Chamber focuses on Members in 2009 to increase member business
Written by Administrator
Thursday, 19 March 2009
CHAMBER VOICE 2009 - March Issue:
2009 shaping up to be a banner year for member businesses!
Annual General Meeting sees stable exectuive, new mix of large and small businesses.
The Trail & District Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors for 2009 provide a good mix with the seasoned members and new. The board has an exciting year ahead, with new projects geared to keep Chamber members spending locally and additions to the chamber's website intended to attract new customers to member businesses.
On Thusday, March 19, 2009, Valerie Schillaci, reporter (extraordinaire we might add) and Times Staff for the Trail Daily Times wrote a very informative article on the Trail & District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting held Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Contact the Trail Daily Times for the full article and reprints.
Excerpts sourced from the March 19, 2009 Trail Times article.
"It's been a phenomenal year. But I've still heard a lot of people say,"What does the chamber do?" said Carol Ann Pedersen, former Executive Director (2007 to March 12, 2009) at the Chamber's Annual General Meeting Tuesday night.
TCOC AGM 2009 Keynote - Honourable Mayor Deiter Bogs
Pedersen was instrumental in re-organising the Chamber staff in 2008 into 3 distinct manager units, replacing her own position as Executive Director to streamline operations. This is resulting in lower operating costs of management so more efforts can be focused on providing services and member benefits moving forward in 2009.
She provides accounting and other consulting services to the Chamber, and is an active supporter.
It's time to spread the rumour. Pretend this is the first meeting and ask yourself, "What can we do to help each other?"
About 25 people gathered at the chamber in downtown Trail BC where the 2009 board of directors was introduced.
Trail BC Mayor Dieter Bogs was on hand to conduct the swearing in cerimony.
"It's amazing, the large new slate of nominees are a good range of businesses," said President Ron Clarke.
He is referring to eight new directors that come from both big companies like Wal-Mart (store manager Neil Whatley) and small businesses like Kootenay Trends Kafe' (owner Diane Voikin). Voikin was already on the exectuive as Vice-President but recently opened her cafe in the Union Hotel in downtown (Trail BC). Other returning executive members are Secretary Randy McCallum (SmallBizMagic and GreaterTrail.com) and Treasurer Shane McIntyre.
Kristane Iorio, Visitor Centre Manager, envisions more tourism content on the Trail and District of Commerce website in 2009.
Trail & District Chamber of Commerce: 2009 Member Benefits
Membership is open to all businesses in the Greater Trail & District area, or businesses with an interest in doing business in this area. Annual membership dues are based on a company's number of employees.
The Chamber is composed of over 235 member businesses and small business professionals who have joined together to maximize their business opportunities.
In 2008, the Trail Chamber website received over 2.27 million hits. On average about 56,000 hits were received each month, and of that, 27,000 were return visitors. Also of note, of all site visitors throughout 2008, over 80 bookmarked the Trail Chamber website in their browser favorites.
In 2007, McCallum created the user-friendly website, and it is now run by the Chamber staff. Randy McCallum volunteered and trained the staff over the past 20 months so the Chamber could be self sufficient to update and manage the sophisticated content management system website inhouse. This is a growing new trend in web site management for Chambers, and helps to reduce costs and allow Chamber staff to focus on member benefits, rather than having to be dependent on outside contractors. McCallum plans to introduce a new Chamber program and will make the service available to other Chambers throughout British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest starting in April 2009.
McCallum's goal is to increase youth employment in the high tech knowledge based web professional field over the next few years. More information will be posted on this initiative within a few weeks, as the program is rolled out to other chambers.
The Trail & District Chamber of Commerce invites you to discover how your Chamber can help you take care of business:
Trail Chamber member benefits...
Your business listing in the membership directory
No charge for displaying your business cards and brochures in the Visitor Centre
Trail Rossland News , offers new members a one time only Free 1/4 page ad worth $150.00 (new members only)
Trail Daily Times , offers new members a one time only 2x4 ad to run Monday thru Friday (one week only), (new members only)
You will receive the Chamber bi-weekly business newsletter
Available ad space for purchase in the bi-weekly newsletter. Three different ad sizes available on the web portal, weekly, monthly, semi-annual or annual prices available
Networking We offer a variety of high-profile networking venues to help you develop new business contacts and connect you to potential clients. Events include:
Business After Hours, (planned for introduction in Spring 2009) to be hosted monthly at different Greater Trail Area Chamber member locations;
Business@Breakfast and Networking@Fridays, offering you a chance to introduce your company, product and/or service to other members, and to learn from member experts about how to promote your business on the Web through search engine marketing, Google My Maps, and social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, and the popular local GreaterTrail.com;
Greater Trail Business Network (planned to be announced in late Spring 2009), a quarterly networking event for small and large businesses to learn about other businesses’ products and services; and
New Member Welcome, (new in Spring 2009) a quarterly gathering where new members get acquainted with board members, staff and Greater Trail Area Chamber activities and introduce their companies to other members present.
Visibility Get noticed in a wider circle of business owners and decision makers. Greater Trail Area Chamber members receive:
A free listing and link to your homepage on the Greater Trail Area Chamber’s Web site, www.trailchamber.com, averaging over 2.5 million unique hits a year and over 56,000 hits per month and over 27,000 unique returning visitor hits;
Two listings in the Greater Trail & District Area Chamber’s Membership Directory and special features on the Trail Chamber website; as well as a free membership to the popular GreaterTrail.com social network, where you can further promote your business and connect with the growing number of online visitors looking for product and service information in the Greater Trail area;
New member and anniversary listings in The Small Business View, our new monthly news magazine (slated for introduction in April 2009). Members may also be included by pitching stories or announcing new staff, promotions, business endeavors and accomplishments;
Complementary event announcements in the Trail & District Area Chamber’s electronic newsletter, The TCOC Business View Bi-Weekly, sent out to our growing list of subscribers;
Advertising opportunities in a variety of publications, including the Membership Directory and Buyers Guide, The Greater Trail Business View and our biweekly e-mail newsletter;
Premier placement of marketing brochures or flyers in the Trail & District Area Chamber’s high-traffic lobby; and
A window decal to show customers you are a valued member of the Trail & District Area Chamber.
Referrals The Greater Trail Area Chamber fields more than 1,000 calls a month, and the Web site averages 56,000 hits and over 27,000 unique hits a month. According to ACCE (the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives), consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Only Chamber members are referred by staff; andyou are encouraged to join today!
The Chamber’s Membership Directory and Buyers Guide and its Web site are used both by members and non-members as resources for business listings.
Professional Development The Greater Trail Area Chamber is the ultimate business resource center offering information, tips and best practices that can give your company a competitive edge. We offer you and your employees:
Content-rich and affordable online video small business seminars; to be made available online to all chamber members in April 2009, sponsored by Randy McCallum, founder of SmallBizMagic/GreaterTrail.com;
Small business presentations and discussions held bi-weekly at member businesses and cafe restaurants; sponsored by Randy McCallum, founder of SmallBizMagic/GreaterTrail.com;
Free membership and listing in the small business section on the GreaterTrail.com social networking site packed with helpful information;
Connections to mentors and experts through our small business Web expert volunteers who assist many small business owners on GreaterTrail.com; and
Access to research including current economic indicators, demographic data, statistics, relocation information and special reports.
Recognition for 2009 (all new benefits slated for late Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter 2009) Throughout the year in 2009, the Trail & District Chamber board plans to institute and approve special awards programs which will be held to acknowledge the best-of-the-best in the business community. Awards include:
Small Business of the Month;
Small Business of the Year 2009;
Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2009;
40 and Under 40 Entrepreneurs of the Year 2009 (various categories)
Customer Service Awards 2009;(planned for announcement each month)
Eagle Awards, recognizing minority business owners;
Corporate Community Service Award 2009;(monthly andfor the Year Award)
Innovator of the Year 2009; and
Manufacturer of the Year 2009;
Non-Profit of the Year Award 2009
Advocacy With more than 235 members, representing more than 9,000 employees, we are a strong and credible voice for business. We focus on small business promotion and government so you can focus on your business. We represent area businesses by:
Lobbying for business-friendly policies;
Maintaining relationships with elected officials;
Partnering with the BC Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of British Columbia and other Chambers in the region;
Offering members an opportunity to meet candidates running for public office at an annual political networking event; and
Providing contact information for area officials.
With your membership you will also receive a User ID and Password for the Chamber web portal. The benefits of having these are:
Keeping your directory listing up to date with a full description of your business
Access to the business only calendar (business related workshops, seminars, breakfast meetings and regular board meetings)
Access to member forum (share thoughts and insight with other business members)
Access to member only articles in the Business section of the web portal
Email link to your business for potential customers
Direct link to your own web site if you have one
The ability to see how many visitors to the site have looked at your listing
Your customers can leave reviews on your listing for others to read which helps to promote your business (All unfavorable remarks will not be published, they will be forwarded only to the members.)
Member to Member Benefit program…
Lisa Kramer-Hunt offers a 5% discount to all Chamber member businesses
Redstone Resort offers 10% discount off regular green fees to member businesses. This discount is available to owners, managers and staff of member businesses.
Note: If you would like to know how your business can be a part of the this Member to Member Benefit program please email Naomi at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the office at 250-368-3144.
Join the Trail & District Chamber of Commerce today!
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