• Plan of Action
• Sponsorship
• Member Benefits

Member Benefits

Networking & Marketing Opportunities

ANNUAL MEMBER CELEBRATION: An event to present the Athena, Volunteer of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Lamp of Knowledge Awards. Over 650 members attend this event. The Chair of the Board will give the 2003-04 year-in-review and the Incoming Chair of the Board will present the Chamber's priorities for the upcoming year.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: The most popular business networking event in Rochester. Held each month on a Tuesday or Thursday from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at a Chamber member’s place of business, average attendance is 120 people. See the Upcoming Events calendars for dates and locations.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS EXTRA!: Don’t miss this business-to-business networking event held twice a year. 75 exhibitors display their products and services during this well-attended event.

GOLF OUTING: Join your fellow Chamber Members at the 24th Annual Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing. There will be morning and afternoon shotgun starts. The format will be a five-person best shot (scramble). Special events include the Inside-the-Circle contests on each of the par 3 holes and the Hole-In-One contest. There will be many opportunities to win door prizes and, back by popular demand, chances to win prizes on the Chance Boards.

NEW MEMBER RECEPTIONS: An opportunity to meet other Chamber members and the Chamber staff. An introduction on how to maximize your investment by becoming involved with the various committees and events the Chamber has to offer. See the Upcoming Events calendars for dates and times.

Publicity & Promotion

CHAMBER ADVANTAGE NEWSLETTER: Published monthly, the Advantage is the Chamber’s major information source for the membership. Members are able to submit newsworthy items about their business to the Business News section. Newsletter sponsorship exists and includes a six by seven inch ad for your business on the back page, as well as space on the front page for your logo.
News item submission form

CHAMBERPAK: Mailed to 3,900 business-community members in the Rochester area. ChamberPak provides members with a low-cost direct-mail program. Use ChamberPak to: 1) distribute your company brochure; 2) extend a discount or coupon offer to members; 3) inform members of a new service; 4) introduce new sales staff or customer representatives; or, 5) advertise a special promotion or event. Mailed five times throughout the year, see the Upcoming Events calendars for deadline information.
ChamberPak subscription form

EVENT SPONSORSHIP: The Chamber hosts many monthly and annual business/social events intended to increase member contacts and encourage community involvement. Your sponsorship of these events is an excellent way to increase your organization’s visibility and promote your business. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the following: Annual Meeting, Business After Hours, Business After Hours EXTRA!, Chamber Advantage Newsletter, Diversity Awareness Series, Eggs & Issues, Golf Outing, Leadership Greater Rochester, Legislative Reception, Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, and New Member Receptions.

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY: Published annually and updated quarterly, the Directory is a complete listing of the Chamber membership – alphabetic and by business category. It includes contact information for local, state and national government officials. In addition, the front section provides a profile on the Rochester community. This comprehensive profile is also printed as a stand-alone piece. This piece is a key resource for employee recruitment and new residents. 2,500 directories are delivered annually.

RELOCATION LIST: Contact potential clients by purchasing the Chamber’s Relocation List. The list consists of people who have requested relocation packets during the previous month.
Subscription form

RELOCATIONPAK PROGRAM: The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce produces a relocation packet for potential residents moving into our community. As a Chamber member benefit, you have the opportunity to include a one page promotional piece in the packet for one year for $100. Use the same piece for the whole year or change it as often as you like. As part of your subscription fee, each month you will receive a list of inquiries. The listings are mailed at the beginning of each month and include the names and addresses of the individuals who made information requests in the previous month. The criteria for the promotional piece are as follows:

• No larger than 8.5 in. X 11 in.
• Weigh no more than .5 ounces
• The material may only pertain to your business, event, or promotion.

Exceptions to the above criteria must be approved by the Chamber prior to delivery. The Chamber distributes, on average, 30 relocation packets each month. At the beginning of each month, please deliver 50 copies of your promotional piece at the beginning of each month to the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce located at 220 S. Broadway, Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55904.
RelocationPak Form

RIBBON CUTTING & GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES: Contact the Chamber for assistance in celebrating the opening of your new business or location. Community and business leaders will be on hand for your event to welcome you to Rochester. Additional details

WEB SITE: Each Chamber member is listed in the Chamber’s online membership directory. Members are able to “hotlink” their web site from the Chamber site for a nominal annual fee. This gives browsers who are looking for goods and services direct access to your web site.

Educational Opportunities

EDUCATORS IN THE WORKPLACE INSTITUTE: This program provides an opportunity for businesses to play a major role in the development of a community partnership between business and education. The Institute is a three-day workshop of classes, panel discussions and interactive work-site visits designed to give educators a better understanding of the business environment and the community.

LEADERSHIP GREATER ROCHESTER: A comprehensive nine-month program designed to educate participants about the Rochester community and provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges and issues that face the Rochester area. Its goal is to identify emerging leaders, expand their knowledge of the community and encourage them to take active, individual responsibility for participation in and leadership of the future of Rochester. The program includes a two-day retreat in September and eight full-day class sessions.

TOASTMASTERS: Whether you’re a professional, student, stay-at-home parent, or retiree, Toastmasters is the best way to improve your communication skills. Toastmasters can help you lose the fear of public speaking and learn skills that will make you a better listener and more successful in whatever path you’ve chosen.

Other Member Services

• Meeting room space: Conference rooms of various sizes are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for strategic planning, interviewing, training, and other needs.
• Member mailing labels and lists
• Business referrals
• Certificates of Origin

For further information about Chamber Member Programs and Services,
Contact the Chamber at 288-1122 or email chamber@rochestermnchamber.com