25th Annual Small Business Awards - October 6
Small business. BIG recognition. Join us in celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of small businesses in the NewVa Region. Thursday, October 6, 6 PM/cocktails; 7 PM/dinner and awards presentation. Cost: $54.50/person; $446/table of 8; $545/table of 10. For more information or to register, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org or register online.

Congratulations to 21st Annual Golf Tournament Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Roanoke Regional Chamber's 21st Annual Golf Tournament Presented by All Star Impressions. The first place team was Blue Ridge Catering with Mark Baldwin, Lee Lawson, Bill Lawfield and Will Lovelace. Second place honors went to Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore with Lewis Connors, Frank Williams, Stuart Smith and Ethan Cook. Chas. Lunsford Sons & Associates team with Jason Kiser, James Breakell, Cory Redifer and Chris Walters took third place honors. The winner of the closest to the pin competition went to Bryan Fentress. The longest drive winner was Lem Steward. 

Discover & Explore the French Riviera with Chamber Discoveries
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Discoveries are hosting an eight-day journey to the French Riviera. Book your reservations by September 30 for only $2,199. Trip departing on March 13, 2012 and will travel to Cannes, Sophia Antipolis, Monte Carlo, and St. Tropez. This one hotel holiday includes round-trip airfare and daily breakfasts.  For more information, contact Kristi at 540.983.0700 x247 or ksutherland@roanokechamber.org.

Turn Obstacles into Catapults with Author Peter Sheahan
The Roanoke Regional Forum kicks off its third season with best-selling author Peter Sheahan.  Sheahan will present "FL!P: Creative Strategies for Turning Challenge into Opportunity, and Change into Competitive Advantage." Monday, September 26, Jefferson Center, 5:30 PM, reception, 6 PM, program. Tickets must be reserved in advance. For more information or to reserve your ticket, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Chamber Membership?
Join us for "Coffee with the President" to meet the Chamber staff, review membership benefits, and network with other new and existing members. Friday, September 9, 8 - 9:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, 210 S. Jefferson Street. Please RSVP by calling Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or e-mail business@roanokechamber.org.

2011 Roanoke Regional Compensation Survey
What is the average salary for an accounting clerk II in the Roanoke Region? What is the educational or experiential difference between an accounting clerk, accounting clerk I and accounting clerk II? The Roanoke Regional Chamber, Roanoke Valley SHRM and Titan Group are currently conducting a regional salary survey. Your company's participation is critical to the success of the survey. If you have not already received an electronic copy of the survey via e-mail and would like to participate, please click here. For more information, contact Mandy Faber with the Titan Group at 1.866.737.6036 or e-mail mandy@titanhr.com. 

How Will Health Care Reform Impact Your Business?
Find out what employers need to know concerning the implementation of health care reform at this  seminar. The  featured speaker is Susan Maley Rash, vice president of BB&T Insurance Services and legislative chair of the National Association of Health Underwriters. Thursday, October 13, Holiday Inn - Tanglewood, 7:30 - 10 AM. Cost: $10/members; $12/non-members. Sponsored by the American HealthCare, BB&T Insurance Services and the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.  For more information or to register, contact Judy at 540.983.0700 x221 or business@roanokechamber.org.

Members Can Post Local Job Openings for FREE!
Thanks to the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, members with less than 20 employees can post local jobs for free at: www.NationJob.com/Roanoke-Virginia-Jobs. Chamber members with over 20 employees can also take advantage of the great rates offered by NationJob. NationJob.com has been in the electronic recruiting industry for over 20 years and is a leader in community-based recruiting. Providing local, regional and national reach through significant search engine marketing efforts and a subscriber database of over one million custom searches, NationJob is one of the most cost effective Internet recruiting solutions available. For more information, call Teena McIntire at 1.888.256.0919 or e-mail tmcintire@nationjob.com.

Reach 3,200 Decision Makers with New Chamber "Virtual" Advantage
We've gone green this year with Chamber "Virtual" Advantage! Members may use this direct e-mail marketing tool to promote products, services, advertisements, events and much more. For only $50 per month, members provide a pdf version flyer of their promotion and it will be posted on the Chamber's Web site and a direct link and brief description will be e-mailed to the Chamber's 3,200 member contacts. Your promotion is shared with all our members and Web site visitors for an entire month for only pennies per contact!  Sign up today for the September e-mailing on September 15. For more information on this exciting new program or to register, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

It's All About Connections - Connect For Lunch
Are you looking for a new way to meet people and grow your business? What if you could get to know between three to six new people each month? Really get to know them over lunch, not just a quick hand shake and exchange of business cards. Would you be interested? If you are, Connect For Lunch may be just what you're looking for. Connect For Lunch is one of the Roanoke Regional Chamber's most popular networking programs. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to go to lunch in a small group with other Chamber members at local restaurants. For more information or to register, visit www.connectforlunch.com/roanokechamber or www.roanokechamber.org and check out Connect For Lunch.

Post Your Events Fast and Free on Community Calendar
Planning special events this fall? Looking for ways to get the word out? Roanoke Regional Chamber members can quickly and easily post events on the Community Calendar at www.roanokechamber.org.  For instructions on how to use this free, members-only benefit, contact Pennie at 983.0700 x227 or communications@roanokechamber.org.

Thousands Benefit from Rapid Referrals
The Chamber provided 14,533 member referrals through its front desk and online membership directory in the month of August. The Chamber is promoting member businesses to more than 150 people per day through the online directory. Are you getting your share of referrals from this no-cost member benefit? Check your listing at www.roanokechamber.org - click on "Find Area Businesses." To add a free 20-word business description to your online listing, call Judy at 983.0700 x221 or send your 20 word (140 characters) profile to business@roanokechamber.org.

Business Basics - September 13
Need some guidance on how to start your own business? Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Tuesday, September 13, 4 - 6 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $15/person. Preregistration required by Monday, September 12. Sponsored by: Business SEED Capital, Inc., BB&T, Cox Business, and City of Roanoke Economic Development Authority.  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

QuickBooks Basics - Five-Week Class - September 20-October 17
Want to learn the basics of QuickBooks accounting program in only five weeks? QuickBooks Basics - Five-Week Class offers comprehensive training in QuickBook basics. Classes begin Tuesday, September 20, and continue through October 17, 6 - 9 PM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom. Cost: $99/person, for all five classes. Attendees must have a laptop for the course. The software will be provided for class use only and must be removed when class is completed. This popular course fills up fast. Early registration recommended. Sponsored by: Complete Small Business Solutions. Register online or click here for the course description and outline.

Patents, Trademarks and Intellectual Property Basics - September 21
Need to find out more about patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and other intellectual property? Learn the basic informaiton about intellectual property with local patent attorney Chris Rhodes of Rhodes IP. Wednesday, September 21, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $25/person. Sponsored by: Christopher Rhodes, Rhodes IP, PLC. .  For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Optimizing the Value of Your Business - October 12
Are you considering selling your business sometime in the future? Learn how to prepare your company to obtain the best value and easiest transition to a new owner. Presented by Tom Mishoe of FINOP$TRAT ADVISORS, LLC. Tuesday, October 12, 8:30 - 10:30 AM, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information or to register, call 983.0717 x223, visit www.roanokesmallbusiness.com, register online or e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org.

Publications

Get Connected with the Region's Business Leaders
Call today to reserve your advertisement space in the 2011 fourth quarter issue of Business Connections in the printed and online editions.  Invest your advertising dollars in the only quarterly, full-color magazine targeted specifically at the region's business leaders. Of Business Connection's regular readers, 83 percent are business decision makers and 66 percent are CEOs, executives, or top-level managers. If you market to business, you need to be a part of Business Connections. For ad rates and information, contact Bonnie Brown  at RP Publishing at 772.1868 or bonnie@rppublisher.com.

Membership in Action

Thank You Chamber Ambassadors
The Chamber Ambassadors visited 27 fellow members during the month of August!  Ambassadors contact Chamber members to discuss their membership investment and issues that concern their business. Please welcome them when they call. 

CHAMBER CHAMPION PROFILE

Woods Rogers PLC is a full service law firm providing legal solutions in more than 25 practice areas to businesses and individuals across Virginia and throughout the Southeast. The Woods Rogers tradition is based on client satisfaction - earned through hard work, creative problem-solving, and an eye toward creating value to the client.