October 2011, Volume 7, Issue 10, www.manhattan.org A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Needing a product or a service? Use the Chamber’s Online Business Directory! Find a business or organization using the that way they will know their (and your) Listing your business in our directory is Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce membership is being put to good use. free when you join the Manhattan Area Online Business Directory. Go to Member-to-member referrals are basic to Chamber of Commerce. Interested in www.manhattanchamber.org to find a the vitality of the Chamber. Doing business becoming a member? Contact Kim Contact us: Chamber member business, service or with other chamber members helps the Dahlsten at 776-8829 for details. 501 Poyntz Avenue product to help you do business in organization and membership thrive! Manhattan, KS, 66502-6005 Manhattan and the Flint Hills region. 785-776-8829 phone Attention non-members, you're invited 785-776-0679 fax The online business directory is available to add your Business in our [email protected] 24/7 and is updated daily with new and Online Directory! www.manhattan.org updated information. Searches can be TDD Kansas Relay Center: done by Business Name, Keywords or Our online directory receives 800-766-3777 Categories. The business directory lets you thousands of visitors each easily get in touch and do business with month and refers these any of the members of the Chamber of visitors on to our members Commerce. Only Chamber members are businesses. By providing busi- listed in the directory. ness descriptions, phone num- bers, email and website links Don't forget to mention the Online Directory our directory is fast becoming when you pick up that phone or send that the preferred way to locate local email so they know how you found them - businesses. The Morning Mingle is a fun and The Brown Bag Lunch Series workshops informal networking group open to provide resources to assist and educate all members of the Manhattan Area small business members through Chamber of Commerce. This is a informative seminars covering issues fantastic opportunity to connect with that affect your business. fellow Chamber members, make new contacts, exchange business cards Wednesday, October 26 and create business partnerships. 11:30 am - 1:00 pm This unique networking opportunity shines the spotlight on each attendee individually, Chamber Boardroom allowing them to introduce themselves and give a short “commercial” for their 501 Poyntz Ave business*. Don’t forget to bring business cards! You can place a stack on the Marketing to the Military Community business card buffet to share with other attendees. Registration and networking starts at 7:45am with introductions beginning promptly at Presented by Whitney Lukenbill, Military Community Liaison, Manhattan Area 8:00. Attendees will each have 30 seconds to address the group - and yes, we will Chamber of Commerce time everyone. Sponsored by: Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch and the Chamber will provide drinks. Tuesday, October 25 This seminar is being offered FREE of charge to ALL employees of Chamber member 7:45 – 9:00am businesses and organizations. There is a $20 fee for non-members. Chamber Boardroom 501 Poyntz Ave Reservations are required as space is limited. The program will begin promptly at 11:45am. Register online at www.manhattanchamber.org, by emailing Admission is a buck and a business card (payable at the door). Reservations are [email protected] or call 776-8829. required as seating is limited. Register online at www.manhattanchamber.org, by emailing [email protected] or call the Chamber office at 785-776-8829. Sponsored by: Contact Kristin with questions and for sponsorship opportunities, 785-776-8829 or [email protected]. *Multiple representatives per company may attend, however only one representative will have the full 30 seconds to talk about their business. Page 2 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review October 2011 The mission of the Man h a ttan Area Cha m b er of Com m e r ce is to Chamber Nominates 2012 Board Candidates fos t er a changing envi ro n m e n t for business success that enhances The Nominating Committee for Andrea Grier, Owner, Harry’s twenty (20) members of the the quality of life in our reg i o n . We market the re g i o n ,a dvocate for the 2012 Chamber Board of Chamber. Such a petition shall be bu s i n e s s ,and provide servi c es to our members and custom e r s . Directors presented its list of James Gordon, Certified Public filed with the Nominating Are you intere s t ed in being a member of the Man h a ttan Area candidates at the regular Accountant, Sink, Gordon and Committee within ten (10) days Cha m b er of Com m e r ce? Giv e Kim a call at 776-8829 for more September 2011 board meeting Associates LLP ★ after notice has been given of the in fo rm at i o n . of the Manhattan Area Chamber names of those nominated. The This is a publication of the Man h a ttan Area Cha m b er of Com m e r ce – of Commerce. Dan Yun k , Exec u t i v e Tanna Thompson, VP, Retail determination of the Nominating all adver tising is the res po n s i b i l i t y of The Man h a ttan Merc u r y. Director/CEO, Kansas Farm Manager, Commerce Bank, Committee as to the legality of To place an ad or for more inform at i o n , cont a c t Regina Stat t on at Bu r eau, cha i r ed the seven - m e m b e r N.A. ★ the petition(s) shall be final." 77 6 - 2 2 0 0 , ext. 231 or classdisplay@ t h e m e rc u r y.co m . nominating committee, which If there are no petitions filed included two current Chamber Connie Casper, Executive Vice within the designated waiting board members, three Chamber President, Steel & Pipe Supply period, the nominations shall be officers and two representatives Company ★ closed and the nominated slate from the general membership. of six candidates shall be Neal Farmer, Senior Vice declared elected by the Board The Chamber board unanimously President, Community First of Directors at their regular approved presenting to the entire National Bank ★ December board meeting. membership the following six Should any member have candidates to serve three-year According to the by-laws of the questions about the board terms, to replace the board Manhattan Area Chamber of election and its process please members whose regular terms Commerce, Article IV, Section 2, contact Lyle Butler, President/ are expiring in December 2011: paragraph C, "Additional names CEO of the Manhattan Area of candidates for Directors can be Chamber of Commerce at Bruce McMillan, President, nominated by petition bearing the 776-8829 or email at Bruce McMillan AIA, Architects genuine signatures of at least [email protected]. P.A. ★ Chamber members are recommended in response to requests on the availability of specific types of goods and/or services. Referrals Thousands of people visit our community each year and phone the Chamber in search of reputable firms. Staff members recommend only Chamber of Commerce members. Thousands Did more visit our Web site and gain access to your business; only Chamber members are listed on the Manhattan Area Chamber you of Commerce website - www.manhattanchamber.org. Cham- ber Members have the ability to keep track of their Web referrals know? through the Members Only Page. 5,345 referrals were made through the website in the past 30 days. 48,762 referrals were made through the website this year. Top 5 Categorical Web Searches last month were: 1. Restaurants 2. Banks & Banking Associations 3. Real Estate – Residential/Commercial 4. Hotels/Motels 5. Insurance Want your business in the Top 5 Category List? Try adding keywords. Keywords Option - Free! The majority of searches are made with keywords. A member’s keywords include any word in their name, address, business type, etc. Additional words that direct a prospective client to your business can be added. For example, Joe’s Fishery might want to add the words “shrimp,” “tuna” and “seasonings” to their list of keywords. Only you know the magic words to draw customers to you. Simply email a list of those words to the Chamber and watch your referrals grow! Contact Kristin Holt or Kim Dahlsten at 776-8829 to add your FREE keywords today. October 2011 Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review Page 3 Prepay for Business After Hours and save $$$ These laminated passports are great for businesses that regularly send representatives to Business After Hours. Monthly checks or expense reimbursements are eliminated. And, best of all, at $48 each you save up to $72 annually over the usual $5-10 donation. Passports are not specific to one person, so multiple people may enter on one passport. An RSVP is still requested. Interested? Please contact Kristin Holt at [email protected] or call the Chamber office at 776-8829. Westchester Park Apartments welcomed over 180 Chamber members and guests to the September Business After Hours. Attendees were treated to a poolside luau, complete with a leis, a whole hog roast Members in the News and steel drums. Guests also toured model homes, lounged poolside, and explored the beautiful Westchester Park community. The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping our members grow and prosper.