Chamber Corner

HCCC
The Chamber's 40th Birthday Bash
Mark your calendars now for a great night of networking with friends old and new. There will be plenty of opportunity to reminisce about business then and now, the people who made the chamber happen and those who are carrying the torch today.
The celebration will happen on June 10 at the Spear Center in the General Growth Properties (GGP) building in Columbia, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Party Dolls will perform music through the decades. Ample food and drink will be available. The Premier Sponsor for the event is PNC Bank. Register at www.howardchamber.com.

Annual Meeting:
New Chair, New Board Members
The 40th Annual Meeting of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce was a celebration of success. Joseph Mezzanotte was appointed the new chairman of the board, succeeding Mark Cissell of Katz Abosch. In his remarks, Mezzanotte stressed the chamber's role and resources in helping businesses navigate the current recession while unveiling its plan to become a premier resource for the expanding government contracting community.
A new slate of board members was announced. They include Cathy Bell of Brdancat Enterprises, Miles Coffman of M&T Bank, Lori Moore of Science Applications International Corp., Barbara Nicklas of GGP and Eric Nass of Stronghold Advisors. Congratulations to all of the new board members.
Other officers include Elizabeth Rendon of LinguaLISTek, chair-elect; Marc Rubin of Berman Goldman & Ribakow, treasurer; and Ron Meliker of The Kane Co., secretary.
Mezzanotte also thanked the outgoing board members for their years of service, including Darren Ellegood of Dreyer's/Edy's Grand Ice Cream, Laura McInerney of 1-800-905-Geek, William Rowe of Petrie Ross Ventures and Karen Schonfeld of M&T Bank.

New Employee Benefit: Reduced Energy Costs
The chamber's Residential Energy Co-op allows members to save up to one month's energy costs. Enrollment for the co-op is ongoing and employees of current chamber member organizations are, therefore, still eligible to join. This is an excellent time to seek pricing for electricity and natural gas supply services.
Members and their employees interested in enrolling in the co-op should go to the chamber web site home page at www.howardchamber.com, click on "Energy Purchasing Co-Op," then click on "New Residential Co-Op." The chamber will be holding several free information sessions. Check www.howardchamber.com for dates. Call 410-730-4111 for more information.

Chamber Cup Classic Rescheduled
The Chamber Cup Classic has been rescheduled for Aug. 4. Additional details will be available soon. If you're interested in playing a round of golf with more than 120 of Howard County's business leaders, visit www.howardchamber.com to register.


BWCC
How to Choose a
Chamber of Commerce
Are you thinking about joining a chamber of commerce? There are many organizations to choose from; the hard part is deciding which one(s) to join. Following these steps will make your selection easier.
Identify two or three chambers in your market. That might be where your business is located/where you want to do business.
Call the chamber office. Did someone answer the phone or did you get voicemail? If you had to leave a message, how long did it take someone to return your call?
If you got through to a live person, what's your first impression? Was the person friendly, professional and helpful or did you feel as if you were an interruption?
Identify your reasons for joining a chamber. They may include obtaining referrals, finding networking and marketing opportunities, garnering discounts on products and services, and locating business resources and information.
Visit the chamber web site. Is it easy to navigate? What events are scheduled? What types of committees are available? Is there a directory of members for you to view?
Is there an orientation program offered? Attending this type of program is a great way to get a first-hand introduction to the chamber.
Meet the chamber staff. Are they professional and enthusiastic about helping members succeed? Ask questions to determine how responsive, supportive and resourceful the staff will be to you as a member.
How large is the chamber? Evaluate this three ways:
- The number of companies that are members.
- The size of the companies.
- The territory that the chamber covers. If you only want to do business and meet people in your immediate area, then the chamber closest to you may be a good choice; to broaden your market, consider joining a regional chamber.
What do members say? Ask for member feedback or ask for the names and numbers of a few members that you can call to learn how they value their membership.
How active are members in the chamber? If networking is a goal, find out what kinds of events are offered, how often they run and how well attended they are.
Consider educational programs. Are seminars offered that will help educate you/your staff throughout the year? Are there opportunities for you to present a seminar?
How entrepreneurial is the chamber? Does the leadership seem stuck on doing things the way they always have or is there a spirit of addressing members' needs and proactively changing with the times? Ask what new initiatives have been instituted in the past year or two.
Is the chamber a resource center? Does the chamber view itself as an informational hub for members? Would you feel comfortable calling the staff and asking a question?
What benefits come with membership? Ask what you get with your membership. Some items to look for may include a membership directory; a free listing of your company in the next issue/on the chamber web site; and a discount program that saves you money on products, services and events, among others.
How active will you be as a member? What ongoing support does the chamber offer members? Does the membership director offer ongoing coaching support and help in creating customized marketing plans to help members get the most out of their membership?
Membership cost. This is a key issue, but it is purposely at the bottom of this list. If you only compare the cost to join, you may shortchange yourself and end up joining an organization that fits your budget, but not your needs.

To learn about membership in the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC), attend the free Membership 101 class held monthly at the BWCC office. For dates and directions, contact Nancy LaJoice, 301-725-4000, ext. 109, or nancy@baltwashchamber.org.





Columbia Foundation Scholarship Winners Announced


More than 60 members and guests attended the 63rd Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Howard County on April 27 at Aida Bistro, where County Executive Ken Ulman was the featured speaker.
Lu Pierson, president of the League of Women Voters of Maryland, commended the local leaguers for their ability to work effectively with both local and state government officials. Elected to serve as officers for 2009-11 are Grace Kubofcik, president; Patricia Laidig, 1st vice president; Jean Israel, 2nd vice president; and Jennifer Berman, treasurer.
Elected to one-year terms as directors are Jim Adams, Sue Brown, Arline Calaby, Lillie Gallant, Alice Giles, Andrea Gruhl, Pat Hooker, Cathy Hudson, Janet Oaks, Barbara Russell, Anne Towne and Ruth Zlotowitz.
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to all women and men of voting age. For more information, call 410-730-0142.





League of Women Voters Elects Officers
for 2009-11


More than 60 members and guests attended the 63rd Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Howard County on April 27 at Aida Bistro, where County Executive Ken Ulman was the featured speaker.
Lu Pierson, president of the League of Women Voters of Maryland, commended the local leaguers for their ability to work effectively with both local and state government officials. Elected to serve as officers for 2009-11 are Grace Kubofcik, president; Patricia Laidig, 1st vice president; Jean Israel, 2nd vice president; and Jennifer Berman, treasurer.
Elected to one-year terms as directors are Jim Adams, Sue Brown, Arline Calaby, Lillie Gallant, Alice Giles, Andrea Gruhl, Pat Hooker, Cathy Hudson, Janet Oaks, Barbara Russell, Anne Towne and Ruth Zlotowitz.
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership is open to all women and men of voting age. For more information, call 410-730-0142.