| Member Information
ADVERTISING & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Membership Directory/Community Profile/Business Planner:
This colorful ring bound publication is the information guide widely used by area
businesspeople with 1500 copies distributed throughout the area. It contains a wealth
of information about the difference your Chamber of Commerce and its divisions are
making in the Minot area. The alphabetical listing by company name and the classified
categorical listings are available only to Chamber members, providing high visibility
to potential customers. Advertising is available to members only.
Community Profile: This
publication is a part of the Membership Directory distributed to Chamber members. 2000
additional copies of the Profile are printed and distributed to newcomers to the
community, used as recruiting guides for local employers and included in the military
relocation packets. Advertising is available to members only.
Internet Exposure: Packed
with community and business assistance information, the Chamber's website address
minotchamber.org includes information and links to a multitude of community and area
resources. It also includes such features as job listings, the community calendar and
features a chamber member, twice monthly detailing their business. The Chamber website
currently logs over 20,000 page view hits per month, providing Minot area information
and referrals to Chamber member businesses. It also includes a searchable directory of
our members, providing them FREE worldwide exposure. Members may also hyperlink to
their own home page and email address FREE.
Communicator: The
Chamber's monthly newsletter "Communicator" is mailed to 1500 area business professionals
throughout the area. Four times each year (March, June, September and December) it is
inserted in the Minot Daily News, with a distribution of nearly 17,000. The
"Communicator" features Chamber and community information and event updates; business
and legislative issues overviews and much more. New members are profiled and all
members can promote their business through news announcements and affordable broad
exposure display advertising.
Communicator Inserts:
Chamber members can have their proprietary ad inserted in the Communicator and
distributed to over 1500 of their best prospects for a fraction of the cost of postage
alone.
Minot Map: The Chamber
publishes a Minot city and Minot Air Force Base map with a distribution of over 10,000
every 12-15 months. Display advertising is available to Chamber members only.
Member Sponsorships: High
visibility and advertising value is offered to members who sponsor a Chamber event or
program, such as Business After Hours, golf events, and much more.
Business After Hours: Held
at different Chamber member businesses from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., these networking events
bring together a large cross section of the business community (150-250 average attendance)
and have become a strong resource for making contact with both current and prospective
clients. Mark your calendar to attend the next event!
Showcase of Business:
Each November 60+ booths are made available to showcase products and services to over
1700 other businesspeople at this trade show held at the State Fair Center. This
evening event is a unique opportunity for businesses to market to a captive audience.
Participating exhibitors and sponsors are also featured in much pre and post event
publicity, providing them additional exposure and advertising value.
Chamber University:
Chamber University means that chamber members do not have to leave home for top training
opportunities. This series of comprehensive training workshops is conducted September
through May and addresses topics vital to business success and the community. These
professionally conducted and informative seminars assist businesses to become more
successful by addressing "How to" topics and issues affecting the business community.
Recent topics have included "Protecting Your Employees", "Drug Free Workplace", the
Dale Carnegie Course, Media Relations Communications, Supervision & Leadership and many
more to come.
New Member Reception:
Special reception are held to welcome all of the new Chamber members, allow them to
introduce themselves and promote their business, and network with other new members
and the Board of Directors.
Committees: The Chamber
of Commerce is made up of committees and task forces. Members may participate in any
of our active and dynamic groups that cover a wide range of interests: Agribusiness,
Ambassadors, Business Recognition, Community Leadership Institute, Diplomats,
Education, Governmental Affairs, Infrastructure, Junior Achievement, Military Affairs,
Project CLEAN, Right Start, and Technology Expo.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Mailing Labels: A complete
set of labels for direct-mailing information to the 1500 member database of the Chamber
is available to members for a nominal fee of just ten cents per label and you can
customize the list to your needs. This allows you to develop your own extensive database
of business prospects at a fraction of the cost of doing it yourself!
Military Relocation Packet Referral Service:
Three times a year the Chamber provides community information to Minot Air Force Base
Family Support Services. That information is provided in packets that the Family
Support Services sends to all Air Force personnel relocating to MAFB. The packets
welcome the new military personnel and help them become familiar with the area. Only
Chamber members can have their promotional brochures included in the packet.
Chamber Bucks Program:
In 1993 the Chamber of Commerce started using "Chamber Bucks" (a community gift
certificate) to reward volunteer service or serve as prizes at Chamber sponsored
activities. Many businesses in Minot also purchase "Chamber Bucks" to give to their
employees and customers. When a business receives a Chamber Buck, they just honor the
Chamber Buck at face value and either refund or collect additional cash for any difference
between the purchase price and the face value of the Chamber Bucks.
Tax Deductible:
Membership dues investments are tax deductible as an ordinary business expense.
Advocate for Business:
The Chamber is the voice of the business community in local, county, and state issues,
representing the business community in problem solving, promoting economic development,
regional tourism, etc. For example, the Chamber:
- is in favor of all efforts of NAWS and its plan for an adequate Northwest Area Water Supply,
- recognizes the importance of a model for regional economic development planning and is formulating future economic development efforts,
- promotes economic development local issues like the one cent sales tax,
- spearheads Minot Air Force Base retention efforts,
- supports an intermodal facility that would increase transportation effectiveness,
- expanded the Junior Achievement Program with Minot Area Public Schools to include 160 classrooms,
- recognized 6 to 12 "Eagle Award Winners" monthly for superior customer service and quarterly one to two "Above and Beyond" business community service award recipients
- continues to work closely with the Convention and Visitors Bureau in promoting area tourism.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS
The Chamber sponsors (or actively participates) in many
programs and special events:
- Community Leadership Institute
- Annual City Wide Clean Up (Project CLEAN)
- Above and Beyond Awards
- Eagle Awards
- Annual Meeting/Luncheon
- Golfing Events (2 with the military, one with Ag producers)
- Chamber Honors Banquet (for outstanding H.S. graduates)
- Ag Neighbors Day
- Multiple Military Affairs events including:
- Annual International Military Ball
- Honorary Commanders Program
- Sportsmen's Feed
- Quarterly Awards
- Sports Day Picnic
- Prairie Warrior Competition Auction
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has acknowledged the excellence of the Minot
Area Chamber of Commerce by the designation of "Accredited Chamber." This is granted
to only 5% of all Chambers in the Nation and your Chamber has earned and maintained
this distinction for 11 years.
|
