Joining a Chamber does has pros and cons, and you really have to weigh them individually. I am a Board member of my local chamber and also a Committee Chairwoman and I only joined two years ago. I value my Chamber membership because it has allowed me to hone in on my speaking skills with people, get comfortable about what I do and to educate people about virtual assisting and what it is that we do. I landed a client as a result of my membership and I have some really good relationships with has lead to some referrals that have come my way.

Meetup is also another very popular avenue to look in to also! I was a Meetup leader at about two years ago and it keeps getting stronger so it's definitely worth checking out!

__________________
Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Originally Posted by VBP

Joining a Chamber does has pros and cons, and you really have to weigh them individually.

Thanks for the feedback Doreen. I certainly (based on the feedback I have read on this forum) going to get involved in meetup. I think the COC is something I may have to put on hold if it is too cost prohibitive. That being said, I think it will be a fantastic way to network and to force myself to perfect my 'elevator speech'.

Thanks again!

I just started my VA business literally 3 weeks ago today and I became a member of the Chamber right away. I think joining the Chamber is going to be a huge benefit and a great networking tool. I've gone to one class that the Chamber hosted ( a non-networking event) and already have one potential client. And honestly, I only spoke with 3-4 people! Everyone was very welcoming though and I didn't get the sense of any cliques. I'll be attending an all day B2B expo tomorrow and I'm very excited about it and about meeting new people!

I checked out the meet up site too and it looks like another great resource!

Good luck to you all!!

Kari

__________________
Kari Bullen
Virtual Cornerstone, LLC - Supporting your business virtually.
www.virtualcornerstone.com

Originally Posted by Tess

Hi Lidia, I'm not only because we're not settled where we want to be for long term just yet BUT as soon as we are I'll join...other VAs here who are members, Doreen (VBP) in particular have a lot of great things to say about participating. I think though, what you get out of it has a lot to do with what you put into it...how much you really get involved, etc. You're considering joining your local COC I take it? Have you checked to see if they have a 'new member mixer' kind of event so you can check it out?

Tess, I've been to a 'newbie' mixer at the local COC, it was a 'networking session' to say the least! I did get numerous cards and gave out almost 100 of mine! As soon as I can afford it, I'm joining all three in my area...
I LOVE this Forum, I just wish I time to read every single post...knowledge is power!

Viki

My local chamber has monthly mixers that are held at one of the member's businesses. Non-members can attend at a cost slightly higher than what the members pay. An event like this would be a good way to meet the people involved and determine if the group was clique-ish, uncomfortable, or just not conducive to your business for any other reason.

I am so glad this thread was post. Joining the COC was the next thing to do on my list. As far as the clique goes... as long as 1 person is in need for a VA, maybe the others will follow? You know what they say, right place at the right time.

Good luck to you.

__________________
Mary Lou Locke
Lock-in Success with Locke Virtual Assistance
www.LockeSolutions.com:

I was given a one-year membership as a gift, but did not renew when it ran out. I am involved with a lot of smaller local networking groups, and have found them more effective for me in terms of meeting the people I want to reach.

I'm back and forth on the whole Chamber question. I know there can be wonderful benefits, the best being (in my opinion) a listing in the official directory, which is available online, in print, and even by phone if a person calls and asks for a recommendation for ___ service. BUT the several-hundred-dollar local cost is just far too high for my budget, and that only covers membership. Many of the events have a separate cost as well, generally $30 for non-members and $15-20 for members. Around here, Chamber seems to be better suited to the somewhat-larger company. And unfortunately, all nine local cities/regions are represented by the same chapter, so there isn't really opportunity to try another nearby chapter which might be a better fit. The next closest would be a two-hour drive--each way.

That said, I did attend a Chamber event last year, and it was a really good experience. This particular mixer was hosted by my college's Alumni Association, which is what enticed me--a chance to see all the new expanded facilities on campus. But along the way, I did meet some local business people, share lots of contacts, reconnect with a former colleague, and get a feel for the character/personality of this particular Chamber chapter. I would definitely say it was a worthwhile evening.

My advice would be to attend an event or two before you join. Check the business page of your local paper for seminars or mixers open to nonmembers. That way you can get a good idea of how your local Chamber works and a better feel for whether it's something worthwhile for the long term.

__________________
AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

I joined our local chamber. I haven't seen the rewards yet, however I am allowed to insert a flyer for free as a new member, which I am doing for April. There are 1100 members. When I talked to some of the members they thought my concept was smart. The head of the economic development took my card, just in case the ladies in his office go on maternity leave.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the feed back ladies.....keep it coming

__________________
Lidia Griffin - Majenic Virtual Solutions
Virtual Assistant Services for Real Estate Professionals