A message from President Ginger LaMar,
 

1. CCEM was proud to sponsor the welcome reception picnic the first evening.
    
2.  My favorite thing about MAKO were the keynotes on Tuesday. 
   • Entertaining, but informative! 
      
3. MAKO is always a great opportunity to connect with other Chambers and hear about their successes and challenges. 
   • This year, I was so excited to hear from our Nerdy BFF, Beth Z and discover new apps and tools to help us communicate more effectively with our members and add value to what we do.  She didn’t disappoint and I came away with a whole notebook worth of ideas and inspiration! 
   • Check out the Playbuzz APP!  
      
4. Save the Date:  MAKO April 23-25, 2017 in Rogers, Arkansas
    
5. Check out JustinPattonInspires.com
   • An Executive Leadership Coach - how to communicate with confidence and how body language is about perception
      

If you missed MAKO this year, we hope you can join us at the CCEM Fall Conference on September 28 - 30 at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton, MO. 

If you have information for future newsletters, please submit them to our intern, Kayla, at ccemintern@gmail.com and we will be sure to include them. 



Ginger LaMar, IOM
Director of Member Services & Development
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
www.joplincc.com
417.624.4150

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, involving employers, building 
relationships and connecting business and community since 1917
 

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Please click on the link below to view pictures of our MAKO attendees!
 

 
Community Connect Broadband Grant Program Workshop
 
Last month, we brought you news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for grants to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through its Community Connect program. The program, which helps fund broadband deployment in areas where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service, plans to award up to $11.7 million.

 
The USDA is now offering a grant workshop and webinar to inform interested applicants about major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program, along with detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application.
 
The workshop will take place Tuesday, May 17 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the USDA Rural Development State Office Training Room (601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO). To RSVP, or for more information, please contact Chris Collins, Rural Utilities Service General Field Representative, at (573) 445-0765 or chris.collins@wdc.usda.gov.
 
The webinar will also take place Tuesday, May 17 from 2 – 4 p.m. Due to the limited amount of room available, participants must register at this website to ensure a spot in the online session

The deadline to apply is June 17, 2016

Travel trip to CUBA update,

We have a lot of people interested in joining us for our CUBA trip and due to this interest Chamber Discoveries has reorganized our trip to leave on Oct 11, 2016 and if the registration is received by June 15^th travelers can take advantage of the Early Bird registration. 

To reserve a seat your members must submit their deposit of $450.00 and the reservation form to our office by Close of Business on the 15th of June.  Chamber Discoveries will contact the travelers with an invoice for the final payments.

This is a great way for your Chamber of Commerce to earn non dues revenue, $150.00 per traveler and for your community members to tour Cuba while the mystery is still alive.
I have attached the editable brochure for you to add your Chamber name to by inserting it in the "Your Name Here Section".    

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

 

 

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Ozark Community Leadership Program Coming Soon

OZARK, Mo. – Ozark Leads was announced last week as a joint project between the Ozark
Chamber of Commerce, the Ozark R-VI School District, and the City of Ozark. Ozark Leads is a community learning experience for adults 21 years or older who live and/or work in Ozark. It offers classroom style learning with field trips, discussions, and an opportunity to work on a community project. Ozark Leads is a nine month experience designed to develop community leaders who are committed to improving the quality of life in Ozark.

This informative class we will help you:

• Improve your value as a commmunity leader, volunteer, official or citizen
• Grow a stronger community network
• Develop a community-focused project
• Discover how local government serves it people
• Particiate in community development disucssions and planning

“This project has been in the works for a long time and I am very excited to see it come to fruition. The program will support the development of engaged citizens with an understanding of the economic and social issues Ozark faces.”

- Steve Childers, Ozark City Administrator

Anyone who has an interest in serving on a board, advisory committee, or actively volunteering will find this program advantageous and an ideal opportunity to learn. This program is intended to improve Ozark’s community; therefore, only individuals who live and/or work in the Ozark area should apply. If you are interested in learning more about how the Ozark community works, lives and plays join us for Ozark Leads.

Ozark Leads will be accepting applications from April 1 – May 15, 2016 and classes will begin September 2016. To receive additional information and find applications visit
www.OzarkLeads.com or call the Ozark Chamber of Commerce at 417-581-6139.

CCEM District 5
March Meeting Notes

The CCEM District 5 Chamber Executives met on Friday, March 19 th and were able to
discuss a variety of topics to help their Chambers grow and succeed. Listed below are the topics discussed and action items.

• Board Training: A discussion was held on bringing in a trainer for our Chamber Board members with the opportunity to open it up to our member non-profit members. Erin Williams will contact Bob Harris to get pricing information.
   
• Membership: A discussion was held on the invoicing process and what we each do before dropping a member.
   
• Contracts: A discussion was held on contract employees and what the believed stipulations are to be qualified as contractual with the IRS and State of Missouri. The discussion led to sharing contacts of Chamber Directors under contract to share knowledge.
   
• Programming: A discussion on Chamber programming included Young Professional Groups, Women’s Networking Groups as well as Membership Meeting Speakers.
   
• Advocacy: A discussion was held on advocating for various topics, including TIFF Commissions and Temporary Building Codes, effecting our communities as well as City Council Legislative Scorecards.

 

• Pre-Academy Bonus Session
• 9:00 -12:00 Economic Development – Who? What? Why? How?
  • Sharon Gulick, University of Missouri Extension
     
• 12:00 Lunch
   
• 1:00 Are you ready to Chamber?
   
• 1:15 – 2:00   Chambers – Doing What Others Think "Just Happens"
  •  Ginger LaMar, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce & CCEM President
    • Introduce CCEM and its role
    • Who Chambers were in the past 
    • Who we are today
    • Who we have to be
       
• 2:00 – 2:45 Money Makes the World Go Round
  • Jeff Meredith, Monett Chamber of Commerce
    • Budgets and Financial Statements are essential
    • Not for Profit – just a tax status
    • Tax Returns
    • Oversight and finance committees
    • Attorneys and Accountants are worth every penny
       
• 2:45 – 3:00 Break
   
• 3:00 – 3:45 – I See Difficult People… Here’s How to Deal With Them
  • Brian Gerau, Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce
    • Who matters and who doesn’t?
    • What to do…or not
    • How to fire a member without a lawsuit
    • How to fire a Board Member without losing your job
       
• 3:45 – 4:30 p.m. Events Are Our Friends
  • Natalie Redmond, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
    • How to plan – when to start, who to include
    • Event is today – time to execute
    • Details are the devil, and the devil’s in the details
    • New event ideas
    • How to kill an event
       
• 4:30 – 4:45 – Professional Development and Scholarship
   
• 4:45 – Return to hotel/check emails

• 6:00 – Dinner

• 8:00-8:30 - Thursday’s Gone With the Wind
  • Brian Gerau
    • Review previous day
    • Look at parking lot
    • Introduce Day Two
    • Any questions?
       
• 8:30 – 9:15 -   By-laws, policies and mission statements - oh my!
  • Scott Tate, Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
    • What’s the difference?
    • Why do I need them?
    • When do they need changed?
       
• 9:15 – 9:30 Break
   
• 9:30 – 10:15 - Membership Recruitment and Retention
  • Talking about my generation
  • What’s good, bad and ugly?
  • Young Professionals
     
• 10:30 – 11:15 – Political Advocacy Panel
  • Charlie Hinderliter, St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • Should my chamber get involved?
    • Getting started
    • What’s wrong and what’s right?
       
• 11:15 – 12:00 – Do It Yourself, Chamber Marketing
  • Paige Cahill – Constant Contact
    • What works - communication
    • Social media
    • Best Practices
       
• 12:00 – Parking Lot Lunch
  • Review any items on the parking lot
  • Surveys

The scholarship committee for CCEM would like to congratulate the following individuals who received a scholarship this year! 

US Chamber of Commerce Institute

• Neely Myers - Carthage Chamber of Commerce
• Mary Jo Little - Carthage Chamber of Commerce
• Wendy Rackovan - Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
• Stacy Needels - Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
• Antona Eichholz - Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce
• Matt Baird - Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
• Astra Ferris - Barton County Chamber of Commerce
• Chris Koetters - Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
• Jeff Meredith - Monett Chamber of Commerce
• Lori Tainter - Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce
• Suzanne Taylor - Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce
• Erin Williams - O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  ​        

ACCE Conference

• Brian Gerau - Jackson Chamber of Commerce
• Sara Henderson - O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Gayle Potter - Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jolyn Sattizahn - Columbia Chamber of Commerce       
   

​Chamber Management Academy

• Judy Barrett - Grandview Chamber of Commerce
• Debbie Carman - Trenton Chamber of Commerce
• Amanda Creqeen - Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Nina DeAngelo - O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Anna Grimm - Maplewood Chamber of Commerce
• Amy Harlin - Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce 
• Angie Kavanaugh - Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce
• Kate Lyons - Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce
• Gina March - Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
• Tiffany Wilson - Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce
   

CCEM Fall Conference

• Kelly Jones - Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Teri Laverty - Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Crystal Narr - Chilicothe Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jan Olearnick - Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
• Andrea Sitzes - Ozark Chamber of Commerce
• Amanda Winschel - Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce

The Compensation & Benefits Survey report is now available! 

• Check your emails for ​Mid-America Chamber Executives to download the report. 
   

Webpage Update

• We are in the process of updating our webpage. All inputs are welcome! Please email Kayla at ccemintern@gmail.com with your suggestions
   

ACCE Attendees

• If you are attending the ACCE Conference, please let Tammy know at tlong@mochamber.com so we can keep you in the loop for our Missouri social. 

June Newsletter​

• Please have your submissions for the June newsletter to Kayla at ccemointern@gmail.com by June 15th if you would like it to be included!

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Thank you for all you do for your community!