THE SOURCE
Volume 26 Issue 2 February 2010

February Membership Meeting:
Small Business Legislative Forum

Friday, February 19, 2010

11:30 a.m.

Great River Energy Mississippi River Room

17845 East Highway 10

$20.00 per person

Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to an overview of the upcoming Minnesota legislative session. You will have a chance to discuss legislative issues with area legislators Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (IR) District 16B, Rep. Tom Hackbarth (IR) District 48A, Sen. Lisa Fobbe (DFL) District 16 and Sen. Mike Jungbauer (IR) District 48.

Enjoy a quick lunch while you take advantage of this opportunity to find out what is anticipated for the 2010 Minnesota legislative session, what items may be discussed, where our elected officials stand on the issues and share your opinions, ideas and concerns. It’s always informative and interesting when our legislators meet with the area’s business leaders.

This is one of the many ways that the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce provides proactive information, access and opportunities to interact regarding local, state and federal political and governmental issues affecting Chamber members.

Lunch will be catered by Panera Bread. Call(763) 441-3110 or email the Chamber office eracc@elkriverchamber.org to reserve by February 12.

Please park in the lot adjacent to Highway 10 and use the main entrance to the Mississippi River Room.

MN Business Day at the Capitol Set for March 10

March 10, 2010
Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront
11 East Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul

Individual registration is $60 per person.

Minnesota Business Day at the Capitol provides all sizes and types of Minnesota companies the opportunity to see the Legislature in action and to influence public policy decisions. Join us as we represent companies from our community alongside businesses from across the state. Appointments can be made with our local legislators.

Business leaders gather for this day of education and lobbying at the Capitol, which has become the largest lobbying day in Minnesota. It is an excellent venue for the business community to speak with a single voice on common priorities including quality and affordable health care, minimizing the state tax burden, and passing long-term funding for transportation needs across the state.

Call Debbi at 441-3110 to make a reservation by February 19.

VIEW FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

by Cathy McManus

When I grow up, I’m not going to read the newspaper and I’m not going to follow complex issues and I’m not going to vote. That way I can complain when the government doesn’t represent me. Then, when everything goes down the tubes, I can say the system doesn’t work and justify my further lack of participation.” Calvin, in The Calvin and Hobbes Wonderland.

In the next few weeks, your Chamber is providing members with opportunities to avoid Calvin’s fate. On February 19 we have a chance to join our legislators, and March 10 is the annual Business Day at the Capitol.

This year’s legislative session will be crucial for Minnesotans. Estimates for the deficit for fiscal years 2012-13 range from $4.4 to $7 billion, which is 20 percent of the projected general funds budget. Funding for the capital budget, used for public infrastructure like colleges and parks, also faces a crisis. Past capital budgets have topped $1 billion,

and legislators have speculated that the governor will veto anything over $750 million.

Recent articles in the Star News highlighted local concerns such as restoring General Assistance Medical Care cuts and revising the Green Acres laws. The restored funding would cut the Cambridge Medical Center’s losses from $2.3 million to 520,000.00 and Monticello-Big Lake Hospital’s from $527,000.00 to $132,000.00. Tougher requirements for Green Acres status could cause significant increases in some real estate taxes.

The legislature will also be wrestling will proposals to expand gambling or adding sales tax to clothing or other services to raise revenue. What can be done to lower unemployment or bring new jobs to Minnesota? Should the moratorium on nuclear power plants be lifted? Will mandatory mediation for mortgage foreclosures allow homeowners to save their homes and stabilize the real estate market? How can we fund a Vikings Stadium?

Take these opportunities to give your input and get answers to your questions at these upcoming events.

Remember, “The world is run by those who show up.”

AS I SEE IT

by Debbie Rydberg, President

The great hockey player Wayne Gretzky was once asked what made him different from other professional players. His answer has been quoted as sage business and personal advice to many beyond the world of hockey: "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been."

If you're trying to find a job or a new customer right now, your success will depend on where you look for opportunities. Are you looking in the same places you’ve always looked? Has your business strategy and plan recognized that during 2009 not only did the cheese move, but that even as a mouse, cheese may no longer be a healthy diet for your business? Looking where we’ve always had success in the past, is a safe route. We know what to expect and chances are we will still meet with some success – besides we are comfortable there and when we are comfortable, we are confident. It seems perfectly logical that following a prearranged path will lead you to your goals.

The problem is that in a fiercely competitive business climate, such as the business climate of 2010, you can bet that if you start skating to where the puck is now, it'll be gone by the time you get there. And while you might still have some success, you are more likely to be limiting your success by doing things the way they’ve always been done. However, business is about innovating new approaches to age-old business needs: new customers, new products, new financing, new marketing approaches. In 2010 and beyond, the age-old business needs will be met by building new and personal relationships. Are you setting yourself up to take advantage of the unexpected direction a new business relationship will take you?

At the chamber we offer many programs that give our member businesses the opportunities to build and benefit from new relationships. Our membership committee has started a new Member Partners program. Members will be intentionally contacting new members to invite them to upcoming activities and events, and to start building a new business relationship with them. Whether you join our membership committee or not, you can also begin your business relationship with any chamber member by simply introducing yourself as a fellow chamber member and asking to meet. Start the conversation by asking them something about chamber benefits or an upcoming event. There is no need to “break the ice” with a reason to “cold call” a prospect when talking with a fellow chamber member. Where you take the relationship from this point is up to you and your skills as a salesperson, but the hardest part of selling to businesses is getting a foot in the door and talking to a decision maker. As an Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce member, that challenge is a little easier.

If calling on businesses is not your style, make time for a chance meeting at any of our membership events. At the recent Polar Putt, there was a lot of fun happening, but there was also some serious connections being made by people who have not done business together in the past. It was possible because those that show up have built a relationship with others who also show up. When you show up at the next chamber event you allow the door to be opened for even greater opportunities that reach far beyond the hour spent. The chamber has multiple opportunities every month to make connections and begin building new relationships. If doing “business after hours” doesn’t work because of your schedule you can “juice up your morning” instead. If over lunch is a better time, there are generally two or more opportunities each month for meeting your next new business relationship. Even if you have more business than you can handle today, it will always be important to look where the puck is going and make sure you are there when it arrives. It takes deliberate thought - and courage - to reach beyond our comfort zones and allow new relationships to play a role in our professional lives. But the potential rewards are great. Just ask Wayne Gretzky or any chamber member that takes the chance.

Email marketing solution

The Elk River Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a new, money-saving member benefit in partnership with Constant Contact, a leading email marketing service.

Many Chamber members are already using Constant Contact to reach customers using professional email-based communications. It’s a web-based solution, easy to use, affordable and takes no technical expertise.

Elk River Chamber members who sign up through the Chamber will save 20% if they prepay for 6 months and 25% if they prepay for 12 months. That’s a 10% deeper discount than what is available to regular customers! Both existing customers and new users are eligible for the discount. Every account starts as a free 60 day trial and will be free for 60 days for up to 100 email addresses.

Watch your inbox for an email explaining the program or contact the Chamber office at 441-3110 for all the details.

Wireless Internet access

There has been a growing demand for the convenience of remote Internet access by members using the Chamber’s meeting room or businesses on the go.

Beginning in February, members will be able to connect to wireless Internet service for free. Set-up is quick and simple. Users will be assigned a secure and temporary access code while they are in the Chamber building.

Use of the lower level board/meeting room is available only to Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce members, available during the normal office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no rental charge. It is not available for religious ceremonies, money raising or sale of items. Contact the Chamber office at 441-3110 for complete conditions of use and scheduling help.

We are always looking for innovative ways to bring more value to our members. If you have a suggestion for other valuable member benefits, please let us know.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO. . .

Jim Campbell, First National Bank of Elk River, David Vinje and Ray Miller, Attics to Basements Building & Renovations, Rob Rydberg, Energy Cost Cutters, and Travis Basavage for the help (and muscle) recently refurbishing the Chamber President’s office.

February is Elk River 1000 Acts of Random Kindness Month

Help the community of Elk River reach 1000 acts of random kindness in the month of February by recording it on the Acts of Kindness tab on LoveElkRiver.org or call 763.412.4616. Kindness cards are available at Elk River City Hall, Star News, area churches and many local businesses.