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