Clarkston Chamber eNews Connection

January 6, 2010

Welcome to the Electronic Newsletter of the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce

www.clarkston.org

5856 S. Main St.

Clarkston, MI 48346

248-625-8055

From the President

Chamber President Johnna Struck Changing Places Moving & Services

On your mark get set go… Happy New Year!  It’s not too late…        If you haven’t put together a business plan or budget there is still time.  Make it . . . .MORE

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Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce  

248-625-8055  www.clarkston.org

Take 5 (Five Fast Facts) 

1.  Dean Dan Izydorek has called a special Winter Session for Beer University!  SAVE THE DATE Weds Feb 10, 2010 at Hamlin Pub  5:00-8:30.  We'll be researching Winter Lagers. Save your seat at the Bar

2.  Yoga Oasis invites you to attend their Grand Opening at their new location--SATURDAY Jan 9, 2010 1-5 pm. See more details further down in this eNewsletter

3. Resolve this! BLOG update

4. The Chamber now has over 800 followers on Twitter.  Want to know more about how you can use Twitter?  Attend the Chamber's Jan 22 Social Media Bootcamp.  Maximize your Social Media

5. Red Wings--CHAMBER DISCOUNT  The Detroit Red Wings are pleased to offer a special savings to select January Red Wings games to all Chamber of Commerce members, employees, family, and friends! Choose between three Red Wings games and save up to 44% per ticket off the box office price!  Each package includes a ticket to a Red Wings game and a ticket to the inner-state rivalry of Michigan vs. Michigan State on January 30th!

Virtual Makeover 

Is your company or brand in need of a virtual makeover?  It is no secret people; our customers and prospects are looking to the web first trying to find us.  What do they find?  Hopefully they find an effective website that is easy to navigate, has useful information, steers them in the right direction, keeps their attention, is worth revisiting, is worth recommending, has fresh content, and makes it easy to contact you.  Had that been a test, how did your website do?

Competition is stiff; can you afford to take the risk of having a substandard website?  As the New Year approaches take hard look at your website.  Does it have a good title, a powerful call to action, is their content that is attention grabbing, is their information that will keep their attention?  Make sure your “good stuff” is above the scroll, that each of your pages has a purpose, and that is set up to convert your visitors into clients. 

A web presence is just as important as your website.  Hopefully you are taking advantage of the countless digital platforms to cross promote your website and increase your awareness.  Many of them are free and worth the time you spend on them.  The Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce is putting on an event on January 22nd to dive deeper into these platforms and help you address the many issues your website may be facing.      Maximize your Social Media

Jason T. Ryan, Vision Fuel Media
248-346-2755
www.VisionFuelMedia.com
www.Twitter.com/VirtualJason

Upcoming Networking events

	BOB January 14, 2010 7:45-9:00 a.m. Great Lakes Athletic Club	$10 with PREPAID reservations $15 at the door NON-MEMBERS $25 per person Morning Networking is for me!
	Luncheon Mixer January 21, 2010 11:45-1 pm   Outback Steakhouse	$25 per person at the door. MEMBERS save $5 on registration when you sign up and pay in advance. ($20 per person). I love to network over lunch MENU: Steak or Chicken or Salmon
	Social Media Bootcamp TWITTER, Websites and LinkedIn January 22, 2010 8:15-Noon Knights of Columbus	$25 Twitter Session 8:15 $25 Websites Session 9:45 $25 LinkedIn Session 11:00 OR sign up for all 3 workshops for just $35 I need help navigating Social Media
	Women in Business  Resolve This! Shake off the Recession Blues and Jump Start 2010 with a New Attitude Thursday, January 28 10:45-1:00 pm Mesquite Creek	$50 per person Includes LUNCHEON MEMBERS pay just $30 when you sign up and pay in advance.  Women in Business
Women in Business (Not just for women, but designed especially for women business leaders) Sponsored by Cowan Chiropractic		PRESENTER: The Amazing Maxwell “The funny side of thought”

Chamber and Community CALENDAR Events 

More community dates here

January 9, 2010  Yoga Oasis Grand Opening of their new location! 5896 Dixie Hwy, Clarkston – by Lifepointe Chiropractic   Open House from 1-5 pm;Ribbon Cutting at 1:30 pm 

• Free mini classes including demonstrations in Yoga and Tai Chi 
• 5 Certified trainers on hand to answer questions 
• Drawings on the hour for free classes, eye pillows, straps and 5 gift cards for classes 
• Light refreshments and snacks will be served

January 21 2010  BLOOD DRIVE at Lafontaine Automotive Group.  11:00am to 5:00pm www.givelife.org

RESOURCES

• SOCIAL MEDIA BOOTCAMP January 22 2010 sessions just announced.  Twitter, Websites and Linked In FLYER  SOCIAL MEDIA

• Quickbooks online training and live event schedule--Kildal Services LLC

• Quickbooks Seminar January 14, 2010 9-4 in Auburn Hills, Presented by Stacy Kildal of Kildal Services LLC

• CLARKSTON CARES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010, 7:30 PM ST. DAN'S   A Clarkston military support group, newly formed, which seeks to support military families by identifying their needs and working as a community to meet them. Contact: menneking@stdanielclarkston.org (Marylou Enneking) 248-625-4583  

• Hallmann Advisors offers Tax Preparation discount to Chamber members

•  JAN 7, 2010  9 am-12:30 Pre-Business Research

Are you thinking of starting your own business and want to research your business idea? Are you a business owner who wants to understand which research sources to use for your business plan and where to find the information you need? The class is held on Tuesday, January 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. Presented by The Entrepreneur’s Source, Oakland County’s Business Center, Market Research Department, and Research Librarian. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.

• January 7, 2010 - Thinking of starting your own business?
• SCORE’s Could I, Should I Workshop helps provide answers

 In one of their series of workshops for small business, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 helps potential entrepreneurs answer the question; “Could I, Should I Start My Own Business?”.  Attendees learn what it takes to start and manage a business; why some businesses fail while others succeed and what personal skills are required to start a business.  From 8:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.Thur., Jan. 7 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Rd. in Southfield.  $10. Call 313-226-7947 to register.

• January 13, 2010 – SCORE Presents “Planning Your Own Business”

 In one of a series of workshops for small businesses, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 presents “Planning Your Own Business.”  This workshop discusses how potential entrepreneurs should do the research and planning necessary for writing a comprehensive business plan and starting a successful business.  Featured are interactive discussions with SCORE counselors sharing their years of business experiences in management, marketing, manufacturing, and IT systems. From 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wed. Jan. 13 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Rd. in Southfield.  $45. Call 313-226-7947 to register.

• JAN 14, 2010  9 am-12:00 Fundamentals of Starting a Business

This is a seminar for anyone thinking about going into business. Participants examine their entrepreneurial skills, learn how to implement their ideas and receive a list of pitfalls to avoid when starting a business. The class runs from 9:00 a.m. - noon on Thursday, January 14, at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. The fee is $30. No refunds.

www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.

• January 20, 2010 – SCORE’s “Understanding the Language of Accounting”

 As part of their series of workshops for small business, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 presents “Understanding the Language of Accounting”.  One of the important prerequisites to running a successful business is to understand and control finances. This workshop compares financial statements for two businesses to show how to create and monitor an effective financial strategy.  From 8:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 20 at MBPA Hoover Business Center, 27700 Hoover Rd. in Warren.  $55. Call 313-226-7947 to register.

• JAN21, 2010 9:00-Noon Fundamentals of Writing a Business Plan

This is a workshop for small business owners who are developing a plan to serve as their road map to success. The class is held on Thursday, January 21, from 9:00 a.m. - noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. The fee is $40, which includes all materials. No refunds.www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar. 

• JAN 26, 2010 9:00-Noon  Legal & Financial Basics for Small Business

This workshop covers many of the key legal and financial issues faced by both new and existing small businesses in Michigan. The program initially focuses on the many management and liability concerns faced by entrepreneurs, as well as today's tax consequences. The program also provides solutions and techniques for business concession and individual investment and retirement planning. Presented by Carter & Affiliates, P.C. Tuesday, January 26, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.

• January 27, 2010 – SCORE Presents “Write a Successful Business Plan” 

In one of their series of workshops for small business, Detroit SCORE Chapter 18 shows potential entrepreneurs “How to Write a Successful Business Plan”.  Attendees learn what is required for their business plan with examples and templates for the marketing, management and financial sections.  From 8:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 27 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Rd. in Southfield.  $45. Call 313-226-7947 to register.

• JAN 28 9:00-Noon Fundamentals of Marketing Your Business

Marketing is an essential of business success. All products/services must be sold to well-targeted audiences with a wide-ranging marketing mix. Our staff/SCORE counselors can guide you through successful techniques and marketing principles helping you to promote your products and services to the most promising customers-your target audience. Presented by The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC). Thursday, January 28 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, west of Telegraph, Waterford. For location specifics and pre-registration, visit our website at oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call (248) 858-0783. The fee is $40 (make check payable to E.M.U.), which includes all materials. No refunds. www.oakgov.com/peds/calendar.