Benefits of Chamber Membership
New Business Opportunities
As a member of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, you have access to over
800 potential business leads, including over 25,000 area employees. With such a wide
membership, you can enhance your bottom line by networking with your fellow Chamber
members, who are also customers for your products and services. The Chamber provides
plenty of opportunities for you to make your service known:
- Groundbreaking, Ribbon Cutting and Open House Ceremonies
- Monthly Strictly Business After Five Events
- Monthly Cracker Barrel Legislative Event
- Monthly Business Over Breakfast Event
- Quarterly Young Professionals Program
- Quarterly New Member Orientation
- Quarterly Diversity Breakfast
- Annual Recognition Dinner
- Annual Golf Outing
- Annual Business Expo
- Annual Operation Thank You
- Adult Leadership Program
EXPOSURE
- Annual Membership Directory
- "Connecting Members to Members" in the
Chamber Connection Newsletter
- Connection Newsletter Inserts
- Brochure Displays in the Chamber Office
- Opportunity Knocks Mailer
- Web Site
Information
The Chamber's Newsletter, Economic Forums, Special Events and contacts with business
leaders throughout the area, the state, and the nation enable Chamber members to stay up
to date with the latest business news in the area. Additionally,
seminars and
workshops help you to sharpen your skills, as well as those of your employees, and add
value to your bottom line.
Access to Decision Makers
Your views are important. Combined with the views of your fellow Chamber
members, your views take on an added significance. Through "Cracker Barrel"
breakfasts with local and state elected officials, "Oktoberfest in the Capitol,"
and through active Chamber committees that propose solutions to such issues as
governmental affairs, Diversity, Regional Development and education, you have
"clout" as a member of the Chamber.
Support From Chamber and Other Members
You benefit most by the strong support of members doing business with other members,
all backed up by a Chamber staff that makes sure the tools you need to succeed are
available. This long list of benefits includes:
- Referrals of customers to your business
- A list of relocation requests
- Membership lists and mailing labels
- Membership Directory
- Chamber meeting room facilities
- Special events planning
- Adult Leadership Program
Resource Materials
In addition, resource materials of all kinds are maintained for your use at the Chamber
office, including:
- Service club list
- Legislative Resource Guide
- Media list
- List of major employers
- La Crosse Area Map & Street Directory
- Relocation Packet for potential & new residents
- Area demographics
- Notary services
- Referral brochures for out-of-town inquiries including lodging, restaurants, churches,
area-wide publications and more.
Small Business Benefits
Small business is vitally important to the economic growth of every community. Over
eighty percent (80%) of your Chamber membership is composed of businesses with 20
employees or less. Recognizing this fact, the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce
has developed a group of services designed to assist small businesses. Just a few of these
services are outlined below:
Getting Your Message Out
As a member of the Chamber, you can use the following resources to publicize your
business:
- Annual Membership Directory
- Chamber monthly newsletter
- Opportunity Knocks Mailer
- Chamber Mailing List
- Brochure displays of your products and services in the Chamber office
- Sponsorship of various events
- Web Site
Finding New Customers
Your Chamber staff works hard to ensure that your business is known to all potential
customers by referring them to you through:
- Direct referrals - the Chamber receives thousands of requests each year for the names of
local business, professionals, services and products. Only Chamber Members are referred.
- A relocation list, indicating names and addresses of people possibly moving to the La Crosse Area.
Sharpening Your Skills
During the year, many professional programs are held in the areas of customer services,
business management, quality management, and skills development. Some of the programs held
are:
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Annual Dinners
- Expositions
- Adult Leadership Program
- Oktoberfest in the Capitol
- Business Over Breakfast Seminars
Finding Answers
Your Chamber provides services to influence small business growth and development by
utilizing the exceptional resources that exist among the Chamber's membership. A single
phone call to the Chamber will connect small business owners with someone who can assist
them in answering their questions either on the phone or in-person. Just a few of the
sources for this information are:
- Chamber Staff
- SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
- UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western
Technical College
Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Membership
Programs!
Chamber members can go for the GOLD, or SILVER, or BRONZE, - or even PLATINUM!!!
Chamber members can enhance the value of their membership by signing up for one of these
extra membership levels.
The Bronze, Silver, Gold and PLATINUM membership levels will give you the opportunity
to participate in and sponsor our most visible activities, and pay for them all at one
time. You will increase your visibility at these events and projects, and display
your leadership in supporting the Chamber.
All members pay the regular dues based on their number of employees, but
those who wish to enhance their visibility and participation can then select which level
is right for them. Click
here for a pdf file with
more specific information on the programs.
So if your question is "What's in it for me?"
Your answer is "Opportunity!"
