First-year campaign draws 120 plus new members in three days

Chamber members reach out to bring in more businesses

By Barbara Connors, RCC

Two days of work by loyal Chamber-member volunteers yielded amazing results with the Rockford Chamber welcoming 124 new members.

On June 3 and 4, six teams of more than 100 local business volunteers gathered in three-hour shifts to call their contacts on a bank of phones at Midway Village Museum. Over the din of their conversations, they rang cow bells; each time signaling that a new member had joined the Chamber.

Jimmy Cusano, of Your Chamber Connection, a national group that specializes in high-energy membership campaigns, led the event in his trademark zoot suits. Before each shift he encouraged friendly competition among the volunteers with music, hand motions and inspirational words, and reminded them why membership in a chamber was important.

“A true chamber of commerce is a team of businesses,” Cusano said. “Chambers stand for the opportunity to connect with other businesses as well as for visibility.” He gave the top four reasons people join chambers:

• to gain community/business support;
• to gain connections, both business and social;
• to gain visibility through advertising, and
• to contribute to economic and community development.

The six teams that participated each was lead by a general manager and delineated by a color. Teams showed up in high spirits, complete with themes like “the Blues Brothers,” Hawaiian luau, day at the beach and money tree. Colorful costumes; props like pink flamingos, plastic sand buckets, visors and leis; and pre-printed t-shirts added to the enthusiasm, fun and competition.

Thanks to general managers who led the teams: Barb Berman, Mike Broski, Pam Maher, Romero Bennett, Mike Robinson and Brian Brown.

Thanks also to the area businesses that helped support the membership event: Midway Village Museum, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Blackhawk Bank, Residence Inn by Marriott, Sam’s Club, Verizon Wireless, Mid-City Office Products, and Rockford Riverhawks Professional Baseball.

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