eBlast for the week of  
January 9, 2017
This week at the Chamber:
 
Thursday, January 19th 
9:30 a.m. - Chamber Coffee Hosted by FCCLA

Noon - Chamber Ambassadar Meeting @ Pizza Hut


This week in our area:

Wedbesday, January 18th
8-4 - OSHA Training @ BCC

Thursday, January 19th
8-12  - OSHA Training @ BCC

5:30 p.m. - City Court

7 p.m. - VFW Auxiliary Meeting

Friday, January 20th
5:30 p.m. - Hamburger Night @ the American Legion

Saturday, January 21st
7-9 a.m. - Clara Barton Lab Fair

Monday, January 23rd
7 p.m. - Clara Barton Foundation Annual Meeting

7 p.m. - City Council Meeting









Rescheduled Banquet - Check your RSVPs!
Since we had to postpone the banquet to the 28th of January, we are reaching out to everyone who RSVP'd to make sure you can still attend.

If you RSVP'd to the original date and now are unable to attend on the 28th, PAID OR NOT, please let us know by Monday the 23rd.  We need to have a correct count for the caterer.

We will gladly issue refunds to anyone who paid but cannot attend on the new date. Please let us know.

And some good news! 

If you CAN make this date and couldn't make the original date, you can still RSVP (smothered steak or fried chicken) until next Monday, January 23rd!

Call 620-653-4311 with any RSVP's, cancellations or questions.


Come enjoy a delicious catered meal of smothered steak or fried chicken as we join the entire Hoisington area business community in celebrating another successful year at the Chamber. The Chamber Ambassadors are very honored to present seven Community Awards this year, and are excited to show off the video bios of each winner that the HHS video productions class helped produce. 

Tickets are $30. Please RSVP at the Chamber by Monday, January 23rd at 4 p.m. 

You may also purchase tickets online at  http://www.hoisingtonkansas.com/2017-chamber-banquet

And guests 21 and over can participate in our first ever wine pull! Donate to pick a numbered wine cork and receive a surprise bottle of wine!

We have nearly 30 bottles donated! Lots of good stuff here!

Business Workforce Roundtable
The Great Bend and Hoisington Chambers
Co-Present...

Are you a business owner or an HR professional? Do you have employees?
 
If the answer to either of these questions was YES, then you will greatly benefit from our Human Resources / Small Business Roundtables, which take place four times per year on the last Tuesdays of January, April, July, and October. We've revamped the format of these networking luncheons in 2017 to encourage conversation, questions, and sharing of "best practices." Sign up to join us for the first event in the new year!  PLEASE JOIN US!
 
You're Invited - Workforce Services Roundtable Luncheon
 
Tuesday, January 31st @ 11:30 a.m. 
"Kansas WorkforceONE Employer Services"
Presented by Tucky Allen, Business Services Director
The Page Banquet Room
2920 10th Street in Great Bend, KS
Registration: $20 Per Person
 
Did you know there are services available to Kansas Businesses to support and underwrite partial costs of recruiting, on-the-job training, customized training, and more? In this presentation, Tucky Allen with Kansas WorkforceONE will provide a thorough overview as well as handouts for future reference. 

Please  REGISTER ONLINE no later than 5 p.m. on  FridayJanuary 27th

Also Mark your Calendars for Other Upcoming Luncheons:
  • Tuesday, April 25th @ 11:30 a.m. - Can you afford to NOT have work comp insurance?
  • Tuesday, July 25th @ 11:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday, October 31 @ 11:30 a.m.

Member News
Weather Postpones Lab Fair





United Way of Central Kansas

Community News
New Philanthropic Group Launching in Barton County
 
A new philanthropic group is building momentum for a Kick-Off Event in a couple weeks. The initiative is known as "100 People Who Care of Barton County" and is being modeled after similar membership groups all over the country. It's not a new nonprofit organization, but rather a platform for local charities to reach new people and raise over $10,000 in one hour. 

Members of the new group will gather four times per year to hear from local charities, and then vote on which one they want to earn the donations for that quarter. Whichever charity wins the majority vote receives a $100 donation from each of the 100+ members, which totals $10,000 (or maybe more)! A special Kick-Off is being planned for Tuesday, January 24th at 5:30 p.m. in the Best Western Courtyard so that potential donors and nonprofit organizations can come learn about the process. 

If you want to join or have your favorite charity present to the group, visit www.100bartoncounty.org.

This week's article...
7 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Business Over Your Lunch Hour
 

Major overhauls of a business take time, buy-in, and frankly, they can be a little frightening. Not so of these mini tweaks. These seven things can help you move the meter in your business in less time than it takes to wolf down a sandwich and check your voice mails.

Find Out What They Like
Your customers are more valuable to your business than from just a revenue perspective. Knowing what they respond to can help you shape services and products, create more meaningful content, and engage them more on social media. So, don't be afraid to ask them what they like. Create a short survey and email it to them or "hang" it on your website if you get a lot of traffic. The key here is short but there are a few other things to keep in mind.
 
Ask for Reviews
Depending on the type of business you have, spend a few minutes reaching out to satisfied customers for reviews, referrals, or testimonials. It may feel awkward at first but these types of social proof go a long way for potential customers. Think of it as giving people an opportunity (and a gentle reminder) to share something with their tribe that will be of value to them. Doesn't everyone need a good plumber or hairstylist? Of course they do. Now give your customers a way to help their tribe.
 
In your communication to them explain why reviews are so important to the success of your business. If you're asking for reviews, make it easy for them to respond by inserting URLs to the review site in your email request. If you are asking for testimonials, post them to your site when you get them. If referrals were what you were after, give them an incentive to do so or surprise them with a discount later.
 
Reach Out to a Complementary Business for a Special Program
Another way to get more interest in your business is to offer something your competitors aren't. A simple way to do that is to partner with a complementary business for a special offering. For instance, if you're a health food store you could partner with a local caterer to host a "healthy meals in minutes" program in your store. This could attract new business for both of you. 
 
Rework Your Social Media Cover Images
With the help of easy to use templates on Canva, you can now redesign your cover image on your social media profiles during your lunch hour. Keeping them fresh will help attract more eyes and give consistent visitors something new to look at.
 
Go Live on Facebook
If you have your phone with you, you can go Live on Facebook during your lunch hour. Not sure what to talk about? Think about a question you're often asked at your business and answer it. Encourage people to ask questions of you as well. You can broadcast for up to 90 minutes but keeping it between 15-20 minutes is probably sufficient. You'll get more views if you remain live for at least 15 minutes. Then save the video and post it to your site.
 
Figure Out Your Most Popular Posts
Look at the data and figure out what hit home with your audience then do more of it. If you notice image quotes make up most of your engagement on Twitter, keep that in mind when creating content.
 
Share the Love
Go through your customer files and pull out your most loyal. Now make sure you follow them on social media and share their content, where appropriate. Add in flattering comments like "Good advice" and "Love this perspective." This will make them feel good and people will be more likely to click on the links and share if they know why you like it.
 
Small business owners are busy people and because of that, often digital marketing falls to the wayside. But you don't need much time to make a little progress every day. Make a list of things you can do that only take a few minutes. Then when you have a moment before a meeting or while you're eating lunch, you can make the most of your most valuable resource - your time.
 
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Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives' Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog.
She's a bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.

BCYP Corner

Sign Up to Volunteer 
at the BCYP Literacy Kit Workday
Barton County Young Professionals will host its next service project on Saturday, January 28th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in partnership with  
United Way of Central Kansas

Volunteers will gather in the Spray-Holt Family Board Room at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce (1125 Williams), to assemble literacy kits for pre-K students who participate in Kindergarten Round-up in the spring. The goal is to help preschool students be more prepared for Kindergarten in Barton and Pawnee counties.
Each kit will contain a Curious George book, crayons, alphabet and number flash cards, and more. BCYP members are asked to come by for an hour or two to help cut out flash cards and assemble kits. A free lunch will be provided afterward by First Kansas Bank.

If you would like to sign up for this project, or our Charity Supply Drive coming up on March 4th, choose a shift using our online form.

 
Join the BCYP Facebook Group:
 
Like the BCYP Facebook Page:
 
Barton County Young Professionals
Lead. Network. Volunteer.  www.bartonyp.com

 
Now Hiring
In the interest of keeping the eBlasts and Newsletters manageable in size, the Job Opportunities from our investment members will be listed on our website under the "About Hoisington" link under "Employment".

TO SEE WHAT JOBS ARE AVAILABLE FROM OUR MEMBERS.
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Call for Content eBlasts and Newsletters


 

If you have exciting news that you would like to share in our monthly newsletter or weekly eBlasts with nearly 200 individuals in our business community, please send it to the Chamber office at hoisingtoncofc@embarqmail.com three business days prior to the 1st of the month.


 

If you would prefer to get a printed copy of the monthly newsletter, please let the office know.

Hoisington Chamber of Commerce
123 N Main St
Hoisington, Kansas 67544
620-653-4311
hoisingtoncofc@embarqmail.com
Open Monday - Friday  9a.m. -12 p.m. & 1-4 p.m.