TERRE HAUTE —
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is off to a great start for its 100th anniversary year. In January, more than 160 of our members attended our lunch with Mayor Duke Bennett to receive a city update. Just a few days ago, we had a sellout crowd of more than 190 members attending the 2013 Groundhog Day Economic Forecast. The turnouts and involvement of our members signal a great beginning to 2013.
Additionally, the participation and response help us follow one of our values:
n We value representing the needs of businesses by creating and supporting growth opportunities, education and training, providing regular communication, serving as advocates and providing opportunities for social interaction.
And to start to initiate and fulfill our first strategic initiatives:
n Member Retention and Growth — We will provide educational programs and seminars including the BIZ Series. We will promote business development opportunities and partner with SCORE, SBA and SBDC to serve the business community. We will regularly communicate with our members and conduct monthly events to continue to promote member networking and greater visibility for the Chamber.
As we went through the planning process we realized we needed to answer the question “When does the Chamber meet?” We discussed it at length and decided to commit to have one membership breakfast, one membership lunch and one Business After Hours per quarter. The mayor’s lunch and the Groundhog Day breakfast got us off to a tremendous start. Our first Business After Hours will be a March Madness networking event at the Ballyhoo.
As is indicated by the strategic initiative, everything starts with being a member; to use a well-known phrase “membership has its privileges.” The members, as the owners and stockholders of the corporation, provide not only the leadership but also earn the dividends membership provides.
In order to also provide opportunities for our members to promote their businesses and to provide networking opportunities, also helping to fulfill our first strategic initiative, the staff has developed a yearly calendar of events and created a 2013 Sponsorship and Marketing Opportunities Guide.
The calendar provides monthly BIZ Series Seminars (January’s was “Beyond the Fiscal Cliff) to help educate our members on critical business issues. Quarterly we will also provide our Power Hour Networking sessions. Twice a year we will be doing speed networking sessions.
We are adding a Business Recognition Week in April and will continue our Golf Tournament in May and the Terre Haute Gala in June. Also in May will be our “Indy 500” BAH. We will be doing a BAH at a Terre Haute REX game sometime in July.
Of course our biggest event of the year will be our 100th Annual Meeting in August. We hope to be announcing the speaker in the next few weeks. We will be doing an Education Breakfast in September, a Heroes/Public Servant Lunch in October and a Non-Profit Recognition Breakfast in November. We will end the year in December with the ever popular Schmooza Palooza BAH in December.
As you can see, we have taken the value and the strategic initiative to heart. If you would like more information on membership or involvement with these opportunities please contact the Chamber office – 812-232-2391 or email us at memberinfo@terre
hautechamber.com.
Business
KEN BRENGLE: Chamber promotes business growth
- Business
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Newsmakers: May 12, 2013
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On the Move: May 12, 2013
Stacey Joseph, a realtor in Terre Haute, has earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
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Construction firm holding grand opening in Marshall on Friday
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AP Source: Subaru to expand Indiana plant
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ISU set to offer financial planning program in 2014
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Newsmaker: May 5, 2013
Gov. Mike Pence announced the appointment of Jessica Robertson to commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration, a role she will begin on Wednesday.
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U.S. Postal Service opens village office in Worthington
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How consistent is your business?
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Good time to try Spanish online service
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First Financial’s net income up 3 percent
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Curtain goes up on new theater owner
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Indiana Theatre SOLD!
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Rob Lundstrom, who owns the Copper Bar and Louise’s, took possession of the historic downtown theatre on April 25. -
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Vectren Corp. awards $2.3 million in grants
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Hard work, good attitude produces success
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On the move: April 28, 2013
Old National Bank has promoted Howard Mills to vice president, mortgage loan originator.
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Newsmakers: April 28, 2013
Lenise Kohlway of Spencer was presented with the WorkOne Achievement Award last week for overcoming several employment barriers and pursuing a better life for herself.
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