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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2015)
6B COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL October 7, 2015 CHAMBER NEWSLETTER CHAMBER NEWS Note from the Director Just because you can’t assign a numeric value to something, that doesn’t mean it is worthless. Showing someone the value of something isn’t always easy to do. There are tangible values, and intangible values. Tangibles are usually easier to determine because they can be seen, held, and measured. Intangibles however, are much different. They often aren’t seen, they can’t be stacked, counted or touched and their value can be affected by emotion, perspective, past experiences, and countless other personal assessments. Still, one should never underestimate the value of the intangibles. After all, another word for value that can’t be measured is “priceless.” Chamber of Commerce membership has both tangible and intangible benefi ts. Directory listings, advertising, discounts, and low cost educational forums are all things that can be measured and valued. But who can determine the value of a referral source? What is “word of mouth advertising” worth? When you meet someone at an event and exchange business cards, how many people will they share it with? These questions are the plight that every chamber across the country must face when trying to show businesses the value of membership. Businesses become members of the Chamber of Commerce for all kinds of reasons. Some want to be listed in our directory, while some join because they want to network with other businesses so they can expand referral sources by building relationships around the community. Some businesses join the chamber simply out of a sense of civic duty because they know that the chamber supports the business community in a number of ways and they want to publicly state their support of those efforts through membership. Whatever the reason for joining, whether it’s the tangible or intangible benefi ts, the Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization whose purpose is to provide programs and services that are designed to help the business community thrive. Chambers of commerce provide a collective voice for the business community and help establish visibility and credibility for their members. Chamber advertising, event sponsorships and getting involved in committees like the Chamber Greeters can increase visibility and credibility but ultimately, as with any membership organization, it is up to the members to take advantage of the opportunities that lie within. If you don’t invest in the potential of your business, eventually there will be none. We appreciate and strongly encourage participation from all of our members. Those who want to know more about how to maximize their membership are encouraged to call our offi ce anytime and discuss their situation. Last, if you have an idea for a program or service that would be helpful to your business, please email suggestions to info@cgchamber.com. We are proud to serve the Cottage Grove business community and we hope you’ll encourage all of your friends in business to join and support the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. Look for your letter in the mail Letters will be sent to our members requesting that you review the listing information we have on fi le and make any corrections you want to occur in the new directory. In addition, the directory is another one of the ways we can help our members promote their businesses. As a chamber member you receive a free listing in our directory and have the opportunity to purchase advertising. Travis will be contacting you to discuss a variety of ways you can promote your business through the directory. Mark Your Calendars Now for Christmas in Cottage Grove! Plans are under way for this year’s Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting which will be held on Saturday, December 5th. Bundle up and join us for some family fun! To kick of the day, have breakfast with Santa at the Fire Station, take advantage of various merchant discounts, participate in a scavenger hunt, have your picture taken Travis Palmer, Executive Director, Cottage with Santa after the tree lighting ceremony, Grove Area Chamber of Commerce tour Dr. Snapp’s House on River Road and fi nd that special gift for someone on your shopping list at their annual bazaar. What a great way to start the Christmas season! Watch for a schedule of all the events in Chamber Membership Directory the coming months. We’re preparing for the publication Chamber Programs of our 2016 Membership Directory & Community Profi le. This publication Supporting Business is used to promote your Cottage Grove 1. Communication is a key element area business, recruit new businesses, for all businesses. The Chamber supports professionals, and attract new residents its members by keeping them up to date who appreciate the “Cottage Grove Life through e-mail alerts of upcoming events, Style”. 2000 directories are printed and legislative matters and fraud concerns. distributed to local businesses, hotels, the 2. Educational forums are another Visitor Information Booth and are included way that the chamber is supporting local in our relocation packets. When someone businesses. Through forums your business moves or visits the Cottage Grove area they can receive information on topics that want to know where to go for goods and impact businesses. We invite you to services. It is also an excellent reminder to learn something new by attending our “Shop Chamber Members First”. November forum: Shoestring Marketing For those of you who have thought about Techniques - Sponsored by Banner Bank membership, if you wish to be in next and the Cottage Grove Sentinel. year’s directory, now is the time to move No Money? No Problem. Do more with ahead with your plans to join the Chamber. less, the mantra of today’s business world. Participate in chamber membership and This class will share marketing strategies watch your marketing dollars stretch. To and methods that really work and are free or those of you who are already members, low cost. Marketing budgets are often the we thank you and hope you enjoy this fi rst to see cuts, yet are vital to the success great chamber benefi t! Please contact the of any business. We will help you develop chamber offi ce regarding your intent to a marketing plan that takes advantage of join so that we do not miss including your little known or underutilized marketing business in the 2016 publication. strategies. Join us November 4th from 6-8pm at LCC Cottage Grove Campus for this informative forum. This forum is free Member Benefi t Highlight- to Cottage Grove and Creswell Chamber members and $20 for non-members. Please RSVP to beth@cgchamber.com. 3. “Think Local Shop Cottage Grove”. As a chamber we strive to educate the community of the value of supporting our local merchants. The Gift Certifi cate program is one way we encourage shopping local. Purpose: 1. Promote shopping at CG Chamber Member businesses. 2. Support chamber members with dollars spent in Cottage Grove. This program makes gift giving easy while supporting local merchants and it promotes “Shop Chamber Members First.” Participating businesses to date are: Anytime Fitness Apothecaria Bochetto Day Spa Books on Main Boyce & Sons, Inc. Buster’s Main Street Café Cascade Home Center CG Habitat for Humanity D & D Automotive Dirtcheapcopies.com El Tapatio Lavender Field Embroidery Mangiano’s Pizzeria Dirtcheapcopies.com Pinocchio’s Pizza Rainy Peak Bicycles Safeway South Lane Wheels Territorial Seed Company The Bookmine The Espresso Bar’n The Flower Basket Universal Trucking Wal-Mart October Business After Hours Join us at PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center for this month’s Business after Hours on Thursday, October 15 from 5:30 – 7:00pm, in the Community Room. The evening will feature a tour of Life Flight, Provider meet & greet, and a fall themed photo shoot. Beer/wine will be served and catering is provided by New Dawn Bakery. Bring your business card to enter the door prize drawing, learn something new, and have some fun! Your attendance reinforces the spirit in which the Chamber provides these monthly activities. We look forward to seeing you there! Many thanks to those who support our efforts by attending this Chamber program. 2015 Chamber Board of Directors, Advisors and Staff Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce 700 E. Gibbs • Cottage Grove, OR info@cgchamber.com • www.cgchamber.com P. (541) 942-2411 • F. 888-832-2045 2015 Chamber Board of Directors: Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time, commitment, and service! Offi cers Tiffany Thackara, President Emerald Valley Resort Event Center Joe Raade, President Elect South Lane County Fire & Rescue Amanda Akers, Treasurer Commonwealth Financial Network Tim Wilson, Past President Universal Trucking Directors Lorraine Eriksen Sheri Henry Lindsay Laycock Linda Schmale Candace Solesbee Don Williams Rhonda Worley Cottage Grove Souvenirs Banner Bank Lindsay Laycock – Jim Downing Realty Retired, Past Board President Shampoo Dolls Salon Retired, Past Board President CJW, LLC Advisors Tim Herrmann Richard Meyers Mayor Tom Munroe Garrett Bridgens Darby Valley PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center City of Cottage Grove City of Cottage Grove South Lane School District Cottage Grove Community Acupuncture Visitor Center Volunteers: Heidi Abbott, Susan Jeppesen, Suzy Kanich, Sunny Kennedy, Donna Laney, Chieko Tomasulo, Jim Vander Platt, Judd Van Gorder, Sharon Van Gorder, Sherry Wendt , Penny Westling, Nolene Wheeler. Staff: Travis Palmer Beth Martin Jennifer Violette Executive Director Offi ce Manager Bookkeeper
