Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea (Leadership): The Virgin Way: Everything I Know about Leadership - by Richard Branson; Chamber good news: Google names Tulsa Oklahoma's 2014 ‘E-City'; Nebraska Chamber of Commerce endorses Pete Ricketts; Highland, Illinois Offers Tech Startups Chance to Win Big! St. Louis Regional Chamber, Highland Chamber of Commerce sponsorship; Chamber Economic Development: Northwest Arkansas Council Starts New Growth Plan; Hermantown Chamber asks Public Utilities Commission to stop pipeline delay; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber; New digs for Keokuk non-profits, chamber; Chamber event: ‘One mile of fun’ at Octoberfest: Head to Appleton for largest one-day festival in Wisconsin; Chamber Directory or Map; Chamber government affairs: SD Candidates, issues discussed during forum; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotes: (Attitude): Supa Nova Slom

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea (Leadership): The Virgin Way: Everything I Know about Leadership by Richard Branson

With over 40 years in business, Richard Branson is an inspiring pioneer of humanitarian projects and an iconic business leader. In The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead, Richard shares and distils his secrets of leadership and success. Featuring anecdotes from his own business dealings, as well as his observations of many others who have inspired him - from politicians, business leaders, explorers, scientists and philanthropists - Richard reflects on the qualities he feels are essential for success in today's world.

This is not a conventional book on leadership. There are no rules - but rather the secrets of leadership that he has learned along the way from his days at Virgin Records, to his recent work with The Elders. Whether you're at the beginning of your career, or head of a Fortune 500 company - this is your guide to being your own CEO (Chief Enabling Officer) and becoming a true leader - not just a boss.

Chamber good news: Google names Tulsa Oklahoma's 2014 ‘E-City'

Tulsa gained some national attention Monday for its digital savvy. Google named Tulsa Oklahoma’s 2014 "E-City." The company ranks cities in each state by the online presence of area small businesses. Officials say it affirms Tulsa’s commitment to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs.

"We’ve had great success with innovation and entrepreneurship, great success with technology, and we think that this is recognition of that,” said Mike Neal, CEO, Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. Read more: KJRH2 - Tulsa

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce endorses Pete Ricketts

Republican Pete Ricketts’ business experience landed him an endorsement Monday from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce.

Ricketts is the former chief financial officer for TD Ameritrade — a company founded by his father, Joe Ricketts. He is running against Democrat Chuck Hassebrook for Nebraska governor.

“Having helped grow a small Nebraska company into a large one, Pete has the kind of executive experience and fresh perspective needed in state government,” said Barry Kennedy, president of the state chamber. Read more: Omaha.com

Highland, Illinois Offers Tech Startups Chance to Win Big! St. Louis Regional Chamber, Highland Chamber of Commerce sponsorship

Now through Oct. 20, the city of Highland is offering technology-based startups a chance to win big.

The 2014 Highland Gigabit Challenge - the city’s first - is a business plan competition offering more than $40,000 in prizes to its winners. Highland’s event partner is the Metro East Small Business Development Center.

To win, the company must locate in Highland. The first-place price is $15,000. Prizes include startup funds, office space, Internet service and support via Highland’s Entrepreneurship Program.

“We want to attract high-growth startups who are able to use and promote our city’s state-of-the-art gigabit Internet service,” said Lisa Peck, Highland spokeswoman. “We’re one of a limited number of communities in the U.S. of this size who have invested in the infrastructure necessary to support gigabit- level Internet service.” Read more: St. Louis Post Dispatch

Chamber Economic Development: Northwest Arkansas Council Starts New Growth Plan

Northwest Arkansas has checked most of the boxes in its economic development plan and is working on a new one, Wayne Mays told legislators Friday.

Mays is president and chief executive officer of the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce. He joined area chamber leaders discussing economic development at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce at the World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers.

"We just spent the last 48 hours in meetings planning the next three years," he said, adding he anticipates the council will announce the new goals in January. Read more:  NWAonline.

Hermantown Chamber asks Public Utilities Commission to stop pipeline delay

Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce Board on Thursday voted unanimously to support a request to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to process the Sandpiper Pipeline application along the original timetable.

“It is imperative for the PUC to reverse their decision to delay the Sandpiper Project by as much as a year and to follow the original reasonable timetable of approval in early 2015” said Mike Lundstrom, Chamber executive director. “This delay threatens our region’s economic recovery due to an over reliance on rail delivery which has a stifling economic impact on product delivery of agriculture, coal, timber and taconite. It is especially troublesome given that pipeline delivery is documented as the safest mode of transport for crude oil and natural gas.” Read more: BusinessNorth.com

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber

Indiana Chamber ‏@IndianaChamber 10m10 minutes ago

Kudos to @angieslist (Indy), expanding its headquarters and adding 1,000 jobs over next five years http://ow.ly/CRoda 

9:36 AM - 16 Oct 2014 · 

New digs for Keokuk non-profits, chamber

A former bank building at 429 Main St., Keokuk, will house six area non-profit organizations. Tuesday is moving day for several local non-profit organizations that will share space at 429 Main St., Keokuk.

More than 4,000 square feet are available at the old bank building for the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Keokuk Inc., Keokuk Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, Big River United Way, Volunteer Center of the Big River United Way and the Mississippi River Power 100 Museum.
Read more: Daily Gate City

Chamber event: ‘One mile of fun’ at Octoberfest: Head to Appleton for largest one-day festival in Wisconsin

It’s one mile of amazing food, live entertainment, arts and crafts booths and fun. It’s the largest one-day festival in Wisconsin and thousands of people stroll along College Street. It’s the annual Octoberfest in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it’s so much fun.

Thousands of people come to Appleton each year for food, family fun activities, live entertainment and arts and crafts. More than 100 vendors are located along College Avenue. The shops along the street are also open, providing more shopping opportunities.

Octoberfest is held on the Saturday of the last weekend in September of each year. The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The food booths are all sponsored by non-profit organizations.Read more: Banks News Today

Chamber Directory or Map

Get a free estimate for your chamber on a professional gloss chamber map, chamber app, community profile or membership directory. Call John Dussman of Village Profile at (800)-600-0134 x239 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 400 members or more, please ask about several multimedia options available, including our newest product, the iphone/android chamber app owned by you. 

Chamber government affairs: SD Candidates, issues discussed during forum

Three candidates from District 20 competing for two seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives disagreed on several issues at a forum Monday night, but agreed work needs to be done to maintain state's roads and bridges.

Rep. Tona Rozum, of Mitchell, and Joshua Klumb, of Mount Vernon, both Republicans, and James Schorzmann, of Mitchell, a Democrat, took part in the forum, which was held at Mitchell Technical Institute. The Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee hosted the event, which was attended by nearly 50 people.

The two candidates who get the most votes in the Nov. 4 election will win two-year terms. District 20 includes Davison, Aurora and Jerauld counties.

While the candidates agreed about the importance of maintaining and improving the state's roads and bridges, questions remained about where the funding will come from. Read more: insurancenewsnet.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotes: (Attitude): 

“The worst disability in life is a bad attitude.”  - Supa Nova Slom

 

Chamber news: Kentucky jumps 45 places in national entrepreneurship rankings; Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success by Sylvia Ann Hewlett; Chamber news: Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce CEO confident despite lagging job growth, high taxes; Winschel settles in leading Perryville, Missouri chamber; Nebraska Chamber Announces Schedule for Legislative Forums; Indiana Bacon Festival celebrates pork’s varied forms; Roscoe Chamber Welcome: Getting down and dirty for a good cause; Keokuk Chamber: Customer Appreciation Day at farmers market; Chamber news: Lanesboro one of two Minnesota cities named to Fodor's Travel list; Former Charlevoix Michigan Chamber president Erin Bemis named Regional Development director for Constant Contact; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Attitude): Anuj Somany

Chamber news: Kentucky jumps 45 places in national entrepreneurship rankings

A recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln study shows Kentucky's entrepreneurial environment is improving.

The State Entrepreneurship Index ranked Kentucky No. 4 for its ability to create new businesses. Kentucky climbed 45 places from its No. 49 ranking in 2012.

"I think it's a wonderful validation of the energy that has gone into early-stage ventures," said Kent Oyler, CEO and president of Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce. Oyler is a serial entrepreneur and former managing partner of OPM Services Inc., an investment and financial services firm that works with entrepreneurs across the state. Read more: Louisville Business First

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success, by Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Do you exude confidence and credibility? Can you command a room? Sylvia Ann Hewlett, one of the world's most influential business thinkers, cracks the code of Executive Presence (EP) for men and women intent on winning the next plum assignment and doing something extraordinary with their lives.

You might have the qualifications to be considered for your dream job, but you won't get far unless you can signal that you're "leadership material" and that you "have what it takes." Professionals are judged on presence as well as on performance. 

Using a wealth of hard data—including a new nationwide survey and dozens of focus groups—Hewlett reveals EP to be a dynamic mix of three things: how you act (gravitas), how you speak (communication), and how you look (appearance). She also draws on in-depth interviews with a wide selection of admired leaders to reveal how they embody and deploy key elements of EP. 

This book is immensely practical. Hewlett teases out tactics that can help you raise your game and close the gap between merit and success. She offers the unvarnished advice you won't get from supportive friends and tackles head-on such touchy subjects as too-tight clothing and too-shrill voices. She shows how the standards for EP vary for men, women, multicultural, and LGBT employees, and she shares how to get meaningful feedback from politically correct bosses intent on avoiding the real issues. 

The good news is that EP is eminently teachable. You can learn how to "show teeth" while remaining likable, and you can teach yourself how to dress appropriately while staying true to yourself. You don't have to be born with the voice of James Earl Jones or the looks of Angelina Jolie to hurdle the EP bar. With hard facts and vivid examples, Hewlett shows you how to ace EP and fully realize your unique potential—no matter who you are, no matter where you work.

Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce CEO confident despite lagging job growth, high taxes

It wasn’t a very “chamber of commerce” thing to say. A chamber president is traditionally a community’s top salesperson. But here was a letter from Lawrence’s new chamber president and CEO that sure didn’t do much to sell Lawrence’s blue skies and green parks. Instead, Larry McElwain told chamber members earlier this month what he has learned thus far in his seven weeks on the job: The community’s taxes are high and rising, the city has few job opportunities and a high cost of living, some residents feel marginalized by community leaders, instability with the chamber’s CEO position has hindered the chamber’s ability to lead, and residents are hungry for community leadership to emerge.

McElwain — a Lawrence fixture since the mid 1960s — clearly has decided now is not the time for a sales pitch. Read more: Lawrence Journal-World

Winschel settles in leading Perryville, Missouri chamber

For Amanda Winschel, networking with people has always been something she's enjoyed. Whether it was for the United Way, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank, or most recently, the Perryville Chamber of Commerce, making connections in the community is a large part of what she does.

On July 7, Winschel began her new job as executive director for the chamber. Read more: semissourian.com

Nebraska Chamber Announces Schedule for Legislative Forums

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in cooperation with local chambers of commerce across the state, will present its annual legislative forums beginning in late August and continuing through November.  In total, State Chamber staff will visit 29 Nebraska communities.

For more than 30 years, the State Chamber has conducted these legislative forums to gather input from the business community on issues of concern, while providing a review of recent legislation considered by the Nebraska Legislature. Read more: Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Indiana Bacon Festival celebrates pork’s varied forms

Got bacon?

Delphi does — tons of it, literally. The Delphi-based Indiana Packers Corp. is one of the largest producers of bacon in the region, famous for its Midwest-sourced Indiana Kitchen bacon. The company will be supplying the pork for the first Indiana Bacon Festival, hosted by Carroll County, last Saturday. Julia Leahy, executive director of the county’s Chamber of Commerce, said that business owners and officials have been hankering for a celebration of local bacon for years. Read more: JCOnline

Roscoe Chamber Welcome: Getting down and dirty for a good cause

It’s that time of year again to get down and dirty for the Epilepsy Foundation’s Mud Volleyball Tournament. Hundreds of volleyball teams of up to 12 people will turn out to go knee-deep in mud for a good cause and a good time at the new location at Riverside Park in Roscoe.

“People love doing it,” said Ben Slack, executive director for the foundation. “If we can get people together to have a good time, play some volleyball and educate them on epilepsy and raise funds, it’s a win-win situation.” Read more: Beloit Daily News

Keokuk Chamber: Customer Appreciation Day at farmers market

The Keokuk Farmers Market, sponsored by the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce, will host Customer Appreciation Day from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the River City Mall parking lot.

Door prizes in the form of fresh produce, bakery items or crafts donated by market vendors will be awarded throughout the morning. A live cooking demonstration will be presented by Hy-Vee Chef Dayton Carroll.  

The annual event is a highlight of the farmers market calendar each season. Read more: Daily Gate City

Chamber news: Lanesboro one of two Minnesota cities named to Fodor's Travel list

Over the past few years, Lanesboro has been included in a number of prestigious listings that recommend places for tourists to visit. On the eve of Buffalo Bill Days, Lanesboro received another honor. Fodor's Travel recently published a listing of "10 charming midwestern towns to visit this summer." Following a few towns in Wisconsin, Lanesboro ranked third among the 10 towns, the only town in Minnesota other than Grand Marais. Fodor's Travel is a global enterprise publishing over 300 guidebooks and travel guides to 7,500 destinations in addition to publishing a number of books.

"It is probably the largest book to publicize areas. They make recommendations for places to visit," stated Dee Slinde, Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s executive director.Read more: Republican-Leader

Former Charlevoix Michigan Chamber president Erin Bemis named Regional Development director for Constant Contact

… (Constant Contact) has named Erin Bemis as the regional development director for the new Great Lakes Region. Based in Charlevoix, Michigan, Bemis will oversee the regional team of in-the-field educators. With nearly 20 years working with nonprofits in a variety of roles she brings a wealth of experience to her position. Most recently, Bemis was the president and CEO of the Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce. While there, she earned the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management graduate recognition and Michigan Chamber Professional designations and led the Chamber to consecutive titles of Michigan Chamber of the Year. Read more: Market Watch

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Attitude):

“If a person finds the negative people in his network, then he needs to mind or mend his own nature than others for his basic grounding decides only the level of acidic or toxic surrounding.” ― Anuj Somany

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