Friday, August 11, 2017

#BestChamber practices: ICEA iDea of the Week: Communications Excellence Award Winning iDea: Valpo Chamber - Video Highlights; Unlock the Leader in You: ACE Leadership Program --- Champaign County Chamber of Commerce; Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory; #FamousChamber Speaker: Benton Area (Arkansas) Chamber Of Commerce: Chad Pregracke; Arlington Chamber of Commerce: Connect with Arlington's Business Ombudsman at our August networking breakfast; Bowling Green Area Chamber interest: New scholarship program could help address workforce issues; Eagle River Area Chamber: 1,400 Anglers Expected For National Championship Musky Open; Appearance matters for Gulf Coast tourism; Madison Heights/Hazal Park Chamber of Commerce collects backpacks for school kids; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S. Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)

#BestChamber practices: ICEA iDea of the Week: Communications Excellence Award Winning iDea: Valpo Chamber - Video Highlights


Just last year, the Valpo Chamber began using video to enhance member services.  The results have led to an open rate of more than 40% with each video receiving more than 1,000 organic views on social media.   Kurt Gillins, Vice President Programs & Communications with the Valpo Chamber, has helped the Chamber receive national recognition for these videos.  What makes these so successful?  According to Michelle West of Chamber Speaks, "delivery is comfortable. Kurt is authentic. He's not taking it too seriously. He is staying true to his purpose of informing, engaging and entertaining.  They use a microphone, a tripod and lighting for quality production. And Kurt delivers just the highlights so if viewers want more info, they can click on a link included in the e-mail."

To see specific samples, click on the links below:
Click here to see August highlight.
Click here to see July highlight.
Click here to see June highlight.


For more information, please contact

Kurt Gillins, IOM, CP


Vice President Programs & Communications  - Valpo Chamber
kurt@valpochamber.org
(219) 462-1105






Rex Richards, CCE, IOM, AE
President & CEO - Valpo Chamber
rex@valpochamber.org
(219)462-1105




Unlock the Leader in You: ACE Leadership Program --- Champaign County Chamber of Commerce


The ACE Leadership Program aims to mold young professionals into strong local leaders.


Participants will gain confidence, knowledge, professionalism and strong leadership skills they can bring back to their place of employment. The program is a great way to connect young professionals with their peers and build strong business relationships.


OUR MISSION:


Attract and identify the next generation of community leaders in order to grow Champaign County.



Connect young professionals with the surrounding community through unique opportunities in the areas of service, leadership and advocacy.

Engage young professionals to have a vested interest in the success of our community.



"I really enjoyed being able to network - which is something I've always struggled to be comfortable with. I also really enjoyed the way that the courses were adapted to different leadership styles. I learned a lot and have been able to take a number of things back to work to improve how I lead my employees." - Breanna Durack, 2016 Graduate


CLICK HERE to view the full schedule of events and registration form.


Early registration ends August 11.


Have questions or need more information?  Contact Ariel or call 217.359.1791.


Interested in sponsoring?


CLICK HERE to view available opportunities.





Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory

The Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Profile & Directory is available at the Plainfield Area Chamber today! Thanks to Tasha Kitson, Mari Edmondson, Vitella Barnes, Kellie Wujek 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.


#FamousChamber Speaker: Benton Area (Arkansas) Chamber Of Commerce: Chad Pregracke


The Mississippi River was literally Chad Pregracke’s backyard while growing up near East Moline, IL. The son of educators and river enthusiasts, KeeKee and Gary Pregracke, Chad and his older brother, Brent, spent the majority of their time on, in, and around the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.


During his summer breaks Chad worked on the river–primarily as a commercial shell diver for the cultured pearl industry, but also as a commercial fisherman and barge hand. Typically working miles away from home, he camped on the islands and shorelines of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to save money and fuel. It was during this time that Chad began to realize how neglected the rivers were, with the unsightly and toxic accumulation of trash along their banks.



One river, one piece of garbage at a time. At the age of 17, he started making calls to government agencies to notify them of the problem, assuming someone would take care of it. Year after year passed by and the problem only worsened. In 1997 Chad decided that, if no one else was going to clean up the river, he would.


In 1998 at the age of 23, Chad founded Living Lands & Waters. Today, the organization has grown to include a full staff and fleet of equipment. The crew averages nine states a year along the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio Rivers, as well as many of their tributaries. Most recently, Chad expanded the mission of the organization to include educational workshops, The MillionTrees ProjectAdopt-a-River MileInvasive Species Removal, and The Great Mississippi River Cleanup.



Chad’s vision, charisma, non-stop work ethic and natural leadership have garnered him an abundance of awards and honors over the years. Most notably, Chad was the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service, America’s version of the Nobel Prize, in June 2002. Chad accepted this award in the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C. with other award recipients: Rudolph Giuliani, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Lilly Tartikoff. In 2013, he was named CNN Hero of the Year. Chad is also the author of “From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers.” To purchase a copy of the book, please call the office at (309) 496-9848.



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



Arlington Chamber of Commerce: Connect with Arlington's Business Ombudsman at our August networking breakfast

Join the Chamber next Thursday, August 17 for Breakfast Connection, featuring Shannon Flanagan-Watson, Arlington County's Business Ombudsman and Assistant County Manager. In this role, Shannon works each day in partnership with the business community, helping companies and organizations of all sizes, with a focus on resolving County challenges and making things better and easier for everyone doing business in Arlington.

Shannon is a key resource for the business community, especially small businesses and new companies seeking growth and development, and she wants to hear from you. This special Breakfast Connection will include an interactive dialogue with Shannon, during which she'll answer questions and explain more about her role and available County services and programs. Attendees will also have the chance to network, exchange business cards, and develop new prospects.

REGISTER HERE




Bowling Green Area Chamber interest: New scholarship program could help address workforce issues

Such an impact is needed in a region that has reached a workforce shortage after years of employment growth. According to statistics provided by the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, the 10-county Barren River region has a collective unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.
Such low unemployment reduces the pool of trained workers available to fill local job openings. Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce President Ron Bunch points out that there are nearly 6,000 jobs currently available in the 10-county region. He believes the Work Ready Scholarship Program can help fill those spots.
“There’s no one silver bullet out there, but the Work Ready program is a great step,” Bunch said. “It will help create an inducement for people to go into high-demand fields and should help get people into better-paying jobs.”
Created by a Bevin executive order, the program provides scholarships to eligible Kentuckians for up to 32 credit hours in these five high-demand areas: advanced manufacturing, business/IT, construction, health care and transportation/logistics.
Bevin allocated $15.9 million for the scholarship program. People who meet the requirements and apply for a scholarship will only receive one after exhausting all other sources of federal or state student aid, excluding loans or work-study arrangements. The Work Ready program will help cover their remaining expenses but won’t provide awards that exceed the in-state tuition and fees required to enroll full-time in a Kentucky Community and Technical College System school.

Justice explains that the program will allow students to work toward a certificate or diploma in one of the five fields and won’t necessarily lead to an associate degree. Regardless, the scholarships should open doors for both traditional and non-traditional students. Read more: Bowling Green Daily News


Eagle River Area Chamber: 1,400 Anglers Expected For National Championship Musky Open



The Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin will host the 32nd annual National Championship Musky Open.



This event is the single largest musky tournament anywhere. Last year, 1,296 anglers registered to fish it and as many as 1,400 are expected this year. Tournament anglers are spread out on waters throughout eastern Vilas County and northeastern Oneida County. Full Article 






Appearance matters for Gulf Coast tourism

Appearance matters in any community. But, it is especially important in a tourist destination like the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Work crews mowing the medians along busy Highway 90, and Harrison County sand beach crews can be seen on just about any summer day.
“We've got to have our community be cut and landscaped, it's the front door. We've got to tell people 'You're welcome here,' and they feel comfortable here,” said Adele Lyons, executive director for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.

The tourism industry employs thousands and helps drive the Coast economy. Appearance is something leaders say everyone should be mindful of in the area. Read more: WLOX.com


Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce collects backpacks for school kids



Tammy Harp is the general manager for the Madison Heights Wolverines, a football and cheer league comprising some 250 kids. Recently, she noticed that “so many” families are struggling financially, and the cost of back-to-school supplies adds to the strain. Backpacks alone can cost $25 or more.
So Harp, who also runs Mr. B’s Quikstop Marathon, a gas station in Madison Heights, approached the Madison Heights/Hazel Park Chamber of Commerce with an idea.
“I know book bags can be a bit expensive, so I said to Keri (Valmassei, executive director of the chamber), ‘Why not do a collection, with drop points throughout the city, to start collecting these, and then get ahold of the school districts (in Madison Heights and Hazel Park) to distribute to kids?’” Harp said. “Running a gas station and the Wolverines, I see it all the time — parents coming in and complaining about spending all this money to get school supplies to send their kids back to school. So we’ve decided to help them out, and I think we’ll do well.”
Brand-new backpacks, or money to purchase them, are being collected at the following sites during the month of August:
• Madison Heights City Hall, 300 W. 13 Mile Road.
• Mr. B’s Quikstop Marathon, corner of 12 Mile and John R roads.
• Tominello Chiropractic, 1821 N. Campbell Road (12 Mile).
• Team Rehab, 1433 E. 12 Mile Road, Building C.
• American Jewelry and Loan, 20804 John R Road.
• Anytime Fitness, 32340 Campbell Road (14 Mile).
• Solberg Tower, 27787 Dequindre Road.
• Northern TV and Vacuum, 27633 John R Road.
• The Joyful Jungle, 1529 E. 12 Mile Road.
• Chemical Bank, 1800 E. 12 Mile Road.
Certain chamber members, like OUR Credit Union, already do drives for school supplies, but this is the first chamber-wide drive for backpacks.


“Any kind of new, sturdy backpack will be accepted,” Valmassei said. “We will be dividing them equally between the Madison, Lamphere and Hazel Park school districts. The school social workers will determine the recipients based on need.”  Read more:  CandG News


Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.


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

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. 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 chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal





Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey (Chamber Mentor)


RULE #75      If a website doesn’t tell a story, nobody’s reading.




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