Reach 3,500 Decision Makers with New Chamber "Virtual" Advantage
We're going green! The  Roanoke Regional Chamber has replaced the Chamber Advantage mailing program with a virtual Web site and e-mail service. Members may use this direct e-mail marketing tool to promote products, services, advertisements, events and much more. For only $50 per month, members provide a pdf version flyer of their promotion and it will be posted on the Chamber's Web site and a direct link and brief description will be e-mailed to the Chamber's 3,500 member contacts. Your promotion is shared with all our members and Web site visitors for an entire month for only pennies per contact!  Sign up today for the April e-mailing on April 15. For more information on this exciting new program or to register, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Business and Technology Expo with Special VIP Night - April 20
SAVE THE DATE! Promote your company and services to the Roanoke Region, including more than 3,500 Chamber contacts and 1,000 potential customers.  The theme of the 2010 Business and Technology Expo is "How Do I..?" Learn how to use social media, put together a successful business loan package, and network effectively to grow your business and contacts. Three "how to" seminars will be held during the Expo. Tuesday, April 20, noon - 4 PM with VIP Night following at 5 to 7 PM, Roanoke Civic Center's Special Events Center. Exhibit spaces are still available! Sponsored by: Roanoke Civic Center, Encore Catering by Ovations Food Services, SunTrust Banks, FastTraining.org, WFIR AM 960, Photoworks Creative Group, Walters Printing & Manufacturing Co., Cox Business, The Homestead, and The Pepsi Bottling Group.   For more information or to register, contact Courtney at 983.0700 x231 or cpatterson@roanokechamber.org.

Join the Dialogue at Roanoke Regional Forum - April 27 
Nationally know author and economist Todd Buchholz, author of Market Shock, will be the guest speaker at the next Roanoke Regional Forum. Tuesday, April 27, Jefferson Center - Fitzpatrick Hall. A reception will begin at 5:30 PM and the lecture will start at 6 PM. Visit Roanoke Regional Forum for more information.  Register online, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or e-mail business@roanokechamber.org for more information.

An Introduction to Exporting - May 5 
You've heard about the support for exporting given at the highest levels in government, from President Obama to Governor McDonnell. Their basic message is exporting creates and retains American jobs and it's good for America and for Virginia. Find out more about exporting at this three-hour interactive session on the fundamentals of exporting. Wednesday, May 5, 9 AM - noon, Roanoke Higher Education Center. Free of charge but preregistration for seminar is required. Sponsored by: Virginia Economic Development Partnership, County of Roanoke, and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. To preregister, call Ralph Torning at 434.582.5182 or e-mail rtorning@yesvirginia.org, or fill out registration form and fax to 434.582.5184. 

Are You Taking Advantage of Member-to-Member Discounts?
Planning special sales or promotions this year? Have services or hot deals you would like to offer to Roanoke Regional Chamber members only? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post sales, deals and members-only promotions on the Chamber's Web site at www.roanokechamber.org. This month member-to-member discounts are being offered to help save Roanoke Regional Chamber members money at the fuel pump and more . For instructions on how to use this new members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

It's All About Connections - Connect For Lunch
Are you looking for a new way to meet people and grow your business? What if you could get to know between three to six new people each month? Really get to know them over lunch, not just a quick hand shake and exchange of business cards. Would you be interested? If you are, Connect For Lunch may be just what you're looking for. Connect For Lunch is one of the Roanoke Regional Chamber's most popular networking programs. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to go to lunch in a small group with other Chamber members at local restaurants. For more information or to register, visit www.connectforlunch.com/roanokechamber or www.roanokechamber.org and check out Connect For Lunch.

Post Your Events Fast and Free on Community Calendar
Planning special events this spring? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post events on the Community Calendar at www.roanokechamber.org.  For instructions on how to use this free, members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Thousands Benefit from Rapid Referrals
The Chamber provided 14,369 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of March. The Chamber is promoting member businesses to more than 150 people per day through the online directory. Are you getting your share of referrals from this no-cost member benefit? Check your listing at www.roanokechamber.org - click on "Find Area Businesses." To add a free 20-word business description to your online listing, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or send your 20 word (140 characters) profile to business@roanokechamber.org.

What People Are Saying About Your Roanoke Regional Chamber
Your membership in the Roanoke Regional Chamber offers many outstanding opportunities to network and acquire new leads to grow your business.  Richard Key with Dunmar Moving Systems  commented on the Business After Hours held on March 31 at the Vinton War Memorial by saying: "I'd rather be riding my bicycle on this nice day, but I had to come to this event because it was so great last year!" Make sure you are taking full advantage of the networking opportunities offered by the Chamber.  For more information on the upcoming networking events and opportunities, contact Courtney at 983.0700 x231 or cpatterson@roanokechamber.org.

Save the Dates for These Upcoming Chamber Events
Mark your calendar and plan to attend:
May 13: Business After Hours at The Roanoke Roanoke & Conference Center
June 8: Economic Summit VI at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
August 23-24: Roanoke Regional Chamber Cup Golf Tournament at Hunting Hills Country Club
October 5: 24th Annual Small Business Awards at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
December 2: 121st Annual Meeting of the Membership at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

Business Basics - April 13
Need some guidance on how to start your own business? Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Tuesday, April 13, 4 - 6 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $10/person. Preregistration required by Monday, April 12. Sponsored by: Business SEED Capital, Inc., BB&T, Cox Business, and City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority.  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Boosting Employee Motivation and Morale - April 14
Do you wish your employees showed motivation and excitement for their work each day? Learn what employees want from their job and how to create a work environment where employees are highly motivated and achieve peak performance. Presented by Charlotte Mason of The Advantage Resource Group, Inc. Wednesday, April 14, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber Boardroom. Cost: $25/person. Prepayment and preregistration required. Sponsored by: Advantage Resource Group. For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online, or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Publications

Get Connected with the Region's Business Leaders
Call today to reserve your advertisement space in the 2010 second quarter issue of Business Connections. Invest your advertising dollars in the only quarterly, full-color magazine targeted specifically at the region's business leaders. Of Business Connection's regular readers, 83 percent are business decision makers and 66 percent are CEOs, executives, or top-level managers. If you market to business, you need to be a part of Business Connections. For ad rates and information, contact Bonnie Brown  at RP Publishing at 772.1868 or bonnie@rppublisher.com.

Membership in Action

Save Your Business $$$ at the Pump
It's a fact, as the temperatures rise so do prices at the fuel pump and that's been money off your bottom line ... until now. With a new program offered specifically to you our Chamber members, you can take back control by locking in your own price per gallon for a specified period of time. Don't be subjected to the volatility of the market any longer.  Call Kenn Penn with ChamberSolutions at 800.924.3543 x502 or visit www.chambermemberbenefits.com/fuellock and put that extra money that's going into the pump back in to your business.

Thank You Sheraton Roanoke
The Chamber Ambassadors would like to thank the Sheraton Roanoke for hosting their March meeting. Ambassadors visited 52 fellow members during the month of March to discuss their membership investment and issues that concern their business. Please welcome them when they call. 

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE



BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) offers full-service commercial and retail banking and additional financial services such as insurance, investments, retail brokerage, corporate finance, asset management and trust. We strive to help our clients achieve economic success and financial security; create a workplace where employees can learn and grow; optimize long-term rewards for our shareholders; and help improve our home communities.