Member Brief Bytes
The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves our business members,
promotes our local assets, and shapes the future of our community.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
DEREK LARSON & PATTY PERFETTI ARE READY TO ASSIST YOU!
CHAMBER EVENTS
BUFFALO COMMUNITY CENTER
(Across the street from the Chamber office - please park in the large City lot off of 1st Avenue)
NEXT Thursday, May 18th 8:00 a.m.

If you haven't been in the Community Center recently, now is the time to come and see and hear about all the changes! The interior and exterior have been updated and there are now programs for all ages - not just seniors! There is a totspot, a teen zone, a coffee group...there are movie nights, game nights, and training sessions...so many things going on - you have to come to hear all about it!

Meet Adam Leiferman and Teri Welter, the brains behind it all and enjoy networking and sipping on some coffee and enjoying tasty treats!
ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT IS FULL!

Thank you to all who registered to swing their clubs to raise money for high school scholarships!

HAVE A RAFFLE PRIZE TO DONATE?
If you have something small you would like to donate - we will be happy to take it! We can pick up a gift card, small item, something fun for the golfers to win as a raffle prize - all goes towards the cause!

THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS!

Tournament Level: Bolton & Menk, Coborn's, E&M Outdoor, Edward Jones, MidCountry Bank/Insurance, Old National Bank, Shelter Construction, The Clinic for Medical Aesthetics and Whirltronics.

Cart Sponsors: Allina, Bankwest, Insurance Brokers of MN/Mike Zumbusch/Mark Robinson

Hole in One: Insurance Center of Buffalo

Platinum Level: CLA, Huikko's Entertainment Center, Morries Buffalo Ford, North Star Real Estate Group, Optimal Function Physical Therapy, Play It Again Sports, ServPro of Wright County, State Farm/Troy Crank

Gold Level: American Family/Chris Chapman, Arvig, Buffalo Bail Bonds, Commercial Realty Solutions, EDM, Inspire Advisors, Natural Roots Salon, Prime Advertising and State Farm/Mark Olson

Silver Level: Copeland-Buhl and Milestone Medicare

Bronze Level: Family Counseling Center, Kid's Haven, Lakeside Academy, Olson Chiropractic and Smith Paulson O'Donnell Erickson

Putting Game: Anchor Realty/Tina Anderson, Homeowners Financial Group (new member!)
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NEED SOME SEASONAL HELP OR WANT TO ATTRACT HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEES?

If you are looking for some help from a high school age student, send us your job requirements/posting via email and we will get a job posting up for you on the high school bulletin board. There is still 4 weeks of school left to get their attention!

SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING

We had a full room yesterday, for the first of a two part free luncheon series on social media. Though our technology didn't cooperate, Tori Peitz, from Red Technologies, led the group with great discussions and gave one on one help with the final outcome for most, of posting a reel to their Instagram account. We meet again on the 23rd and will make it another hands on/question answering day. Thank you to those who attended. One small piece of information learned is always a good thing!
WHEN IT'S O.K. TO BE CLINGY!

As you are out and about do you make a purpose to do business with only other Chamber members? Do you recognize and thank the businesses that are fellow members? When you walk in the door of a business- take note!

Do you need a cling for your door? Let us know and we will deliver one to you. Do you have a cling on your door? Snap a photo and send it to us.
Thank you to Refine Pilates and Setterberg Jewelers for proudly displaying their membership!
NEW MEMBERS 2023
RTA, LLC
Kimball, MN
701-367-0813

We welcome Ryan Andvik, owner, to our Chamber! Ryan started RTA in 2018 after striping some family member businesses. Neighboring businesses inquired, word spread, and before he knew it he's now been happily striping for over 5 years! When he started, he didn't know that he would specialize full time in striping, so he used his initials for the paperwork - thus making RTA the name of his company.

Striping what you ask? Ryan stripes parking lots (new layouts or re-striping), paint curbs and bollards, layout playground games and basketball courts, and helps businesses make sure they are compliant with ADA regulations. He can stripe, restripe, help design the layout and remove pavement markings.

Ryan takes a lot of pride in his work. It sounds silly, but the easiest way he can ensure people understand, is to tell them that his lines are straight and parallel (you would be surprised how my times he sees otherwise). It may not be glamourous, but Ryan treats every opportunity like doing it for family.

Ryan is excited to be a member and looks forward to connecting with other business leaders. He did his research and attended the State of the City luncheon and a Good Afternoon Buffalo and found the Buffalo Chamber members to be very welcoming.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MN
4181 108th Ave NE, Blaine
651-662-2217

Abel Ebane is our Buffalo territory representative for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of MN. This non-profit insurance company has been a part of our state's benefit offerings for 90 years with a goal of providing healthcare to everyone at the right time, rate and for the right reasons. It is the number one choice amongst Medicare-eligible individuals in Minnesota.

Abel's role here, is to provide advisory services to Medicare-eligible individuals, families, and those looking for health or travel insurance coverage. He enjoys engaging with people and uses a consultative approach - always looking to understand their needs before making any recommendations. If you know someone in the area, he can serve, give him a shout! Welcome Abel!
AMBASSADORS ON THE MOVE
BANKWEST
311 10th Ave S

If you live anywhere in the area, you will know of Bankwest. With three locations - Buffalo/Hanover/Rockford - they are hard to miss! They are also hard to miss as they have been in business for 43 years! They started first in Rockford when they purchased Rockford State Bank, then grew to Hanover and have now been in Buffalo for 21 years. It is family owned, with Shirley Huston owning it and son, Steve, being CEO. They and their 40 employees have done a wonderful job in serving their local customers.

They offer all a bank offers and more! I know from personal and professional experience that they work with their customers to help them be successful. Besides business banking/loans and consumer banking/loans they also have home mortgages covered as well. Fun fact that our Ambassadors learned- they have a coin counting machine which is becoming a thing of the past!

Having a legacy of caring for their customers - both in personal and commercial banking - has been their motto since day one. Their core values are integrity, respect, performance, professional responsibility and personal responsibility. Their goal is to make sure to take care of their customers, their staff, and the community that they serve. They enjoy working with local charities and the schools in each community as well.

The day the Ambassadors stopped in they met with Shaun Corbin, Branch Manager and VP of Commercial Lending. Seen below are Ambassadors Jennifer Carlson/American Family Chris Chapman, Jackie Crever/Farmers Insurance and Krystal Fair/ServPro. Then you see bank employees Mark Corbert, Jackie Rassat, Toni Rausch, Justine Stephens and Shaun.
BUSINESS INFORMATION
THE IRS ISN'T CALLING YOU, TEXTING YOU OR EMAILING YOU EITHER!

Your phone rings and it's someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. Ominously, they say the police will be knocking on your door in minutes if you don't pay your taxes right then and there. Don't fall for it. It's not the IRS getting in touch with you.

Since 2018, more than 75,000 victims have lost $28 million to scammers impersonating the IRS over the phone, email, texts and more. And there are other types of tax scams altogether, like phony tax preparers and tax identity theft.

Texts or emails that say "Your account has been put on hold" or "Unusual Activity Report" with a fake link to solve the problem is another scam. Clicking on links in scam emails or texts can lead to identity theft or ransomware getting installed on your phone or computer.

How the IRS will really contact you
If the IRS contacts you, they're never going to contact you first via email or telephone — they're going to contact you in writing a letter. A call or a visit usually only happens after several letters, the IRS says — so unless you've ignored a bunch of letters about your unpaid taxes, that caller claiming to be from the IRS is probably lying. The IRS won't threaten to have the police arrest you or demand that you make an immediate payment with a specific payment type.

Taxpayers can always question or appeal what they owe, according to the IRS. Caller ID can be faked, so don't think it's real just because the caller ID says IRS. If you think a caller claiming to be from the IRS might be real, the IRS says you should ask them for their name, badge number and callback number, which you can verify with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration by calling 1-800-366-4484. Then, you can either call the IRS back or report the scammer here.
MEMBER/COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
ANNUAL ONLINE YARD SALE FUNDRAISER

Ends this Friday May 12th at 4:30
Items can be picked up on site starting Saturday, May 3rd at 9 a.m.

Find some new, slightly used, some handmade - all unique items that you didn't know you needed and help support the free summer programming that the Society does for all ages!

The link to bid is on the Society website: www.WrightHistory.org
It's allergy season again? You've got to be pollen my leg!
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
Did you know you can promote your business on the Chamber website?
Share your deals and promotions in Hot Deals
Post your job opening in Job Search
Post your events on Event Calendar
Login to add your deal, job or event.

If you don't remember your password - just login and reset it.
Call us if you need help!
Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
Sue@BuffaloChamber.org 
STAY CONNECTED