1. Free listing in the membership directory.
2. Free listing on the website directory.
3. Free link to your website.
4. Free blast on Facebook advertising your business and events.
5. Free business size ad on chamber calendar.
6. Free advertisement of events on our website calendar.
7. Free 1000 + in hand advertising at local Sporting Events.
8. Free labels to all the Chamber members for your mail outs.
9. Free monthly draft from bank account (monthly payment option).
10. 10% discount if you choose to pay yearly.
11. Free advertisement opportunities at local chamber members businesses.
12. Free seminars that will help your business
13. If you are a new member you will receive a ribbon cutting and advertisement of the event in the Quinlan/Tawakoni News and the Texas Twister.
14. Free advertisement of your business if you are in attendance at the ribbon cutting featured in the paper.
15. You will receive a sign for the front of your business for 1 month.
16. You will receive a free directory and our newest map of the lake.
17. You will receive a complimentary ticket to your first LTRCC luncheon held every third Thursday of the month.
18. You will be able to display your business cards and brochure information at the chamber.
19. You business will be spotlighted sometime during the year on the website, Facebook and newspaper.
20. You will be listed on our preferred business call list
21. Your information will be sent out in our relocation/visitors packets.
22. If you are a restaurant owner you will be featured in the Texas Twister’s “Have ya et yet?” section for free.

Busy Chamber Year Includes Business Expo, Banquet, Pageant

Larry Briscoe, Editor

Plans for a busy year were unveiled Thursday at the monthly membership meeting of the Lake Tawakoni Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Directors Kym French and Michelle Oznick outlined benefits for membership in 2011 in the chamber. Director Gina Bain announced dates for upcoming events.

The annual banquet will be held in April at the First United Methodist Church with the theme, “Come Grow With Us.” Silent and live auctions will be held.

For the first time for the area, the chamber will host a Business Expo on June 18. A beauty pageant will be held in May. Chili and barbecue cookoffs are also in the works. Additional details on the new events are to be given later.

French and Oznick discussed membership benefits that included the Annual Business Expo, business mixers, free business seminars, free mailing labels of chamber members, monthly business luncheons, volunteer opportunities, worldwide web advertising, web directory listings, free webpage links, Facebook blast, web calendar advertisement, business spotlight on chamber website, referred call listing, membership directory listing, chamber calendar ads, local event handouts, advertisement opportunities at local members’ businesses, ribbon cutting, preferred business call listing, business information displayed, member business information is sent out in chamber’s relocation-visitor packets, annual membership directory, featured sponsorship opportunities and web sponsorships available.

New members receive first chamber luncheon for free, chamber sign for business and ribbon cutting.

Directors and members offered comments on why membership is important to them. Director Adam Slaughter of Chase Insurance stated, “As a local business owner I joined the chamber of commerce to not only help my business, but so I could also help out my community and other businesses. Through the chamber I have met a lot of new people and businesses that are already starting to turn into leads to help me grow my business. Also, I started to learn about other businesses around the area that I didn’t know about which as a chamber member I will refer my customers to those other fellow members. This chamber of commerce is starting to turn around in a way that is going to be a great benefit for the future businesses in this area as well as the community. We want all of our local businesses and citizens to help our community grow and that is only possible when everyone has a goal to look forward to and I think we are on the right path!”

Chamber Office Administrator Kym French stated, “I feel the chamber is the community’s leading advocate for business. Its primary objective is to create a climate of growth and success in our community by leveraging the support, talent and resources of our members. The chamber works hard on your behalf to make the voice of your business heard throughout the community by developing and maintaining strong public and media relations. Links directly to your website from laketawakonichamber.org result in local and global exposure and promotion of your business and services. Visitors to laketawakonichamber.org can search the Membership-Business Directory to find a specific business listing, phone number and Web site address if applicable, providing increased visibility and marketing opportunities. There are so many benefits to being a member of the Lake Tawakoni Chamber of Commerce, join us today and find out first hand.” Director Ashley Bain-Reeder said, “I believe your chamber membership is important, because as a chamber member you have fellow members working with you as an extension of your business. We all work together with one another to promote all of the businesses in our community while bettering our community itself as well.”

Director Kara Castruita said, “Chamber membership is important to me, because it’s an avenue that brings a community together by promoting, supporting and serving one another.”

Director Tiffony Hopper said, “I have served on the chamber board for almost 15 years. Membership in the chamber is integral to promoting your business in the local community. Supporting local businesses in the community is integral to a thriving economy. We must shop locally and support local business as much as possible. The struggling economy has put a hardship on small businesses like never before. If there is a service or product that you can get or buy locally that is of good quality, it is imperative for our citizens to take advantage of these local goods and services. If we don’t take care of our local businesses, before you know it, many will have to close or move elsewhere to survive. I believe in doing my part to promote the Quinlan and Lake Tawakoni area positively, being a part of the chamber is a large avenue in which to bring about positive promotion.”

Member Michael French said, “The chamber of commerce is an effective tool in developing and promoting economic development and business success in this region that will positively contribute to the success of our schools.”

Director Ben Bennett said, “Chamber membership to me means the team building of a Community of Businesses. This Community of Businesses with common goals promotes not only business but better schools, better government, better housing, better economic development, and in summary, a better way of life.

Director Michelle Oznick said, “This is a new chamber that is really energized. We are offering many free things to our members to help them promote business this year. Our focus is to help promote the businesses of the area bigger and better than ever before. All members are going to have fun accomplishing this goal. We as a board are not just a chamber — with all of our members together, we are all ‘The Lake Tawakoni Regional Chamber.’ The chamber is a team of members growing to help each other.”