CIBA Newsletter - March 2009
£ Please join us in welcoming McLELLAN TEMPORARIES and PURPLE MOON ESPRESSO, SMOOTHIES & JUICE as our newest CIBA members!
£ Do you have a passion for supporting local, independent businesses? Are you eager to promote buying local to bolster the Corvallis economy? Consider applying for the CIBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Board elections will be in May. The current Board is reviewing applications to create a slate of candidates; we are looking for one person to complete a term that ends in 2011, and five people for terms ending in 2012. We are particularly interested in adding Board members from retail businesses and the restaurant/food service sector. Contact Colleen for an application packet or for more information; 752-0047 or info@corvallisiba.org">info@corvallisiba.org.
£ Is the next CIBA MEMBERSHIP MEETING on your calendar yet? Please plan to attend (and bring a local business friend!) on Wednesday, March 25. We’ll meet at 5:30 p.m. upstairs at The Book Bin building. In addition to networking time and great refreshments from Cloud 9, we have a timely presentation planned for you. Lamonte Florence from Oregon Action, will join us to provide an overview of the new-completed national Health Insurance Survey, Taking the Pulse of Main Street: Small Business, Health Insurance & Priorities for Reform. Lamonte will also talk about next steps. Bring your questions, concerns and comments regarding this important topic.
£ Here are a couple more ideas from our January TIPS TO HELP US THRIVE IN TOUGH TIMES meeting:
1. Know who your customers are and keep in touch with them – even when they don’t walk in the door.
2. Network with other CIBA members. Share about our businesses during Membership Meetings so we can learn more about what we all do and be able to refer customers/clients who could use CIBA member services and products.
3. Have a good website that allows people to get in touch with you via phone or email. Your website needs to tell a good story about your business.
£ The CIBA SCRIP PROGRAM is now being handled through the CIBA office. We want to thank Laurie Zink, long-time CIBA Scrip Coordinator and former Board member, for her dedication to this terrific program! CIBA Scrip is an excellent way for member businesses to contribute to our local schools. CIBA Scrip is also a great marketing tool because people are more inclined to patronize businesses that will return a portion of their purchase to the schools. Both participating businesses and CIBA benefit from the good public relations the CIBA Scrip Program creates. If you’d like more information on how the program works or how to sign up to participate, contact Colleen at 752-0047 or info@corvallisiba.org">info@corvallisiba.org.
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