While those words (or something similar) are what we hear at the start of the Kentucky Derby and other horse races, it also describes the first couple of months here at the Chamber as well. If the Chamber Year was to be compared to a large oval racetrack then you would say we are about to enter turn one with three more turns (quarters) to go. And if I were the race announcer and giving the updates at each length of the track I would be very excited about our track position! I would be raising my voice and letting folks know that we are ahead of the pack and looking strong. I might even be so excited that I would say we have opened up a gap already as we head into turn one. Albeit that 2010 still has a long way to go and the race will have its bumps along the way, and we may have unexpected competition along the way; but so far so good! A lot of preparation, training, hard work, and experience goes into winning these annual races, and it is great to know that your Chamber is up to the challenge.

Once again we have fantastic leadership on the Board of Directors, each committee has in place a team that can make this their best year ever; and you are being served by a staff which continues to be committed to your success. Granted this is not a real horse race and it won’t be over in two minutes, but there is still a lesson to learn. We do have a stake in the game; every member has invested financially in this organization and it is in their best interest to see it win. And while our competition may not be other horses, we do have competition and potential obstacles at each and every turn. Some of those obstacles are clearly visible and even somewhat predictable. Others will sneak up on us from the outside or maybe even from the inside. Sometimes the competition can be from within and will present itself in the form of our lack of preparation. Perhaps the obstacles are completely out of our control and are totally unpredictable. Whatever the obstacles are and wherever they come from, you and your business are a very important part of an organization which has your success in our best interest. It is only by each of us succeeding individually that we can succeed as a whole.

As you and your business run your race in the months ahead, and as you look at it from your perspective, what do you see when you peer into your “crystal ball”? What obstacles will you be facing? Are there things that the Chamber of Commerce has to offer which you may not yet be taking advantage of? Perhaps it has been a while since you looked into the many resources available at the Chamber of Commerce. We would like to invite you to check us out again and we hope you will use what we have to offer to help you get a leg up on your obstacles. The programs and services we offer are not free; however they ARE included in your Membership so why not use them?

Each month this year, we have set aside time at our Monthly Membership Luncheons to highlight a particular program or service which may be beneficial to you and your business. Some of these programs and services include such things as our Member to Member (M2M) Networking Program. This group meets once per month and it is open to all Chamber Members. This is a very good way to meet others in a small group and to share information about each others business. Each person attending then has a better idea of what your “ideal customer” might look like and the group can then work to help each other with future leads and prospects. Perhaps you have a home based business or know someone who does; why not check out the Home Based Business Council; they meet once per month for a structured program that gives attendees a chance to hear from a variety of speakers, all with a message relevant to those with a home based business. Another wonderful program that is open to all members and is also included in your membership is our Ambassador Program. If part of your business is to get ness is to get out and meet other businesses, why not consider being an Ambassador? This is a great way to meet new people and build new friendships, to nurture existing relationships, and get to know more about what all is going on in your community. Ambassadors attend ribbon cuttings and open houses and also fill a very critical role in the Chamber by spreading goodwill and enthusiastically telling others about the businesses in our community. All this is included in your membership! You may also be interested in taking advantage of our nice big brochure rack in the lobby which we encourage visitors to check out.  We also have a business card display rack for you to use to display your business cards and leave extras for visitors to take if  they are interested in your goods and services. This is open to any and all chamber members. And finally, why not check out the Women In Business Council Luncheons? The WIB luncheons are held six times per year (Feb-April-June-Aug-Oct-Dec) at Rutland Place for a wonderful lunch, an informative speaker, and lots of fellowship.
Check out the schedule and reserve your spot today by visiting us online at www.mjchamber.com. Advance registration is required. Hopefully your Chamber is offering and supporting programs which you and your business will find useful and beneficial. Please take advantage of them whenever possible. If you feel as though we need to explore a program or service which is not currently available, please let us know that as well. We realize that we are all in it for the long term and that we are in a long race. We also feel as though our preparation, experience, hard work, and perseverance will help us overcome any obstacles we encounter along the way. It won’t be long before the announcer is cheering us on as we make our way down the backstretch, thru the third and forth quarters and onto the finish line at the end of 2010. Let’s make sure we all do our part to help make this the best year ever. Just remember, it really isn’t free, it’s included in your membership. Thanks for your support, Mark