Chamber Blog

Commerce lights up Anchorage

Monday kicked-off of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's City of Lights program.

Every winter, volunteers string up white lights around Anchorage. Residents are also encouraged to light their homes and business in white lights.

This year the Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to be energy efficient.

"We're encouraging all of our members to use LED energy-efficient lights," said Anchorage Chamber of Commerce President Stacey Schubert. "Because we use 250,000 lights, it's not affordable for us to do that right now, but we are encouraging individuals and businesses to do that."

The Chamber of Commerce will did not hold a ceremony this year. Instead, they say they celebrated by having a day-long kick-off.

Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate 125 years of service

Organization of Green Bay business leaders began in 1882

Alexis de Tocqueville had an impression of Americans from the start.

Jim Haney, president of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce for the past 22 years, said Wednesday that the French author, who wrote extensively on the American democracy back when the country was new, believed Americans had a propensity to join associations.

"That was part of the American psyche," he said. "If two people had a common interest, they'd form an association to advance it."

Chambers of commerce, he said, are a good example of that.

That was proven to be true locally when in 1882, business leaders formed the Green Bay Business Men's Association. That was the genesis of a group that is now the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, which has more than 1,500 members and is observing 125 years of operation at its annual meeting Thursday at the KI Convention Center.

Chambers of commerce have evolved, Haney said.

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Vancouver Chamber of Commerce - Power of the Network

Membership with the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce provides more than just financial and marketing benefits - find out how the Chamber network impacts policy making through the united voice of Canadian business.

Murray Avoids Glitz in Chamber Appearance

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's monthly breakfast meetings provide a high-profile forum for politicians to say something dramatic, or else, to say it dramatically.

House speaker Thomas M. Finneran once addressed the chamber with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in the background. Senate president Robert E. Travaglini kicked off the healthcare debate in a chamber speech. Governor Deval Patrick and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi took dueling positions on corporate tax code changes in speeches to the chamber earlier this year, triggering months of friction.

But Senate President Therese Murray spurned drama yesterday, in her first appearance before the chamber of commerce. She shrugged off the opportunity to provoke when asked about the governor's frustration with the Legislature. She passed up the chance to forcefully address the hottest topic on the legislative agenda, casino gambling. She unveiled no bold new initiatives.

Instead, she led her audience into a thicket of legislation the Senate is working on to improve the economy, speaking in detail about policy on housing, healthcare, energy, agriculture, fishing, and expanding the film industry, before answering audience questions on transportation, the governor, and the state lottery. Then she took more questions from the press.

"I thought it was chock full of a lot," Senator Michael W. Morrissey, a Quincy Democrat, said after Murray's 30-minute speech.

More. . . .
Boston Globe

Board Chairman Makes A Grand Entrance

  Roger Huebner ended his term as board chairman of the Billings Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau with an equestrian flourish Tuesday.

He entered the Holiday Inn Grand Billings Convention Center on horseback, carrying a branding iron as part of a skit about one of the chamber's priorities for 2008. The chamber is at the forefront of an effort to help Billings develop a communitywide brand.

After riding around the room, dismounting and hoisting the branding iron onto the stage, Huebner praised the chamber for its 2007 accomplishments.

More. . .

Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce has 1,000th member

BY LINDA JUMP - FLORIDA TODAY

PALM BAY-- Ronnie's Amish Market and Deli is the 1,000th member of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Owner Ron McLellan of Micco said, "I'm excited to be a member, and being number 1,000 is just a bonus." He will receive a free lunch at the Yellow Dog Café.

Kathleen Bishop, president and CEO of the Chamber, said the group has grown from 440 members in November, 2004. "Each of our members is special, and we work hard for them to succeed,” she said.

Orange Chamber New Home

Hundreds of people took the Orange County Chamber of Commerce's new slogan — "Meet me at the Chamber" — to heart, turning out to help celebrate the dedication of the business organization's new headquarters at Scotts Corners in Montgomery.

"This is the realization of a dream that many of us have had for a long time," said chamber President John D'Ambrosio.

The rain held off long enough for the many local dignitaries to offer congratulations, although a balky microphone and a defective smoke detector lent some unplanned drama to the event.

"We got to meet the fire department in Montgomery today," D'Ambrosio said.

Times Herald-Record, serving New York"s Hudson Valley and the Catskills.

Members Take On Chamber Health Challenge

The Highland Chamber of Commerce has a started a Weight Loss Challenge that runs until Dec. 12. There are 14 contestants, who in addition to improving their health could win monetary prizes.
The desire to lose weight is only one of the reasons Richard Blanco is developing a commitment to physical fitness.

Blanco, a member of the Highland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, hopes to improve many aspects of his life by participating in the chamber's Weight Loss Challenge.

"I have read a lot that if you feel good about yourself that you do a lot better in business and you're more motivated," said Blanco, who owns RMB Printing in Highland. "I think that you're more outgoing and you feel better about yourself when you're meeting your customers, and I'm assuming that I'll have more vitality and energy."

The challenge began on Sept. 25 and lasts through Dec. 12. Its 14 participants were weighed on a scale at the Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of the contest and will be weighed again at the contest's conclusion.

The contestant who loses the greatest percentage of body weight will receive $550. Prizes of $100 and $50 will be given to the second- and third-place winners.

Contestants were given a spreadsheet chart to track their progress on a weekly basis. They also receive motivational e-mails from the Chamber of Commerce during their quest to lose weight.

Read More. . . . The San Bernardino County Sun

Chambers are Joining Forces to Blog for Visitors

Travelers have a new Internet resource to help them get acquainted with the Black Hills and plan their trips to the region. The Black Hills Travel Blog, located at http://www.blackhillstravelblog.com, went online in a soft launch last week.

The blog is updated six times a week with feature-style articles, personal travel experiences, site profiles and practical tips that are meant to foster interest in the region among travelers and help them plan vacations to western South Dakota. The posts are written by Black Hills residents and avid travelers, including published travel writers.

This site is backed by several regional travel organizations, including the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Custer Chamber of Commerce, the South Dakota Office of Tourism.

Chamber Blog Watch – Association of Washington Business

For an example of one of the best Chamber blogs in terms of content, check out the Association of Washington Business Olympia Business Watch.

Updated daily, AWB is keeping its members and the businesses of Washington State up to date on current issues with top notch writing and reporting.