• Committees
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• Join the Chamber

Committee Opportunities

More than 250 Chamber members are active volunteers. To find out how you can help us make the Rochester area a great place to live, work, and do business, contact the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce at 288-1122 or email us.

To join any of the committees listed, download and complete this form and return it to the Chamber office.

AGRI-BUSINESS COMMITTEE
Work collaboratively with business and agriculture members of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and our community partners to accomplish the following: 1) an understanding through education and information of the relationship between business and agriculture in SE Minnesota; 2) affect legislative policy pertaining to agri-businesses and, 3) improve communications and public relations for the agri-businesses in Rochester.

Meetings: As needed
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

AMBASSADORS
Make new contacts for your business and work on public relations for the Chamber. They coordinate the Business After Hours, Business After Hours Extra!, Chamber Golf Outing, Annual Meeting, Rochesterfest Parade, attend grand openings, and make calls on Chamber members throughout the year. Membership is limited and is done through an application process. Application forms and membership criteria are available at the Chamber office. Note: The Ambassador Committee is limited in size. Applications are available at the Chamber office.

Chair: Steve Prigge, ProImage Marketing
Meetings: First Wednesday of each month from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Staff Contact: Sue DiGrazia

BUSINESS LEARNING NETWORK COMMITTEE
The Business Learning Network, consisting of over 15 higher education institutions and organizations, provides relevant, applicable and superior educational opportunities to members. These opportunities encourage professional growth and instill tools necessary for recruiting and retaining employees in today’s ever growing and changing market. The committee plans, organizes, reviews and schedules monthly events, as well as two premier educational events per year.

Staff Liaison: Jess Ihrke
Meetings: Third Wednesday of each month, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

CHAMBER TOASTMASTERS and CHAMBER TOASTMASTERS, TOO
Develop the communication skills of your staff. This professionally prepared program assists members as they enrich their communication skills, whether in day-to-day conversation or complex prepared presentations. Two meeting times are offered.

Chair: Don Campbell, Mayo Clinic Chair: Paul Basballe, AMG Advisors
Meetings: Tuesdays at 12:00-1:00 p.m. Meetings: Thursday at 7:00-8:00 a.m.
Staff Contact: Diane Moran

PREPARING WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
Preparing Workforce provides an opportunity for your business to play a major role in developing community partnerships between business and education. The committee coordinates the Educators in the Workplace Institute and participates in the DECA-Student Excellence Program, and the Principal for a Day Program.

Co-Chair: Mo Amundson, E-T-C (Education-to-Careers Consulting)
Co-Chair: Sheryl Good, Grandeville @Cascade Lake
Staff Liaison: Jess Ihrke
Meetings: Once per month, February-July – 3:30-4:30 p.m.

POWER NETWORK
The Power Network Committee plans and facilitates six networking sessions per year that occur over the lunch hour. The purpose of Power Network is to provide the opportunity for members to network more effectively in a more formal setting. The sessions also provide powerful networking strategies to motivate members to be more productive and effective when working with people.

Chairs: Gail Nelson, THINK and Melissa Brinkman, Custom Alarm/Custom Communications
Staff Liaison: Jess Ihrke
Meetings: Once every other month, Jan-Mar-May-July-Sept-Nov, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
This committee’s main objective is establishing active and ongoing partnerships between business and local government by creating joint, long-term, specific goals that demonstrate ongoing improvement in efficient and effective government operations. Conducts the Annual Membership Survey to gain input for the Chamber’s Legislative Platform.

Chair: Leigh Johnson, Custom Alarm / Custom Communications
Meetings: Second Tuesday of each month – 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

GOVERNMENT FORUMS
Represent your business and influence public policy decisions as you interact with representatives from the city, county and state government. Be a voice in the planning process for the Chamber’s Legislative forums, which gives members the opportunity to communicate with legislative and governmental representatives.

Chair: Mark Utz, Wendland, Utz, Stahl, and Mintz, LTD
Meetings: First Monday of each month at 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

HIGH SPEED RAIL TASK FORCE
Are you interested in bringing an alternative, low-energy, high capacity mode of transportation to Rochester? Join this group to learn more about what you can do to make this a reality.

Meetings: As needed
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE
Assist the membership in addressing issues related to the rising cost of health care and health insurance premiums. The committee will focus on these issues: 1) provide information on what drives health care costs and how to reduce costs without reducing quality and accessibility, 2) share employer best practices between Chamber members and be a resource of information for creative solutions to health care and health insurance issues, and 3) advocate on a state and federal level for public policy changes that address health care costs, health care taxes, mandated benefits, and competition.

Chair: Janice Farris
Meetings: Third Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in January, March, May, July, September, and November
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

HOSPITALITY 1ST!
This committee’s main objective is to increase awareness of the economic impact of the hospitality industry, to educate the incumbent and future workforce on the hospitality industry, to promote advocacy initiatives that support and advance the hospitality industry.

Chair: Bruce Fairchild, Sunstone Hotel Properties
Staff Liaisons: Jess Ihrke, John Eckerman, and John Wade
Meetings: Last Thursday of each month, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

LEADERSHIP GREATER ROCHESTER
The LGR curriculum committee works with the Chamber Programs Director to plan, organize and facilitate a comprehensive, 10-month leadership development program. The LGR mission is to develop emerging leadership through participation in personal, professional and community awareness activities designed to encourage individual responsibility for taking an active leadership role in the future vitality of the greater Rochester area. Program Day Chairs and planning committees review program evaluations and meet with community leaders/organizations to create program day agendas and schedule learning experiences that meet program objectives.

2007 Program Chair: Carol Lammers, Mayo Clinic
2008 Program Chair: Alex Dearborn, RWJ & Associates
Staff Liaison: Jess Ihrke
Meetings: Planning committees meet 3-4 months prior to program day

NETWORKING EVENTS
This committee coordinates the AM Espresso and Power Lunch networking programs. They also survey the membership to design and implement as needed networking events to enhance business connections amongst chamber members.

Co-Chair: Gail Nelson, Think Federal Credit Union
Co-Chair: Melissa Brinkman, Custom Alarm / Custom Communications, Inc.
Meetings: As needed
Staff Contact: Sue DiGrazia

TRANSPORTATION FORUMS
Interested in transportation issues in the Rochester area? These informal breakfast forums include representatives from MN DOT, state patrol, city and county officials who give updates on transportation issues and projects.

Chair: Dave Rossman, City of Rochester
Meetings: First Friday of each month at 7:00-8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn South
Staff Contact: John Eckerman

All Meetings are held at the Chamber Office unless otherwise indicated.