Past President Todd Underwood, Allstate Insurance, turned over the reins of the Chamber to, Scott Welsh, Welsh Insurance Services, at the Annual Installation Dinner and Civics Award Ceremony.

Welsh accepted the gavel, honoring Underwoods service and leadership over the past year. He offered an insight into the coming year acknowledging the Board of Directors who thoughtfully leads the organization year after year.

Mick Gallagher, former City Councilman and co-owner of Finer Things Engraving was named Man of the Year, Ellen Weisser, was announced as Woman of the Year, Officer Joseph Valdivia was acknowledged as Police Officer of the Year, 2017, and Captain Christopher Randolph was named Fire Fighter of the Year, 2017.

Have you ever recognized you are generally so busy working “in” your business that you’re unable to work “on” your business? So why you should you join your local chamber of commerce when the chamber might mean more time away from the office? I’d like to share with you six reasons chamber participation is not a fruitless burden on time but rather a true benefit to your business and your life.

1. Relationships

This isn’t about networking — this is about gaining friends, associates and even advocates. The people you get to know may or may not do business with you, but the social and emotional return in building meaningful, lasting relationships can be more meaningful than the financial return you seek. As you attend events, serve on committees and interact with people outside your normal routines, you will have the opportunity to interact with all types of people. This in turn will create better relationship building skills that can crossover to improve non-business aspects of your life as well.

2. Visibility

The age-old adage applies here — “out of sight, out of mind.” While many companies are looking to be seen in the cyber world and are doing a very good job of it, nothing sells your business better than being in front of people face to face. Business is so much more than simple transactions of money for goods/services with its root in relationships.

You are the business; the business is you. The client is more likely to buy when they know you are the brains behind the operation and have seen you regularly participating in non-transaction based functions. Chambers provide so many opportunities to spend time with potential friends (read: potential clients) in non-transaction based functions that you will be top of mind when they or someone they know is looking for your product/service.

3. Promotion

The Chamber offers a wide-range of advertising options and sponsorship packages. A business can sponsor entire programs or events through the chamber. Beyond the paid advertising options, chambers also have ways to provide additional business promotion for free through monthly and annual awards, social media, regular newsletters and even printed materials. Amazingly, even some member businesses do not take advantage of the free marketing opportunities provided through chambers of commerce.

4. Community connection

Some business leaders in large companies have expressed the feeling they’re too big or not local enough to need local chambers of commerce. One flaw in that thinking is they and their employees are very much a part of the local economy, regardless of the number of franchise locations they have in other states.

Chambers are not-for-profit organizations desired with a mission to lift the economy. The Chamber works very closely with governments to provide a representative business voice when needed. Participating in the chamber provides business with an avenue to express their legislative policy questions directly to the legislatures. Sometimes being a good “corporate citizen” means being the community partner that all the “little guys” expect you to be. If a major player in the local economy isn’t involved in discussions about the local economy, then the conversations (and potentially decisions) are missing a key point of view.

5. Programs and events

Membership in the chamber of commerce provides access to all of the programs and events. Chamber events include business training, networking events, awards events, city celebration events and many others. All of these events are designed to build your business in some fashion, whether through training, promotion, networking or community service.

Research shows that a major part of small business typically comes from business-to-business services, so participating in the local chamber of commerce as a small is an easy way to increase local visibility, build credibility, and expand your contacts.

It’s importance to participate. Joining a chamber is great. A business receives many benefits visibly and behind the scenes. However, joining only gets you so far. Participating is the true key to receiving the benefits of chamber membership. Only through attending events, talking to members you’ve never met before, serving on committees, and taking advantage of the advertising opportunities presented will your membership become a partnership.

Redlands Henry Bush, plumbing service technicians are the absolute best in plumbing service and repair. All are licensed, trained and certified with the superior pipe technologies and are associated with the leading plumbing industry associations such as the PHCC (Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors).

Henry Fisher founded Redlands plumbing in 1898, went into business installing, maintaining, and fixing the relatively new luxury known as indoor plumbing. By the 1930’s, Henry sold his company to a Harry Higdon, and by the 1950, the family owned business began providing heating service. Harry then taught his son, Don the trade and Don later purchased the business from his family in 1961. Don took his son Rick in as his partner in 1978. The Higdons owned Redlands Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning until January of 2008, when  they  sold  it  to its current owner, Tyler Miner. Today, through his hard work and dedication, he remains the owner and president of the company and has built a team ready to serve your service needs.

After more than 115 years the world has become a much different place but the one thing that has remained the same since 1898 is the dedication of the Henry Bush team to provide customers with professionalism, honesty, and quality service.

Redlands Henry Bush Heating and Air Conditioning Technicians are trained regularly and certified to repair all makes and models! They are trained with the leading industry technologies and our technicians are certified through NATE (North American Technician Excellence) as well as IHACI (Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries) associations.

Redlands Henry Bush now has a bigger parts counter to better serve your plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs. They have in stock, everything you might need to finish that weekend project. Counter man Marvin is the go to person for any type of parts questions, ask and he will have a solution for you.

To answer your plumbing heating or air conditioning needs visit Redlands Henry Bush Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning at www.plumbingandair.com, or stop by the showroom at 1670 Sessums Dr. or just call at 1-800-257-5862.