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Dear , Oct. 11, 2011
Fun and fundraising, as well as serious networking and professional education opportunities, are in the Chamber's event line-up this week and into the holiday season. Tomorrow's Progressive Power Luncheon for the Women's Business Network is that subgroup's most popular activity, and for good reason. Numerous business connections are established and relationships forged at the annual event. Don't miss the chance to help the Chamber launch its first "Fall for the Chamber" fundraiser on Friday. A casual, affordable event with great food and beers stands in for our monthly Business After Hours and offers the opportunity for you to bring spouses, friends, neighbors and Chamber prospects. See the details below, and plan to join the fun. Call us at 888-3040 to learn how we can help you make great connections!
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"Fall for the Chamber" at our Oktoberfest Celebration Friday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. Grand Pavilion at Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave. (off Busch Boulevard)  The event will be held in lieu of an October Business After Hours. Members and guests will enjoy ...
- Tastes and pours of Oktoberfest-style beers. You'll get four taste pours included with your registration ticket and may purchase 16-ounce mugs of your favorites at modest prices.
- Oktoberfest-themed and German-inspired foods furnished by Chamber-member restaurants and caterers. The menu will include a buffet of brats and sauerkraut, beef rouladen and spaetzle, beer and brat soup, potato pancakes, soft pretzels and mustard, vegetable trays, artisan breads and German desserts, among other treats.
- A mystery gift card grab bag activity. From a line-up of festive grab bags that all look alike, guests may elect to purchase one or more bags for a donation of $20 each. Each will contain a minimum of $25 in gift cards from local and national stores, hotels and restaurants. You'll have the opportunity to swap yours with others to find your favorite stores. Proceeds support Chamber Leadership Worthington scholarships and other Chamber-sponsored local business and school district projects.
- Interactive entertainment, including opportunities to learn and dance with the Liederkranz Kulture Gruppe Dancers. Their performances may include German and Donauschwaben folk dancing, lively Bavarian dancing and knee slapping Schuhplattlers. Watch them perform, and then join in the fun, trying out your own steps with their assistance! |
- Socializing and networking in a casual, fun atmosphere. Wear a costume or line up in front of Oktoberfest props for fun photos with friends and business contacts. (Think lederhosen, dirndls, braids and giant beer steins.)
Registration: - Registrations - $20 each (member or guest -- includes food, beer tastings and entertainment; option to purchase additional beers)
- Designated Driver Registrations - $10 each (member or guest -- includes food and entertainment)
- Guests are welcome at this event (at the same rate as Chamber members). Bring spouses, friends, neighbors and co-workers; the more, the merrier.
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Click to learn about these timely promotions from Chamber-member businesses:
Where's YOUR E-sert? Contact the Chamber at 888-3040 to schedule the "E-sertion" of your promotional flier in PDF format.
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SUSTAINING MEMBERS
Gold Sustaining Members
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Silver Sustaining Members   Click on the logos of Sustaining Members to view their websites. |
MEMBER BENEFITS |
 | | NEW! Volunteer Energy Discount Program |
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Extend the networking you do at Chamber events by following us on popular networking sites
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Our members can often be found making connections on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter ... and so can the Chamber.
Reminder: Please do NOT use "attending this event" features on social networking sites to attempt to pre-register for a Chamber event. Pre-registrations should be done through the Chamber's Calendar of Events on our Web site or by calling 888-3040.
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Keep your networking skills "on course" at Women's Business Network Progressive Power Luncheon
|  A few spaces are still available for one of the most popular networking events of the year for the Chamber's Women's Business Network ... act now by calling 888-3040.
Keep your networking skills "on course" while enjoying a delicious lunch at the Women's Business Network Progressive Power Lunch, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. at The Worthington Inn.  At each luncheon course -- salad, entrée and dessert -- you'll share business cards and short "commercials" with at least six other business women and enjoy roundtable conversation about your businesses. After each course, you'll rotate to another assigned table to make new connections. By the time lunch is over, you'll have made at least 18 contacts. Bring a supply of business cards and information to share about your business. Include samples or product literature as desired. Check-in and networking begin at 11:30 a.m. Please arrive by 11:45 to ensure seating at your first table assignment. Cost: $25/Chamber members; $35/non-members (non-members prepay with credit card or check received by registration deadline). The luncheon is limited to 48 participants. The menu includes a house salad; chicken Henry (sautéed chicken with mushroom and tomato sauce and side of pasta); lemon sorbet with wild berry compote; coffee/tea/beverages. Please specify in your registration if you need a vegetarian meal. Learn more and register by calling (614) 888-3040.
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Ready, set ... QuickConnect to get new business leads
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Get Ready ... Get Set ... QuickConnect!
QuickConnect is the Chamber's direct sales opportunity for members, giving participants the opportunity to determine quickly if there is a fit in meeting each other's business or personal consumer needs. It's fun, fast and very effective.
The next QuickConnect session will be held at the SERVPRO of NW Columbus, 7440 Pingue Dr., Worthington 43085 (off Worthington-Woods Boulevard), on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Check-in is at 9:45 a.m. Please be sure to arrive at this time so the start of the timed exercise will not be delayed.)
 The QuickConnect session is structured so that each participant will make one-on-one contact with 10 others. Participants face each other and have 90 seconds to discuss their company's products or services. Following each contact, participants indicate the next steps, including talking further about doing business; not a fit; and offering a referral.
Prior to the session, participants are provided a business profile/feedback form to complete and bring 11 copies to the session.
Please note: You should plan to attend QuickConnect ONLY if you have received a confirmation of your attendance and a copy of the questionnaire to complete, or a notice that your business category is full and you will scheduled at another date. Considerable care is taken to match QuickConnect participants with other Chamber connections. Therefore, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins or unregistered attendees for this session.
For the same reasons, it is important that you contact us to cancel if you will be unable to fill your scheduled space at QuickConnect so that we can rearrange the networking layout to ensure others are not inconvenienced. QuickConnect is free for members who pre-register and honor their reservations -- but there will be a $20 fee for those who do not attend the session if they have not provided advance notice of their cancellation.
To make the session as meaningful as possible to participants, the number of businesses from a single business category (banks, insurance, financial services, etc.) will be limited to two businesses. In addition, members who have not previously participated in QuickConnect are given preference over those from the same business category who have attended a recent session. This procedure expands interest in QuickConnect and helps all participants receive the maximum benefit from the exercise.
Please register by Oct. 17 with the link above or by calling 614-888-3040.
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SOHO group explores smart ways to use technology
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With the help of two Chamber-member IT companies, the Chamber's SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Group will explore technology tips at its monthly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Road.
 The October SOHO Group program will be presented by Chamber-member SOHO participants Brian and Julie Maurer of B2 Solutions, Inc. and Antonio Tortora of Solar Software, Inc. The topic, "Don't Touch That Button! - Smart Ways to use Your Technology," will cover suggested free or low-cost technology solutions that may save SOHO members money; some basic do's and don'ts when using your technology; and the benefits of using a professional technology consultant.
If you work in a home office or "wear all the hats" at a small office with five or fewer employees, the Chamber's new Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) subgroup is for you. At each monthly "brown bag lunch" style meeting, members exchange best practices and business leads and learn from experts about topics that affect small business owners and home-based businesses, including legal, tax, organizational, IT and marketing/promotion issues.
Business and Associate Members of the Chamber are eligible to join SOHO. SOHO members pay a subgroup participation fee of $30 per year, in addition to their regular Chamber dues. A prospective SOHO member may attend the meeting free of charge for a one-month period and then may choose sign up for the group with the $30 annual fee.
Registration is REQUIRED. To register, click on this link or on the SOHO link on the REGISTER NOW screen above to reach the online sign-up page. Call 888-3040 for further details or assistance in registering.
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Likeable Social Media: Read it and reap as a participant in the Nov. 1 Get Smart Book Discussion Group
|  The Get Smart! Book Discussion Group, a partner program offered through the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce and Worthington Libraries, has chosen the title for its fourth quarter 2011 session. The selection is "Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (& Other Social Networks)," by Dave Kerpen.
If you are interested in reserving a library copy, click on the link below to reach the Worthington Libraries online reservation system, and then click on the "reserve" button under the picture of the book. Follow the prompts (making sure you select the right pick-up location). If you've done everything correctly you'll see a screen that tells you your reserve has been placed and your number on the list.
http://catalog.worthingtonlibraries.org/resolver.ashx?isbn=9780071762342
The discussion group will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 1, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, 25 W. New England Ave. in Worthington. Refreshments will be served. New members and guests are welcome. RSVPs are encouraged to plan for space and refreshment needs.
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 Need more information about these or other Chamber activities or benefits? We're open for business 24/7 on our website, www.worthingtonchamber.org, to view or sign up for events. Call 888-3040 or click here to e-mail us for help in using our website, making payment arrangements, or learning more about Chamber member benefits. Copyright 2011 - Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce, 25 W. New England Ave., Suite 100, Worthington, OH 43085. Phone: 614-888-3040. Fax: 614-841-4842. |
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