Reach 3,500 Decision Makers with New Chamber "Virtual" Advantage
We're going green! Beginning this month, the  Roanoke Regional Chamber is replacing 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 March e-mailing on March 15. For more information on this exciting new program or to register, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Business After Hours - A Taste of the Region - March 31
Come and experience a taste of the region as local caterers and restaurants 202 Market, Blue Ridge Catering and Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy show why eating in the Roanoke Region is where it's at!  Guests will also have the opportunity to network, have fun, and grow your business with 350+ attendees. Wednesday, March 31, Vinton War Memorial, 814 Washington Ave., Vinton. Cost:$5/members, $15/non-members. Admission includes one beverage ticket, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and the chance to win great door prizes. Sponsorships and exhibit spaces are now available! Sponsored by: BB&T, Vinton War Memorial, Blue Ridge Catering, Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy,  202 Market, Creative Occasions Florals & Fine Gifts, and WFIR AM960.  For more information or to register, contact Courtney at 540.983.0700 x231 or cpatterson@roanokechamber.org.

2010 Legislative Wrap Up Breakfast - April 1
Discover how the new laws and budget cuts made during the 2010 General Assembly Session will impact your business. Thursday, April 1, 7:30 - 9 AM, Holiday Inn - Valley View. Cost: $17/members; $27.50/non-members, includes breakfast buffet. Sponsored by Verizon, Appalachian Power and Lanford Brothers. For more information or to register, contact Judy at 983.0700 x221, e-mail business@roanokechamber.org, or register online.

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. Sponsorships and exhibit spaces are available! Sponsored by: Roanoke Civic Center, Encore Catering by Ovations Food Services, 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 6:30 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.

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 for $25 off your office supplies order with OfficeMax, and much 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 9,559 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of February. 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.  Jeff Smith, president of The Titan Group, praised the different networking events offered by the Chamber at a recent "Coffee with the President" event by saying: "I appreciate the variety of networking opportunities provided by the Chamber, including the Connect For Lunch program and  Business After Hours." 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.

2010 Census: It's Time to Be Counted
It's time to be counted. The 2010 census questionnaire is on its way! Look for it. Fill it out. Mail it back. Help your community. April 1, 2010 is Census Day. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to your home in March. The 2010 Census is safe, easy and important. Your participation is vital to your community. Census numbers are used to reapportion congressional seats, redraw legislative districts and distribute over $400 billion in federal funds yearly. All personal census information is confidential by federal law.  For more information, visit 2010census.gov. 

Save the Dates for These Upcoming Chamber Events
Mark your calendar and plan to attend:
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 - March 9
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, March 9, 4 - 6 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $10/person. Preregistration required by Monday, March 8. 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, or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Guerrilla Marketing - New & Improved - March 30
Guerrilla Marketing is not just monkey business!. Learn simple and inexpensive marketing techniques that will keep you ahead of your competition without eating into your profits. Presented by Lynda Foster, director of FastTraining.org and Tom Tanner, certified Guerrilla Marketing coach. Tuesday, March 30, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber Boardroom. Cost: $25/person. Prepayment and preregistration required by Friday, March 26. Sponsored by: FastTraining.org and Synergy Sessions. For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, 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

BIG Savings from OfficeMax
Need to save a little cash on office supplies this quarter? Download this Chamber member exclusive phone-in coupon worth $25 off an OfficeMax order of $100 or more. Simply call 1.800.248.6343, and have your Chamber's account number ready (located in the upper right hand corner of the coupon.) An OfficeMax Customer Service representative will guide you through the rest of the ordering process. If you have any questions along the way, call Loree Peele in our member benefits department at 757.664.2523 or toll free 1.800.924.3543 x540.

Thank You Cafe on Franklin
The Chamber Ambassadors would like to thank the Cafe on Franklin for hosting their February meeting. Ambassadors visited 24 fellow members during the month of February to discuss their membership investment and issues that concern their business. Please welcome them when they call. 

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE


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