News
Administrative Professionals Day
Luncheon on April 21
Dr. Constance Glass, OB/GYN with Cumberland Valley Women's Group, an affiliate of Summit Health, and also serves as Medical Director for Summit Aesthetic Center will be the guest speaker at the Greencastle Antrim Chamber of Commerce Administrative Professional's Day.
Join Dr. Glass as she discusses treatments to repair and renew skin damage.
You'll learn how to restore the health of your skin with products and services designed to restore skin's youthful appearance. Explore the world of Botox and Restlyn. Dr. Glass will also discuss advanced acne treatments and thermage -- a cosmetic treatment that uses radio waves to minimize wrinkles and repair damaged skin.
April 21
Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Mrs. Gibble’s Candies & Restaurant
7325 Molly Pitcher Highway, Greencastle
Sponsored by: Summit Health
Speaker: Dr. Constance Glass, OB?GYN at Cumberland Valley Women’s Group, Medical Director for Summit Aesthetic Center
Topic: Rejuvenate and Renew
Reservations required
Contact: Chamber, 717-597-4610;
info@greencastlepachamber.org
2010 Greencastle-Antrim
Chamber of Commerce Business Plan
By Joel Fridgen
A business plan is a necessity for any business or non-profit organization. Your board of directors developed a plan for 2010 in February. In August the board will develop a 3 year plan upon which the 2011 goals will be based. It is appropriate to share highlights of the 2010 plan.
There are 2 goals in the plan. The first is to build on a value proposition for membership. The second is to improve the Chambers cash flow. This article will focus on the first goal.
The Chamber must bring a value proposition for its members. Four ways this will be accomplished include: enhancing the program of activities; assisting in business growth or cost savings; enhancing our website functionality; and being a resource for business development in the area. As your executive director, I am committed to meeting with members individually to identify current and emerging trends to bring increasing value.
A challenge every business faces is evaluating expenses. Is a chamber membership worth it? In an ideal world annual chamber dues renewal would be seen as a valid and necessary expense. There are direct and indirect benefits of membership.
I recently met with one of our members who said, “To get the full value of membership a person has to become involved directly, or other people from their company need to participate in some Chamber activities.” This is true. Some businesses simply want the good will that comes with chamber membership and have conflicting schedules that restrict participation. Others see value in the literature displayed at the chamber office and getting access to new residences and businesses being set up in the borough or township. Some want to take advantage of programs that are only offered as a result of chamber membership.
Chamber members can help each other take advantage of a built in base of customers. I have become acutely aware that the business transactions each chamber member can leverage toward other chamber members does make a difference. Am I going to patronize another chamber member? I hope the answer is yes! While we can’t force anyone to buy based on membership, our chamber directory is intended to accomplish that very thing. Given that product, or service needs are met, basing buying decisions on chamber membership is of mutual value. When a business owner can be involved in a Chamber network that will draw people to their company, then more growth can and does occur.
We should continue to work together as members of the Chamber to support and patronize each other for mutual sales growth. This is why it is also important that we become familiar with the products and services individual members offer through self promotion in our directory, breakfasts, open house/mixers, and other promotional efforts.
Heritage Christmas would not exist without a Chamber. Sidewalk Days would not exist. Every business or individual helps to support these and other events by their chamber membership. They recognize that Chamber activities generate a quality of life for the residences of Greencastle-Antrim. For businesses to start, or relocate to our area, heritage and quality of life is a factor in decision making. Business development creates jobs and new prospects for every business in our community. When there is no business development, the whole community feels the impact. Instead of growing larger the pie gets smaller. It becomes more difficult to operate a viable business.
When a business joins a Chamber it is an investment in future sales and future growth. The Chamber of Commerce does things that no single business could do for the same cost as a membership fee.
Studies have shown consumers are more attracted to a Chamber of Commerce member than a non-member. We intend to leverage this to enhance the value of chamber membership in the future. Chamber membership represents a favorable brand in the eyes of a consumer. As a resident, why would you purchase a product or service from a business who is not contributing to the quality of life in the community? Our task is to make this evident to members and prospects during 2010.