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Weekly Happenings
Your Source for Business News in Sitka
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Greetings!
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce Luncheon will be at noon on Wednesday, August 15th. Please join us for a presentation on The Present and Future of Sitka's Affordable Housing by Mim McConnell, Executive Director of the Sitka Community Development Association. Mim's presentation will cover the current state of housing in Sitka and the plans for creating permanently affordable housing.
Mim's background includes successfully running her own business since 1998, five years employed for a non-profit as business advisor and project manager, starting up a new organization seeking to end extreme poverty and hunger and empowering people in Sitka and serving as its president, and decades of experience serving on boards, commissions, assemblies and councils, including serving on regional committees, a Federal council and a national committee.
Mim served on the city's Long Range Planning and Economic Development Commission before serving on the Assembly, became that commission's liaison in 2009, and served in that capacity until it was disbanded by the Assembly in 2011. While on that commission, Mim formed a subcommittee that explored affordable housing options for Sitka. This subcommittee held an affordable housing summit in 2010.
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheons are 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.
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 Sitka Chamber Seeks Administrative Assistant
The Sitka Chamber is seeking an administrative assistant for a permanent, part-time position. Strong computer skills are required, and administrative experience is preferred. Please submit resume and cover letter to jen@sitkachamber.com or call 747-8604 for more information. Job Description |
 Alaska State Chamber Fall Conference & Policy Forum
As business owners, you all know the value of a good deal. That is why we know you will jump at a chance to save on your registration for the upcoming Alaska State Chamber Fall Conference and Legislative Policy Forum. The early bird rate for all registration levels provides drastically reduced prices for those of you willing to sign-up now to catch the proverbial worm. Visit the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce website here for the conference topics and to register today! Hurry and register, early bird registration ends Aug 20th. |
 Welcome New Member
Northland Services
(907) 747-5932
Northland Services provides freight transport between Seattle, Alaska and Hawaii.
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 Thank You Renewing Members
Channel Club
(907) 747-7440
A Sitka tradition since 1956. The Channel Club's cuisine begins with premium local products from Sitka and the Pacific Northwest. Our Main Dining Room is bordered by an open kitchen and overlooks the waters of Sitka Sound. We invite you to join us and experience Alaskan cruisine and service.
Daniel G Jones, P.E, LLC
(907) 747-6373
Civil engineering, project management, development.
The Local Pages
(801) 963-1702 TLP is dedicated to making The Best Phone Book in Town ™. We focus primarily on smaller communities, providing personalized, in-depth information specific to each coverage area. |
 Upcoming MeetingsFinance Committee Meeting Location: Sitka Chamber Board Room Date: Wednesday, August 14th Time: 4pm Sitka Chamber Board Meeting Location: Sitka Chamber Board Room Date: Wednesday, August 15th Time: 4pm Legislative and Community Affairs Committee Meeting Location: Sitka Chamber Board Room Date: Thursday, August 16th Time: 4pm |
 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 store owner 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. Copyright 2012. Reprinted with permission from Barbara Wold's Retail & Consumer Tips, mail to: bwold@ix.netcom.com.
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 Upcoming Calendar of Events
August 2012
August 15th
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - The Sitka Community Development Corporation will speak on the need for affordable housing in Sitka
August 9th to 12th
Sitka Seafood Festival - Sitka celebrates the most valuable wild food source on the planet and one of the most important industries in Sitka
August 19th
Sitka "State" Fair - The Greater Sitka Arts Council is producing the first Sitka "State" Fair at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
September 2012
September 5th
Chamber Luncheon at the Wesmark - Sitka School Board 2012 Elections Candidate Debate
September 12th
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - City Assembly 2012 Elections Candidate Debate
September 19th
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Sitka Mayor 2012 Elections Candidate Debate
September 29th
Season's End Celebration - Sitka celebrates another successful summer season with free food, music and the famous Running of the Boots!
November 9th - 12th
Sitka Artisans Market - So much more than just an Arts and Craft Show
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From The Director
What a great weekend! I hope everyone was able to enjoy the Sitka Seafood Festival this weekend. We had a great time on Saturday and I thought I would share a photograph. My son Caleb and niece Abby were very proud of themselves after successfully bobbing for fish heads! It was great to watch, but that could not talk me into trying!
I look forward to seeing everyone at lunch today! As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!
"The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get." - Jim Rohn, American Entrepreneur  | | Caleb Meyer and Abby Saiz after bobbing for fish heads. |
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Super Supporters
$3000 - $5000
Alaska Cruise Association
Sponsoring
Season's End Celebration
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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 ________________ New Archangel Dancers
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