Hope Chamber Is Alive and Well

“The Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”  So stated Mark Twain when he noticed his obituary in a city newspaper.  The Hope Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber is truly alive and well.

·  April and May Meetings are scheduled and locked in.

·  Skip Hartung is representing the Chamber in Hope Township sign-related issues.

·  Jay Hill, our Membership Chairman is sending renewal forms and drumming up new members.

·  Chris Beatty, Melva Sterlacci and Brian Kathenes are wrapping up final designs for the Hope Area Chamber welcome sign.

·  Co-op advertising is available to all members

·  Matty Matarazzo is tracking the Highlands  Legislation meetings and changes.

·  Monika Hamburger and Craig Lordigyan continue to plan and organize great meetings. 

Spring has sprung and the Hope Area Chamber Board and its committees are  busy keeping our 45 members informed and involved.

We can’t do it alone, so you need to get involved too.  Keep the Chamber healthy, make new contacts and help us build the chamber.  Give Brian Kathenes a call (908) 459-5225 and find out what you can do to help the Chamber and your business.

Networking & Biz Card Exchange

Does networking help your business grow?  You bet it does.  And you can network, swap business cards and develop leads at every Hope Area Chamber of Commerce Meeting.  BUT ‘ya gotta be there.’ Check the meeting schedule in this newsletter and reserve your spot.

It’s on the WEB, are you?

Need to know what’s happening in the Hope area?  Have an event you would like to publicize?  Well put it on the web --- The Hope Area Chamber of Commerce Website.  The Chamber lists all types of event and activities for its members on the site.  Drop Brian Kathenes an e-mail and he’ll tell you how to get on event schedule. Brian@nacvalue.com

www.HopeNJ.org

Men’s and Women’s Health Issues Meeting and Dinner at the Inn at Millrace Pond, April 11^th

 The Chamber is pleased to announce the rescheduled date for the January “Health” meeting that was postponed due to inclement weather.  The meeting will be held at the Inn at Millrace Pond in the upstairs dining room Monday, April 11^th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  The entire meeting will focus on maintaining individual health and the protective measures an individual should use.  Representatives from Hackettstown Hospital, to include several doctors, will discuss breast health, breast cancer, prostate health, as well as healthy living.  This community outreach program by the Hackettstown Hospital encourages no only Chamber members, but also their employees, and the public to attend this most informative session.

Following the presentations, the Chamber has arranged for dinner to be available at the Inn.  The menu includes:

• Mixed Field Greens with the choice of Sun Dried Tomato or Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Steamed Vegetables with Pasta
• Salmon Filet
• Coffee, tea, and soft drinks will also be served

Price is $20.00 per guest with an additional 6% sales tax and 18% gratuity.  For reservations call the Inn at (908) 459-4884 not later than Friday, April 8.

Please contact Amy Davidson at (908) 459-5700 to reserve your spot at this very important meeting.

Highland Legislation Update

May  10th

Chamber Member Gerry Manger of Wyndemere Real Estate in Hope is our host for the May 10th meeting

at 5:30PM.  Gerry will be discussing the Highlands Legislation and its impact on our community.

Call The Hope Chamber number (908) 459-5700 to reserve your spot. Bring friend

Chamber Board Nominations

The Chamber Nominating Committee, chaired by Skip Hartung, is establishing a slate for the coming term.  If you would like to serve on the Board, or if you have a candidate in mind, please e-mail or call Skip and let him know.

Membership Drive and Renewal Time

As a Member of the Hope Area Chamber of Commerce you know where to go to find important, up-to-date information on business issues in your community.  You turn to the Hope Area Chamber of Chamber  -- The Voice of Local Business

As a Member of the Hope Area Chamber of Commerce:

·         You get the latest business tips & information in the Chamber e-mail Newsletter The Scoop.” 

·         You attend FREE business development programs presented by expert speakers

·         You participate in promotional opportunities and group-rate advertising

·         You network and have fun at the annual Chamber Picnic

·         You share holiday cheer at the annual Chamber Holiday Party

·         You develop more business from:

--The Chamber website and links to their website

-- Telephone referral service

-  Chamber directory sign

-  Chamber brochure and business listing

Membership Chairman Jay Hill, will be sending renewal applications to you shortly.  We invite you to renew your membership by completing the application.  Your completed Membership application must be received by May 30, 2005 to be eligible to attend the Chamber picnic in July.

L.E.A.R.N.-ing To Resolve Complaints & Conflict

                Handling customer complaints is an important part of keeping your business healthy and profitable.  If you want your customers and clients to come back again you must meet and exceed their expectations consistently.  When that doesn't happen you end up with a complaint ---  if you are lucky.  A typical business hears from only 4% of its dissatisfied customers.  The other 96% quietly go away and 91% of those will never return.  A complaining customer is trying to help you understand where you failed to satisfy his or her expectation.  In the restaurant industry when a customer leaves without expressing a complaint it is referred to as  "silent customer's revenge."  The owner never knows why the customer was unsatisfied --- so there is no way to correct the problem.  A recent customer service study revealed that 68% of dissatisfied customers leave because of an attitude of  indifference toward the customer by the business.  How are you treating customers? 

                You should be thrilled and delighted that

your client or customer cares enough about you and your business to take the time to complain.  The good news is that 70% of complaining customers will do business with you again if you resolve the complaint in their favor.  If you can resolve it instantly, 95% will do business with you again. 

                Here’s a simple straight-forward approach for handling customer complaints and conflict.  It’s the L.E.A.R.N. technique.  Each letter of the word "learn" stands for a particular action.  These five easy steps to get to the root of the problem and to find out how to make that client or customer a "repeater.”