#BestChamber Practices: Skokie Chamber: Multi-Chamber Networking Program; Kentucky Chamber: Unfunded Pension Liability: How bad is it?; News and Tribune a finalist for One Southern Indiana awards; Culpeper Chamber of Commerce: Your Chamber Investment helps to Plant a "Business Friendly Forest"; Mississippi Economic Council: ‘Excelerating’ state focus of luncheon; Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Cornerstone Alliance, Cornerstone Chamber Of Commerce Honor Businesses; Fox Cities Chamber Event: Wisconsin Select 401(k) to launch Tuesday; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles

Good morning Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!



#BestChamber Practices: Skokie Chamber: Multi-Chamber Networking Program

Howard Meyer, Skokie Chamber

Howard Meyer, Executive Director of the Skokie Chamber, has run several "Mega-Connect" networking events with other North Shore and Northwest chamber professionals. Speed Networking Events offer you a wonderful opportunity to meet many people form other chambers of Commerce in quick succession. But sometimes they can be overwhelming. In order for these events to be successful, for you, follow the rules, follow the script and be concise without going over your three minute limit per person. Thank you and happy networking!

How this works… (6 to 10 People at each table)

1. Each person has a name tag with their table rotation listed.

2. We have tried to separate you so industries are not duplicated at each table, however due to the numbers present at today’s function, please understand if there is an occasional duplication. - Remember in the chamber world, we are all colleagues, not competitors.

3. The moderator will announce each rotation, please proceed to the table number printed on your name tag.

4. Once at your table, assign a time keeper.

5. Each participant will have three minutes to introduce themselves. We have provided a script for your convenience. You do not need a script if it does not reflect the needs of you or your company.

6. The moderator will give a five minute warning before each table rotation.

7. There will be a five minute passing period in between each rotation

8. There will be (X) table rotations for today’s program (Three table rotations would be a good meeting’s worth.)

9. Please feel free to stay at the conclusion of the speed networking program so you can continue to make conections!

Introductions

1. Your Name
2. Name of Your Company
3. What is Your Position With Your Company
4. What Does Your Company Do…
5. What makes You or Your Company Unique
6. You Should Do Business With Me Because…
7. Chamber Member (X) Recommends Me
8. A Good Business Lead For Me Is…

More information: Skokie Chamber



Kentucky Chamber: Unfunded Pension Liability: How bad is it?

If all 4.3 million Kentuckians were asked to pitch in to fix the 36 billion pension deficit, it would take $8,268 from every man, woman and child in the Commonwealth.

A July 2015 report by the Pew Charitable Trusts compared state pension funding levels for all 50 states. (The Public Sector Retirement Systems Project at Pew annually tracks state pension funding and has advised the Kentucky General Assembly on pension reform.) Kentucky ranked 49 out of 50 states—only Illinois ranked lower. The report found the national average state pension funding level to be 71.8%. Kentucky’s combined funding level for all its systems was only 44.2%.

To put this in a different perspective: Kentucky’s total unfunded pension liability of $36.4 billion in FY 2015 was more than three and a half times the total General Fund tax revenue the state collected in that entire year. More Information: Kentucky Chamber

News and Tribune a finalist for One Southern Indiana awards

Wendy Dant Chesser

The News and Tribune is a finalist for one of One Southern Indiana's annual business awards.

One Southern Indiana — the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Clark and Floyd counties — on Wednesday announced finalists for the 2015 “ONE” Awards and invited members to vote for their favorite businesses. The ONE Award is a reinvention of the Southern Indiana Business Awards and recognizes the finest 1si member in one of four categories, according to a press release.

The News and Tribune, with offices in New Albany and Jeffersonville, is a finalist for Business of the Year with 50 or fewer employees.

The finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges and were selected based on criteria of business history, community involvement, response to adversity, newly created opportunities and innovation in products or services.

Members of the community will have an opportunity to cast their vote for the business they think is most deserving by clicking here.

Online voting ends Tuesday, Feb. 16, at noon and will count for 10 percent of the nominees’ final score. Winners will be announced at the event March 17 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyard’s Plantation Hall in Starlight. Tickets for the event are on sale.

“This year’s event is going to be special,” said Wendy Dant Chesser, president and CEO of 1si in the release. “Our members have input on our awards through online voting, which can change the leader boards significantly. Our goal is to provide an event in which the audience both participates and has a stake. Read more: News and Tribune

Culpeper Chamber of Commerce: Your Chamber Investment helps to Plant a "Business Friendly Forest"

By Debbie Stohlman on January 18, 2016

I have always had a special place in my heart for trees. I love all trees; the varieties that remain evergreen as well as those that turn beautiful colors each autumn. My childhood backyard was filled with majestic oak trees draped with moss, scattering acorns everywhere. I loved them as well, even while admiring from afar with my arm in a cast after falling from a branch a bit too high.  Trees are amazing things; beginning as an acorn or the smallest seed, over time – if conditions are right – they will grow strong and tall.

Recently, someone shared a quote with me on an unusually busy day at the office. With the proliferation of social media, we all frequently receive the multi-forwarded email that contains interesting tidbits, nuggets of wisdom, and inspirational quotes. Mostly, I quickly read them and hit the delete button. However, from time-to-time, there is gold to be mined in those emails.  The quote I’m mentioning here seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear that day – “It is a wise man that plants a tree under whose shade he will never sit”- a powerful affirmation to be sure. I was drawn into it pondering what message the originator was trying to convey. Read more: Culpeper Chamber

Mississippi Economic Council: ‘Excelerating’ state focus of luncheon

— From what he called the best view in Mississippi, Blake Wilson of the Mississippi Economic Council painted a picture of economic improvement in the state. The president and CEO of the state’s chamber of commerce presented a vision for prosperity Tuesday during a luncheon at the Hotel Vue. In laying out MEC’s vision, Wilson started out by polling the audience on whether the audience believed their children or grandchildren would be able to remain in Mississippi to find good paying jobs. The vote was close, but 48 percent said yes, compared to 44 percent believing the future good jobs are still out of the state.

“That’s a major improvement from five years ago, and it’s the same across the state,” Wilson said. “About 62 percent thought their children or grandchildren would have to leave. “You can see that people are feeling more positive about the economy than they were five years ago. Still, 44 percent is high, and we’re going to have to work on that.”

The MEC focused on a top two — workforce and transportation — to bring the state up. Wilson presented four priorities to go with those focuses: Excelerate Mississippi, appointed superintendents, phasing out the franchise tax and increased workforce funding. Wilson said Mississippi’s state, county and city roadways are crumbling and the bridges are dangerous.

With Excelerate Mississippi, the MEC has studied the impact of every driver of the registered vehicles in Mississippi paying 37 cents a day, which would add to a $1.45 in savings over time through car maintenance. It would also be enough to fix the problem with the roads. Read more: Natchez Democrat

Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Town SquarePublications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Cornerstone Alliance, Cornerstone Chamber Of Commerce Honor Businesses

The area’s top businesses and executives are basking in their awards from Cornerstone Alliance and the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce. The organizations held their annual Business Recognition meeting as a breakfast meeting for the first time today at the Mendel Center on the campus of Lake Michigan College. Colson Group USA received the Manufacturing/Distribution Large Business Award from Cornerstone Alliance, Pero Family Farms Food Company LLC was honored with the Food Processing Large Business Award, and former LMC President Dr. Bob Harrison received the Merlin Hanson Exemplary Business Leader Award. Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce named United Federal Cedit Union its Large Business of the Year, with the Entrepreneur of the Year awards going to Whightman & Associates and Lindberg/MPH.

Here is the full list of awards from both organizations.

Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce:

SILVER STAKE AWARD WINNERS
Silver Stake Award winners have either created 25 new jobs, or increased sales or unit volume by 25%, or expanded their facilities by 10%, or increased capital investment by at least $100,000. The Silver Stake recipients were:
• Prism Environmental Services
• B&L Information Systems

GOLD STAKE AWARD WINNERS
Gold Stake Award winners have either created 50 new jobs, increased sales or unit volume by 50%, expanded facilities by 25% or increased capital investment by at least $200,000. The Gold Stake recipients were:
• Pearson Construction Company
• LakeHouse Restaurant & Bar

PLATINUM STAKE AWARD WINNERS
Platinum Stake Award winners either created 100 new jobs, increased sales or unit volume by 100%, expanded facilities by 50%, or increased their capital investment by at least $300,000. The Platinum Stake recipients were:
• Zoup!
• Williamson Employment
• Mid-West Family Broadcasting
• Abonmarche Consultants Inc
• Honor Credit Union
• JohnsonRauhoff
• United Federal Credit Union
• Elwood Staffing
• Wightman & Associates, Inc.
• Mosquito Squad of Southwest Michigan
• OnStaff USA
• Express Employment Professionals

ENTREPRENUER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Manufacturing Sector) recognized Lindberg/MPH
Lindberg/MPH, a division of parent company Thermal Product Solutions, LLC supplies capital equipment to a diverse customer base representing automotive, aerospace, defense, materials processing, die casting, electronics, commercial heat treating, agriculture and transportation. Read more: WSJM

Fox Cities Chamber Event: Wisconsin Select 401(k) to launch Tuesday

Wisconsin Select 401(k) Program will launch Tuesday with a 10 a.m. presentation at Riverview Gardens Community Center, 1101 S. Oneida St.

The retirement plan platform was created with the goal of keeping investment fees and careers in Wisconsin. It’s an employer-sponsored retirement plan that uses in-state investment managers, administrators, advisors and plan fiduciaries.

“Wisconsin employers are currently sending nearly $3 billion a year to Wall Street firms when we could easily keep much of this revenue in our state,” said Mark Scheffler, CEO of the Appleton Group, the investment firm that is the program’s sponsor and plan fiduciary.

Tuesday’s event is co-hosted by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Read more: Post Crescent

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your publication proposal, Click here