Chamber of Commerce Says Membership Drive is "In the Bag"
Thursday January 24, 2008
Anyone joining the chamber during this year's drive will receive some special goodies -- including a Roane County promotional canvas tote bag. The new members will be able to take their tote bag to the Rocky Top General Store to fill it with merchandise that will be discounted 10%.
"The tote bag was created by the Visitor's Bureau here at The Roane Alliance so that folks can proudly advertise Roane County wherever they go," Alliance CEO and Chamber President Leslie Henderson said, "so we decided to give one to every one of our new members who come on board during this year's campaign -- because the bags are a symbol of our pride in our county and that's what the chamber is about."
This year's drive will also show prospective members that their investment makes good business sense, as well. Customers more often than not, choose to do business with Chamber members. According to a national study conducted by the Schapiro Group, a market research firm in Atlanta, consumers are 63% more likely to buy goods and services in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local chamber of commerce.
"Participating Chamber members network frequently and this leads to more business," said Brenda Lunsford, Member Services Director for The Roane Alliance.
"Members also are eligible for a lot of inexpensive advertising opportunities and many other free resources. In addition, we have another significant new benefit - Chamber members are eligible for low-cost basic health insurance," Lunsford said.
This cost-effective limited-benefit medical coverage is available to all members' employees and their dependents, whether they work full-time, part-time or on an hourly basis. Even those who only report for temporary assignments can enroll. Individual members of the chamber are also eligible to be in this Chamber group plan.
New members will also be encouraged to participate in the working committees. "You get out as much as you put in," said Racia Futrell, who is chairing this year's Chamber Ambassador group. "Being active in the chamber's work can double or triple your return."
This past year, those committees were responsible for two very significant and highly-successful new events -- the Home and Garden Fair, and the Rock-N-Reel fishing tournament. Chamber members can work in committees that work on education, legislative affairs, tourism, economic development and more.
Representing the Chamber in the membership drive are the Ambassadors: Racia Futrell, Remax Realty; Christina Branham, Coldwell Banker Real Estate; April Shepherd, Shepherd Plumbing; Paul Traughber, Traughber Insurance; Kimberly Carroll, Knoxville TVA Credit Union; Teddy Haywood, Blue Springs Boat Company and Cheryl Laxton, an individual member.
This year's membership campaign will run 90 days, from January 15 through April 15.
The Chamber of Commerce is organized and located under the umbrella organization, The Roane Alliance. To learn more about Chamber membership, call 865-376-5572.
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