February 2015 Newsletter- What's Up Wednesday

2015 Beautification Blowout

This Indianola Sustainability Committee will again be focusing its efforts on beautifying the City's many trails and parks. The committee has partnered with Indianola Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Indianola Trails, and the Keep Indianola Beautiful Committee to rally citizens to help spruce up our city's trails and parks.

The 3rd Annual Beautification Blowout is just around the corner! The Beautification Blowout is a great way to show your commitment to the community and a great team-building experience!  This event will be held on Saturday April 25, 2015 from noon- 2:30 p.m.

Gather your business/organization, civic group or family to help beautify our community by sprucing up the city parks as well as miles of walking/biking trails. We encourage teams/groups to identify themselves with t-shirts, caps, or jackets but that is not required. Also, if you do not have a team, we will put you with a group so that everyone has someone to work with!  There will be a FREE lunch for all participants! 

The event will begin with a rally on the east side of the downtown square with a free lunch served to all registered participants from Noon-12:30. From there, your group will be assigned an area that will be your Beautification Blowout responsibility. Tasks will include removing trash, debris, and dead limbs from the trails and parks. Gloves and trash bags will be provided but we strongly recommend bringing any other tools that might help you with cleaning up these areas. 

Please see the attached flyer for more details. 
http://www.chamberorganizer.com/indianolachamber/docs/2015_Beautification_Blowout.jpg

If you know you already have a team, please print and complete the attached sign up sheet
 http://www.chamberorganizer.com/indianolachamber/docs/Blowout_Team_Sign_Up.pdf.
 
Please contact Mindi Robinson at mrobinson@cityofindianola.com or by calling 961-9430.  Deadline to register is Monday, April 13, 2015 

Run with the Big Dogs!

2nd Annual 5k Fun Run/Walk

"Run with the Big Dogs" at the 2nd Chance Dog Rescue 5k fun run/walk! The event will take place on May 2, 2015.

Sign up by April 25, 2015, and receive $5 off your $25 registration fee with a guaranteed T-shirt on race day!   After that date, registration is $30. 

Please fill out and mail your registration participation form in with the registration fee to:
Linda Meyers
PO Box C
Pleasantville, IA 50225 
(Make checks payable to Second Chance Dog Rescue)

You can also register online at: www.GetMeRegistered.com/RunWithTheBigDogs

Click here to download the registration participation form: http://www.chamberorganizer.com/indianolachamber/docs/Registration_Form-5kRun.pdf

 

Indianola Fridley Theatres Discounted Movie Theater Tickets

Member2Member Discount!!

A new benefit for members in 2015 you don't want to miss! The Chamber is partnering with Fridley Theaters to provide discounted movie tickets to all members.  The $2 discount is available only to members for adult admission.  Here's how it works:
  • Discounted tickets may only be purchased from the Chamber office during regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
  • Tickets may only be purchased by employees of Chamber member businesses.
  • Employees must be able to validate employment with a Chamber member business.  The easiest way to do this is for chamber member business employees to sign-up to receive Chamber alerts/newletters with a valid email address, which will be associated with the employing Chamber member business.  
Not only will chamber business member employees be in the know on what's happening in the community, but they can take advantage of this great benefit. 

"Think Indianola First", receive an awesome discount, and support our local movie theater before going anywhere else! 
        

It's Time to Renew Your Membership!

Benefits of Membership in 2015

Renew your Chamber membership today at: http://indianola.chamberofcommerce.me/members/evr/regmenu.php?orgcode=INDI.  Your membership includes powerful web-based advertising, networking, business development, and more!  Be sure to check all of the new programs available only to members in 2015.
Below is a list of all of the benefits included in your membership: 
  • Coordinated Communication: Weekly and monthly communications are sent out via email to all of our members with updates on what is happening with Chamber activities, upcoming community events, and updates on new businesses in our community.
  • Member2Member Program: There is no better way to find and keep a customer than to utilize the networking abilities of your Chamber membership and forging bonds with other businesses in our community. Offer a discount to fellow Chamber members, a network of customers with the same interest of building a strong community. 
  • Simpson College Student Discount Program: Offer discounts to 1,300+ students who call Indianola their home for at least nine months of the year; drive business by welcoming Simpson students into our business community.
  • All-Star Recognition for participation on committees: Be recognized for your time and talent when you serve on a Chamber committee.
  • Listing in Chamber business directory
  • Networking opportunities: Host or attend a Morning Mingle, Ribbon Cutting, breakfast, open house or other event to network with your fellow Chamber members.
  • Advertising and event sponsorship opportunities
  • Increased website traffic: By linking your business website to the Chamber's website, there is increased traffic to your own site that can bring business into our community
  • Distribution of your business card or other collateral from the Chamber office to all visitors.
  • Referrals from walk-in and call-in inquiries
  • Access to membership labels(for a small fee)
  • Basic website benefits include: assistance setting up website or linking to current website, access to marketing system, member dashboard, video creation and distribution, news module, press release distribution, mobile phone website and (.MOBILE) sub-domain, coupon development and distribution, easy to use wizard for creating marketing program, inter-connection with existing social networks-blogs- and more, traffic counter to your website, access to free downloads of "Growing Your Business" by Mark LeBlanc, FREE telephone and online support at www.FreeMembersSupport.com
Please renew and pay your membership dues by March 1, 2015.   You can defer payment of sponsorship or networking opportunities 60 days prior to the date of the event.     

Download and print a copy of the  Indianola Chamber Member Manual online in the Complete Resource Drive Section of the website at:www.indianolachamber.com.

Please contact our office at 515-961-6269 if you have any questions about your membership or sponsorship opportunities!

Thank you for being a member of the Indianola Chamber of Commerce.  We are only as strong as our members!

 

Bootstrapping Your Small Business

How to Start on a Shoestring Budget and Achieve Success

If you’d like to open a business but don’t have much cash, join us at WeLIFT Job Search Center in Indianola on January 29, 2015. Bring your business ideas to this free class and learn how to creat a network of support, inexpensive ways to promote your business, and how to choose the best time to open your doors.

The workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. 
 
There is no cost to attend; donations accepted for WeLIFT Job Search Center.  Seating is limited, so please register online at Eventbrite or call Deb Downey (515) 306-7759. 



                           
Indianola News Update - February 2015 Newsletter- What's Up Wednesday