The core benefits provided by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce to its members are designed to help businesses with new ideas and resources they cannot develop on their own due to time and financial limitations. The goal of these programs is to strengthen Chamber members and build business capacity. The Chamber understands that the stronger its members are, the stronger the Chamber will be in helping advance their interests. Providing core benefits from which every member can benefit is essential.

To inquire about membership and/or investment rates, contact Judy Fletcher at 831.648.5388 or judy@montereychamber.com. 

Legislative Advocacy
The Chamber has worked hard to establish itself as the voice of Monterey Peninsula Business at the local, state, and federal levels. Business owners, managers, supervisors and employees often do not have the time to stay on top of legislation that could affect business operations. A major focus of the Chamber is to review proposed legislation, solicit input from members, take a position, and communicate that position to the appropriate governing bodies and its membership.

Networking
The overwhelming response to the question, “Why did you join the Chamber?” is for the networking opportunities. The Monterey Peninsula is a place where people do business with people they know. It is important that people connect you with your business. To this end, the Chamber provides opportunities to bring people together for mutual benefit.

• Business-to-Business Mixers: Designed for member businesses to mix, mingle, and exchange information, as well as to showcase businesses that host the event.
   
• Member Briefings and New Member Orientations: A quarterly opportunity for new members to network and learn about Chamber opportunities.
   
• Committee Participation: Volunteering for Chamber committees is an opportunity to put your work ethic on display for fellow members, and helps build strong and lasting business relationships.
   
• Semi-Annual Luncheons: Don’t miss our annual membership and public leadership luncheons!
   
• Ribbon Cuttings:  Welcome new businesses to the community while taking advantage of another of the many Chamber-sponsored networking opportunities.

Referrals
Your business has products and/or services that you want others to utilize. Chamber staff refers its members exclusively.

• Walk-ins, Calls, Faxes, and Emails: The Chamber receives an average of 40,000 requests for information annually from potential patrons, people visiting the area or who live and/or work here.
   
• ChamberWare: The Chamber utilizes membership management software that allows staff to let a member business know exactly when their business was referred along with any useful information gathered during the request.
   
• Annual Membership Directory & Business Referral Guide: The Chamber produces and distribues 5,000 directories annually. This publication lists member businesses alphabetically and by category.
   
• Web Referrals: The Chamber’s website had over 81,000 hits in 2010. The site is updated daily and includes a database of member businesses listed alphabetically and by category.

Training
In today’s world of constantly changing technology, fast-paced world events, and complex economic trends and tax rules, the phrase “knowledge is power” has never been more true. Keeping up to date is a challenge, and that’s why the Chamber puts a premium on providing ongoing training opportunities for its members. The Chamber provides opportunities to track the latest trends, learn how to promote minority- and women-owned businesses, and help create and retain jobs.

• Brown Bag Seminars: The name says it all. Bring your lunch, a pen and paper because you are going to get some great ideas from the best in the business.

Member Marketing
Staying up to speed with the latest business trends and strategies is the key to success. The Chamber provides marketing and advertising opportunities for its members in a variety of price ranges and services. There is something for every member business. 

• Print: The Chamber utilizes the power of print in a variety of ways. All advertising space is reserved for member businesses.
• ChamberLink (Every Monday in the Monterey County Herald’s Local section)
• Membership Directory & Business Referral Guide
• Complimentary 2x3' full-color banner from Monterey Signs when you join the Chamber
   
• Online Banner Advertising: Members can purchase banner ads on the Chamber website and reach the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to the site each year for information and updates.
   
• Online Member to Member Marketing: The Chamber’s Member to Member online marketing program offers cost effective display and text-based advertising and promotion opportunities to target other member companies with crucial marketing events and communications.  Specially designed pages of no more than three ads are issued by the Chamber for a modest fee.  No more than four are produced per month.
   
• Direct Mail: The Chamber offers mailing labels for sale on a one-time-use basis, ready for use to member businesses interested in direct mail advertising.
   
• Face to Face: Many member business choose to host business to business mixers. Members must be able to accommodate 100 to 150 people. These events are the ultimate networking opportunity.
   
• Ribbon Cuttings: Ribbon cuttings combine face to face, online and print marketing all in one.  Invitations to ribbon cutting events and photographs of the celebrations are publicized online, in bimonthly event e-blasts and in the Chamber’s weekly ChamberLink section of The Monterey County Herald.

Member Recognition
It’s human nature to want to be recognized, especially by one’s peers. Why should it be any different for your business? The Chamber showcases member businesses in a variety of ways for their excellence and commitment:

• Leadership Circle: Designed to recognize businesses whose continued financial support has been instrumental in the growth of the Chamber. Leadership levels are: Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. See the chapter on Chamber Leadership Circle for more information.
   
• Business Excellence Awards (BEA): The Chamber recognizes businesses for outstanding performance through its annual Business Excellence Awards, presented at the Annual BEA Awards Dinner. Now in their 25th year, these awards are among the most prestigious business awards on the peninsula. 
   
• Annual Awards Dinner: Each year during the first quarter, the Chamber recognizes outstanding members of the community.  Awards include Citizen of the Year, Public Official of the Year, Robert C. Littlefield Award (Chamber Lifetime Support Award), Business of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year.
   
• Annual  Member Recognition Luncheon: At the first luncheon of the year, the Chamber installs its new Chair and members of the Board of Directors. The Chamber will also honor long-term members who have reached two, five, ten, fifteen, and twenty or more years of continuous membership.
   
• Volunteer of the Month: The Chamber recognizes one member each month for his or her commitment. The member receives a Certificate of Appreciation and a Volunteer of the Month profile in ChamberLink.