For the past year, our staff and Board have worked on an new Membership Structure that focuses on increasing member's revenue, promoting employee retention, advocating for business in government and reducing our member's day-to-day business expenses.

New members and current members are currently being placed in our new Membership Structure. If you are interested in finding out what the new structure consists of, please visit our website to find out how your business can best benefit from this exciting new look at membership.

Questions? Please contact Cheryl O'Brien, Membership Director, at 734.214.0107.

Together We Profit

At 7:35am every Monday morning on the Lucy Ann Lance in the Morning Show, the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce takes time to update the community on what is going on at the Chamber as well as in the business community. The Chamber's Business Buzz can be heard on Talk Radio 1600 WAAM.

Listen on Monday, September 24th, Sara Tucker, Member Benefits Coordinator, will be discussing Member Benefits that could help your business save money.

Already in the office at 7:35 in the morning? The Business Buzz is also streamed live on the web at www.talkradio1600.com. We hope you join us!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 20th and Thursday, October 4th. Jesse Bernstein, President & CEO, will be talking to business owners and community members about their issues at Zingerman's Upstairs from 7am-9am.

Joining Jesse at Even Thursdays is a great way to have your voice heard in all types of business concerns. He has created an informal environment to find solutions to problems that may be affecting your business.

We are here to help our members find top talent in our area and beyond. If you have an open position or if you know you will be expanding soon, we would be happy to post your positions on our website for free.

Check out the current postings. If you are interested in posting a position on our site, please contact Megan Turnbow, Marketing Director, at 734.214.0108.

Check the Chamber 1st to:

• Increase Sales
• Save Money
• Retain Employees
• Access Business Education
• Gain a Voice in Public Policy Issues

We have programs with many businesses that will help you reduce your overhead, save you time and energy and increase your bottom line.

Questions? Contact Sara Tucker, Member Benefits Coordinator, at 734.214.0106.

FastTrack is an exciting annual program sponsored by Ann Arbor SPARK recognizing companies in Washtenaw County for outstanding business success.

The 2007 FastTrack Awards ceremony will be featured within Ann Arbor Business Review's annual Deals of the Year Gala, on November 9, 2007. In addition to the award and publicity, each winning company will receive two complimentary tickets to attend the event.

The application deadline has been extended through Monday, October 1st, 2007.

Partners include Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Business Review and Weidmayer, Schneider, Raham and Bennett.

Tired of watching your telephone and internet rates rise? Why not take a look at TDS Metrocom, the Chamber's preferred provider for telecommunications services? TDS Metrocom has not increased their base service rates since they entered this market in 2001. In addition to substantial cost savings, TDS offers Chamber members personalized customer care, enhanced voice systems and revolutionary internet solutions. Nervous about trying a new provider? TDS offers a 180-day satisfaction guarantee which insures you a 180-day trial period!

A TDS representative can visit your work place free of charge to review your phone bill and show how TDS can save you money every month.

Questions? Please contact Sara Tucker, Member Benefits Coordinator, at 734.214.0106.

Thursday, October 4th,
4:15 - 7pm
The Henry Ford Museum
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn
Anderson Theatre

$50 per Ticket

Presented by Oakland and Ann Arbor Business Review

Honoring Michigan's Innovator of the Year and Recognizing the Top 15 Innovative Companies for their Product, Process and Strategy.

Enjoy Networking, Complimentary Cocktails, Hors D'Oeuvres and Exclusive Access to the Henry Ford Museum.

Keynote Speaker: Sarah Miller Caldicott, Great Grandniece of Thomas Edison and Innovation Consultant, motivated by a family history of invention dating back five generations, just completed a groundbreaking new book on Thomas Edison's innovation methods.

Please call Nicole Wagner at 248.374. 4921.

We have decided to personally contact every member instead of sending out letters and postcards to have members update their membership information for the 2008 Ann Arbor Business Directory. This project will assure that all membership information is up-to- date and correct.

We will be calling each member's main contact for this update information. We simply ask each member take the time to make sure that all their information is current while we are on the phone. We will ask you for all the information we need, all you have to do answer a few questions.

Join the Ann Arbor Area Chamber and other businesses for the concerts in Liberty Plaza. Concerts are held every Thursday in September from noon to 2pm.

Take your lunch, bring a friend, enjoy the warm weather and dance to some of the best Ann Arbor musicians right in the heart of downtown. The last two weeks of September will highlight Hi Def and the Terraplanes.

Check the Chamber's website to find out more about our upcoming concerts and rain dates throughout September.

We are gearing up for the printing of the 2008 Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Business Directory. In doing so, we are working toward updating our membership database as well as selling advertising space.

Advertising in the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Business Directory is a great way to reach community leaders, business owners, residents and visitors. Each member of the Chamber receives at least one free copy of the Business Directory and community members and visitors can purchase them at our office.

If you are interested in advertising in the 2008 Business Directory or would like pricing information, please contact

Mark your calendars for the largest networking event of the year - The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce Year Ender presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The Year Ender will be held at the Kensington Court - Ann Arbor from 4:30 - 7pm on Thursday, December 6th. Sponsorships are still needed to help keep this event free to all Chamber members.

We again invite Chamber members with a food or beverage specialty to participate. For further information please contact Barbara Davenport at 734.214.0104.

Don't forget your non-perishable food donation for Food Gatherers. With the help of community donations, Food Gatherers provides enough food for more than 5,500 meals a day through more than 150 community programs each year.

We encourage you to shop and support your fellow Chamber members. Click here to browse fellow members by category, name or by special offers on products and services that Ann Arbor Area Chamber members offer their fellow Chamber members.

We would like to thank all of our current Year Ender sponsors. We would not be able to put on such a great event with out them!

Bell of the Ball
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Shrimp
LaSalle Bank
TDS Metrocom
NSK
The Ann Arbor News

Golden Garland
Yeo & Yeo, P.C.

Silver Bell
Dykema

Crystal Goblet
TeL Systems

Don't forget to join us for the networking event of the year on December 6th, 2007 from 4:30pm to 7pm.