Chamber Updates May 5, 2021
Chamber Members-
 
COVID vaccine #2? Check! Reds and Cubs at the bottom of the NL Central? Check! Marriage proposal? Check! Newsletter written & distributed? Check! Month of May list of events organized? Check! 

What? Wait...Yes, you are correct...you heard it here first unless we have talked recently or you saw it on social media over the last couple of weeks That's right, I proposed to my now fiancé Patti a couple of weeks ago at Vinoklet Winery. The most common question that gets asked..."But did she say yes?" If you've seen us together you know the answer to that question; she's still beaming from ear to ear. Thanks for all the support and well wishes, a date has not been set, but a little bird told me that it would likely be late summer or early fall this year. 

We all have decisions to make each day that are YES-NO in nature, most of them fairly simple: Coffee? Watch a movie? Take the dog for a walk? Do you have your mask? Sometimes the questions get more challenging, and we have to contemplate before answering: Should we stop for gas? Can we afford that trip to ______ this year? Should we hire that last person we interviewed? I have often talked about and suggested that saying YES as often as possible is best, not because NO is a necessarily a negative response, but rather because YES offers so much in the way of possibilities. Patti and I have a lifetime of YES ahead of us, regardless of if it is 5, 10, or 25 or more years...I'm glad she said yes.

Among the more challenging YES-NO questions today surrounds this thing we have been dealing with for over a year now. Do we get the vaccine? Do we go out to eat again? Do we travel by plane? Do we attend in-person chamber events again? Will there even be in-person chamber events? The answer to the last question is a resounding YES!...with a caveat. We have programmed in person events and will continue to do so given the tremendous feedback received and as long as those in attendance both feel comfortable in doing so and show up. Last week's New Member Reception at Clovernook Country Club had a significant amount of energy that evening; those of you in the room can attest to that. Our board of directors will meet in person for the first time since our November strategic planning session and the planned events (like the upcoming Hometown Hero, Third Thursday's, Sales Summit and Women's Networking Luncheon) should present an opportunity to Connect, Support and Celebrate within our Chamber community...all of them in person.

Please understand that ZOOM opportunities will still be available. Based on our continued success with the PIVOT program (People Interacting Virtually Over Technology) where another 20 people came together this past Friday morning, and time saving benefits of video conferencing, we will look for ways to be innovative in our approach. However, please recognize that without YOUR involvement or feedback somewhere along the line, we can only go the direction that those saying YES take us.

Please say YES by renewing your membership, by sponsoring or attending an event, or by saying YES to whatever request comes from our TEAMS leaders...TEAMS = Together Everyone Achieves More Support. We have 20 Ambassadors who have said YES to leading this effort and who believe that relationship building can be foundational to your business success. When they reach out to invite you to coffee, a Zoom call, or a opportunity to meet other in an informal way, will you consider saying YES?

All the best!

Dave
Welcome New Members
The Colerain Chamber of Commerce membership is quite diverse bringing together local businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, and governmental bodies. Now with over 200 organizations, we continue to grow because each of your increased efforts to share your experiences. The following video was created at last year’s Hometown Hero event. Enjoy ! - NEW CHAMBER VIDEO – Please share this with your team and others interested in looking for involvement in the community.
 
We generally announce new members on our Facebook Page and through this newsletter. Please welcome and support our new members just since our last newsletter!   Additionally, we want to thank our newest sustaining sponsor Arlington Memorial Gardens for increasing their support for the chamber by becoming a Network Sponsor.
 
Chamber Programming
Tuesday May 11th, 12:00 noon – Women's Networking Luncheon – Hosted by Holiday Inn Express - Our women's networking group continues to grow and would like to extend an invitation to each of you that would like to join us. Share experiences and talk about issues (good and bad) that may be affecting working women.!
Our lunch conversations each month may include topics like personal branding, work/life balance, letting go of perfectionism, making your words count, and asking for what you want. Please RSVP to the Colerain Chamber by Monday May 10th so we know you're joining our lunch-in


Wednesday, May 12th, 9-11 am. Sales Summit
The Sales Summit is going to meet in person for the first time since COVID-19 hit, with Randy Wheeler (Indianapolis) as our guest speaker & host for the morning. We will meet next Wednesday in the Township Office (off the Rotunda) at 4200 Springdale Rd (not in the Colerain Chamber of Commerce building) and this will be a two-hour extended session that you won't want to miss. Please come out and support this event.
Randy has put together a brief video preview and you can register by accepting this meeting or registering on the details link below. Either way, we look forward to seeing you as we talk about "story-telling" as part of the sales process and play the John C Maxwell Leadership Game - Sales Edition. This will prove to be one of the more interactive and engaging sessions we've had so far. 
8:30-9:00am - Continental Breakfast & Informal Networking
9:00-10:00am - Storytelling in the Buyers Journey
10:00-11:00am - Leadership Game - Sales Edition

Wednesday May 19th, 4:30 Colerain Chamber Golf League (weekly on Wednesday) - The Colerain Chamber of Commerce Golf League is "teeing off" its second year with social golf in a competitive 9 hole format; both men and women are encouraged to play. The league will continue for 18 weeks at the scenic Pebble Creek Golf Course (front 9 one week, back 9 the next) with tee times beginning around 4:30pm each Wednesday. There are only a couple of spots left available for weekly regular players, however, additional players will be able to sign up as weekly "alternate" positions that will be assigned based on available week to week. Every skill level is welcome, this is social completion with play intended to meet each playing level. If you would like one of the open spots, please contact Dave Moravec at 513-923-5036 or [email protected] with any questions.

Details:
  • This is intended to be a social league with an opportunity to network with other members of the Colerain Chamber community.
  • Players will be matched up differently each week to allow for maximum networking and variety.
  • Non-chamber members are welcome to participate.

 
Thursday May 20th, 5:00-6:30 – Third Thursday Networking  - All Colerain Chamber Members are invited out to get together for informal networking and socializing every Third Thursday of the month. This month we will be at new chamber member Whitewater Crossing for a good old fashioned barbeque, James Gray-style! Who knows what's in store for us as James fires up the grill; be sure to bring your appetite! Drop by from 5:00pm - 7:30 pm to check it out and have a great time!

Whitewater Crossing
5771 State Rt. 128 (just off exit of I-275)
Cleves, OH


 
Thursday May 27th, 4:30pm-6:30pm – Emerging Leaders Event
Are you looking to get connected with other young Business Professionals? The Benison Events & Coworking is hosting a Young Professionals Event on Thursday, May 27th in cooperation with the Hamilton and Fairfiled Chambers of Commerce Young Professionals groups.

Jim Goodman, Certified Cicerone and CEO/Co-Founder of Municipal Brew Works, will be discussing all things beer and how they repurposed an architectural gem to bring back a rich brewing history to the greater Hamilton area. Also, come to network and share your business ideas with other young professionals during your free tastings. "Drop Your Card" at the event for a chance to win a FREE Month of Coworking at The Benison (one winner will be drawn). Tickets are $10, you can Register Here


SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, June 17th , 5:00pm – 9:00pm Hometown Hero
This year's event will be held at Willow Event Center. Food trucks, craft beer & wine along with a return of the popular bourbon tasting VIP experience will help make this an incredibly special evening that you won’t want to miss.
One of our honorees this year will be Rob Bilott, author of the book "Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer's Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont" which inspired the 2019 blockbuster movie, "Dark Waters” starring Mark Ruffalo. Rob was named by The New York Times Magazine as “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare”. Rob currently sits on the board of directors of Green Umbrella here in Cincinnati and continues his efforts to serve on behalf of our environment. We will also be celebrating other local heroes from the community as we have done in years past. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Dave Moravec at [email protected] or 513-923-5036
Together Everyone Achieves More Support
Small Group Initiative
As you may have already seen or heard, our small group initiative has recently kicked off. Each key person within our membership and some that are new or kicking the tires (so to speak) will be contacted by a small group ambassador with the intention of building on and expanding relationships within the community. Using our Support-Connect-Celebrate foundational Core Focus, each team will have a different personality, meeting cadence, and participation experience based on the leadership of that group and its participants. If you have not been contacted by the end of March or are interested in more information, please contact the chamber office where Debi or Dave can help you plug in. Again, a special thanks to the 20+ leaders who have stepped up as volunteers to make this an integral part of our chamber community.
Team Up to Green Up
An initiative is underway in partnership with Colerain Township and many other organizations to help our community environmentally. This green movement is being spearheaded by several area companies & chamber members, governmental bodies as well as organizations like Green Umbrella and Hamilton County Waste & Recycling. If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please contact Dave Moravec, Geoff Milz [email protected] or Dean Ferrier from Rumpke at [email protected] .
Growth Forum - New
Businesses across the Colerain community have been challenged this past 12 months as they have with the Y2K phenomenon and the 2007 recession. That said, daily businesses hurdles exist on a day-to-day basis, and sometimes you just need a professional to talk you through the options or provide some guidance.
 
The newly formed GROWTH FORUM will be making an announcement shortly about FREE consultation available to business owners that are members in the Colerain Chamber of Commerce. This will be a “no-strings-attached” consultative engagement and no topic will be off-limits in a confidential setting. The only limitation will be your willingness to be a bit more vulnerable than you might otherwise be and your openness to fresh ideas from consultative professionals with a variety of experiences. If you are interested in more information, contact Dave Moravec, or watch for more information to follow soon.
Emerging Leaders
More information about the group can be found on the Chamber landing page Facebook page.
 
 
MISSION
“Emerging Leaders of Colerain fosters the young entrepreneurial spirit by offering opportunities for networking, mentorship, education, and leadership development. We strive to challenge each other with our diverse perspectives while working together to bring growth to the surrounding Colerain business community.”
Member Benefits
Support our local Staples Store with discounts that will help you save money!
Marketing Opportunities
SPONSORSHIPS OF EVENTS
We have resumed sponsorships of our Third Thursday & Educational in-person events. If you would like to be a sponsor ($300) on a one-time or ongoing basis, or would like to be the host site for our networking events, please contact Dave Moravec directly. Planning of the 2021 schedule is ongoing, so get your business name and visibility out there as soon as possible! We are looking for locations that can host as many as 50 or more people due to the increased interest in this event. We are specifically looking for businesses that can:
  • Provide a quality networking experience with a safe and business friendly atmosphere (Connect)
  • Encourage business participation through promotion (Celebrate)
  • Model the Colerain Chamber of Commerce initiatives (Support)
 
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
Simply put, we would like for you to LIKE us and FOLLOW us on Facebook and LinkedIn so that you can be aware of current happenings across the Colerain Chamber community. We continue to highlight our members and recognize our newest members on Facebook as soon as we possibly can. We will continue to post between 30-40 times per month on Facebook but need information on ways to promote your business. Send us links, promotions and local events in a timely way.
 
PROMO ITEM/GIFT CARD MARKETING
We continue to look for ways to promote your business through…
  • Promotional items for membership bags - Your logo'd item can be placed in a membership bag along with other chamber members "trinkets". There is no cost to do this, simply provide the Chamber with 25-50-100 items and we will include them with other chamber member items. Coordinate with Dave or Debi.
  • Gift cards or services certificates - If your business would like to provide the Chamber with $10-$25-$50 gift cards or a gift certificate for product/services to be used as giveaways at our upcoming Hometown Hero event or at an upcoming Third Thursday event, please let us know.
 
As always, we want to promote your business in any way that we can. If you have news that you would like to share with our membership, please send it along for us to post on Facebook or in our newsletter.
 Opportuniti
 RIBBON CUTTING EVENTS
As always, we want to promote your business in any way that we can. If you have a milestone event or grand opening planned, we would love to help you promote your business across the community. If you have news that you would like to share with our membership, please send it along for us to post on Facebook or in our newsletter.
 
LOGOS and BRANDING
As you may have seen, several new branding initiatives are in place with our various small groups. If you are interested in joining or hearing more about any of these groups please contact Dave Moravec, [email protected].
Thank You to Our Sponsors
President Level Sustaining Sponsor
Team Level Sustaining Sponsors
Colerain Chamber of Commerce | www.ColerainChamber.org