Member Brief Bytes
This is the place to find the latest and greatest news regarding Chamber, member and community happening and topics of interest to your business! Let us know if there is anything we can share about your business here!

The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves our business members, promotes our local assets, and shapes the future of our community.
LOOKING TO GET THE VACCINE?

Minnesota is leading the nation in vaccinations per Governor Walz's press conference last week.
If you are wanting to get registered to get vaccinated, here is the link to the vaccine connector which will notify you when a vaccine is available in your area. https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/index.jsp.
There are 500,000 more vaccines coming to MN in the next couple weeks, but they still expect demand to be greater than the supply.


Thrifty White Pharmacy is one pharmacy with a location in Annandale that may have doses available serving all ages above 16 though pre-registration is required using their website only - please do not call.
New Members 2021
ADJUST TO HEALTH CHIROPRACTIC
109 Second St S
Buffalo, MN 55313
763-684-4646

Meet D.C. Megan Rodgers, new to Adjust to Health Chiropractic in December. Megan is extremely passionate about helping families thrive and be the best version of themselves. Her specialty and area of extra training is pediatric, pre-natal and maternal care. The office provides chiropractic adjustments, ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulus of muscles and many other modalities. She is looking forward to meeting more business leaders and community members!

The office now has three chiropractors, with Dr. Warren and Heidi Zook along with Dr. Rodgers. Below you will see Megan and Warren outside their building. Did you know that your head weighs as much as a bowling ball - putting that stress on your spine.

Megan typically works the morning/day hours with Dr. Warren Zook working the afternoon/evening hours. The office hours are:

Monday: 7:30am-6:00pm
Tuesday: 11am-6:00pm
Wednesday: 7:30am- 6:00pm
Thursday: 11am- 6:00pm
Friday 6:00am-12pm
Chamber Events
CHAMBER BANQUET VIRTUAL SILENT AUCTION A SUCCESS!

Thanks to you we reached 75% of our goal of $5,000 with the sale of auction items. Thanks again to our members who sponsored the event without an event happening. Collectively we came pretty close to our monies raised last year at the in person event. Our members are the best!!

Thanks again to our sponsors: Thomes Insurance, Keller Williams MW Integrity/Kimbra Ness, Edward Jones offices, MidCountry Bank/Insurance, Bolten & Menk, Commercial Realty Solutions, State Farm/Mark Olson, State Farm/Cindy LaMont, Buffalo Art Guild, CliftonLarsonAllen and American Family Insurance.
FEEDBACC TRAINING

Get those calendars out and mark off these three Tuesdays!

Meet at Bison Creek from 11:30-1:00 and let's do some learning with Kelly Baltzell and Elyse Phillips from Positive Based Marketing!

We will do this in person and via Zoom - so it is a hybrid model. Zoom link will be sent later to those registered to attend via Zoom.

Tuesday, April 20th:
Marketing Locally: Where to market locally to be seen by people who need goods and services in our area. This would include Google My Business, Next Door, Google Maps and Google Ad Store Conversions.

Tuesday, May 4th:
My Website: With people being more virtual in the past year, your website is now your digital lobby. What should be seen, not seen or not done to be seen on other platforms.

Tuesday, May 18th:
Using Data to Manage and Hone your Marketing: Money does not grow on trees! Instead of hoping you reach your demographic audience learn how to hone your marketing based on data from your own business and from the internet to find the customer that will use your business.

  • You do not need to register for all three classes but it might be helpful to get the full picture of your marketing avenues.
  • Each class will be $25 and include lunch and some great networking opportunity. If Zooming in it will be $10. This just helps to know that you are vested in being there and Kelly can know how many to expect. The link will be emailed to those registered to Zoom in.
  • Bring your laptop or your phone so you can be working with your own digital presence and relate to what is being shared.
GOOD MORNING BUFFALO
Thursday, April 29th 8-9:00 am Verizon Wireless Zone
637 Ryans Way


Another thing to get on your calendar! It's time to get back to face to face meeting opportunities and we can do that in a retail store with masks. Owner Bob Cheney will be our host! Let's meet, greet and see what Verizon has up its sleeve for new technology this spring!
AMBASSADORS ON THE MOVE
RIGHT AT HOME
4205 Lancaster Ln N, #104
Plymouth, MN 55441
763-231-5828
Kristin Canny is fairly new to the Chamber and her new title as owner of a Franchise unit called Right at Home - a companion care business created by a hospital administrator 25 years ago who saw the need as the hospital would release people that weren't quite prepared to be independent at home. They have been in the Twin Cities for 20 years and are considered a leader in the industry. The franchise vets their owners seriously, knowing they have to be invested in the business. Often time Kristin is the one subbing in for a staff person if they can't cover their shift. She doesn't mind - she has a heart for the work! There are 10,000 a day turning 75 years old, so it is a great need as many kids with aging parents are working full time.

Kristin works in Plymouth and covers a territory north and west of there, including our Buffalo area of course. The companion services offered include respite care, meal prep, light housekeeping, medicine reminder, shopping, and just being there for someone to have conversation with or play a game of cards.

When asked what the Chamber can do for her - her response was to help her get her name out there and to refer any caregiving potential employees you might know. The hours are flexible and it can easily be a second job. Because no medical services are provided, the training is not extensive and much can be done online.

Remember Kristin and Right at Home if you know of someone who could use some companion services!
Below left to right/top to bottom: Ambassador Cheree' Hoese from CRS, myself, Ambassador Denise Koch from MidCountry and Kristin.
MEMBER HAPPENINGS
OPTIMAL FUNCTION PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS OFFERING A CLASS JUST FOR US AS CHAMBER MEMBERS - NEXT MONDAY APRIL 5th!

Whether at work, or even more so if working from home in what might be a make shift office during the pandemic, our posture is important! Having correct posture while working can help stave off the aches and pains from sitting for long periods of time. It's more than just the "get up and walk around" or "sit up straight" type information so let's meet and learn together and work work better!

Thanks Mariel for offering this special session to our members! There is a 20 person limit, so please act fast. Just email Mariel at [email protected].
RIVERS OF HOPE VIRTUAL GALA THE GREAT OUTDOORS - APRIL 16th.

For over 30 years, Rivers of Hope’s mission has been to end family violence in Sherburne and Wright Counties. As we adjust our work remotely (including our fundraisers), the needs of victim survivors continue to be our focus. The pandemic has turned everyone’s world upside down and support for those individuals experiencing relationship violence is needed now more than ever it seems. The gala is their biggest fundraising event of the year, so go ahead and register to bid and help them raise some funds virtually just as you helped the Chamber. 2022 will bring in person events back, but in the meantime the needs do not go away.

How to Participate
You can register for the auction only, which starts April 12th or enjoy the auction and purchase a ticket to the evening event on April 16th. Ticket price is $50. If purchasing a ticket you will also get a $20 gift card to a local restaurant and some treats to enjoy while watching the activities and presentation that night. :
Share the information with others and bid often! Go here for all the details and to register and/or get tickets. https://bidpartner.net/riversofhopegala/ticket-list/
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
CULVER'S OPTED NOT TO JUST GIVE A PERCENTAGE OF SALES FROM THEIR BUFFALO STRONG EVENT A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, BUT GIVE IT ALL!!

Jeremy Laxen, owner of our Buffalo Culver's, is shown here with Mayor Teri Lachermeier, Suzanne and I and Ashley Andersen of the Buffalo Hospital Foundation presenting a $15,404 check! Our Buffalo community sure is Buffalo Strong! Thank you Jeremy and Culver's for always being such a great support to our community!
SUPPORT OUR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Just go to www.877foundation.org and order up your tickets, drive through and pick up a delicious meal for you and your family! Easy peasy and monies go towards scholarships for high school seniors.
BUFFALO'S POLAR PLUNGE April 24th

There is currently 81 participants - totaling $11,500 of the $35,000 goal. They could use your help!
Go to www.plungemn.org and register to run on in!
ERIK THERWANGER HOSTING A THINK GREAT EXPERIENCE PODCAST

SUBSCRIBE here to the podcast. The show is designed to be very free-flowing – allowing guests to discuss their thoughts on achieving greatness (personally and professionally) and sharing helpful insights with our listeners. What a great way to hear people's stories that may inspire you - it's sharing greatness in our world - who couldn't use that?
A LITTLE FROM THE TOURISM SIDE OF THE WORLD!
This is an ad promoting Buffalo in the Minneapolis/St. Paul magazine! Makes you want to come here right? We are blessed to already be living/working here!
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
What monster plays the most April Fools' jokes? Prankenstein
Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
STAY CONNECTED