Continuing the Education of Employees

This month I had the great fortune of attending my third year at the Institute for Organization Management. This program is held across the country at various sites throughout the year and is hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I am thrilled each year to be able to participate in this class where I can learn the “ins and outs” of organizations like chambers and associations and I can bring back to Valparaiso some best practices and trends from around the country.

The Valpo Chamber has a long-standing tradition of continuing the education of its employees and I would encourage you to look into opportunities for you and your employees to continue down the road of education.

As I am sure you have heard already, the Valpo Chamber is hosting the Disney Institute on Tuesday, August 16. What you may not have heard is that if you are in a profession where you need to obtain continuing education credits, this event may get you closer to your quota. Disney Institute will give you the necessary paperwork to file with your organization for credit once you have received authorization from your association or professional group and completed the course.

As of today there are less than 30 spaces remaining for this event. That may sound like a lot of space, but just last week we had a company call with 26 reservations. That is a company that sees the value in continuing the education of their employees, as well as the value in this wonderful Disney Institute event.

If you are interested in attending Disney Institute or sending your employees, give me a call at the Chamber and we can get the registration completed. Don’t delay!

Kurt Gillins
Programs Director
kgillins@valparaisochamber.org

Valpo Chamber Gift Certificates! Great Gift! Great Marketing Tool!

If you’ve ever been the recipient of a Valpo Chamber Gift Certificate, you already know what a great gift it is. You have a choice of over 100 different venues where to spend it! I don’t know about you but I love to spend “gift” money. Cash disappears on incidentals, but you HAVE to spend the gift certificate before it expires.

I have redeemed my chamber gift certificates to eat out, get my nails done, or simply buy groceries. I have given them as gifts to co-workers, the mailman, or as a birthday gift. I have even donated them to non-profits to use as a silent auction item or inside a gift basket door prize. Everyone loves to receive a gift certificate because it gives the recipient a choice of where to spend, and there are SO many choices.

In 2010, the Valpo Chamber sold approximately $98,000 worth of gift certificates. ANYONE can purchase, so we see businesses buying large quantities to give to employees at holiday time, AND we see folks stopping in to buy one or two … for coaches, schoolteachers, real estate closings, and “thank you for dog sitting” gifts! The marketability is diverse and vast. The number of certificates sold in 2010 was over 5000, in varying increments. Certificates are sold at ANY denomination the buyer stipulates.

So, we know chamber gift certificates have value for the recipient. But, what about the value to our member participants?

The 100+ vendors currently participating on this program pay ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the marketing effect of this program. Every certificate sold includes an alphabetical list of vendors, plus the list is included on our website. Our annual directory defines vendors by including a shopping cart icon next to their name. Moreover, the chamber markets the certificates in email blasts and newspaper advertising, particularly at holiday time. The chamber does its best to bring exposure to all those vendors participating on the program.

Then, if a certificate IS redeemed at the vendor’s business, they simply retain the document, return it to the chamber office, and receive a 95% reimbursement check from the chamber. The top vendor on the program in 2010 received enough reimbursements back from the chamber that their annual membership could have been paid eight times over! The next “top five” vendors where certificates were redeemed include a grocery store, restaurant, automotive shop, butcher, and fueling center. Those five businesses were reimbursed $22,540 collectively…which, again, more than paid for their individual investments with the chamber.

Bottom line. Valpo Chamber Gift Certificates are the perfect gift, AND the perfect opportunity to promote your business to other businesses and to the community at large.

Want to view a complete list of current vendors? Learn more about becoming a vendor? Or, purchase a chamber gift certificate? Click here.

Danielle Oeding
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
oeding@valparaisochamber.org

We've got your number... or do we?

In a few weeks, the Valpo Chamber will start its member verification process to assist us in providing accurate information about your business to your potential customers. The information you provide is also reproduced in our membership directories, on mailing labels, and on our website, http://www.valparaisochamber.org/.

  

The person you’ve designated to be key contact person for your business will receive the verification form in the mail. We hope you will take a few minutes to review the information we have on file, make any necessary corrections and/or additions and return it.

Below are some specifics to assist you in the verification process:  

• Member Information: Primary contact person, phone number, mailing address, including suffixes like Co., Inc., LLC, PC, etc.  
• Preferred communication: email or mail.  
• Representatives: Additional employees/business representatives you would like to receive Chamber information.  
• Business Category: Each Chamber member receives one category at no cost. Additional categories may be purchased and appear in the Chamber directories and on the Chamber web site. 
• Business Description: Help us provide information about your business to potential customers, 40 words max.  

Once the necessary changes have been made on the verification form, please sign, date and return to the Chamber office via fax, mail or email. If you have any questions about the verification process, contact the Chamber at (219) 462-1105.

Wishing you continued business success!

Susan Antoszewski
Marketing & Communications Specialist
santoszewski@valparaisochamber.org 

 

New strategic objectives to carry Chamber to next level

Every successful business has a strategic set of goals that it hopes to achieve which in turn will help that business to be productive and survive in the market place. Recently, Microsoft made one such strategic move by acquiring Skype to further its competitive advantage in its industry.

The Valpo Chamber is no different in that it has a set of strategic objectives and goals to improve its member services. Four years ago, the Valpo Chamber adopted two important strategic objectives to help build a stronger organization.

The first objective was to undertake a major renovation of the second level in the Chamber building creating a first-rate conference facility for use by the Chamber as well as its members. The second objective included upgrading the Chamber web site, www.valparaisochamber.org, to better serve the members, provide a communication tool, to have a dynamic presence on the internet. Both objectives were accomplished.

In May, the Valpo Chamber Executive Committee hammered out a new set of strategic objectives that has since been approved by the Board of Directors. When accomplished, over the next several years, these strategic objectives will make the Valpo Chamber a stronger and more dynamic membership-based business organization.

Valpo Chamber Strategic Objectives:

1. Improve communication by surveying the membership to find out what our members feel is important.
2. Engage the Valparaiso City Council on Chamber programs and initiatives.
3. Advocate priority in spending proceeds of $185 million resulting from the sale of Porter Hospital.
4. Inform the membership of the importance of Porter County Regional Airport and its impact on industrial expansion and job growth.
5. Expand advocacy on state legislative issues impacting Valparaiso businesses.
6. Increase dialogue with federal elected officials for business, city, and regional projects.
7. Use 100-year Chamber Anniversary, in 2012, to build new resources and membership numbers.
8. Engage Valparaiso School system on capital expenditures for needs of K-12 schools. 

Some of these strategic objectives will take more than one year to accomplish. To accomplish these goals, the Chamber will continue to utilize its committed Board of Directors, knowledgeable and professional staff, and dedicated, active members.

Rex G. Richards
President

rrichards@valparaisochamber.org