Think of the Chamber as a glass of milk

For a long time now, how the Chamber has welcomed new members has needed improvement. Most of the time, I am embarrassed to say, new members didn't receive much of a welcome. They learned about how the Chamber could help them in a piecemeal fashion. Not anymore.

Imagine a tall and icy cold glass of fresh foamy creamy milk (forget skim!) from a brown Guernsey that eats only the best and purest grass. Stick a straw in that glass. Now sip it all down, down, down to the very last drop of cream. Slurp it all up till you have a mustache of milk on your upper lip. That’s what I want you to do to the Chamber. Slurp up everything we have to offer you to promote your business.

Pardon me while I channel Peter Pan. After I read through just what the Arlington Chamber has to offer you, I gotta crow (especially now that we have a Welcome New Member packet chock full of tips and information to give everyone). The Arlington Chamber has a lot to offer. Whether you have just joined or have been a member for a while, take advantage of us. Please!

So without further ado, just in case you haven’t slurped to the last drop, grab your straw. Here are just the first 14 ways to slurp us up:

1) Chamber Connections Weekly Ezine: (powered by Constant Contact). You write it and
format it using our Style Sheet and the Chamber will print it (reserving right to edit, of course). As of May, members will receive the ezine on Tuesdays. Deadline: preceding Friday. This is the ONLY way you can reach every Chamber member by email since we NEVER EVER share, rent or sell our email list. Ezine sections include: Arlington Wins All Around, Critical Knowledge, Snapshot, Chamber Connections, Good News to Share, Special Offers , Constant Contact Showcase, FYI-Members w/ News to Share , Welcome New Members, Chamber Member Events, Non-Profit News. . .

2) Two free networking events: To help you get involved, your first two events as a new member are on us!

3) Let us introduce you: Is there someone in the Chamber you’d like to meet? Then let us know and we will introduce you. Plus, at most after-hours events, we have a list of registered attendees on the badge table. Look it over and we will make sure you meet the person(s) you wish to meet.

4) Chamber Promo: A members-only exclusive powered by The Computer Cafe—a continuous Powerpoint loop appearing on a 32-inch wide screen, promoting your business during most after-hour events. Send the Chamber your logo (jpg), a tagline and URL and we will keep them on file.

5) Introduce Yourself: At most breakfast seminars, attendees have the opportunity to introduce themselves and say something brief about their business. You’ll also leave with a contact sheet.

6) Constant Contact: If you use Constant Contact for your email campaigns, you can save up to 25% when you elect to prepay your subscription. You can benefit from the savings when you either sign up for a 60-day free trial and then subscribe or when you renew your subscription.

7) Constant Contact Showcase: Use the “forward to a friend” feature and send us an example of one of your email campaigns and we will add an image (and a link to your site) on this webpage.

8) Website banners: A members-only exclusive—the Chamber can now add your web banner to its website, www.arlcc.org, which includes a member photo with business name. Banners appear randomly on the site, changing when the site’s visitor clicks to a new page. (See details in packet.) Banners will be added monthly.

9) Group rate health insurance: The Chamber offers members group rates for health insurance. Please call the Chamber for more details. In addition, there is a program administered by the Commonwealth that subsidizes health insurance (based on income) for self-employed business owners and those with 2-9 employees. For more details, visit www.4ip.org to download a pdf application.

9) Boston Business Journal: Receive 4 free issues when you use the BBJ certificate in your packet.

10) Chamber Postal Mailing List: Reach out to members with a direct (postal) mail campaign. Once the Chamber approves your mailing, you’ll have access to the Chamber's mailing list for free. Choose to receive the addresses on labels on in an excel spreadsheet.

11) SCORE: Why travel to Boston when you can meet with 1 of our 3 counselors right here in town?

12) Supreme Chamber connecting, creative brainstorming, PR acumen and enthusiastic advocacy at your service: Ask your fellow members how the Chamber has helped promote their businesses to the media and to their peers. Now you can enjoy that access too!

13) Shop Arlington First: The Chamber promotes shopping local first. Its gift certificate program has sold more than $70,000 in gift certificates and more than 60% of them have already been redeemed.

14) Arlington Wins All Around: The Chamber’s new recruitment program can put SA1st dollars in your pocket!

Start slurping!