Expanded Services, New Dues Structure, Lunch & More

Upcoming Events Include:
12/7 - Holiday Tree Lighting
12/14 - Networking Breakfast
12/15 - Santa Photos/Gift Wrapping at Key Bank
12/21 - Photos with Santa at Chiropractic Wellness

Chamber Calendar

Free Advertising with the Chamber

Greetings!

Thank you to everyone who supported the Chamber's Diamond Awards event where we were able to thank all of those in the greater Newcastle area who work so hard to keep Newcastle thriving!! And a special thanks to our sponsors (see article below) . Without them this event would not be possible. Check out the Chamber website to find out who the winners were!

We have some great upcoming opportunities in 2013 through the Chamber to market your business, including Chamber Luncheon Spotlight Business Sponsors, Chamber Breakfast Sponsors, Chamber Business After Hours Sponsors. See the Sponsorship Opportunities article below for details.

Please join us on Wednesday, December 12th at 11 am at Tapatio's for our Chamber's luncheon where we will have an opportunity to network and have the privilege of listening in to Jeff Piha with Sweeney Conrad who provides tax and advisory services to privately held businesses and their owners - we can't wait to hear from him some gems of information, especially in light of the recent election results. If you haven't already RSVP'd for lunch (lunch is $20 for Chamber Members & $25 for Non-Chamber Members), please RSVP to info@newcastlecc.com

Looking back at this year the Chamber Board has been looking for ways to expand our Chamber and provide more benefits for our Members so it is more sustainable for the future. For those that don't know, the Chamber has been in operation since 1999 but it's been an all volunteer non-profit organization this entire time. We've been relying on generous community leaders to join the Board and volunteer their time in working hard to provide networking events and marketing opportunities at a very minimal cost. See the Chamber Expands Services article below for information about important changes in 2013, including a new tiered membership dues structure.

Thank you for your continued support of economic development in Newcastle!

Your Newcastle Chamber Board

Thank You to Diamond Award Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

and

Gold Sponsors

Newcastle News - Business Award Sponsor

Puget Sound Energy - Citizenship Award Sponsor

Sweeney Conrad, P.S. - Employee Award Sponsor

The Golf Club at Newcastle - Customer Service Award Sponsor

Valley Medical Center - Community Leadership Award Sponsor

Waste Management - Education Award Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Coal Creek Family YMCA

Communities in Schools of Renton

King and Bunnys Appliances

Sponsorship Opportunities in 2013!

Chamber Luncheon Spotlight Business Sponsors:

For $200 you can be the Spotlight Business Sponsor for one of the Newcastle Chamber luncheons in 2013! You will be provided with 5 minutes during the meeting to market your business, you are the only business allowed to place flyers/information at the event for all attendees place settings and you are able to provide a door prize for the attendees! Please email info@newcastlecc.com in order to get signed up to sponsor a month or more in 2013!

Chamber Breakfast Sponsors:

Opportunities for businesses to co-sponsor for $200 with Regency Newcastle to support the first ever Newcastle Chamber Breakfast events that will be on the 4th Wednesday of the month, January 2013 through October 2013. We are planning to run the event at 7:30 am to 8:30 am, with special speakers that will be coming to discuss a variety of subjects applicable to businesses and business professionals. These events will be held at the Regency Newcastle where they will be providing breakfast for everyone that RSVP's. Thank you Regency Newcastle! If you are interested in sponsoring a Chamber Breakfast, or if you would like to learn more, please email info@newcastlecc.com

Chamber Business After Hours Sponsors:

And, we have host and sponsorship opportunities available for businesses to support After Hours Events throughout 2013! It's a great way to showcase your business and invite Chamber Members to learn more about your business. If you don't have office space, the Chamber Board will help to connect you with other Chamber Members where space can be shared. If you are interested in sponsoring an After Hours Event, or if you would like to learn more, please email info@newcastlecc.com

Chamber Expands Services in 2013!

Do you remember the survey that you filled out in 2011? Well, as a result of you asking for more opportunities for marketing, networking and education to help your businesses, the Board has decided to move forward in hiring a part-time Executive Director. In hiring someone to be the consistent face of the Chamber we will be able to keep the Chamber sustainable through Board Member transitions and provide more opportunities for:

Networking breakfast events
More marketing throughout the local community
Hold business after hours events
Continue to support annual events such as: Earth Day, Newcastle Days and the Health & Safety Fair
Have more educational opportunities to keep us appraised of current trends & changes in the economy
Add more opportunities for Chamber businesses to market their companies, there are future opportunities such as a Healthy Kids Day and holding Business Orientated Educational events.

There is a cost when it comes to hiring someone, so the annual dues will be increasing, but you will be pleased to know that they will still be less than other Chambers and we are sure you will find that the cost will be a bargain for the amount of networking, marketing and educational opportunities that will be opening up to help your bottom line and in developing personal relationships that are lasting.

It's time for the greater Newcastle area business to move to the next level in supporting economic development in our local community, so please join us in continuing to support the Chamber and keep Newcastle and our businesses thriving!

New Tiered Dues Structure in 2013!

The cost for a small business with 1 to 5 full time employees will be $185 a year, which is comparable to placing an advertisement in the newspaper, but with the Chamber you will be able to have year long marketing through the website and networking events, along with sponsorship opportunities that will allow you company a unique exposure to the greater Newcastle community that can't be done by any other means.

The 2013 Membership Fee Schedule can be found on the Chamber Website, along with the Membership Application Form.

5 Chamber Networking Breakfast-Dec. 14th!

Join members of the Greater Issaquah, Sammamish, Mercer Island, Newcastle and Snoqualmie Valley Chambers of Commerce at this great networking breakfast event! It's a great place to make new contacts! See the Chamber Website for details.

Chamber Board Changes for 2013

We are very excited to introduce Mary VonRanker (CedarMist Healing Arts), and Jenna Boerboom (Apple Physical Therapy) who will be joining the Chamber Board for a three year term beginning in 2013. They are joined by Peter Zevenbergen (The Legacy Group), Karin Blakley (Waddell & Reed) and Angela Wingate (Puget Sound Energy) who will continue serving on the Board for another three year term beginning in 2013.

A huge thank you to our Board Members that will be leaving. They have all put in years of volunteer service to help our Chamber by supporting marketing, networking and education opportunities for Members. They are: Larry Betch (community volunteer), Bill Burris (NW Senior Medical & Legal) and Sandra Wixon (Sweet Decadence) - THANK YOU!!

If any Chamber Member should have any questions or petition against this please email info@newcastlecc.com by Monday, December 10th at 5 pm

Chamber Discount with Constant Contact!

Newcastle Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Constant Contact, to provide a special discount. If you prepay for six months, you receive a 20% discount. Prepay for a year and save 25%! See the Chamber Website for details!

Education Corner

How to Market Your Business

www.ehow.com

If you have a great product or service the next step is to identify potential customers, get their business and keep them satisfied. Marketing your business means communicating the value of your product or service to potential customers and strengthening your relationship with existing customers. Many marketing techniques provide the consistent exposure, customer service and reputation-building activities required to develop a strong brand.

Distribute well-designed business cards. Use color, texture and placement to make your cards stand out.
Develop themed collateral. For example, your brochures, business cards, stationery, sales letters and other documents should follow your color theme and include your logo. A cohesive group of materials helps you establish your brand. Include the same elements in your business website.
Attend trade shows. Trade shows allow business owners to promote their products or services at industry-related events. Typically, a business owner purchases a booth that gives him space to demonstrate his product or discuss his service. Attend a show, collect potential customer information and distribute marketing materials.
Network at your local chamber of commerce. Chambers of commerce give you the opportunity to network with other business owners and potential customers. You can join your local chamber for a fee. The Newcastle Chamber offers a variety of opportunities for businesses to engage each other and market their business please email info@newcastlecc.com for more information!
Build a relationship with your local media outlets. Contact your local news and radio stations when you have a newsworthy story. Distribute press releases to gain attention. Contact a public relations specialist to increase your exposure.
Distribute useful, high-visibility promotional items. Contact a promotional items manufacturer to order items such as mugs, calendars, refrigerator magnets or pens. Promotional items include the name and number of your business. If they're useful objects, they tend to stay with potential customers longer than cards. High-visibility items, such as wall or refrigerator calendars, are convenient and provide a quick reference should a potential customer need your services.

Free Advertising with the Chamber	Do you have an announcement, upcoming seminar, workshop or general information that you would like to include in our next email? We have an on-line form on the Chamber Website to make it easier for you to tell us about it. Go to "About the Chamber" - "Submit News/Event". Send it to us by the 22nd of the month if you want it in the next newsletter!