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