The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce is looking for members who are interested in joining a Chamber committee.  Two committees are seeking member participation:

• The Scholarship Committee chaired by Kyle Jaremko of Jersey Shore Federal Credit Union meets only a few times per year.  This committee is responsible for the creation of the Chamber Scholarship application and the evaluation of all applications received.
   
• The Membership Committee co-chaired by Kim Schiela of Clermont 9 Real Estate and Cheryl Wachter of Cape Bank meet each month of the 3rd Wednesday at 11:00a.m.  This committee will develop programs to retain current members and reach new members.    

The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce it has received a FY 2012 Cooperative Marketing Grant for $4,000 to assist in the funding of the county-wide calendar of events.   

The 2012 Calendar of Events is under production and limited advertising space is now available!  This new, high quality, four color, glossy calendar promotes Cape May County events, concerts and activities.With affordable rates, this very popular calendar is a great way to promote your business to visitors and locals.  Due to the popularity of the 2011 calendar, we've increased our 2012 print quantity to 50,000!

For more information on advertising opportunities, please contact John Kelly at 609-465-7181 x108 or john@cmcchamber.com.  

If Brides and Weddings are part of your targeted customer base, then you definitely want to reserve your space today for the 4th Annual Bridal Fair at the Wildwoods Convention Center on Sunday, March 25, 2012. This is a great opportunity to showcase your products and services as well as network with hundreds of potential brides and wedding parties.

Vendors from all facets of the bridal industry, displaying everything from wedding cakes and favors to photographers, florists, reception sites, bridal and tuxedo shops, bands, DJs, honeymoon destinations, transportation and invitation companies and videographers are invited to participate.  To add to the excitement, there will be a fashion show, contests, food tastings and live entertainment.

For a full list of vendor opportunities, please click here.  

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development is making funds available to New Jersey businesses to help train their employees in green efficiency and sustainable energy. The funds are available to contractors, engineers, architects, building managers, and other building companies. Atlantic Cape Community College will assist you in applying for the available funds.

• Types of Training: LEED, Solar and BPI certifications
• Cost: Training is free to qualified employers. Grant covers tuition, books and cost of credentials. 
• Assistance: We will help you complete the application. We work with you during every step of the application process. 
• Where: We can bring training programs to you or you can take advantage of classes forming now in response to this new grant.
• Deadline: Application must be in by Friday, Jan. 27th

Don't miss this opportunity to train your employees in the latest green building technology Contact Jean McAlister at (609) 343-5688 or mcaliste@atlantic.edu.

7 Tips to Help Your Career and Business Flourish in 2012 

1.  Learn from colleagues.  Informally meet with each individual effected by your job and ask them what parts of your performance could help them a little better - what would improve things on their end.  (Always speak as equals.)  Visibly take notes.  Make it a habit with each new project.  Will it work?  Worked for Ken Parker who rose from lawn cutter to President of Atlantic City Electric.
                                                           
2.  Sharpen your image.  Dressed in your typical business attire, make a brief presentation to a very good friend in your usual business tone and words.  Listen to their honest assessment of what they are actually hearing and seeing.  Thank them for their advice, then work to forge the image you need to convey.  (P.S. Remain Yourself - Always.)  Works for & recommended by Janet Cargill, author of "Look Damn Good".
                                                           
3.  Get closer to customers.  If your job in accounting doesn't ever involve customer contact, reach out and get to know a few.  If you deliver product to the front door, carry it inside and take a moment to talk.  If you sell, take time from the pitch and learn about their after hours interests.  Owners, pick up the phone and chat.  After all, these folks make your business.  Has worked for more than a quarter century for Richard K. Rein, founding publisher of U.S. 1 Newspaper.
                                                           
4.  Send a handwritten, snail-mailed thank you note to a colleague.  If words are beyond you, make it a sticky note posted on their computer.  Make it a periodic habit.  Watch others spread the word and work to earn one of your notes.  Works for Bart Jackson, CEO of Prometheus Publishing, LLC; also worked for Mr. J.P. Morgan.
                                                           
5.  Get active in your professional organization.  While carefully allotting your time, volunteer to help the membership committee (best way to meet folks.)  Also attend organization meetings of those to whose positions you aspire.  Works for Genevia Fulbright, President of Fulbright & Fulbright CPA, PA.
                                                           
6.  Plan for success. The one common factor of all successful companies is that they plan to be successful from the start.  It governs their every decision.  Let this be the year you pause, dream a bit, raise your aim to those loftier heights, and begin engineering the ramp up to them.  Works for Michael Griffith, CEO, of Laureate Biopharmaceutical Services, Inc. 

7.  Parting Thought:  Time is your most precious resource.  Guard it well.  No one else will.  Works for everyone. 

Governor Chris Christie will join the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of the state's political and business leaders at the NJ Chamber's 75th annual Congressional Dinner on January 26, 2012.

Last year, an overwhelming number of you asked that we reduce the number of speeches at the dinner and provide more time for networking and conversation. This year Governor Christie's keynote will be the only scheduled speech for the evening.

Join the Diamond Anniversary Walk

The NJ Chamber will head down to Washington D.C. on the morning of January 26. The chartered Amtrak train will bring passengers to the elegant Wardman Park Marriott for an evening dinner and reception with New Jersey's most powerful and influential business and political leaders, including Governor Christie, members of the state's congressional delegation and state legislature.

Please make plans to join.  Now more than ever the entire business community needs to tell our state leaders that we need them to continue the work that has started to turn New Jersey around economically.

Over 700 guests joined in last year and we expect at least that many guests again, so get your tickets now -click here to reserve tickets.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Walk to Washington are available - contact Amy Kolis at (732) 246-5730 or click here for more information.

And as always, you can call the Marriott Wardman Park at (202) 328-2000 to make your room reservation. Don't forget to tell them you are part of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's Walk to Washington in order to receive a special room rate.

Through the Division of Travel & Tourism's marketing campaign "Now that's New Jersey" as well as collaborations with the State Council on the Arts and Historic Commission, the conference continues to market the Garden State as a premier travel destination. This year's conference is themed, The "Reality" of New Jersey Tourism, It's Everybody's Business to embrace the many ways to promote the Garden State, traditional and out-of-the-box. For the Hold the Date Postcard, please click here.  

Join in and celebrate our multi-billion dollar tourism industry by sponsoring this year's exciting conference program scheduled for March 14-16, 2012. For more information, please click here.