Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Excited; Traverse City Area Chamber honors Susanne Janis; Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Releases 2014 Annual Report; Chamber partnership: Ice-fishing contest popular with vets; Greenbrier (Arkansas) Chamber celebrates Hometown Holiday with 5K; Omaha chamber innovation: Shipping containers could be converted into office spaces; Clinton Area Chamber Event: Legislators preview 2015; Time to join a business group? Consider these options

Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Excited

Bruce Rauner will be Illinois’ first Republican governor in 12 years, and Illinois Chamber of Commerce president Todd Maisch says that will be a good thing.  “I am actually optimistic that you’re going to see a lot more getting done than, maybe, if (outgoing Gov. Pat) Quinn had been re-elected,” Maisch says. “The dynamic is now that Republicans will have some skin in the game. You’re going to have both parties vested in solutions.”He says the Democratic leaders in the General Assembly may find Rauner easier to work with than they did Quinn. Read more: Alton Daily News

Traverse City Area Chamber honors Susanne Janis

 The Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce named Susanne M. Janis the recipient of its 2014 Distinguished Service Award.
Chamber leaders said Janis brings enthusiasm and accomplishment to everything she touches. They said she supports causes ranging from education and health care to numerous endeavors that help the less fortunate.
“Mrs. Janis has had her hand in numerous projects, fundraising activities and initiatives that have truly changed our community for the better,” said Chamber Chief Operating Officer Laura Oblinger.  “She never just discusses an idea; when she’s involved, you can count on her to roll up her sleeves and make the task happen. Our community is made better because of her endeavors and they will inspire many of us for years to come.” Read more:  Traverse City Record-Eagle

Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Releases 2014 Annual Report

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (VPCC) set out in 2014 to seek uncommon solutions to common challenges. The results of its efforts were released in the 2014 VPCC Annual Report.
Throughout the Peninsula region — Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, James City County and York County — the VPCC focused its attention on enhancing the business landscape of the area, working toward a better community for all to live, work and play.
In 2014, the VPCC concentrated its efforts where its members were— 46 percent of VPCC members were based in Newport News, followed by 25 percent in Hampton, 13 percent on the Southside and less than 10 percent each in York County, Williamsburg, Poquoson, James City County and outside the area.
In 2014, the VPCC hosted 115 events that brought together nearly 11,000 people (up from 4,000 in 2011) interested in expanding their connections. The events include women in business programming, leadership training, youth programs, military events, State of the Cities, seminars, expos, job fairs and more.

Read more at Virtual-Strategy Magazine

  
Chamber partnership: Ice-fishing contest popular with vets

Last year’s inaugural Operation Tip Up ice-fishing event in Menomonie was a hit with attendees, if anticipated attendance and this year’s event is any indication.
About twice the number of veterans and their families are expected to take part in Operation Tip Up this Friday and Saturday on Lake Menomin. Last year about 150 veterans and their families took part in the free ice-fishing contest intended to salute military veterans. This year’s event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, is expected to attract about 300 people from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana, according to Bill Schutts, event coordinator at the Dunn County Fish & Game Association site where the event will occur.

“We are getting tons of responses from vets who were here last year and are bringing more people this year,” Schutts said. “I think about 75 percent of the vets who fished last year never ice fished before.” Read more: Leader-Telegram

 

Greenbrier (Arkansas) Chamber celebrates Hometown Holiday with 5K

An enthusiastic crowd of runners wearing their ugly sweaters joined the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce for the very first 5K run in Greenbrier to help celebrate Hometown Holiday Saturday morning. The weather was perfect in the 50’s for this event with the sun finally coming out toward the end.
Ugly Sweater runners were from age 13 to seniors who walked. Six month old Madison Rivera rode in her buggy pushed by her parents. 5K is 3.1 miles. Everyone dashed off at the starting line in front of the Greenbrier Civic Center to cheers from the crowd.
With the help of the Conway Running Club and their time clock, the fastest time was done in nineteen minutes, twenty-one seconds. The last one in was fifty-four minutes, twenty-five seconds.Read more: Log Cabin Democrat

Omaha chamber innovation: Shipping containers could be converted into office spaces

Today the darkened warehouse north of downtown Omaha is crowded with leftover building materials.
But there’s a plan underway that would transform the dimly lit room into the StartUp Station, a haven for the region’s bright entrepreneurs that would augment the metro area’s burgeoning entrepreneurial community.

The Station would feature 16 shipping containers converted into offices for fledgling businesses within the warehouse at the north end of the Mastercraft Building, 1111 N. 13th St.

“We’re hoping we can pull it off in 2015,” said David Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal is to help 100 companies get started by 2018.” Read more: North Platte Telegraph

Clinton Area (Iowa) Chamber Event: Legislators preview 2015

The turn of the year makes timely the evaluation of goals. When it comes to state governance, the public will have the opportunity to share its priorities and hear those from newly elected legislators Friday.
Ashford University will host the legislative preview breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday. The two-hour session will include re-elected Rep. Mary Wolfe and Sen. Rita Hart, both Clinton Democrats, as well as newcomer Rep. Norlin Mommsen (R-DeWitt).
Mommsen, in particular, is worth noting as Friday will mark his first appearance in his official elected capacity. He replaces former Rep. Steve Olson in Iowa House District 97. With the event hosted by the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, chamber President Nathan Sondgeroth said he is interested in hearing about Mommsen’s priorities. “This legislative session is somewhat different because Rep. Mommsen is new,” said Sondgeroth, who will serve as the event moderator. “We want to make sure he knows (the local) voice... I have not met with him personally, necessarily. His priorities are among some of the questions I’m going to ask.” Clinton Herald

Time to join a business group? Consider these options

If you're serious about connecting with more of your small business peers and -- let's be honest here -- trading business leads with them or if you're looking for typically low-cost seminars where you might pick up some helpful business ideas; there are options.

Or if yours is a larger business that sees smaller ones as a target market, then you're about to become a joiner -- a member of one of the many chambers of commerce, alumni groups or other organizations generally dedicated to the small business community.

Your local chamber of commerce is a good place to begin, although you'll have to actually participate to gain whatever benefit you seek from membership: Showing up once a month for lunch isn't enough. Still, chamber membership should be a given. Read more: Daily Herald