In the Spring, Point Brake became one of the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. I failed to announce this new association because I joined just three days before their Southside Business Expo and had plenty to prepare for. The Expo itself was exciting, but being a member of the GGCC is even more exciting for me. I’m finally getting into the swing of things; it took me a few months to fully adjust to having my own business and such. I knew that I wanted to join a local Chamber because it would give me access to resources I wouldn’t have otherwise. It also would familiarize me with the area since I haven’t lived here that long and hopefully create some great, long-lasting relationships.
Over the past few weeks I’ve attended a few events. I already wrote about the July Trendsetter Luncheon, Using Social Media Effectively. Thursday I attended the Membership Orientation where I was approached about the Mini-Golf Classic this coming Friday. I wasn’t planning on attending simply because of my severe lack of golfing skills (injuring a fellow Chamber member with a golf ball isn’t on my list of things to do), but I was somehow convinced to attend. I am now not only donating a gift basket full of products from Shade of Green Living that I designed, but I will also be assisting the photographer for the day and networking while I’m not helping with that.
There are a few events that I will attend in September, one of which is the 2009 Business to Business Expo. I learned quite a bit from the Expo last Spring, so hopefully I will be fully prepared for this event. I was planning on having brochures, business cards, a digital portfolio, and a “The Value of Design” packet that people could sign up to receive in the mail. Now, with everything happening so quickly with Shade of Green, I will be having another gift basket with their products that I will be raffling off to those who sign up to receive the VoD packet.
I also might be helping the GGCC with one of their workshops in September. They’re doing some follow up workshops regarding the July Trendsetters Luncheon, so I may be walking around to assist people in customizing their social media pages. That should be a great way to meet more members of the Chamber that I have yet to meet personally, and also to help them advance their social networks.
There are so many great opportunities that the Chamber provides, it was a little daunting at first. They have so many events, and I’m more certain than ever that this is one of the best investments I have ever made. So, if you have a business and aren’t yet a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, what are you waiting for?