The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce gained its 1,000th member last week, making the Chamber the largest it has been in its nine-year history.

“Hitting our goal of 1,000 member businesses is amazing. In nine years the Chamber went from being almost non-existent, to a strong organization that helps companies of all sizes and specialties do business more effectively in New Orleans.” said Fred Parker, Chairman of the New Orleans Chamber and General Manager of New South Parking.

Members employ a total of 41,469 full-time workers. The Chamber hosted more than 75 events in 2012 to help members grow and improve their businesses, including business networking opportunities, small business seminars and quarterly luncheons. Monthly Chamber After 5 business networking events average 275 attendees. New initiatives, such as the women’s networking event also known as Women’s Business Alliance, average more than 150 attendees.

A key success in generating new membership was the launch of the “Power Up” advertising campaign. The campaign was created by Keating Magee Marketing & Communications and produced by Velocity Agency, both Chamber members. The campaign was created to raise awareness of the benefits that organizations – from start-ups to mature businesses – receive by joining the Chamber. Many new members cite this campaign as their initial exposure to the Chamber and that it was influential in their membership decision. Also instrumental to the success of the Chamber’s growing membership is the dedication of its board of directors, the Chairman’s Council and Chamber Ambassadors.

“Membership is the lifeblood of the Chamber,” said Ben Johnson, President and CEO. “Thanks to the Chamber’s 365 Member Referral Program, we are able to reward our dedicated members who help recruit new members.”

The 2013 First Quarter top membership referral program leaders are listed below

1. Ron Marlow
2. Jamie Ziglar, 2nd Line Marketing, LLC
3. Ashley Merlin, Ashley Merlin  Photography

It’s not too late to refer new members to the Chamber!  Our 365 Membership Referral Program deadline is Friday, June 7th. Winners will be recognized and given an award at our 2nd Quarterly Business Luncheon on Friday, June 13th.

The Chamber offers a 365 day a year referral program.  By recruiting a minimum of three new members you can earn a debit card valued at 10% of new member dues.   Top three recruiters will receive an award and be publicly recognized.

Simply download a member application by clicking Download the Membership Application , put your name on the top line next to “Referred by” and pass it along to future Chamber members.  Chamber staff will track your referrals and cash cards will be distributed on a quarterly basis.

For a preview of the “Power UP” TV commercial,
please click here.

Help the New Orleans Local Organizing Committee make the NCAA Women’s Final Four a success for our city! We invite you to take advantage of discounted ticket pricing and consider purchasing tickets for yourself, your family and employees, or donate tickets to a local basketball team. Tickets for all-sessions start at $99, and single session tickets are now available for $65 for the two national semifinal games on Sunday, April 7. Tickets for the National Championship game on Tuesday, April 9 are $60. Groups of 10-or-more will receive an additional $10 discount off all-session and single session tickets (www.NCAA.com/tickets).

We also encourage you to attend the free ancillary events celebrating the Women’s Final Four. Ancillary events include Tourney Town (adjacent to the New Orleans Arena), open practices, autograph sessions, the 4Kay Run, Big Easy Bounce and the NCAA Youth Clinics (hyperlink http://www.ncaa.com/womens-final-four#!youth_clinics) at Joe Brown Memorial Park and Isidore Newman School. For more information on these events, and how to register visit www.ncaa.com/womensfinalfour.

New Orleans has an outstanding record for local participation at sporting events.  Help us continue to bring these high profile, world-class events to the city by increasing ticket sales and attending these family-friendly events.

New Orleans is my city and I am proud to be part of the business development in New Orleans.   We all owe it to ourselves and our community to volunteer our services.  I’ve chosen to invest my time into the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and in return the Chamber has helped me and my business connect, network, and grow.   POWER UP your business and community today by joining the New Orleans Chamber!

Payment Processing Solutions
Chamber members that sign up with First Data can receive discounted fees for their credit card processing. First Data is the industry leader in the payment processing business.  They offer a Match or Beat Program where they offer merchants a $500 gift card if they cannot match or beat the current processing rates.

Click the First Data Brochure1 icon to learn more about First Data benefits.

The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association to present the 2013 LOGA State of the Industry meeting in New Orleans, LA. Mark your calendars and register online today to join us. The meeting will feature a keynote address from Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Don Briggs. Topics for open discussion at each meeting will include:

• The status of the oil and gas industry in a “post-presidential election” world
• The state of the shale oil and gas plays and how they will impact our energy security
• An update on what is causing the rise and fall of commodities prices
• The EPA and its ongoing efforts to regulate hydraulic fracturing
• The status of U.S. offshore drilling
• And most importantly, a preview of the upcoming legislative session.

A question and answer session will follow the formal presentation. There will be ample opportunity before and after the meetings for networking with other oil & gas business professionals. Click here to finalize your reservations today to ensure that you do not miss these educational events.

 Tuesday, January 22, 2013
11:00am – 1:00pm
Windsor Court Hotel
300 Gravier Street
New Orleans, LA

Exclusive meeting sponsorship available in most cities – Contact LOGA Director of Marketing Ben Broussard to secure this opportunity at (337) 278-6240 or ben@loga.la

New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Discount Prescription Drug Card

This program is being provided to you and your family to help lower your prescription drug costs. Simply create and print your FREE Prescription Drug Card below and receive savings of up to 75% (discounts average roughly 30%) at more than 56,000 national and regional pharmacies. This card can be used as your primary plan and/or it can be used on prescriptions not covered by your insurance plan. This program also includes other value added programs which will be listed on the card. Please enter your name and e-mail address in the box below and we will generate a printable membership card for you (no application/enrollment or eligibility required). This program has “LOWEST PRICE” logic to guarantee that you get the best deal on your prescriptions. (You pay the lower of a discount off Average Wholesale Price–AWP, discount off MAC Pricing or Pharmacy Promotional/Retail price). This card is pre-activated and can be used immediately!

Crusading against an unpredictable economy?  Looking to really soar?  Now there is a way to infuse you and your business with super powers.  PowerUp your business today by joining the New Orleans Chamber or renewing your membership for 2013!

$1,000,000 to be awarded to area charities

NEW ORLEANS – Leading up to the big game in New Orleans this coming February, the Brees Dream Foundation, in partnership with Companies With A Mission, will be giving away $1,000,000 to local charities as part of the 2012 Super Service Challenge.

Starting today through January 7, the Super Service Challenge encourages local companies and organizations to spread the heart of service New Orleans has become famous for. Those interested in participating simply need to build a team of volunteers, identify a deserving charity, and conduct a half or full day of community service benefiting that charity. Upon completion of each Service Challenge project, teams will be asked to upload a two-minute video or 20-slide Power Point of them serving at the charity and answer a few questions. These will then be used in the judging process.

Drew Brees, founder of the Brees Dream Foundation and quarterback for the New Orleans Saints is thrilled to launch the challenge. “Encouraging and activating volunteers from the workplace to come together and serve charities is a powerful mission,” said Brees, “This is what we’ve become known for in our city, and we’re taking it to the next level before the big game.”

A panel of independent judges, along with input from the public, will select the winning entries. Judging criteria will be based on:

• how the charity was served,
• how the workplace team would serve the charity going forward, and
• how the charity would utilize the award money if that team was selected as a winner of the service challenge.

Once the judging is complete, winners will be awarded cash donations from $2,000 to $25,000 to be given directly to the charities served by those winning teams. The winners will be announced during the week of the big game.

“In addition to benefiting the community, the Super Service Challenge is a fun and rewarding way to build a stronger purpose mindset in the workplace, and to foster leadership and strength of character,” said Mitch Davis, executive director of Companies with a Mission. “While the dollars awarded will have a huge impact on their charities, the relationships with these nonprofits and the community spirit at work can be the greater and longer-lasting reward.”

For additional information on the 2012 Super Service Challenge and how to get involved, visit www.superservicechallenge.com.

“What’s the riskiest move we can make today? Doing the same-old same-old. Hugging the status quo. Staying the course in spite of a changing marketplace. In a world economy that can flip in a nanosecond, thinking that the future will follow the past is the fast road to obsolescence. What’s the antidote? Igniting your company’s creativity. Finding new routes to growth, profitability, and innovation with Josh Linkner.,” said  
Josh Linkner, Author, NY Times Best Seller

Sponsored by:

2012 Chamber’s Chairman’s Council

2012 EO Louisiana Premier Sponsors

And   

Gold Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

Bowen, Miclette & Britt
Gibbs Construction LLC
Green Grants, LLC
GNO, Inc.
Kiva New Orleans / Good Work Network / ASI Federal Credit Union
Louisiana Pain Specialists
Metro NOLA Sourcelink/ Regional Planning Commission
New Orleans Business Alliance
NewCorps, Inc.
New Orleans Magazine
QCS Logistics
Renaissance Publishing
Simmons & White, LLC
Waldemar S. Nelson & Company, Inc.
Worknet Staffing

Entrepreneurial Energizers

Join Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Louisiana and the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce on October 11th for our third quarter business breakfast series.

Our keynote speaker Entrepreneur Josh Linkner, New York Times best seller of Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, will discuss how to support, connect and engage the entrepreneurial and corporate community.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

7:00 am – 8:00 am: Registration & Networking

8:00 am – 9:00 am: Program & Breakfast

The Roosevelt New Orleans

Roosevelt Ballroom, Mezzanine Level

123 Baronne Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Parking
Valet parking at The Roosevelt New Orleans is available at the rate of $18 per vehicle

Pre-registration
Open Seating Admission: $30

Day of the event
Walk-in guests Admission: $40

Exhibit Table
Organizations that support entrepreneurs are welcome to reserve a exhibit table for this event to promote your entrepreneur programs.  
Please email kmcgee@neworleanschamber.org

Sponsorship Levels listed below

• 8 Tickets w/ reserved table
• Power point program listing with color logo
• Logo and/or name listed on email blast to over 3,000 businesses and business leaders
• Logo on Chamber website which receives over 150,000 hits each month

• 8 Tickets w/ reserved table
• Power point program listing w/ black and white logo
• Logo and/or name listed on email blast to over 3,000 businesses and business leaders
• Logo on Chamber website which receives over 150,000 hits each month

• 8 Tickets w/ reserved table
• Power point program listing
• Logo and/or name listed on email blast to over 3,000 businesses and business leaders
• Logo on Chamber website which receives over 150,000 hits each month

• 8 Tickets w/ reserved table
• Table Name Listing

Please Click here to purchase your seat and for sponsorship information.

Visit our website at www.NewOrleansChamber.org
or call (504) 799-4260 for more information.

 WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRE-REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THIS EVENT

 (Please Register by Monday, October 8th. All registrants will be charged for the event, unless canceled in writing THREE days prior.)