Governor Kicks Off Business One Stop Celebration - November 9
Join Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine at the Roanoke Regional Chamber as he kicks off the celebration of Business One Stop, a small business resource.  Monday, November 9, 10 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit http://www.dba.state.va.us.

State of the County Address - November 17
Hear Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Altizer present the annual State of the County Address and get a first look at the new Green Ridge Recreational Center. Tuesday, November 17, 7:30 to 9 AM. Cost: $17/members; $27/non-members, preregistration required. Sponsored by: Appalachian Power, Carilion Clinic, First Citizens Bank, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, Hall Associates, Inc., and RGC Resources.  For more information, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221, e-mail business@roanokechamber.org or register online.

120th Annual Meeting of the Membership - December 3
Attend the premier networking event of the year with more than 500 prominent leaders and officials. Thursday, December 3, 6 - 9 PM, The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Tickets: $70/person; $560/table for eight. Keynote speaker: Venita McCellon-Allen, Executive Vice President - AEP Utilities East, American Electric Power. Sponsored by: First Citizens Bank, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, Appalachian Power, Salem Printing Co., and xpedx.  For more information or to register, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221, e-mail business@roanokechamber.org or register online.

Ready...Set...Network! - December 9
Skip the chit-chat and get down to networking. This popular morning networking event will allow you to make more quality leads in one hour than you usually make in an entire month. Wednesday, December 9, 7:30 - 9 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. This event is for Chamber members only and is limited to one representative per company. Cost: $10/member, includes breakfast items. For more information or to register, contact Courtney at 540.983.0700 x231 or chungate@roanokechamber.org.

NewVaConnects' DecemBeer - December 11
NewVaConnects annual fundraiser NovembBeer just got a 'lil merrier! Introducing DecemBeer! Sponsored and hosted by The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center and NewVaConnects, DecemBeer will be held on Friday, December 11, from 6 PM until midnight in the Roanoke Ballroom. Entertainment for the evening will begin at 6 with the announcement of the NewVaConnects 2010 Charity of Choice where a portion of the night's proceeds will be given to a local charity, followed by one of the night's music sets by three nationally recorded bands. Tickets: $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Sponsored by: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, City Magazine, Blue Ridge Business Journal, and Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore.  For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Courtney at 540.983.0700 x231, e-mail chungate@roanokechamber.org or register online.

It's All About Connections - Connect 4 Lunch
Are you looking for a new way to meet people and grow your business? What if you could get to know between three to six new people each month? Really get to know them over lunch, not just a quick hand shake and exchange of business cards. Would you be interested? If you are, Connect 4 Lunch may be just what you're looking for. Connect 4 Lunch is the Roanoke Regional Chamber's newest networking program. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to go to lunch in a small group with other Chamber members at local restaurants. For more information or to register, visit www.connect4lunch.com/roanokechamber or www.roanokechamber.org and check out Connect 4 Lunch.

Blue Ridge PBS to Air "JobQuest"  -  November 10
Looking for a job? Need to find qualified employees? The Roanoke Regional Chamber is partnering with Blue Ridge PBS and others to develop a new television program called "JobQuest" to address the employment challenges in our region. The monthly show is a live, call-in program that will help people find employment by highlighting new job listings and offering job hunting insights. The next show will be aired on Tuesday, November 10, at 7 PM on Blue Ridge PBS. For more information and program schedules, visit www.blueridgepbs.org.

NEW: Post Your Sales, Promotions & Members-Only Events Online
Planning special sales or promotions this holiday season? Have services or deals you would like to offer to Roanoke Regional Chamber members only? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post sales, promotions, and Chamber members-only promotions on the Chamber's Web site at www.roanokechamber.org. The Chamber's 1,300 members can quickly post their information on the Chamber's Web site at anytime. For instructions on how to use this new members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Post Your Events Fast and Free on Community Calendar
Planning special events this fall? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post events on the Community Calendar at www.roanokechamber.org.  For instructions on how to use this free, members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Join the Chamber's Facebook Page
Check out the Roanoke Regional Chamber's Facebook page and keep up to date with the events and programs of the Chamber.  Already a member of Facebook, visit the Facebook page and request to become a "friend." Not a member of Facebook? No problem, visit the Chamber's group page and become a "fan."   For more information, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Daily Office Rentals Available at Roanoke Regional Chamber
Need a downtown Roanoke office one or two times a month? Why not consider a daily office rental. For the many people who work from home or have a mobile business, meeting a client in their home or in a public place is not the professional look they want to portray to their customers or clients. Having the ability to rent an office just for the day or even a half day is a much better solution. The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce can offer you a daily office space for one day or on a regular basis. There are three offices available with 172, 180 and 300 square feet. Rates are $25 per day for members and $75 per day for non-members.  If interested, contact Judy at 983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Thousands Benefit from Rapid Referrals
The Chamber provided 12,821 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of October. The Chamber is promoting member businesses to more than 150 people per day through the online directory. Are you getting your share of referrals from this no-cost member benefit? Make sure your online business profile is up to date - check your listing at www.roanokechamber.org - click on "Find Area Businesses." To add a free 20-word business description to your online listing, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or send your 20 word (140 characters) profile to business@roanokechamber.org.

Business Basics - November 10
Need some guidance on how to start your own business? Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Tuesday, November 10, 4 - 5:30 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $10/person. Prepayment and preregistration required by Monday, November 9. Sponsored by: Business SEED Capital, Inc., BB&T and Cox Business. For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Publications

Don't Miss This Opportunity to Reach the Region's Newcomers!
Don't miss this opportunity to be the first to reach up to 50,000 decision-makers who are visiting or relocating to the Roanoke Region. Advertising sales for the 2010 edition of Valley Life, the Roanoke Region's premier relocation guide, will continue through November 21. Meghan Phillips, project sales director for SouthComm Publishing, is available to discuss the advertising and marketing solutions offered in this beautiful publication. Valley Life may be used to recruit new employees, welcome newcomers and students, and promote the Roanoke Region. Check out the 2009 edition of Valley Life online. For more information, fill out the "Yes! Count Me In" form and fax to 983.0723 or contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Get Connected with the Region's Business Leaders
Call today to reserve your advertisement space in the 2010 first quarter issue of Business Connections. Invest your advertising dollars in the only quarterly, full-color magazine targeted specifically at the region's business leaders. Of Business Connection's regular readers, 83 percent are business decision makers and 66 percent are CEOs, executives, or top-level managers. If you market to business, you need to be a part of Business Connections. For ad rates and information, contact Bonnie Brown  at RP Publishing at 772.1868 or bonnie@rppublisher.com.

Membership in Action

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE


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