Chamber Blog

Chamber of Commerce starts young professionals gathering

A new group led by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to young professionals to help them develop their leadership skills and to provide networking and social opportunities with other professionals in the area.

Targeting Young Professionals held its inaugural meeting April 22 at the Flying Shamrock Pub, where Patty Graham, director of membership and marketing for the Chamber, explained that a Chamber-conducted survey revealed interesting information about the demographics of Wayne County businesses.

"They found that a lot of our managers and supervisors in the area are of a younger generation," Mrs. Graham said. "We hope by pulling them together they'll learn a little bit more about the community and what the chamber is doing in the community."

The group of 25- to 40-year-olds will be like an arm of the chamber, and the group will be specifically targeting the needs of chamber members and employees of chamber members, member Julie Daniels said.

"Our committee will be the behind the scenes. We'll just be the support, the backbone," she said.

But the members will have the say in how Targeting Young Professionals develops. The chamber conducted a survey at the meeting to see what members would most like to see from the organization.

Read full story [News-Argus]

Chamber of commerce sets its sights

BINGHAMTON - Instead of seeking new methods of business survival during the current economic slump, the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce is focusing on its No. 1 existing service to members: providing businesses with networking opportunities.

"The trade show is an important example of that," said Lou Santoni, chief executive officer and president of the chamber, talking about the annual business show scheduled for Thursday at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Along with the yearly show, the chamber has monthly events, including mixers and luncheons, that allow business-to-business networking. The luncheons, Santoni said, are popular, typically drawing 50 to 60 people.
"It's been a very successful program for us," he said.
The chamber regularly hosts seminars, which serve as both a networking and education tool for its 840 members, Santoni said.
The next seminar is a forum on health care, which will give business owners information to help them navigate the expensive road of health care for employees, he said. The event is scheduled for April 29 at the Binghamton Regency

Read full story [Binghamton Press]

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Mar Vista business leaders propose creating a chamber of commerce to stimulate downtown area

Venice Boulevard, one of the primary commercial corridors in Mar Vista, will be getting a facelift of sorts in the near future, thanks to a dedicated group of local businesses and residents.

And some of these same business owners are taking advantage of this by proposing the development of a resource that would stimulate, sustain and guide entrepreneurs toward a more profitable future.

A campaign to create a Mar Vista Chamber of Commerce is in its nascent stages, but the response has been encouraging, says Steve Wallace, a Mar Vista resident and a vice president of sales and marketing for a manufacturing company in Torrance.

Read full story [Argonaut]

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Chamber to spotlight cooks and businesses in community cookbook

The Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce will be showcasing some of the best cooks in Georgia when it publishes its new community cookbook this summer.

The chamber is asking all local cooks to send in three or four of their favorite recipes for publication as soon as possible. One or more of the recipes will be included in the cookbook along with the name of the individual submitting the recipe.

Recipe forms were inserted in the April 9 edition of The Lincoln Journal; additional forms are available at the chamber office, located in the Blanchard House at 112 N. Washington Street.

Cooks are asked to type or carefully print their recipes on the forms proeducation vided, using one form per recipe.

The deadline to submit a recipe for publication is Friday, May 15.

With a goal of 500 recipes, the chamber aims to have all of the best recipes in Lincoln County conveniently located in one cookbook.

The chamber of commerce will also be promoting local businesses in the cookbook. The ads range in size from a quarter page to a full page.

According to Susan Banks, executive director of the chamber, "The advertising costs are very reasonable, and these ads will have a very long shelf life, viewed by cooks for years to come."

Those interested in purchasing advertising space in the cookbook should contact Banks at the chamber office by the May 15 deadline.

Banks further noted, "Some of our students at LCES will be participating in a drawing contest — the winning entries will be used as the divider pages in the cookbook.

"The art work of seven different students will be selected for the seven food categories that will be featured in the cookbook. These illustrations will make the cookbook even more of a keepsake."

Read full story [Lincoln Journal]

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Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce reducing workforce by 20%

An organization dedicated to helping local businesses better themselves is also being hit by the economy.

The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce says it's reduced its workforce by 20% in an effort to cut costs.

Affected employees have been offered a severance package.
Kara Kelley, President and CEO of the chamber, said in statement Tuesday: "The chamber appreciates the service and dedication of these employees. They will be greatly missed by the chamber board, volunteers, members and fellow colleagues."

It is still going to be business as usual for the organization. The chamber had 58 employees before the cuts. The chamber has about 6,500 members has says they were forced to make cuts due to a drop in membership and event participation.

Who will head the Seattle Chamber of Commerce?

Two months after Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Leahy resigned, several names prominent in politics and business have emerged as prime prospects to succeed him.

A couple of the prospects, privately identified by two informed sources, will need no introduction. One is Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim "The Shark" Ceis, the gray eminence of City Hall and person counted on by Mayor Greg Nickels when it is time to say "No."

If Ceis desists -- The Stranger regularly reports his imminent departure -- a second high-profile prospect is retiring Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago. The three-term councilwoman is both a downtown resident and one local politician who has run a small business.

One prominent Republican makes the list. She is Renee Radcliff Sinclair, a former four-term GOP state legislator and candidate for the Snohomish County Council. Sinclair has recently served as executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce regional office in Seattle.

Read full story [Seattle Times]

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Denton Chamber of Commerce Celebrating 100 Years

The Denton Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial showing historic shots of people and places in Denton, Texas.

Chamber Connections hits the airwaves

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The area's largest chamber of commerce is reaching out to its members (and the general public) hoping to make a connection. TV 7 & 4 is partnering with the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, and each weekend we'll bring you a preview of the Chamber's weekly television program.

It's called "Chamber Connections" The 30-minute show is dedicated to business issues, economic development and the Northwest Michigan community.  This coming week, the Chamber is focusing on preventing fraud in the workplace, which business leaders say is becoming increasingly common.

You can watch new episodes every week on Up North 2 (that's cable access Channel 2 in the Traverse City area). But you can also view episodes online anytime you like.

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Car show raises thousands for Chamber

The La Quinta Chamber of Commerce's third annual Hot Rod & Custom Car Show drew approximately 2,500 people Sunday at Frances Hack Park.

Chamber of Commerce President David Archer said he estimates about $4,000 was raised. The money will go toward chamber expenses, including costs to host mixers and other events.

A majority of the competing car owners traveled from within California, but other classic car lovers traveled from across the country to attend, Archer said.

Car Show dates have not been chosen for next year, but Archer said he intends to schedule the event for the same weekend as the Soap Box Derby to potentially draw a larger audience.

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Tazewell County Chamber Encouraging Shoppers

The Chamber is hosting a Spring Street sale.

RICHLANDS- -- Organizers with the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce are inviting people to get out and enjoy the spring season and, get a little shopping done. Businesses in downtown Richlands will host a Spring Street Sale.

Read full story [West Virginia Media]

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