Membership has its privileges
Remember the old American Express advertising campaign “membership has its privileges”? “Membership has its privileges” appeared from 1987 to 1996 and was a successful campaign as it convinced consumers there was a benefit and meaningful advantage to carrying their card as opposed to (or in addition to) no fee cards such as Visa and MasterCard.
Membership in Vail Valley Partnership (VVP), much like being an American Express Cardmember, has its privileges.
Regular readers are aware of the VVP’s role in the community, providing destination marketing resources, economic development services and chamber of commerce benefits to businesses and non-profits in the Vail Valley. Collectively, these efforts provide numerous benefits to organizations – from advocacy to programming, and from networking to economic research.
We also partner with numerous organizations at a regional, state and national level to help benefit our members doing business in the Vail Valley.
We’re happy to announce that Vail Valley Partnership has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide our members with valuable new programs and services. Through the U.S. Chamber’s Federation Partnership program, small business members in good standing with the VVP will now receive the benefits of U.S. Chamber membership. This new member benefit is provided at no additional cost to members of the Vail Valley Partnership.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. More than 96% of U.S. Chamber members are small businesses with 100 employees or fewer. According to the US Chamber, small businesses account for three-quarters of all new jobs in this country and we know that small businesses also make up the majority of our business community in the Vail Valley.
By joining the Federation Partnership program, the Vail Valley Partnership is helping the U.S. Chamber’s effort to build the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy network. The VVP will continue to focus on local issues, programs, and membership benefits while allowing members to engage with the U.S. Chamber on national issues ranging from taxes to technology to transportation via an opt-in newsletter. VVP members are able to opt-out should they not want to receive additional information from the US Chamber. This ever-growing coalition of small businesses allows the U.S. Chamber to present a strong, unified voice for business in Washington, D.C.
Through our partnership with the U.S. Chamber, Vail Valley Partnership provides small business members with resources, information, advocacy, and savings. Under the program, our small businesses receive the benefits of belonging to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in addition to membership with Vail Valley Partnership at no additional cost.
Amongst the Vail Valley Partnership benefits members already enjoy, U.S. Chamber membership provides access to members-only sections of www.uschamber.com, including thousands of small business tips and tools; discounts on products and services; uschamber.com Weekly e-newsletter; the U.S. Chamber’s monthly flagship publication, uschamber.com; and timely communications alerting small businesses to pressing legislation or policy initiatives.
Vail Valley Partnership small business members interested in free US Chamber membership as part of your benefits package will receive the following:
• Access to thousands of pages of small business how-to toolkits through Small Business Nation
• Having a voice in Washington, D.C. representing their interests
• Product and service discounts to affinity partners such as FedEx and Sam’s Club
• Complimentary Rocket Lawyer membership and access to 500 legal documents and templates, online signature verification, and legal articles
• The U.S. Chamber’s e-newsletter, FreeEnterprise Weekly, and monthly e-publication, Free Enterprise
• Legislative alerts for small businesses notifying them of pressing policy initiatives based on issues they select
• Legislative alerts on policy issues they select and access to exclusive networking and policy events and conference calls
We work hard to help our local business community succeed through our programming, advocacy efforts, business services and marketing benefits. The US Chamber works hard on a federal level to help small business succeed. It’s a natural partnership and we’re excited to extend this two-for-the-price-of-one membership opportunity in order to benefit our member businesses.
We are much like American Express in that membership in Vail Valley Partnership has its privileges. Learn more about all our benefits – including membership with the US Chamber of Commerce – at www.vailvalleypartnership.com or call 970-476-1000.
Don’t miss out on the upcoming EGE Air Alliance community meeting on Wednesday, April 15 from 3pm-4pm at the Vail Board of Realtors meeting room (located at Riverwalk in Edwards).
Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership