membership benefits & services 2017 - grandbendchamber.ca

Membership Benefits & Services 2017

Your Membership is a

passport to information and

networking opportunities.

Don’t let opportunity pass

you by – plan to attend!

Breakfast with the Mayor -

Wednesday, February 8,

2017: Discuss topics of

interest and importance to

your business with local

government

representatives. Typically,

representatives from

Tourism Sarnia Lambton

and Southwestern Ontario

Tourism Corporation are

also in attendance to speak

with YOU. Cost: $20 p.p.

Annual General Meeting –

Tuesday, February 28,

2017: This is a key Chamber

business continuance event

at which we confirm new

directors to the Board,

review and approval

financial reports and

provide members with an

annual report. Cost: FREE

Spring Members’ Mixer –

Thursday, April 6, 2017:

Great chance to socialize,

network with fellow

members, and compare

business notes as we head

into peak season. Features

Chamber and Member

announcements, various

reports from the Board and

key organizations like

Tourism Sarnia Lambton

and Southwestern Tourism

Corporation. Cost: FREE

Fall Classic Golf

Tournament – Wednesday,

September 13, 2017:

Opportunity to showcase

your business through

sponsorship or prize table

donations as well as

socialize and network. This

is the Chamber’s largest

fundraiser. Enjoy 18-holes

of golf, power cart, BBQ

dinner, golfer’s gift, golfing

contests. Cost: $95 p.p.

Fall Members Mixer –

Thursday, October 12,

2017: Similar to the Spring

Mixer – this is a chance to

mingle with fellow local

business owners and find

out how their year is going.

Cost: FREE

Celebrate the Season

Awards Dinner – Thursday,

November 16, 2017: Our

largest event of the

Member season. Celebrate

business savvy with our

awards presentations, enjoy

a sumptuous meal, silent

auction, networking and

socializing. Cost: $45 p.p.

Mark the Date – 2017 Member Events T H I N G S Y O U

S H O U L D K N O W

The Chamber – Since 1957 Established in 1957 and

incorporated in 1975 by

George Kadlecik, Peter

Haist and Donald

Southcott, the Grand Bend

& Area Chamber of

Commerce is a small yet

active Chamber, serving

businesses located along

Lake Huron’s shoreline

corridor. Our Members are

located south in Sarnia and

north in Goderich, as well

as closer to home in

Arkona, Dashwood, Exeter,

Forest, Grand Bend,

Hensall, Ipperwash, Kettle

Point, Northville, Parkhill,

Parkhill, Port Franks, St.

Joseph, Thedford, Varna

and Zurich – and all points

in between!

The Chamber’s roots lie in

the Grand Bend Promotion

Committee of the 1950s,

which worked to promote

area tourism.

Mark the Date. . . . . . . . . .1

The Chamber. . . . . . . . . . 1

2017 Membership Fees. . 2

Reasons to Be a Chamber

Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Marketing & Advertising

Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . 3

Professional Development

& Networking. . . . . . . . . . 6

Affinity Programs - Perks of

Membership. . . . . . . . . . . 7

Advocacy for the local

Business Community. . . .. 8

Membership Benefits

Summary Chart. . . . . . . . . 9

Professional Development

Workshops. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

When consumers

know a business is a

member of their

local chamber, they

are 44% more likely

to think favorably of

it and 63% more

likely to purchase

goods or services

from the business in

the future.

2017 Membership Fees – Due November 1


Reasons to

Be a Chamber

Member

CREDIBILITY: It increases

your positive perception

among consumers and

business owners.

1. VISIBILITY: Members get

listed in the Chamber’s

membership directory, on

GrandBendChamber.ca and

GrandBendTourism.com,

and highlighted in the

Chamber’s Facebook and

Twitter activities. Grow

your business by

participating in advertising

opportunities and by

sponsoring events.

DISCOUNTS: Save money

through Chamber affinity

programs – First Data POS

Program, the Chambers of

Commerce Group Insurance

Program, Purolator’s

Affinity Program and

Constant Contact. Benefit

from discounted business

and marketing programs.

NETWORKING: It’s not

just who you know, it’s who

others know. A Chamber’s

fundamental mission is to

generate more business

activity for the community.

Chambers initiate more

business-to-business

commerce and

opportunities for

connecting local

professionals than is

available through most

other local organizations.

Membership renews

annually based on the

Chamber’s fiscal year

(November 1 to October 31).

Fees are based on the

number of “Full Time

Equivalent” (FTE) employees.

ADD-ON BUSINESS

An employee-based fee

structure means we can

extend membership to ALL

businesses owned and

operated by a single

business owner/group.

The Add-On Business fee is

$25 (+HST) per business and

extends all the same

membership rights and

privileges to that business.

CALCULATING FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)

A full time employee works

up to 40 hours per week for

52 weeks. If you have

seasonal or part-time staff,

add up the total number of

hours per week your staff

work, divide by 40, then

divide by 52. The result is

how many FTE employees

you have.

HOW TO PAY

Post-Dated Cheques: Send

us a post-dated cheque

dated for November 1, 2016.

We'll cash your cheque on

that Tuesday and your

Membership never lapses!

Credit Card: Go to

GrandBendChamber.ca/pay

ment – use your favourite

credit card and your

transaction is completed on

PayPal’s secure website.

Paypal sends you a receipt

and us a payment

notification.

NOTES

Every member listing on

GrandBendChamber.ca

includes photos, logos, maps

and text.

Every member also gets a

basic listing on

GrandBendTourism.com and

it’s this listing you can

upgrade with hyperlinks,

photos and map.

Slideshow upgrade fee is a

one-time setup fee.

Add-on business option is

per business.

EARLY BIRD

CONTEST

Sept. 30, 2016

Pay your

membership fees

by

Sept. 30, 2016

for a chance to

WIN

your 2017

Membership

for FREE!


The membership directory is

produced in web and print.

GrandBendChamber.ca/directory

is a searchable database. It

enables those seeking

reputable businesses to

search by name and

product/service type. Your

Member listing includes:

Business name,

Business address,

Contact names,

Phone numbers,

Email addresses,

Website & Social Media addresses

2+ Photographs

400+ words of your product and service information.

Marketing & Advertising Opportunities

The print format is also

provided online for easy

download as a PDF

document and is

photocopied and handed out

at the Welcome Centre.

The printed directory

includes a list of Board

Directors, staff and

volunteers, a membership

index by name cross-indexed

to business type, and the

listings are organized by

major categories and sub-

categories (e.g. Services >

Real Estate). Listings

include:

Business Name

Business address

Website

Email

Phone

The Chamber’s Members’ website includes information about Membership, Chamber activities, member events, affinity program details, archived e-newsletters, business awards information and past recipients, reports and publications, member marketing and advertising programs and the Members

Forum. The Members Forum includes many years of Chamber AGM and Directors meeting minutes,

Member events and

committees provide

networking opportunities

and leadership

development.

2. HAVE A VOICE: Gain a

say in what happens in the

community and help

promote the principles of

free enterprise through

Chamber advocacy

activities.

3. LEARNING: Get a

competitive edge with

training opportunities on a

variety of hot topics.

4. REFERRALS: Every day,

the chamber receives calls

from individuals and

businesses looking for

potential vendors, and

chamber members typically

recommend other chamber

members.

5. INFORMATION: The

Chamber’s emails and

monthly e-newsletters give

members information

about operating a local

business, alerts on changes

in the local business

environment and details

about upcoming chamber

events and marketing

opportunities.

6.

Keep in mind you need to

make an investment of

time and effort in

chamber activities and

become involved. On a random basis, we highlight member businesses on our Facebook and Twitter

accounts.

GrandBendChamber.ca - FREE with your

membership

The Membership Directory – FREE with your Membership

Social Media Mentions – FREE with your

membership

annual reports, financial statements and similar documents.


GrandBendTourism.com – Basic Listing FREE with your Membership / Fee-based Upgrades

Your Business

on Display–

FREE with

membership Open year-round, Welcome

Centre staff respond to

11,000 inquiries from

visitors, residents, cottagers

and other businesses

seeking area and business

information!

A prominent area of the

Centre is reserved for

member brochures, rack

cards and business cards.

Get Noticed

through

Sponsorship –

Fee based

All Chamber events are

open to sponsorship!

Sponsorship is recognized in

a number of ways: emails to

members, press releases,

through event brochures

and flyers, business

promotional materials on

display at an event,

opportunities to be the first

speaker to address event

attendees, special signage

and website postings.

Golf Sponsorships start at

just $150 for a Hole

Sponsorship. Or, for just

$199, why not sponsor

Breakfast with the Mayor,

Members’ Mixers, the

Annual General Meeting or

Celebrate the Season?

This tourist-facing

website promotes the

Greater Grand Bend Area

to visitors, vacationers,

local residents and

cottage owners.

Launched in 2001, it has a

reputation for being the

place to find information

about what to do and

where to go in this area.

From launch, website

traffic quickly grew and

today the site has almost

2 million page views per

year.

BUSINESS LISTINGS –

FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP

Business listings are

categorized by task-

oriented tourist search

goals (i.e. places to Stay,

Play, Dine, Shop and get

Services). Listings are

complemented by

editorial content

developed in conjunction

with articles written for

the visitors guide – It

Starts at the Beach…and

ends where you want.

WEBLINK UPGRADE (+

$70**): Includes multiple

weblinks to your website,

facebook, twitter or any

other social media

accounts.

WEB BADGE AD

SPECIFICATIONS

Acceptable file formats:

gif, jpg, jpeg, png, swf

Acceptable file sizes for

large web badge: 25kb

for standard graphic

file; 35kb for Flash/swf

Acceptable file sizes for

small web badge: 15kb

for standard graphic

file; 20kb for Flash/swf

Web Badge ads display in

random rotation at the top

right of pages site-wide.

AD SIZES

1. Large ads (250 pixels x 250

pixels)

2. Small ads (125 pixels x 125

pixels)

Web Badge advertising is

sold in 3, 6, 9 and 12 month

periods with a minimum 3-

month purchase.


Web Badge Ads –

Discounted Rates for

Members

Outdoor

Message Centre

Map Board – Fee

based Located in front of the

Welcome Centre just 500m

from Lambton Shores’ Main

Beach, the Outdoor

Message Centre Board

displays a large map of

Grand Bend’s business core

flanked by two Members

Only advertising areas. Each

area can display up to 8 ads

and each ad is 13-inches

wide by 8-inches high. In

total, there are 16 advert-

ising spots available on a

first come, first booked and

paid basis.

The Message Centre board

also features literature slots

where we display copies of

the visitor guide. During the

summer months we

replenish weekly and based

on the number guides

picked-up, almost 1,000

people view the board.

ADVERTISING DETAILS

• Advertising period runs

July 1 to June 30 annually

• Ad may be changed as

many times as desired

during the advertising

period

• Advertisers get first-right-

of-renewal before the spot

is sold to another member

the following the year

• Cost: $249+HST

FULL UPGRADE (+$89**):

2+ photos, interactive

Google map showing your

location and 400+ words

of business product or

service description.

NOTE: If you already

purchased the Weblink

Upgrade, then this

option is only a $19

incremental fee.

SLIDESHOW OPTION

(+$15): we can put

together a small

slideshow that displays in

the business description

section. One-time setup

fee: $15.

**Upgraded listing fees

include $20 discount on

Web Badge advertising.

Save up to

20% on Web

Badge

advertising

when you also

advertise in the

visitor activities

guide.


Annually, the Chamber

produces a full-colour, visitor

activities guide called It

Starts at the Beach…and

ends where you want! This

guide to the Greater Grand

Bend Area (Lambton Shores,

South Huron, Bluewater &

North Middlesex) is the most

comprehensive source for

residents and visitors

planning where to stay, play,

eat or shop.

We distribute 30,000 copies

to 68 Ontario Information

Centres and independently

operated welcome centres,

and to 240 locations along

the Highway 21 corridor

from Sarnia to Goderich at

key locations (restaurants,

hotels, attractions, gas

Discounted Advertising Opportunities for Members

It Starts at the Beach Visitor Guide – Fee based

stations, libraries, banks and

retailers), including London’s

Airport, Huron Country

Playhouse, Stratford Festival

and Blyth Festival.

At the Welcome Centre, we

handout about 4,000 copies

a year.

Advertising in the guide is

open to all area businesses

with Members enjoying

discounted rates.

The guide includes 68+ local

festivals and events, area

maps and an advertisers’

index.

Advertisers also get:

Their business mapped on

a street or local level map

and listed in the

advertisers’ index

Free QR code option

Online FlipBook version is

published on

GrandBendTourism.com

with your ad linked to your

website

NOTE: The Guide is funded

entirely by advertising sales

and is not the Chamber’s

Membership Directory.

Professional

Development &

Networking

Opportunities

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

At the annual general

meeting (AGM) held in

February, directors are

confirmed to the Board. At

the first post-AGM Board

meeting, directors vote

fellow directors into the

Executive Roles of

President, Vice-President,

Treasurer and Secretary.

The Board of Directors

meets every third Tuesday

of the month.

WHAT DIRECTORS DO

The Board of Directors

holds administrative power

and is authorized to make

decisions on behalf of the

Chamber. The Board

determines any bylaws,

rules or regulations it feels

are in the Chambers’ best

interest and changes are

voted on at the AGM to

adopt into practice.

The Board provides

general direction to its

Manager on day-to-day

operations.

• President: Chairs Board

meetings, regulates

order of business, signs

documents requiring

official signature, and

presents a general report

at the AGM.

IMPORTANT DATES

Early Bird Book & Pay:

September 16, 2016

Last Ad Booking Date:

December 2, 2016

Artwork Submission

Date: December 2,

2016

NEW FOR

2017:

Fold-out

map of

Lambton

Shores

FirstData POS Program for

Chamber Members

First Data – a leader in the

electronic payment

processing industry brings

you exclusive benefits to

help grow your business

with preferred pricing and

products tailored to suit

your needs. Their full suite

of products include:

• Ecommerce

• Wired & Wireless

Terminals

• First Data Mobile Pay

• Gift Cards Solutions

• TeleCheck®

• Electronic Cheque

Acceptance

SIGN UP & GET MORE

INFORMATION

FirstDataCanada.ca/chamb

ermembers

1-888-265-4117 or Email

chambermember @

firstdata.com

Chambers of Commerce

Group Insurance Plan

Chambers of Commerce

Group Insurance Plan

Benefits Coverage – offers

you and your employees

Life & Disability insurance,

Short & Long Term

Disability, Health & Dental

coverage, Travel Health

insurance, Vision Care, Drug

plans, Business Overhead

coverage, Critical Illness

Benefits, Group Retirement

Solutions and more.

SIGN UP & GET MORE

INFORMATION

Contact Christina Godbolt

(the program’s local

representative)

519-235-2740 /

Christina.godbolt@sunlife.

com


• Vice-President: Acts in

the absence of the

president.

• Treasurer: Responsible

for the Chamber’s

deposits, payments,

investments and financial

reporting. In practice, the

Manager handles all day-

to-day accounts

receivable and payable

and the auditor reviews

the financials, providing

audited financial

statements for the AGM.

• Secretary: Responsible

for the Chamber’s

business affairs, minute

book, correspondence,

record-keeping, corporate

seal and communicating

to Members. In practice,

the Manager handles all

aspects of this position.

Directors attend monthly

meetings, act for the good

of the entire Chamber,

abide by the Chamber’s

Bylaws and government

legislation that affect

operations, represent the

Chamber in a positive

manner and work as a team

for the Chamber and its

Members.

Affinity Programs – Perks of Membership

Purolator’s Discount

Affinity Program

Delivering best-in class

service to members. Access

Purolator shipping services

and enjoy preferential

pricing through a volume

discount program. Purolator

offers Chamber members

discounts starting at 25% on

Purolator Express® and

Purolator Ground® suite of

services. For more

information, visit

Purolator.com/occ

Constant Contact

Constant Contact is an

online e-marketing

subscription service that

helps you look professional,

connect with your

customers and comply with

the latest marketing

regulations. Simple to use

templates make you look

professional and it’s easy to

stay compliant with their

contact management

features that handle

unsubscribes, bounces and

inactive emails.

Chamber Members save up

to 25% on an annual

subscription.

Constantcontact.ca

Save money on daily business operations

Help Yourself & Help The Chamber Too The Chamber receives a small referral fee for

each member business that signs up with

FirstData or the Chambers of Commerce Group

Insurance Plan.


Your membership with us

gives you membership in

the Ontario Chamber of

Commerce (OCC). We remit

$10+HST of your member-

ship fee to the OCC.

The OCC works on the

provincial level to advocate

on behalf of businesses.

They also help member

Chambers stay informed on

issues. Our membership

within the OCC gives us

access to the member

affinity programs.

During 2016, the OCC has

listened to its small

chamber members and

focused efforts on

highlighting the importance

of small businesses to

Ontario’s economy and in

responding to the Ontario

government’s Tourism

Action Plan. The Grand

Bend & Area Chamber’s

manager is a member of the

OCC’s chamber task force.

Results from both of these

initiatives will be released

during Small Business Week

(week of October 16).

On the local level, directors

and staff work with local

municipal staff, councilors,

other business-focused

organizations (BIAs &

Chambers), and tourism

marketing organizations for

the benefit of our members.

In the last few years, the

Chamber has affected

change on a number of

Advocacy for Local Business Community TOURISM MARKETING

COMMITTEE

The Committee’s goal is to:

• Liaise with the

destination marketing

organizations that affect

tourism in the Greater

Grand Bend Area

(Southwest Ontario

Tourism Corporation,

Tourism Sarnia Lambton,

Huron Tourism

Association, RTO 4) ,

• provide local input into

municipal, county and

regional tourism planning

and development

frameworks, and

• connect the official

tourism organizations

with local business and

event planners.

GOLF TOURNAMENT

COMMITTEE

This Committee organizes

the annual golf tournament.

Activities include selecting

the golf course, helping to

obtain sponsorships,

updating Chamber staff

who in turn support the

Committee with all

administrative, invoicing

and marketing activities.

GRAND BEND HOLIDAY

HOME TOUR COMMITTEE

This Committee of the

Chamber liaises with

several local community

organizations to plan and

implement a holiday home

tour. This year’s event,

scheduled for November

18-20, 2016 is the FIRST

EVER home tour!

issues, here’s a short list:

Successfully lobbied to

get Lambton Shores’

Bylaw ban on buskers

changed to allow busking

(some conditions apply).

Successfully lobbied to

obtain Lambton Shores’

consent for sidewalk

sales.

Highlighted importance of

traffic congestion and

pedestrian safety through

two round table sessions,

providing Lambton Shores

with resulting reports.

Researched and wrote

reports on the import-

ance and impact of

Tourism & Visitor Services

(2012 & 2013) to local

area businesses.

Hosted a round table

meeting on “What Kind of

Town Do You Want in 10

or 20 Years” to provide

business input into the

2015 Lambton Shores

strategic planning.

Hosted two meetings

with regional tourism and

destination marketing

organizations (2012 &

2015), and Lambton

Shores representatives, to

discuss the area’s tourism

marketing needs and

challenges. As a result,

Southwestern Ontario

Tourism Corporation

(SWOTC) placed a staff

member in Grand Bend

summer 2015 to

implement data collection

in support of tourism

initiatives.

Worked with local service

clubs and Lambton Shores

to organize the funding,

purchase and installation

of Christmas lights and

street décor in Grand

Bend in support of retail

and community events.

Organized All Candidates

Meeting.

Partnered with Lambton

Shores in the application

of a Rural Economic

Development grant.

Worked with SWOTC to

develop a tourism survey

to garner essential visitor

data.

Worked with the Rotary

Club of Grand Bend to

bring about the Stage

Opening event, complete

with music and culinary

bites and the “Get in the

Bag” gift bags.

Through our discussions

with SWOTC, they

provided Lambton Shores

with $2k for wayfinding

signage.

Advocated on behalf of

local event organizers and

groups regarding

Lambton Shores event

insurance requirements.

Advocated on behalf of

the business community

relative to the proposed

Noise Bylaw and need for

further community

consultation.

Working with OCC on

Tourism Task Force.

The little Chamber that does!


Membership Benefits Summary

Professional

Development

Workshops

It’s not often easy or

efficient for local area

business owners to travel to

larger urban centres to

upgrade or take a course.

For this reason and because

the Chamber can often

negotiate special discount

pricing, making these

opportunities affordable for

member businesses, we

present several

workshops annually.

Workshops are held in

the spring and fall,

avoiding the busy

summer months.

Examples of workshops

provided in past:

Phoneography

Workplace Safety &

Prevention Certification

Several Social Media

Workshops

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Topics planned for future

workshops include Trip

Advisor, Digital Marketing

on a Shoestring and

Accessing Local Grants.

WORKPLACE SAFETY &

PREVENTION SERVICES

KNOWLEDGE (WSPS)

WSPS Knowledge

Exchange session topics

and dates are published

on

GrandBendChamber.ca.

These sessions are held at

OMAFRA, 100 Don Street

in Clinton. Registration

required, but FREE to

attend.

OMAFRA – Ontario

Ministry of Agriculture,

Food & Rural Affairs.

membership benefits & services 2017 - grandbendchamber.ca

Documents