Chamber Point

Chamber Point is issued monthly by Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce ~ Nicole Armstrong, Editor

2353 Burrard Avenue ~ 250-567-2124admin@vanderhoofchamber.com ~ www.vanderhoofchamber.com

Vanderhoof Heritage Museum Bridge By Nicole Armstrong September 2011

~2~ September 2011 Chamber Point

Coming EventsFor more events and event details go to www.vanderhoofchamber.com

Click on “Community Events Calendar”Tell us about upcoming events, and we’ll put them on the calendar.

September18th, 12:00 p.m. (Sunday) Santa’s Anonymous Toy Run Co-op Parking Lot

21st, 1:00 p.m. (Wednesday) Social Media Training for Small Business Owners CommunityFutures,2750BurrardAvenue Seepage6formoredetails

27th, 7:00 p.m. (Tuesday) 9-1-1 Public Awareness Presentation Schedule FriendshipCentre,219VictoriaStreetEast 9-1-1ServicetogoliveonOctober25,2011

30th, 7:00 p.m. (Friday) Stand Up for Charity FriendshipCentre,219VictoriaStreetEast Call250-567-2626formoredetails

October4th, 6:00 p.m. (Tuesday) Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting VillageInn,144ColumbiaStreetWest Seepage3formoredetails

13th & 14th, (Thursday & Friday) Regional District Business Forum NechakoCommunityChurch,1393Hwy16East Seepage4formoredetails

19th, 10:00 a.m. (Wednesday) Social Media Training Follow-up Session CommunityFutures,2750BurrardAvenue Seepage5formoredetails

Chamber Point September 2011 ~3~

Vanderhoof Chamber of Commerce

Annual General Meeting October 4, 2011

6:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker – Christy Smith of Thompson Creek Metals

Admission: Members = Free

Non-Members = $10

Will be held at the Village Inn Restaurant, 144 Columbia Street West

~4~ September 2011 Chamber Point

2011 RDBN Business ForumSpeakersBID Group

BC’s Chief ForesterCanfor

Carters JewellersConifex

Mt. MilliganNadleh Whut’en

20 speakers over 2 days

Keynote Speakers

Hugh Culver, MBA, CSP

Bryan Yu, Central 1 Credit Union

Open to the Public

2 Days - $30 (lunch included)

1 Day - $18 (lunch included)

Gala Dinner $25

Pre-register at

www.rdbn.bc.ca

Start-up Business ContestCycling to Success

Click the RDBN logo for more details

or go to www.rdbn.ca

October 13 & 14, 2011

Chamber Point September 2011 ~5~

KudosTheVanderhoofKinnetteClubwasre-

cently recognized as one of the five nation-al finalists for the Hal and Elspeth Rogers NationalServiceAward.

Santa’sAnonymousprovidesfoodandpresentstolowincomefamiliesduringtheholidays.Eachfamilyreceivesfoodfortwodays,atraditionalChristmasdinnerandpresentsforthechildren.

Theprojectincludesanumberoffund-raisingeventsincludingatoyrun,Adopt-a-Familyprogram,KinsmenhockeygameandVillageInnbrunch.

145motorcycleenthusiastsrodetocol-lect120toysforthetoyrun.ThebrunchatVillageInn,normallyclosedonSundays,wasstaffedbyKinettes.

NeighbourLink,agovernmentfundedorganizationthatservesVanderhoofresi-dentsonsocialassistance,provideddo-

nationboxesatgrocerystoresacrossthecommunity.

Adopt-a-familyallowedlocalgroupstoprovideChristmastoafamilyinthecom-munity;15familieswereadoptedin2010.

Localhighschoolstudentsstagedacon-testtoseewhichgradecoulddonatethemostcannedgoods.Thewinningseniorclassdonatedover700items.

StaplefoodswerepurchasedtoensurethateachhamperhadaChristmasdinner.TheCo-opgrocerystoredonatedmanyofthestapleitemsandalsoprovidedadeliv-erytruck.

InDecember,thefoodwascollectedfromthedonationboxesandpackedintoham-pers.ThisyeartheVanderhoofKinettesdelivered198hampers;103ofthemwenttofamiliesoftheSaiKuzFirstNations.

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Social Media Training for Small Business Owners

Hosted by Community Futures Stuart Nechako

Trainer: Monica Morong, Branding and Multimedia Expert Develop your ONLY statement (“We are the only company that...”); Learn how to write key messages, and how to test whether you are truly unique in your industry and if not, how to fix it so that you are.

Social media is word-of-mouth on steroids, and if your business is not strategically partici-pating in at least one of these online outlets, it’s time to ask yourself why. Businesses need to know about this!

Monica Morong has worked in public relations and marketing with companies including the Bank of Montreal, BBDO Advertising, Nintendo, Vonage, Invest Ontario and many local small businesses in BC. She is a social media and branding expert, and recently re-branded David Chalk. She enjoys working with companies to refine their unique selling proposition and connect with their target audiences. Monica will share her expertise in a special limited en-gagement with us, and is offering a follow-up session during Small Business Week to answer any questions and see how things are going for those who implement her recommendations. Wednesday September 21, 20111pm to 4pm (via Video Conference)

Hour 1: How to position yourself as truly unique to potential customers

In today’s cluttered marketplace where businesses are constantly competing for people’s at-tention, it is more important than ever for your business to clearly present its unique selling proposition (USP) and key messages so that your customers can quickly and clearly under-stand what you do and how you differentiate yourself from others in your industry. This ses-sion will explain how to develop your ONLY statement (“We are the only company that...”); give you some examples of key messages, how to write them and where to publish them; and how to test whether you are truly unique in your industry and if not, how to fix it so that you are.

Chamber Point September 2011 ~7~

Hour 2: What is Social Media and why does it matter?

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Blogging, Flickr... the list goes on. These are the latest social media networking platforms to help connect people and businesses with like interests, share information and establish your credibility in your field. Social media is word-of-mouth on steroids, and if your business is not strategically participating in at least one of these out-lets, it’s time to ask yourself why. Learn about the basics of each social media tool and how it can help you get the word out about your business online, enable customers to spread the good news about your brand beyond friends & family, and hopefully generate some profit! Follow-up session: Wednesday October 19, 201110am-11:30 am (via Video Conference)

Target Audience: First seating goes to CF Business Clients, other Small Business Owners and Operators, and then other Interested Community Partners.

Cost: Session 1 – $25.00 Session 2 – $15.00 payable to Community Futures Stuart Nechako

Registration: Phone: 1-800-266-0611or 250-567-5219Deadline for First Session Registration and Payment: Wednesday, September 14, 2011Deadline for Second Session Registration and Payment: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Location: Community Futures Stuart Nechako2750 Burrard Ave. Vanderhoof BC

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Creating an Age-friendly Business in BC

Why have an age-friendly business?

Satisfied customers focus their spending power where they have a long-term relation-ship. Older adults tend to be loyal custom-ers. If your business is age-friendly, you can attract and keep customers within a large, and expanding, demographic.

Over 650,000 British Columbians are 65 or older, and the post-war baby boomer genera-tion began to turn 65 in 2011. This vibrant group not only has a lot of purchasing power but also the time to shop.

Being a business that accomodates older customers is increasingly becoming a neces-sity. If you are planning a new business, are considering changes or renovations, want to attract additional older customers, or are already providing services for many seniors, this guide is designed to help.

An age-friendly business is a people-friendly business

If a business is comfortable for older people it will also be comfortable for others, including:

pregnant women;parents with children in strollers;people with injuries;people with sight, hearing or mobility limita-tions;people with limited English; andpeople with a mental illness.

Age-friendly businesses will appeal to all types of customers. Since word gets around, that’s good for business.

Look for more in October’s Chamber Point.

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Chamber Point September 2011 ~9~

News ReleaseBC Chamber calls for a dialogue on a new & improved PST

Vancouver(August24,2011)-TheBCChamberofCommercetodayexpresseddisappointment over the loss of the HST referendum, noting that business confi-denceandcertaintywillbeshaken,butislookingaheadtosupportanew&im-proved PST that could include some of the efficiencies and competitiveness of the HSTmodel.

“It’sadisappointingdecisionthatwillhaveaprofoundimpactontheeconomy,onbusiness,onworkers,andonunions,”saidJohnWinter,PresidentandCEOoftheBCChamberofCommerce.“WhilewerespecttheoutcomeofthereferendumandtheneedtorestoreaPST/GSTsystemourmembershavebeenclear,weneedadialogueonwhatthatlookslikeandhowwecancreateataxsystemthatprotectsBCjobs.”

“Given the fact that the vote was close and this vote signifies the beginning of anegotiationprocesswiththefederalgovernment,wedonotneedtomakeanyhastydecisions,”continuesWinter.“Nowisnotthetimefordecisions,nowisthetime for reflection and a pause before we determine the best type of tax.”

TheChamberalsoexpressedconcernabouttheimplicationsthisdecisionwillhave on the provinces fiscal situation knowing that $1.6 billion will have to be re-turnedtoOttawaasaconsequenceofrescindingthefederalagreement.

“Returning BC to a sound fiscal footing and balanced budgets is critical to our long term prosperity,” said Winter. “With a $1.6 billion bill to pay, BC will be forced to extend the province’s deficit-reduction schedule or incure new tax hikes and/or spending cuts. Business confidence, certainty and jobs are at risk.”

TheBCbusinesscommunitywillcomeforwardtogovernmentwithoptionsonhowtotransitiontoPST/GSTaswellasexploreopportunitiesforanewconsump-tiontaxmodel.

For further details contact: John Winter President & CEO W 604-638-8110 C 604-376-3577

~10~ September 2011 Chamber Point

Your Chamber Plan RepresentativesAffinity Benefit Consultants

Neil Van Caeseele CFP CLU RHUDarlene Marsden EPC RHU

1-800-563-5221

Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan

Our packages can include:Dental CareExtended Health CareGroup Term Life InsuranceCritical IllnessTravel Medical Emergency CoverageDisability CoverageAccidental Death & DismembermentBest Doctors ServicesBusiness Overhead Expense InsuranceEmployee Assistance ServicesGroup RRSPCost-Plus ... and MORE!

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Chamber Plan

Vanderhoof Fall Fair 2011