Welcome to the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Blog

It's time for employers to register now for the South Central Kentucky Job Fair & Business Exhibition. Visit www.southcentralky.com/jobfair for event details and registration information.

By participating in this event, your company will be on display for hundreds of jobseekers and interested community members from throughout our region. Join us on September 16 at Greenwood Mall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for this great opportunity!

Labels: South Central Kentucky Job Fair and Business Exhibition

It is nice seeing the Daily News' letters to the editor from our partners about the Chamber’s designation as one of the top three in our size in the nation. As I read Bill Waltrip's letter this weekend and thought about what is done every day by the Chamber, I watched the children playing in the pool. They were having a fabulous time flipping and slashing. Dads were throwing their kids in the air, whose loud squeals of joy were followed by the big spash. As I finished reading Bill’s letter to the editor to the laugher of the children nearby, I was reminded why it all counts. Everything connects. Because 1,300 Chamber partners contribute to make a difference in our business community equals so much more. One example came to my mind in an instant.

The leadership of Rick Kelley as Chamber Chairman in 2006 created a successful $2.8 million capital campaign and the new Chamber headquarters now at 710 College Street. Then he takes that same leadership that he shares with the business community and turns it to the children in our community leading the BG East 11 -12 Year Old Little League to win the State Championship. On Wednesday they head to the Great Lakes Regional Tournament for a chance to compete in the Little League World Series. They will be led out of town with a police escort, businesses will have good luck messages on their readerboards, and friends and families will cheer them on as they begin their journey. It all connects. It is our community!

Labels: Chamber of the Year, Community Pride

Labels: The Chamber Green Scene

I had the honor of graduating in June from the Institute for Organization Management, an intensive four-year nonprofit leadership program through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the University of Georgia-Athens. Upon completion of the program, each graduate receives the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in association, chamber, and nonprofit management.

Institute was an inspiring and thought-provoking program that expanded my professional network, heightened my awareness of industry trends, and broadened my overall business knowledge. I listened to some of the country’s most innovative thinkers in business while I attended my four years in Athens. Their goal was to challenge my understanding of myself as a chamber professional. One course that threw me into another world and made me question many things about the future was called “Industry Forecast” led by Ann Atkinson, Ph.D. My notes included the words ubiquity, utility, unification and understanding – chambers must be embracing the reality of these in the next four years. She commented on sustainable development - communities should have this at the forefront of planning.

Atkinson said many worthwhile statements, but two of my favorite quotes that I found to be profound were “Leadership is taking people to a place they could not go on their own. Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire” – so powerful I failed to write the names linked to these amazing quotes. This course was in my last few hours of Institute, a powerful presentation that will remain a vivid picture of the reality of changes to come in the future. Are we prepared? I highly recommend visiting her online knowledge center at www2.corenetglobal.org for further information.

Over the four years I have completed courses related to budgeting, legal issues within non-profit organizations, policy development and implementation, management, strategic planning and building organizational excellence. And I continued to challenge myself through my electives, which included marketing, generational shifts in the workforce, delivering value and even more. I could describe my experience for days; it remains one of the most valuable programs I have attended that encompasses the nonprofit industry and, at the same time, relevant to a-for-profit organization.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity as a staff member of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce to attend such an outstanding program that equips Chamber professionals with tools for success. Institute: An Intelligent Investment.

More information about the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management

For more than 80 years, associations and chambers have used the U.S. Chamber's Institute as a training platform for the professional development of their future leaders. Participants receive training in leadership and organization management competencies, as well as follow targeted curricula in membership, technology and financial management. Students not only enhance their own organizational management skills through a combination of required courses and electives, but also add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

For more information, contact Institute for Organization Management at U.S. Chamber headquarters at 202-463-5570; 1615 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20062-2000; www.uschamber.com/institute.

Labels: Chamber staff

Proforma Allows You to Promote Your Business the Responsible Way!
Proforma—your one source for infinite business resources—has made focusing on the three R’s (Reducing, Reusing, and Recyling) a priority! Proforma believes in leading clients toward “green” products whenever possible, thereby helping to reduce the environmental impact of our human presence.

What Proforma Offers...
Proforma offers a wide array of environmentally responsible promotional materials. Mugs and pens made from corn plastic, which unlike petroleum-based plastic is a renewable resource, are a popular option. Cutting boards and apparel made from bamboo are another excellent choice for wowing clients, as bamboo apparel has a luxurious feel similar to that of a cotton/silk blend. Proforma also offers compostable plates and cups, degradable plastic logo bags, and latex balloons. And they offer water bottles that contain the SAFE plastic additive that speeds decomposition.
Proforma offers energy saving devices such as windup flashlights and solar computer backpacks and radios. Proforma offers note pads, padfolios, pens and pencils made from recycled paper as well as custom printed products that are produced with post consumer recycled content and low VOC inks.

A New Business Philosophy...
In this age of increasing environmental awareness, it’s hard to ignore the impact our businesses have on the planet. Many businesses already utilize waste paper recycling programs, practice lean manufacturing, or have policies that reduce energy consumption. For those of us who haven’t already done so, it’s time to take responsibility when it comes to our promotional campaigns and printed materials.

Proforma Urges You to Keep the Three R’s in Mind...
Reducing, the most desirable of the three R’s, involves taking measures to lessen our impact on our world. Products with cleaner, more sustainable materials such as corn plastic or organic cotton are good examples. These materials offer an alternative to unsustainable energy sources and reduce the amount of toxic waste in the environment.
Reusing is a decision and an action comprising repeated usage instead of disposal. When determining product selection, permanence and functionality are important considerations. The more a product is used and the longer it lasts, the less impact on the environment.
Recycling entails breaking down and rebuilding products into new useable goods. The options for recycled products is endless. From recycled paper and plastic to glass and leather, you are sure to find a material that supports your commitment to the planet.
Discover a world of environmentally responsible promotional products that will allow you to responsibly promote your business—Contact Proforma today!

Labels: The Chamber Green Scene

Labels: Economic Development

Inkjet Express helps businesses save money, save time, and help the environment. Inkjet Express, a local Bowling Green company, remanufactures inkjet cartridges here in Bowling Green. It also supplies remanufactured toner cartridges.

Discarded empty printer cartridges have rapidly become an environmental challenge. The petroleum used to manufacture new cartridges adds up to a significant consumption of oil. The manufacture of a new inkjet cartridge requires 2.5 ounces of oil; the manufacture of a new toner cartridge requires 3.5 quarts of oil.

Even if each new cartridge is only refilled once, the consumption of oil for the manufacturing of new cartridges would be cut in half.

Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat. Use. Save. Repeat.

We guarantee our products. Fax us your printer model and cartridge number for a free price comparison. 270-843-9677 (fax) or call us at 270-780-9698. We offer Bowling Green businesses FREE pick-up and FREE delivery.

Labels: The Chamber Green Scene

Last month Tonya Matthews, vice president of operations, submitted a post explaining that the Chamber has qualified to submit for ACCE's Chamber of the Year. This was an honor in an of itself, but now we have more news to share. We are ranked as one of the top three chambers in the U.S. and Canada within our dues structure!

The American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) selects three to four chambers in each of four dues categories each year, honoring these chambers for their excellence in overall operations, programs, partnership numbers and other functions. In our submission, we highlighted our capital campaign for our new building, our economic development efforts, our partnership numbers and our programs--all of which contribute to the outstanding work of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce's board, staff, volunteers and partners!

The only national association serving the professional development needs of chamber executives in the United States and Canada, ACCE currently represents more than 7,800 professional members in 1,400 chambers of commerce. It is the premier organization for chamber executives, and the Chamber will receive national recognition at the annual convention in Pittsburgh at the end of July.

Congratulations and thank you to all of our partners! This ranking wouldn't have been possible without you!

Read the full news release.
Watch WBKO's coverage of our ranking.

Labels: Chamber of the Year

Labels: Economic Development