Among the Chamber's best promotional tools are our members who are deeply engaged and enthusiastic about our programs and services. That's what drives the Chamber Ambassadors, a program where our members serve as liaisons between the organization and our current and potential members. Ambassadors meet with members and prospective members to help them understand the benefits of Chamber membership, and to assist the Chamber in developing programs and services to better meet their needs.

Are you interested in growing your local connections and expanding the Chamber family by serving as a Chamber Ambassador? Membership Sales Representative Sheila Peek can provide more information at sheilap@tcchamber.org

Or click here to learn more about the Chamber Ambassadors.

We're just two weeks out from one of the Chamber's biggest events of the year - the annual Chamber Golf Outing!

The Michigan Department of Transportation is continuing to develop reconstruction plans for Division Street in Traverse City. Residents and business owners are invited to MDOT's next Public Input Open House Session scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, from 4 - 7 p.m. in Kirkbride Hall at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.  Check out the latest design concepts and offer your input.

"Pints & Politics" is a new Chamber event that premieres in August, offering our members an opportunity to meet with their legislative leaders in an informal setting to help them gain insight into the issues facing the local business community. Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City will host Pints & Politics on:

• August 24 with state and federal officials
• September 24 with Traverse City officials
• October 19 with Grand Traverse County officials

Leadership at the Movies is a new Chamber program launched this year offering leadership lessons and messages through classic films as interpreted by a series of dynamic speakers. The third installment is coming up September 9, presented by Barbara Ellis of the Center for Coaching & Leadership Development. It's entitled "The Transformational Power of a Leader" based on the movie classic Braveheart starring Mel Gibson.

Is your company maximizing the marketing and promotional tools available through your membership in the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce?  Get to Know Your Chamber is a quarterly event that helps our members learn how to promote themselves through the Chamber. The Chamber's Business Directory is widely utilized by the public and the business community as a resource for connecting with Northern Michigan businesses. You can use it to promote special deals, post videos, list job openings, publish news releases and much more. Plus you can learn about meeting rooms and other resources here at the Chamber that are available to your company.

The application deadline is looming for the Fall 2015 semester of Leadership Grand Traverse. Applications are needed by August 21 for the fall program, which kicks off in mid-September.

Leadership Grand Traverse is the Chamber's signature leadership development program that's helped hundreds of participants move in to prominent leadership roles in the community for almost 40 years. LGT takes a close-up look at the institutions and organizations that make our community special. Class members learn about state and local government, education, arts and culture, natural resources and more. They build lifetime connections with classmates and gain a fresh perspective on what makes our community unique.

Scholarship opportunities are also available. Access the application form here.

Chamber Leadership Programming is supported by:

Networks Northwest is creating a US-131 Corridor Plan impacting residents and businesses in Kalkaska and Antrim counties and needs input from the business community.

Information and ideas from the local business community is a key element to the project. The questionnaire just takes a few minutes to complete, and will help generate insights into Kalkaska's business environment and potential that will be critical in planning for future economic growth and opportunity.

Here's a link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/kalkaskabusiness

The award-winning Traverse City SCORE chapter offers free monthly workshops offering valuable information for small business operators in Northern Michigan.  Upcoming events include:

• August 11 - How to Get a Smart Start for Your New Business
• September 8 - Three Steps to Savvy Business Planning