News from The Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Happenings

March morning

Greetings!

We are on Summer Break! Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, July 18th. The Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheons are usually held on Wednesdays at Noon at the Westmark Sitka. They are always open to the public. For more information, call the Chamber office at 747-8604 or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SitkaChamber.

4th Annual Sitka Chamber Golf Tournament July 22nd

The Sitka Chamber is having its 4th Annual Sitka Golf Tournament on Sunday, July 22nd at the Sea Mountain Golf Course. The tournament will include 9 holes of golf, a great lunch and chances at lots of prizes, including $25,000 for a Hole in One!

The 2012 Golf Tournament will help bring in needed funds to support the Chamber's mission of promoting, supporting and facilitating commerce and economic growth in the community.

Sponsor Form

We would like to say thank you to the following businesses for their generous sponsorship for this year's tournament!

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Dockside Cafe

Why Customer Engagement is Just As Important As Customer Service

One of the best outcomes from the social media explosion is that the customer service bar has been raised. Now that more people are freely sharing their customer experiences-both good and bad-with the world, quality customer service has become imperative.

Yet with everybody stepping up efforts, the customer service function has to evolve for a small business to further differentiate itself. This is why the next logical step in the customer service evolution is customer engagement.

You've likely heard lots of recent talk about engaging customers as if it's a new fad. Yet small business owners have learned long ago that personalized service and in-depth expertise are the two main factors that inspire customers to return time and time again.

What's different now is the business owner's ability to foster these connections in between customer visits through social media.

Going beyond exceptional service, customer engagement is about delivering more personalized experiences based on authentic relationships with customers.

The more the storeowner knows about the customer, the more personalized the customer experience will be. This, in turn, leads to repeat sales. Yet sustaining these types of engaging relationships with hundreds or potentially thousands of customers is an impossible task.

This is why focusing the majority of engagement marketing efforts on top customers will result in repeat sales and word-of-mouth referrals.

Cultivate stronger relationships with those top customers by providing insider deals, private showings and other perks not offered to a larger customer base. In a nutshell, effectively engaging customers both online and offline comes down to:

* A passion for business that comes through in the interaction with customers, talking about products and services, and freely sharing expertise.

* Sincere interest in helping customers make the right purchasing decisions based on their particular needs.

* Enthusiasm for building and sustaining authentic connections with customers.

The ability to move beyond traditional customer service and engage customers will make all the difference in driving a more profitable business.

Sitka "State" Fair

The first annual SITKA "state" FAIR will be held August 19th at Harrigan Centennial Hall from 12pm to 5pm.

Judged events will include: Best -- cupcakes, pies, jams and jellies, bread, canned veggies & fruit, canned fish, live chickens, Midway Vegetable Art (art made out of fruits and vegetables), hobbies, crafts, and collections. Ribbons will be awarded to first, second, and third place entrants and all others will get a participant ribbon. Age categories are: 1 to 10, 11 to 17, and 18 and up.

The local Alaska Way of Life 4H Club will also be participating. Enjoy the Sitka "state" Fair "Midway" of food by local vendors. There will be music and entertainment on the center stage. Participate in the Sitka heARTS Sitka photo contest presented by Harry Race Photo Department for more info go to whitesalaska.com or Harry Race face book page. For more fair information and application entrant form go to Sitkaarts.org, email sitkaarts@yahoo.com or call 747-4821.

The Sitka "state" fair is brought to you by the Greater Sitka Arts Council. Sponsored by -- Guardian Flight, Sea Mart Quality Foods, Harry Race Photo Department, and Brenner's.

Communications Through the Years

Sitka's community wide Independence Day celebration includes the 4^th of July parade coordinated by the Sitka Chamber of Commerce.

Line up for the parade begins at 1:30 pm and will take place on the SJ campus and proceed down Lincoln Street toward City Hall beginning at 2 pm.

The Chamber Board of Directors announces that this year's theme is Communication Through the Years. The Grand Marshalls are the current and previous Raven Radio general managers; Ken Fate, Lily Herwald, Barnaby Dow and Rich McClear. KCAW Raven Radio is celebrating 30 years of service to Sitka with a variety of events from June 30 through July 4^th. For more information go to:

http://www.kcaw.org/category/ravens-30th-anniversary/. Everyone is invited to an outdoor Barn Dance with Fishing for Cats and root beer floats at The Cable House (home of Raven Radio) after the parade.

Fourth of July Events Calendar

As of June 5th, 2012

Thank You 2012 Renewing Members

Sea Mountain Golf Course www.seamountaingolf.com

907-747-7955

Sea Mountain Golf Course, is the newest nine hole course in Alaska. It has a putting green, chipping area, covered driving range and restaurant. This fabulous course is carved out of a hillside bordering the Tongass National Forest; with incredible views of the Pacific ocean and islands surrounding Sitka.

Sitka Charter Boat Operators Association

www.thescboa.org

907-747-4837

Representing the charter fishing fleet in the Sitka area; preserving the resources and cooperating among members to provide better services to customers.

Sitka National Historical Park

www.nps.gov/sitk/index.htm

907-747-0111

Alaska's oldest federally designated park was established in 1910 to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka. All that remains of this last major conflict between Europeans and Alaska Natives is the site of the Tlingit Fort and battlefield, located within this scenic 113 acre park in a temperate rain forest.

Sitka Ready Mix & Rental Equipment, LLC

www.sitkareadymix.com

907-747-8693

Sitka's ONE STOP SHOP for builder's and do-it-yourselfer's.

Sitka Rose Gallery

www.sitkarosegallery.com907-747-3030

Specializing in Alaskan art, including many Sitka artists - featuring sculptures, paintings, native art and jewelry.

Sitka Seafood Festival

www.sitkaseafoodfestival.org

928-607-4845

We want everyone to experience Alaska's wild and sustainable seafood through entertainment, education and culinary delights

Sitka Sound Seafoods

A Division of North Pacific Seafoods, Inc.

www.northpacificseafoods.com

907-747-6662

Offering high quality, sustainable seafood that is always traceable to the source.

Sitka Trail Works, Inc

www.sitkatrailworks.org

907-747-7244

Contributing to the overall health of the community through the development, maintenance and promotion of a comprehensive trail system in the Sitka area.

Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL)

www.sailine.org

(907) 747-6859 / (800) 500-7245

Center for Independent Living (CIL) and an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Mission: "Inspiring Personal Independence".

Spenard Builders Supply

www.sbsalaska.com

907-747-3339

Alaska's choice for building materials and home improvements. Alaska's building source for over 57 years.

Senator Bert Stedman

www.akrepublicans.org/stedman/#Display907-465-3873

Sitka's own Bert Stedman, State Senator for District A.

Elaine Strelow

Individual Member

UAF Cooperative Extension

907-747-9413

USDA Forest Service, Sitka Ranger District

www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/sitka/907-747-4218

The Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest national forest, covers most of Southeast Alaska, surrounding the famous Inside Passage.

Venneberg Insurance Inc

www.venneberginsurance.com

907-747-8625

Welcome Home Vacations

www.sitkatravel.com

907-747-4712

Fully furnished vacation rentals in a variety of sizes and prices. All you need is your suitcase.

Westmark Hotel

www. westmarkhotels.com/sitka.php

907-747-6241

Sitka's largest hotel, with restaurant, lounge and meeting rooms.

Cheryl Westover

Individual Member

White's Inc. & Harry Race

www.whitesalaska.com

907-747-8666

"Living Local". White's Inc. manages two full service pharmacies including a state of the art photo department, home medical equipment sales and service, old fashioned soda fountain, personal shopping services, and much more.

Sitka Chamber Meeting Schedule

The Sitka Chamber Board of Directors meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month. Chamber Members are encouraged to attend!

Fourth of July Committee Meeting

Date: June 20th

Time: 4pm

Location: Sitka Chamber Board Room

August Board Meeting (The Board will not meet in June or July)

Date: August 9th

Time: 4pm

Location: Sitka Chamber Board Room

Contact the Sitka Chamber Office for more information on meeting times, locations or to learn how you can get involved.

Chamber Committees

Finance

Membership

Annual Banquet

Downtown Commerce & Events

Golf Tournament

Sitka Artisans Market

Board Development

Legislative & Community Affairs

Join a committee today!

Upcoming Calendar of Events

June 2012

June 13th through July 11thth

Summer Break - No Chamber Lunch

July 2012

July 1st through July 4th

4th of July Booths - Eagle Quest Ministries, 738-7318

July 3rd
Fourth of July Fireworks

July 4th
Fourth of July Parade - Line up is at 1pm, the parade will start at 2pm

July 13th and 14th

Home Skillet Festival

July 10th through 11th

Alaska State Chamber Outreach Trip - Taking place in Kodiak, Alaska this year

July 15th through July 21st
Alaska Business Week - University of Alaska Fairbanks, contact the Sitka Chamber office for Scholarship opportunities.

July 18th

Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Sitka Counceling and Prevention Services

July 22nd
Sitka Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament - Save the date for our 4th Annual Golf Tournament

July 25th

Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Mayor Botelho, Alaska's Coastal Management Program

August 2012

August 10th and 11th
Sitka Seafood Festival

August 19th
Sitka "State" Fair - The Greater Sitka Arts Council is producing the first Sitka "State" Fair at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

From The Director Jennifer Robinson

My trip is almost over! I am down in sunny California until June 20th, but Tammy will be in the office today and tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm if you need anything. Have a great week!

"If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success. " - John D. Rockefeller

June 18, 2012

In This Issue

4th Annual Sitka Chamber Golf Tournament July 22nd

Why Customer Engagement is Just As Important As Customer Service

Sitka "State" Fair

Communications Through the Years

Thank You Renewing Members

Sitka Chamber Meeting Schedule

Calendar of Events

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Super Supporters

$3000 - $5000

Alaska Cruise Association

Sponsoring

Season's End Celebration

Primary Benefactors $1,000

Alaska Marine Lines

ALPS Federal Credit Union

Petro Marine Services

Samson Tug & Barge

SeaMart Quality Foods

Spenard Builders Supply

Wells Fargo Bank NA

Westmark Sitka Hotel

White's Inc

Benefactors $750

AC Lakeside

Alaska Airlines

Allen Marine
Arrowhead Transfer & Arrowhead LP Gas
BP

Dock Shack Cafe
First Bank
First National Bank Alaska

Shee Atika Totem Square Inn

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Chamber Board

Gerry Hope

President

Sitka Tribe of Alaska

Cory Baggen

Vice President

Samson Tug & Barge

Ptarmica McConnell

Treasurer

Shee Atika, Incorporated

Craig Shoemaker

Secretary

Seafood Producers Coop

Seth Bone

KingFisher Charters

Olga Borland

Russian American Co.

Bob Burnett

AC Lakeside

Kathy Dumag

Spenard Builders Supply

Bob Medinger

Sitka Historical Society

Linda Mudry

White's

Mandy Odenheimer

Alaska Airlines

John P. (Jay) Sweeney III

City and Borough of Sitka

Aaron Wilkinson

First National Bank Alaska

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Mission Statement

The Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of business and community leaders who promote, support, and facilitate commerce and economic growth in the community.

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Chamber Membership

2012 SITKA CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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New Archangel Dancers

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