Chamber Tip #9

Number 9, you want to volunteer. And in the beginning, the easiest way to do that is— you'll be asked to volunteer for all sorts of things. Don't jump in immediately. Don't jump in and volunteer on this committee or that committee. You're not prepared. You don't understand what's going on in the chamber. You don't understand how to make the right connections for yourself and for other people by volunteering. So in the beginning, volunteer in a very subtle way. You can offer to help set up chairs or get there a little bit early and help greet people, or maybe stay late and help clean up. Do little things where you're volun— help pass out brochures or information, or maybe turn the lights on and off when the PowerPoint presentations are being done. Do the little things that show that you're willing to volunteer, and then as you start to get to know the chamber and the people in the chamber very well you can find that place where volunteering on a little more broad scale will bring you great value. One of the things that you might want to think about is joining a group that actually is in the process of recruiting new members for the chamber. Now, if you're in sales, this is ideal for you because you get the opportunity to go and talk to people that are being recruited or actually have just been recruited. These are called ambassador programs, diplomat programs. They usually have a requirement of membership for a while before you can join them, but it does give you first access and it gives you the opportunity to learn what's important about joining the chamber, which is generally what's important about their business, and that gives you the opportunity to then go back and already know what would be important about your business and how you can help them. So good opportunity there. Volunteering is a great way to do that.