One Free Email Blast - With your Chamber membership you now get one free Email Blast in 2014.  This service normally costs $50.  Once each month, we compile an email message, called a "Chamber Marketing Blast", containing sales and advertising messages from member firms and send it to our list of about 1,000 contacts. This is a great way to promote your products and services, especially if you time the message to support a broader promotion or campaign you are conducting this year.  If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2014 please do so soon so you can take advantage of this member benefit. Contact Jenni Masterson at jmasterson@zmchamber.com to schedule your Email Blast or for more information.

Economic Development Awards for Existing Businesses - The annual ACES awards nomination process has begun, and we encourage you to let us know about your business successes in 2013 so we can recognize your efforts (or maybe those of one of your loyal customers or suppliers).  Read up on the ACES program and submit a nomination for your company today. This program is an important part of our economic development program; a community that wants to cultivate growth must celebrate the achievements of its businesses.  Please help us be that kind of community and thank you and other businesses for your investments and improvements.

Customer Service Seminar This Week - We are offering a special live customer service seminar on Friday, January 31 from 9 am to 12 noon. The presenter will be Lisa Kristensen, who is the Guest Relations Manager at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium & Zoombezi Bay.  Lisa manages the 350 employee guest relations department at the Zoo and will share with us their approach to customer experience and satisfaction.The admission fee will be $20 for Chamber members and $40 for non members.  Visit the Chamber's web calendar to register online and for more details.

Directors Nominated - The individuals listed below have been nominated for election to three year terms expiring in February 2017 on the Chamber Board of Directors.

Ron Dennis, Dollar General Distribution Center

Richard Duncan, PNC Bank

Todd Johnson, Rankin & Rankin Insurance Services

Susan McDonald, McDonald's Greenhouse/Attorney at Law

Randy Ruggles, Proturf Lawn Treatments

Michael Steen, The Community Bank

The Board of Directors is composed of 18 elected directors serving three-year terms, six appointed directors serving one year terms and five ex officio representatives serving in voting and non voting capacities. Additional candidates for directors can be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signature of at least 50 qualified members of the Chamber of Commerce.  Such petition shall be filed with the Nominating Committee no later than 10 days after the date of this notice. If you have questions about this process please contact Tom Poorman at tpoorman@zmchamber.com. 

What Do You Get? - How can you be sure you are getting all you deserve from your Chamber membership.  Easy. Follow this member's checklist , and you will receive in services and value at least as much as you put in to your annual membership.  Are you a manufacturer or a business that just doesn't do business locally?  No problem, we have a different checklist for you. In either case, we can meet your needs.  Contact Dana Matz at dmatz@zmchamber.com with questions about any Chamber benefits and services.

Bill Of Rights...for Employers - Here's an interesting column and book review about "The Employer Bill of Rights" by author Jonathan Hyman.  Hyman's book goes through each one of these rights--offering details on the actual laws surrounding the issue. He also provides helpful information on how to keep yourself in compliance while doing the best thing for your business.

Submit Your Events - If you have an event coming up you should enter it in our online events and meetings calendar at zmchamber.com as a way to promote it.  It's free to members and it's simple to use.  There is a "submit new event" link on the right side of the calendar page.  Click it and fill in your details.  You can also find the calendar link at any time on the homepage of zmchamber.com.    

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