One of the things you can count on at this Chamber is connecting; when you want to meet someone, we make it happen. When you need to find someone who performs a particular service or sells a particular product, the Chamber can steer you in the right direction more often than not.
Now if you can, will you introduce me? I’d like personal introductions to the owners of the Arlington Diner and Broadway Diner in the East and Classic Cafe in the Heights. I have a business proposition for them. It’s a proposition that bagels by US and Sweet Sue’s Bakery and Café are already enthused about. I’ll fill you in when my ducks—I mean, my coffee cups—are all in a row.
If you can make the introduction, I’d love to hear from you by email or by phone at 781.643.4600!
Five Chamber resolutions for 2009
Here is what I’d like to help make happen for the Chamber this year.
1) Do whatever I can to eradicate email addresses that look like these:
2) Do whatever I can to persuade Chamber members to replace them with email addresses that look like this:
name@websitename.com, eg.
Anyone whose site is hosted, gets at least one complimentary email address as part of the deal. It will take no more than 20 minutes (if that!) to set it up. With that one change you say volumes about how you perceive your business: that you take your business seriously, that your business has its own identity and that you understand the power of consistent branding when your email address matches your business website.
3) Make sure I carry my business cards with me when I am on the job.
After all, I’m in the business of connecting. Shame on me when I come up empty handed. Every time I don’t have one to share, I weaken that connection and I appear unprofessional.
Here’s my promise: If you ask me for a business card and I don’t have one with me, I’ll put a $1.00 into a jar on my desk. When it reaches $20, I’ll make a donation to the Arlington Food Pantry. Anyone else who’d like to make the same challenge?
4) Try this again: request lots more of jpgs like this one from ACMI to add to the Chamber website. Isn't it great that you can see the staff in front of their sign?
The first time around when I asked for jpgs, I goofed and called them web banners. I discovered that “banner” implied “ad” to those who submitted jpgs. Mark Rizzo of Tall Tree Guild gave it a better name: web photo. That's what I want: jpgs of real people not jpgs of products or logos or tag lines. It's people that personalize the website, that engage visitors and help members put a face to a name.
5) Be out of the office more than I’m in the office.
It’s easier for me to go to members than it is for members to come to the office. The Chamber is striving to be more flexible, responsive and visible. And the Chamber's Board thinks this is a meaningful place to start. That’s why you will see a change in our office hours. In the New Year, you’ll always be able to count on
Five resolutions are enough, I think!
Chamber Connections Ezine
December 30 will be the last newsletter of 2008. As you may have noticed the Chamber has moved from publishing weekly to every other weekly. For those of you who submit time-sensitive news or events for Chamber Connections, you’ll need to be thinking ahead and make sure I have it in time.
