After a few short months on the job, I never would’ve imagined standing on a national stage in front of our Chamber peers, competing to be the named the best chamber in the country. It’s a prized recognition of the members, staff and board of this organization; something I can’t and won’t take credit for. What an honor it is to represent the Fargo Moorhead business community in an arena where our positive reputation precedes us.

From left: Jim Parsons, Bobbi Jo Rehder, Adrienne Olson and Craig Whitney

As we enter into a new program year, your Chamber team is fired up to build on that momentum. We’re developing a plan of work that is consistent with the strong programs and events you’ve come to expect, yet flexible enough to meet ever-changing business needs.

In addition to the tried and true lineup of Chamber programming, we are prepared to host timely, issues-focused events as our regulatory landscape continues to transform. We will be more vocal in influencing that transformation in a way that benefits business. We will be at the helm of the legislative process, fighting for business, building relationships and gathering information.

When you think of investing in your people, we want you to think of your Chamber. To that end, we’ll offer training and leadership programming based on your feedback in order to maximize the impact the Chamber makes on your team.

We’ll focus our communication efforts on sharing your inspiring stories, reinforcing the image we’ve established as a community with personality, a diverse, world class work force, extensive collaboration, and a hotbed of economic activity and opportunity.

We will continue to refine and streamline our back end operations, and reinvest in our staff and the ever-changing technology they need to get the job done. In return, this team will keep your Chamber on the edge of innovation, finding new ways to connect you to the people and resources you need for smart business growth and fulfillment of your mission.

Simply put, we will wow you with the level of service you receive.

This Chamber is a powerhouse, unifying and advancing business and community interests in the Fargo Moorhead metropolitan region. Every member and partner of this Chamber can claim a piece of this success. We have assembled a dream team of a solid, diverse business community, a force of community and volunteer leaders, a talented and passionate staff and Board and, of course, members any chamber would be fortunate to work for.

Thank you for your membership,
Craig Whitney
President/CEO

8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Tuesday, October 5

We’re excited to partner with Dale Carnegie Training to host one of the top social media experts in the country for a one-time only event in Fargo!

Grow your business via the Internet, with best-selling author Corey Perlman of “eBootCamp: Proven Internet Marketing Techniques To Grow Your Business.”  A whole new set of tools awaits today’s business professional, you just need to know how to use them effectively.

Corey will share his tips and strategies to use web tools such as Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, articles and press releases to generate new leads, promote your brand and stay in front of existing clients. Combine these tools with Dale Carnegie’s Human Relations principles and you’ll learn to create meaningful, long-lasting relationships - even in cyberspace! Learn more about Corey at www.socialmediafargo.com!

Topics include:

• How to successfully promote your business with Facebook
• Real-world examples on how to use Linkedin and Twitter to grow your business
• Using blogs, articles, press releases and enewsletters to stay connected with your customers and build your brand
• Why video is the quickest and easiest way to get your message out to the masses

REGISTER ONLINE today!

Till then… connect with the Chamber!

Twitter    |     Linkedin     |     Facebook 

This event will include presentations from Dan Ulmer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota; Kim Thompson, Thompson Insurance Agency and Legislative Activist; Dr. Josh Jaeger, Life Energy Chiropractic and Wellness;  and Lynn Paulson, CEO, Choice Financial.

Insurance agents will receive two continuing education insurance credits for attending. 

Choice Financial was one of the first banks to offer Health Savings Accounts in conjunction with high deductible health insurance policies in the state.  Choice Financial currently services HSA customers from 50 states.

To RSVP for the event, contact Melissa Steiner at m.steiner@choicefinancialgroup.com or 701-356-9700.

Choice Financial is a premier provider of financial solutions with nine locations across North Dakota, including two in the Fargo area. 

# # #
For more information contact:
Lori Doele, Business Development Officer
Choice Financial
701.356.9715
lorid@choicefinancialgroup.com
www.choicefinancialgroup.com

Working on the Public Affairs Health Care subcommittee for the Fargo Moorhead Chamber has been a real eye opener. In meeting with a group of 28 health care professionals on July 7, it was surprising to hear how many area providers are affected by the Frontier States Amendment. To give a brief history, the Frontier States Amendment of the recently passed health care reform was drafted, proposed and passed with the leadership of North Dakota’s congressional delegation to address Medicare reimbursement disparities for North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana.

Hospitals and some physicians receive a great benefit of about $650 million over the next decade by increasing Medicare reimbursement levels, addressing one of the Chamber’s core legislative agenda issues to “Support legislation that reforms federal Medicare programs to address the regional payment disparities for rural health care providers.” However, many health care providers are left out of the legislation and will continue to operate on a fraction of what is afforded to the beneficiaries of the Frontier States Amendment. These providers include home health services (even hospital related), hospice care, chiropractors, skilled nursing facilities and eye care practitioners.
 
It is our understanding from Earl Pomeroy’s legislative director, Melanie Rhinehart Van Tassell, that there is possibility for some revision to the legislation. Although the Frontier States Amendment is a tremendous help for the health care community in the states noted, the excluded health care providers need similar Medicare reimbursement levels in order to continue providing services. With Medicare as the primary source of payment and other insurance following with reimbursement levels at similar percentages, the excluded providers operate at a significant deficit and will continue to do so without changes to the legislation.

The Public Affairs Health Care subcommittee is now following up by opening the conversation to other Frontier State chambers of commerce, professional organizations of the types of providers excluded in the legislation, and AARP. It is our hope that by opening the communication lines of these related groups, that our affected Chamber members will have a bigger voice with which to make their requests heard because sustainable quality health care includes all providers being paid equitably.

Becky Walen, U.S. Bank, is chairing the FM Chamber’s Health Care subcommittee of the Public Affairs committee. For more information on the committee and its activities, contact Kelli Poehls.

“After reading the article in Newsweek, I am considering moving to your fair city. Please send me a relocation package.”

This is the kind of note that makes a Chamber President proud.

The article being referred to by the current Catawissa, Missouri resident was entitled “The Great Great Plains,” by Joel Kotkin, printed in the July 2 edition of Newsweek. Subtitle: “How heartland cities like Fargo and Omaha became the nation’s new boomtowns.”

Kotkin references Fargo’s strong job growth, low unemployment rate and in-migration from the rest of the country. He cites agriculture and energy as the primary drivers of our new growth and dubs our ‘fair city’ as an emerging high-tech hub.

And the relocation packages have been flying out our door.

When your Chamber team talks about our ‘quality of life,’ it’s not lip service. It’s a true and undeniable assertion that Fargo Moorhead is top of the line in the nation for a diversified and growing economy, low unemployment, rising per-capita income, even the cleanest air.

We are honored to serve this business community and strive to serve as a model of innovation and a champion of free enterprise. Chambers are only as strong as the businesses it calls members. Our members band together to nurture our local work force, build networks of connections and collaborate on a regional basis to advocate for a sound business environment.

When you invest in this Chamber, you invest in the momentum of this group effort to keep the metropolitan community moving forward at a pace that leaves most of the country wondering… “What’s their secret?”

Thank you for your membership,
Craig Whitney
President/CEO
Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead

After a bit of free time at the hotel, the celebration began! Students swapped stories, had a dance off, and watched a slide show. A couple of STLF founders spoke to the group and shared how their involvement with STLF changed their lives.
 
The students all worked together this morning and helped the Duluth Park and Rec Department clear trails and lay down gravel. After that project, they ate pizza and headed back to Fargo Moorhead. The Starion should be back around 7 or 7:30.

John’s Update: The Bremer Bus

After the trip to the beach, the bus core grilled a delicious dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs at a nearby park. The night was finished up with some evening leadership activities and free time for the students to relax, hang out, and work on the dance they have been practicing all week.

Thursday morning we woke up and had a delicious breakfast made for us by the community members of Baxter, MN. After breakfast we traveled to our service project in Brainerd at the Good Samaritan Society. The students sanded and stained benches, weeded the garden, and painted the garden shed. All the residents and volunteers really enjoyed the work the students accomplished. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Good Samaritan Society and headed on our way to Duluth. We made a stop at the Paul Bunyan Farm and had some free time, took group pictures, and the students practiced their dance a few more times!

Kyle’s Update: The Starion Bus

Wednesday afternoon found the Starion bus at the SPAM Museum in beautiful Austin, Minn. It was everything the students dreamed of and more. They spent about an hour walking around and learning about the history and cultural significance of SPAM. The gift shop was a real treat with lots of unique items. Rumor on the street is that some students even bought SPAM glasses. Don’t be surprised if some of your Christmas presents are SPAM-related this year.

After a SPAM-tastic time in Austin, the Starion bus stopped at Global Market (www.midtownglobalmarket.org) in the Twin Cities. Everyone ate fine cuisine from around the world. Luckily enough, Global Market offers free Irish dancing lessons on Wednesday nights! So all of the students jiggity-jigged all the way home. Or at least to Stillwater where they enjoyed the BEST ICE CREAM EVER from Nelson’s Ice Cream. For $3, you get three massive, heaping, enormous scoops of ice cream. The STLF crew treated all of the students with this sweet treat.

The evening ended at the Stillwater Lutheran Church. We also heard something about silly string…

Thursday morning started with a pancake breakfast. Then everyone was off to Coon Rapids to help put together food boxes at Feed My Starving Children. The students assembled 133 boxes of food. They even sampled some of it. (With permission, of course.) Lunch brought the crew to Dinkytown. They got to walk around and pick try lots of different places.

They are currently en route to Duluth and will finally meet up with the Bremer bus! Hard to believe the tour is almost over. The week has flown by! We can’t wait for the students to enjoy beautiful Canal Park together. It’s a much deserved celebration for a hard-working group of students.

Check out pictures at the Chamber’s Facebook page!

John’s update: The Bremer Tour - Service By the Slice

After the students were surprised by delicious Dairy Queen yesterday, we headed to the Institute of Art.  The students spent about an hour and a half there exploring the many interesting exhibits they had.  One interesting fact was that our bus driver’s father actually had a painting in there. 

After the Institute of Art we finally got to hit the showers and be fresh and clean for dinner.  The students had the chance to enjoy themselves at the many sit down restaurants near Rosedale Mall. YUM! When everyone was well fed we headed to our housing site in Minneapolis called the Plymouth Youth Center.  The night consisted of some friendly song wars competition and other leadership building activities.  When activities were over the students had a little time to hang out with each other before lights out. 

In the morning the students were surprised with pancakes and sausage prepared by two national STLFers.  Once well fed we headed onto the bus to our service project at the Arc Value Thrift Store in St. Paul.  The students were set to work sorting, hanging, and tagging the donated items. They were able to get a full day’s work done (worth $1500) in just a couple of hours! After the project they had the chance to explore the store before we headed to lunch at the Global Market.

Now the group is off to a surprise visit to spend time to the beach at Whipple Lake for a BBQ!

Kyle’s update: The Starion Tour: Songs and Service

The second day on the road found the students in Marshall, MN. They stayed at the beautiful Marshall County YMCA that was recently built in 2000. After a hard day of pulling weeds and landscaping the students reveled in some hard earned free time. Swimming at the YMCA was a welcome treat after a hot Minnesota August day. A few basketball games were also played.

As the students settled in for the night, the guys serenaded the girls with the ever-classic, “My Girl.” We’re told that the cast of “Glee” should be worried about some serious competition from the great state of Minnesota.

This morning’s service project was at the same YMCA where the students stayed. Trees were mulched and weeds were pulled. They pulled so many weeds that it filled up an entire flatbed trailer. Before departing for Stillwater, the students received a thank you gift from the Marshall County YMCA—drawstring backpacks! They are currently en route to the SPAM (yes, SPAM!) Museum in Austin, MN. Hopefully they’ll fill their new drawstring backpacks with plenty of SPAM for all of you at home. The day will end in Stillwater, MN, with ice cream from Nelson’s Drive Inn Dairy Store. Apparently it’s the best ice cream ever—a much deserved treat for these hardworking students.

After Stillwater, it’s off to Duluth!

The Bremer Pay It Forward Chamber Tour got off to a great start with everyone getting to know each other on the bus. After laughs and jokes the bus stopped in Henderson, MN for a quick bathroom break at the only gas station in town. Students enjoyed a chance to cool down with a nice freezie at the local Toody’s Candy shop!

The group then made their stop for the night at First Lutheran Church in St Peters, MN. The evening was concluded with games of Hovda, Little Sally Walker and name games! Everyone then had a chance to enjoy a few games of ping-pong and foosball before retiring for the evening. Of course there were still a few wanting to stay up late chatting with their new friends.

The bus got up early to serve with St Peters’ Community Center. The variety of projects included painting new bean-bag toss games, cleaning park trails, weeding flower beds and laughter throughout the HOT and HUMID day!

After lunch the group is on their way to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for a campus tour. A little surprise the students will find out after is a visit the Dairy Queen after their campus visit!

To see photos of the Bremer bus crew in action, visit the Chamber’s Facebook page.

In honor of Youth Leadership’s 15th anniversary, both buses began their week with a local service project through Fargo Housing Authority. The Starion crew pulled weeds at two different playgrounds in the FM area. After that, they hopped back on the bus to head toward their first destination … Breckenridge, Minnesota.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by some local STLFers as well as some people from Grace Lutheran Church who fed them “a feast” of corn, fruit, bbq pork, and a host of desserts. The evening was spent at St. Mary’s School where students hung out, played ice breaker and name games and participated in some friendly competition. 

The morning began with “the usual breakfast stuff” provided by some of the people at St. Mary’s School. The group then ventured to the Breckenridge Movie Theatre, Cinema 6, for their service project. The group was doing landscaping on a rock garden that was being overcome by weeds. They tore the whole thing up, leveled the sand and put the garden back in place. They even had a surprise visitor, the mayor of Breckenridge.

With a lunch of PB&J on the go, the group was well on their way to their next destination: Marshall, MN. This afternoon’s activities include a college tour of Southwest Minnesota State University and a cookout at Independence Park tonight.

Stay tuned for more updates from the road with the Starion and Bremer buses.