Mark Steele, Managing Member of The Title Professionals has been appointed as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for 2011. The following is a copy of his Chairman's Report for the Chamberlink for January 2011. We will try to post his reports as they are published. Remember to support your community and join the Chamber of Commerce.
2011 Offering A Season for Business Resolutions
When I joined the Chamber of Commerce ten years ago, I attended a new member orientation. One of the speakers compared joining the Chamber to joining a gym. You could send in your dues periodically and claim to be a member, but that strategy did not benefit very much. The other option would be to become actively involved in the many exercise activities that the gym offered to improve your health and realize the value of your investment. In this season of resolutions, I encourage you to become active in the Chamber to maximize your investment and improve your business’ health.
The Chamber is an organization of volunteers with a mission of facilitating economic growth in our region. Its roles include being a business advocate with the legislature and the community, providing educational opportunities to area business people and offering networking opportunities for members to interact with other area business people to market their goods and services.
What can you do?
Attend a Networking Event
Hundreds of members attend business after hours, chamber ribbon cuttings, and roundtables every month. These are excellent opportunities to connect with other business leaders, who may share much in common with you. Roundtables are offered in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford, with educational opportunities to learn more about business activity in our region. Business after hours and ribbon cuttings spotlight area businesses and provide excellent opportunities to meet new contacts and connect with prior contacts.
Join a Committee or a Council
Numerous opportunities are available to become active and share your skills with the Chamber. FredTech and the Military Affairs Council are organizations of members who share a common interest in technology or supporting the local defense industry. LeadShare meets periodically to share business leads with other members and promote each other businesses. Next Generation of Business Leaders provide professional growth, civic service and business networking opportunities for young professionals. Chamber Network of Enterprising Women offers businesswomen educational and networking opportunities.
Support Leadership Fredericksburg
Leadership Fredericksburg is a nine month program designed to provide leadership training to its participants. The program seeks a pool of highly qualified applicants each year, as well as mentors to help provide educational opportunities before, during and after the program. The program helps to ensure that we have a pool of strong candidates to assume leadership responsibilities in the community.
Recruit a New Member
The Chamber requires a steady of influx of new businesses to remain vibrant. Consider your business partners and inquire whether they are Chamber members. If not, encourage them to join and become active in this great organization. Some of our best membership leads come from members just like you.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2011. I encourage you to find ways to use the Chamber to maximize your investment and improve your business. Get involved, share your talents and watch how it helps your business. If you have any questions or how to get started, contact any of the staff or board members on the opposite page. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Chamber Gala on January 28.
