Business Referrals to visitors

6 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, January 31, 2020 Chamber membership has many benefits

1. Display of brochures and business cards in our lobby and at our Information Center in Darby. 2. Rotating business to business referrals. Chamber members like to shop with Chamber members. 3. Listing in the Chamber Membership Directory. Many of our members look in the Membership Directory before the standard phone issue telephone directory. This is an excellent way of networking and shopping local. 4. Chamber sponsored business seminars. The Chamber hosts seminars designed specifically for our Chamber members to better help you operate, manage and expand your business. 5. Ribbon Cuttings. As a new member, you’re entitled to have a ribbon cutting at your place of business when you join the Chamber. You can also have a Ribbon Cutting for a new location or remodel. 6. Attendance to the annual Membership Barbeque. Every year the Chamber hosts a free picnic for our members and their families. 7. Chamber Monthly Luncheons. Every month the Chamber hosts a Community Luncheon up and down the valley. Businesses are invited to attend and bring along a guest. This is an opportunity for you to let us know what is going on with your business as well as your community. 8. Business Referrals to visitors and phone traffic. Our office staff and volunteers greet thousands of visitors every year and not all of them are tourists. In addition, they field thousands of telephone calls inquiring about businesses in the valley. Chamber members are always referred first. 9. Business After Hours. This is a great way for you to network with other businesses, meet

people and hand out business cards. Our Business After Hours are hosted by our Ambassadors. 10. Free event driven membership emails. If your business is hosting an event for the community or having a grand opening etc. you will receive a free email blast to our entire membership, listed in our calendar of events and posted on our Facebook Page. 11.Free Chamber website listing. Our website gets a tremendous amount of traffic every month. As a member you are listed on our website in the membership directory. 12. Committee participation. As a member you are welcome to attend and be a part of our committees in action. We have a listing of various committees where you can participate. 13. Leads Group Participation. This group is made up of dif

Photo MICHELLE MCCONNAHA The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce office and visitor center is located at 105 East Main Street in Hamilton.

ferent types of businesses that meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. 14. Listing in the “Chamber Recommends” brochure. Since we have so many different types of businesses inquiries, we have published a few ‘categorized’ brochures of our larger categories. Real Estate, Contractors/ Builders, Restaurants and Lodging are the four we have in our office. 15. Hospitality bags. These are a favorite among people who are visiting our valley and are here for a convention, tournament or other events. The Chamber helps promote our valley by helping organizations with an assortment of various coupons, brochures or novelty items that welcome visitors to our valley and encourage their business. 16. If you are reading this article then you are receiving one of the benefits of being a Chamber member. Our Chamber Banquet is held every year to recognize and award Chamber Businesses for their outstanding contribution to our valley.

These are some of the benefits of being a Chamber member. Think about them and realize the many opportunities for your buiness. There are also effective advertising opportunities that you can purchase to help enhance your business awareness.

2020 Committees & Events Ambassadors Chair: Dr. Lucas Pernsteiner, Bitterroot Chiropractic.

Purpose: To act as the social arm of the Chamber. Organize banquets, ribbon cuttings and Business After Hours.

Government Affairs Chair: Fred Thomas, PayneWest Insurance and Teri Polumsky, By Owner Real Estate.

Purpose: To monitor and interpret federal, state, county and city legislation that would affect our valley either positively or negatively.

26th Annual Microbrew Festival

Saturday, July 25, 2020 Chair: Darrell Holland and Troy Robertson

Purpose: To create a gathering for family and friends to enjoy great food, music, ciders, wines and microbrews throughout the northwest.

Leadership Bitterroot Chair: Pat Easley Purpose: A 9 month program designed to educate and groom Potential leaders within our Bitterroot communities. Leads Chair: Rachel Kramer, Rachel Kramer Insurance and Jasmyne Myrick, AFLAC.

Purpose: To increase business through a structured system of receiving and giving leads with other oriented business people. Natural Resources Chair: Pat Connell. Purpose: To investigate resource issues and how they affect our economics and the quality of life. Tourism & Marketing Purpose: To promote tourism as an industry for further economic development and implement projects that support the goal of establishing the Bitterroot Valley as a tourist destination.

Basketball Tournaments Chair: Al Mitchell, Bitterroot Valley Chamber

2020 Basketball Tournament: February, 27 through 29, Western B Boys and Girls.

Purpose: To create awareness of the Bitterroot Valley by hosting tournaments in the valley.

For Information on any of the committees contact the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce. Other Program s/Event s Ravalli County Fair Parade Organized by the current graduating Leadership Bitterroot Class. Wednesday, August 26th, 2020, 10am

Chamber Annual Membership Barbeque

A gathering to say thank you to our members. September 2020 Annual 115th Awards Banquet

February 2021 at the Bitterroot River Inn

Guest Training Seminar Super Host Training gearing toward tourism and customer service. May 2020 / FREE and open to the public

Leadership Bitterroot Lecture Series

An educational speaker lecture series organized by Leadership Bitterroot – check with the Bitterroot Chamber for upcoming speakers.

Ribbon Cuttings/Business After Hours Events Events which highlights certain Chamber Businesses so they are able to share with the communities what they have to offer. Check with the Bitterroot Chamber for upcoming events.

Business Banking ur ertips! Download the App oday. Business Banking at you Fingert Download the App Today. Saf e . Secur e . Instant! Business Mobi l e

Farmers State Bank www.farmersebank.com Member FDIC Farmers State Bank

Your Montana Bank Since 1907 Local Commercial & Mortgage Loan Approvals!