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Here are tips for deciding which business groups to join
Oct 03, 2010 (La Crosse Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
You're a business owner, often invited to join this organization, that organization and many more.
Area business leaders have some advice on how to decide which ones to hook up with.
"I think people usually go through a process of looking at what's my goal in participating, who's out there to participate with, how do I think I'll benefit from it, will I really be interested in the organization, and what's the trade-off," said Anne Hlavacka, director of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Small Business Development Center.
Another factor is the cost of being a member, she said. "And it isn't just the financial cost, it's also a time cost."
Participating in organizations such as a chamber of commerce or trade association "can be very critical to your long-term success," Hlavacka said. Besides making connections through networking, "It allows you, in some cases, to get up to speed much quicker on what you need to know to get into business.
"And in terms of staying up to date on business, it's very important," she said.
Corporate citizens
"Clearly, there are (membership) decisions that are made on the basis of creating a stronger community," said Gary Evans, president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications in Winona. "We belong to the chamber of commerce in each market that we serve. These memberships, we believe, are essential to being a good corporate citizen and building a stronger community."
Evans is personally active in several area civic organizations and has served on several boards. "My involvement is based exclusively on those things that make a community strong and where I believe I can add value," he said.
Evans said Hiawatha's decisions on which trade associations to join are based primarily on compatibility with HBC. For example, the company belongs to the American Cable Association and the Broadband Service Providers Association, two telecommunications advocacy groups that Evans said does a good job of representing firms like his.
Paul Fuchsel, president of La Crosse Sign Co. in Onalaska, said his business belongs to several chambers of commerce in the region it serves.
"We believe in becoming a part of the fabric of the community," he said. Also, he said, "They are a business-friendly organization and work at promoting the health of community businesses."
Fuchsel acknowledged that being part of a chamber of commerce helps with networking and developing sales leads. And he added, "Businesses often will look at who's in the chamber; they like to participate with folks who are part of the community and of the chamber."
La Crosse Sign belongs to the Wisconsin, World and International sign associations, and Fuchsel is a past president of the Wisconsin Sign Associa-tion.
"We belong to trade associations because it gives us business wisdom and knowledge so we can do a better job of providing a product or service to our customers," he said. Members can learn about best practices in the industry, he added.
Business benefits
"Business professionals get the most bang for their buck with memberships to business organizations when they know why they are joining, what specific benefits interest them the most, and have a specific minimum goal to take advantage of those benefits," said Della Schmidt, president and CEO of the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce.
Schmidt recommends meeting with a staff person or key volunteer from the organization to explore the available benefits and how the business can take advantage of them. A local chamber helps small business owners by making referrals, listing the business name on chamber websites and printed publications, and by linking the business website to the chamber website, she said.
Schmidt said many consumers look for evidence of local chamber membership, as it gives a business validity and demonstrates commitment to the community. Consumers prefer to do business with companies that are "known," which is why many people call the local chamber to check on the reputation of a business, she said.
Business people have different reasons for joining chambers of commerce and other business groups, said Dick Granchalek, president of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce.
"It depends upon the business," he said. "We have members who want to participate in everything, and we have members who participate in nothing. They are members because they believe they should be, and believe it's good for their business to be part of the chamber.
"Business One may think government affairs and action issues are the only reason they are members of the chamber of commerce," Granchalek said. "The next business may look at it and go 'Well, I just do it for the networking and finding more customers and clients for my business.' It changes with everybody. So you need to offer a program that's broad enough and can appeal to the largest audience."
In deciding which organizations the La Crosse chamber should join, Granchalek said, it looks at their ability to provide valuable information that will help the chamber better serve its members.
For example, the chamber is a member of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance for the information and research it provides. "It's nonpartisan," Granchalek said of the alliance. "It's a good, straightforward source of financial information about the state." s
To see more of the La Crosse Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
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