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Show Aorcr, 200 ProvoOrem Chamber of Commerce Monthly Newsletter Page 11 A Ten Step Checklist For First Year Chamber Member Success BY STEVE DENSLEY PRESIDENTCEO You have taken an important ;tep in your business by joining the Chamber of Commerce. You ha 'e become a member of the largest business organization in the nation. The ProvoOrem Chamber with nearly 1000 members is one of only 8 percent of chambers in America that is nationally accredited. The purpose of the chamber is to help you succeed. Over the years, we've learned from our new members what works and what doesn't during the critical first year of membership. Most new members would like to see maximum return on their fair-share investment as soon as possible but aren't sure how to begin. Successful members affirm that it's through involvement that they have benefited most! Here are some tips we've gathered from long-time chamber mem bers who testify to the benefits of chamber involvement. Define your expecta tions. Why did you join? Was it to gain business and commu nity knowledge, enhance your professional credibility and visibility, vis-ibility, increase your sales, make business contacts with network- 1 3 ing or to utilize the chambers voice and influence in legislation? legisla-tion? Clarifying what you want will help you develop the right strategies to achieve your goals. Call the chamber staff for information about chamber ac tivities and the com munity. This is also available on the chamber's web site under calendar cal-endar of events. Each chamber member has two key contacts -an assigned staff member and a board member. 2 Take advantage of your membership I tools immediately. Call the chamber office and make certain that your company's information is correct in our database. Make certain that your company web page is linked free to the chamber's site at www.thechamber.org. Your name will also be listed on the membership page to allow those who are searching for your type '( business to be found. Community Commu-nity members look to chamber members for credibility and professionalism. pro-fessionalism. Display your free chamber member plaque in a visible vis-ible location in your business to let people know you are a chamber cham-ber member in good standing. Remember to shop with chamber members. You may receive the chamber directory on computer disc, hard copy or on labels to direct mail the entire membership. member-ship. You may also use the chamber cham-ber logo on your advertising and in the yellow pages of the phone directory. Take advantage of chamber discounts on long distance, dis-tance, cellular phone service and other value added services. You should immediately start receiving receiv-ing the Friday Fax, Monday Memo and the Monthly Chamber Newsletter to keep you up to date on chamber activities and news. You may submit information to the chambers PR department to have a free article in the chamber cham-ber news that goes to over 5,000 business people. 4 Attend the chamber's new member reception recep-tion and orientation session held monthly at the chamber's board room located lo-cated at 51 South University Ave. Suite 215 in the historic County Building in downtown Provo. The luncheon will be for one hour and cover information that will help you the entire year. This is' your opportunity to learn about local programs, services and benefits ben-efits that specifically match your needs. Its also a great way to meet and network with your fellow fel-low members in a relaxing atmosphere. atmo-sphere. This meeting is conducted con-ducted by the chamber president and is a great way to get involved by signing up for a committee or task force that will benefit your company and you. 5 Make certain that you attend the Chambers First Friday Forum each month and take advantage of hearing some great speakers and meeting an expanded ex-panded group of potential clients and vendors. The chamber's mix and mingle starts half an hour before the Forum and is a great way to network and pass out your business cards. You can also exchange ex-change ideas and keep up to date with what's happening within the industry and community. Take the time each month to attend at-tend the monthly Business After Hours. This is another great way to meet and expand your business busi-ness contacts. It is held monthly at one of our great local restaurants restau-rants from 5 to 7 p.m. Read the Utah Valley Chamber news section in the Daily Herald each Sunday and my bi-monthly column. The chamber's monthly newspaper printed and distributed by the Orem Geneva Times is" very informative in-formative as is the Friday Fax and the Monday Memo. The chamber also provides a beautiful beauti-ful Metro Guide of the area, a map and the Chambers Annual Report and Program of Work to its membership. 7 Get involved in the chamber's great events and programs during the year. Sign up for the chambers Business to Business Expo, the Technology Expo, the Partners in Education Program, the Utah Valley Leadership Lead-ership Conference at Sundance, The Chamber University Series or a variety of others that will help you enhance your public image and increase your business contacts while gaining community commu-nity recognition. Get involved in the Government Review Council and help fight burdensome regulations regu-lations and be a voice in getting policies changed. The Chamber is a collective voice for business concerns and provides you a number of programs to help you help yourself and your business. Get involved in some great sponsorship pro igrams to further ex pose your company to the community and to other potential po-tential clients. Sponsorships range from $100 banner ads on the Friday Fax to $5000 major Expo Sponsorship. From the Senator Reed Smoot Awards to the Watkins Awards, Athena Awards, The Friday Forum, The Taste of Provo and Orem event can all put your name in front of a lot of potential contacts. 9 o Have fun! Take the time and make the ef fort to get involved and take advantage of all the chamber has to offer It is one of the few professional business busi-ness organizations that is totally dedicated to helping you and your business be successful. Reap the rewards and benefits of cham ber membership and RENEW. Don't reach the end of your first year and fail to get involved. Don't sit back and hope somebody else will make things happen. Too many companies take everything out of the community and put nothing back in. The chamber gives you a chance to stand up and fight for a better place to live and work. It is your chamber and if you don't do it then who will? THE CHAMBER MEANS BUSINESS! fiff (3321030133 u 0(9 x Vs. . v w x x x x 'wm X X X X iiHviiffi).lfHf IF: fftfcRIftfiMHISfc vs. v m. V NNt Nv Vfe "-fe "- 'Vi XX s H x vv v v Vv "V w v X W tot W A X c3 fill services available to the public Tue - Sot 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Hfcuiiuiu iiiiLiu. i.i.iiuj.yii.w Mi., inn ikmiiij i iimiii. iimiuj. H i "J iitim , 79Q W 400 North Orem |