02 february nl

February 2014 - Vol. 45, Issue 2 IN THIS ISSUE...

Leadership P2- 2014 Board of Directors P3 - Article By Jeff Holds P4 - Ambassador Updates P5- Member Article

Community Building P6- EP School district

Networking P7- Deal of the Month

epchamber2 Follow us on Twitter!

Look for us on Facebook “Eden Prairie Chamber” Look for us on LinkedIn “Eden Prairie Chamber” Visit our YouTube Channel “EPChamber2” Visit our Discussions Blog epchamber2.blogspot.com

6th Annual Valentine Vixens Thursday, February 13, from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pamper yourself with cash & carry items, a massage, a delicious lunch and networking with many other professional women!

Our Exhibitor Tables are SOLD OUT and include: Check Engine Express Encore Consignment Boutique Enriched by Life – Nutrition & Fitness HealthSource Chiropractic- Eden Prairie Healthy Training LLC Jockey P2P Ind. Comfort Specialist Motives Cosmetics- Market America Nothing Bundt Cakes PROP SHOP Red Note Botanica, Inc Safire Nutrition Soza Clinic of Eden Prairie Stella & Dot TeaSource Tom James Location: Join us at Brunswick Zone, located at 12200 Singletree Lane in Eden Prairie Cost: $25 for Members & their guests / $40 for Non-members

Register now for this event here or by calling the Chamber office (952) 944-2830.

Mark Your Calendars!

February 14th- Public Policy Breakfast @ Biaggi’s February 18th- Fusion: Dress for Success @ STAR BANK February 20th- General Membership Luncheon @ Grace Church

THANK YOU to our 2014 Annual Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor’s

Bronze Sponsor

Generall Sponsor S

Leadership

Get to Know the 2014 Board of Directors 2014 Board Chair Executive Committee

2015 Board Chair Executive Committee

Past Board Chair Executive Committee

Jeff Holds

Carrie Dolinar

Cathy Haukedahl

Sherri Roseen

Phoenix Technology Solutions, LLC

Talencio

Flagship Bank

Froehling Anderson, LTD.

Scott Anderson Rosemount Inc.

Brad Beard Fairview Southdale Hospital

2014 Board Treasurer Executive Committee

Pat Gallagher Thomson Reuters

Mark Hayes GE Capital Fleet Services

Bill McReavy Jr.

Kathleen Misukanis

John O’Neal

Stephen West

Alan Wallner

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel

Rasmussen College

Republic Services

Eden Prairie Independent School District 272

W Creative

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“Connections” (USPS 729770) is published 12 times per calendar year by the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Periodicals postage paid at Prior Lake, MN - POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Connections,” 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Leadership Chamber 202: Maximize Your Membership By: Jeff Holds Phoenix Technology Solutions, LLC If you were not able to attend the Chamber 202 event, you missed a great meeting to review the best ways to get the most out of your chamber membership. With over 500 Member businesses in the Eden Prairie chamber, we are offered numerous opportunities to network with other chamber members at every event we attend. Some of the most successful networking I have done over the years was simply done by following a few simple recommendations I had received from a few chamber veterans. Below I will highlight those gems. Many of these gems we have heard several times but it never hurts to review them and try to apply what we have learned as best we can.

1. Pick 3 committees and get involved. When I first joined the chamber I picked 3 groups to join and have been committed ever since. There is such a great variety of groups to join. Simply contact the committee chair and find out when would be a good time to check out the group. Attend a few meetings to see if it is a fit, and then show up.

2. Show Up! If you have committed to join a group, make sure you show up and get involved. Place these meetings as a reoccurring appointment on your calendar and make sure they take priority. This is a great time to get to know other businesses in the chamber while helping the chamber grow and potentially developing new business.

3. Step up. If the opportunity arises to chair a group or help out on a committee, step up. Believe in yourself and take the challenge as a great opportunity to learn. Chairing a committee is a great opportunity to learn more about the chamber and build on personal growth. Each committee has a function and goal which can be changed and improved. Use your creativity and see how your expertise can help.

4. Meet someone new. It is easy to attend chamber events and hangout with our friends. The challenge is to try and meet someone new. Make an effort to meet someone new at each event. Not only does meeting someone new create an opportunity for you and your business but it also might just help someone new to the chamber feel welcome. Take a few minutes and introduce the new member to other members and you will do yourself and the chamber a huge favor.

There are dozens of great ideas to make the most of our chamber memberships. The above gems have helped me over the years and can certainly help others in the process. We are all here to grow our businesses and help ourselves grow personally in the process. Apply a few of the Chamber 202 recommendations or grab one of the old veteran’s gems and run with it. The more events we attend the more opportunity we create.

I look forward to seeing you at the next chamber event and hearing about how your chamber experience has improved.

TRAVEL TO SPAIN IN NOVEMBER 2014!

Have you always told yourself you were going to travel the world?

Now’s your chance to start that journey! The Chamber is hosting an international trip to Spain and The Costa Del Sol in November 2014. Call (952) 944-2830 or email Pat at pat.mulqueeny@epchamber.org for more information or go to epchamber.org.

The Chamber is also hosting a trip to Australia and New Zealand Scheduled for February 2014. Call (952) 944-283o to learn more about this trip! Informational Meetings TBD. 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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Leadership Ambassador Updates The Eden Prairie Chamber Ambassadors serve as goodwill representatives in our business community. They learn about member businesses and encourage membership retention through mentorships, personal phone calls and much more. Below are some of the places that our very busy Ambassadors visited during January of 2014!

Bright Star Bright Star Barbara Schlatter 952-300-3698 4601 Excelsior Blvd. # 410 St. Louis Park, MN, 55416

Encompass Law Encompass Law Karlen Padayachee 3800 American Blvd. W. Bloomington, MN 55431 612-708-5130 www.encompasslawmn.com

Pioneer Estates Pioneer Estates Christine Rowland 8751 Preserve Blvd Eden Prairie, MN, 55344 952-914-0934 www.pioneerestatesofmn.com

Ambassador of the Month: December 2013 I am David Hurley, and enjoy many activities,Spring, Summer, and Fall you can find me playing golf, fishing, bowling and camping, Wintertime I bowl, and Ski Race. I office out of Bloomington, and have two daughters ages 25 and 28. I enjoy meeting fellow chamber members and networking to see how I can help others grow their business.

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11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Leadership Giving Away the Store By: Stevie Ray Stevie Ray’s Improv Company

After years of letting the tree in our front yard grow unchecked, my wife and I finally decided to have it pruned. I have done my fair share of climbing, and falling, over the years; but the thought of scaling a 50-foot tree with a chain saw strapped to my belt was too much this time. We contacted five different tree services to get bids and were pleasantly surprised to find them all in the same ballpark as far as price. Nothing makes a customer distrust a business faster than discovering your price is twice as high as your competition.

With price out of the picture, we did what most customers do, we decided based on “who felt right.”

We were specific in our request to have the tree expert come and inspect the tree, then leave a bid in the mailbox. We told them all we did not want a sit down consultation (a bunch of branches being cut off doesn’t need an intervention meeting with the entire extended family present). Those companies who violated that request by knocking on the door to discuss the job were immediately eliminated. Those that made a follow-up phone call to see if we had any questions were put at the top of the list.

The best thing happened after the job was done. One of the companies had asked for our e-mail address so they could send the bid electronically (I love it when paper is taken out of the equation). We did not happen to choose this company for the job, but we have been getting an e-mail every now and then from them. None of the e-mails ask for our business, they simply give us helpful information. One e-mail talked about how to prepare your outdoors plants for winter. We weren’t sure when to start that process, so their message came at just the right time. Another e-mail detailed how to keep plants healthy when you keep them indoors during cold months, more great information. As long as their e-mails don’t ask for any business, but keep providing helpful tips, I will not use the the Safe Unsubscribe function. And I will certainly put their company at the top of the list for next time, or for when I am talking to neighbors.

It is the oldest advice in the book, “Give away your knowledge and you’ll get more customers,” but how many of us are diligent in making this virtually free form of marketing part of our business plan?

Do you want your ad to be seen in 2014? Advertise with us!

We have a variety of inexpensive ways for you to advertise your business: Newsletter Ads & Inserts, E-blast Ads, Website Press Releases, Job Postings and MORE! Contact Brianna at (952) 944-2830 or at communications@epchamber.org

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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Community Building Update from the Eden Prairie School District

By Eden Prairie Schools After an extended winter break due to the extreme cold weather, Eden Prairie Schools are back in session and moving forward with many exciting activities and initiatives. Here is the latest news from Eden Prairie Schools: Superintendent Tryggestad announces move to all-day, every day kindergarten – Superintendent Curt Tryggestad announced at the December 10 school board meeting that the district will move to an all-day, every day kindergarten program beginning in the 2014-2015 school year. The district will encourage all families to have their children attend the all-day, every day kindergarten program. However, parents may choose to have their child attend the all-day, every day program on a “part-time” basis. The details of “part-time” enrollment include the following: • Mid-day transportation will not be provided by the district. Parents will be responsible for the mid-day transpor tation of their child.

• The district will consider the language arts and math needs of “part-time” students when developing the daily classroom schedule, but will not lessen the pace of student expectations of the overall student cohort to accom modate parents who choose “part-time” enrollment.

• Students enrolled as “part-time” will attend the program in the morning. There will not be an afternoon option for “part-time” students.

The 2013 legislature provided funding for all Minnesota school district to provide all-day, every day kindergarten for all students. Eden Prairie, like many other school districts, currently provides a free half-day program and a fee-based full-day program. The funding from the legislature allows the district to offer the all-day, every day program at no cost to families.

Board Approves Annual Tax Levy – At its December 10 regular meeting, the Eden Prairie School Board approved the final levy for taxes payable for the 2014-2015 school year in the amount of $39,077,466.76, which is the maximum amount the district can levy. This represents a $497,000 or 1.3 percent decrease in the total levy for Eden Prairie Schools over the previous year. Local property taxes represent about 18 percent of the district’s total funding. Since the 2014-2015 levy is lower than the 2013-2014 levy, total revenue from this funding source will decline and the school portion of property taxes will be lower in 2014 for most Eden Prairie residents. Funds from the annual tax levy are used along with education funding from the state as well as other sources to pay for the general operations of the district. Due to the failure of the operating levy in November, the district will need to reduce its budget by about $4 million for the 2014-2015 school year.

New school board to assume office in January – The December 10 school board meeting was the last official meeting for two Eden Prairie School Board members. Suzanne Kutina and Chuck Mueller have each served on the board for the past four years and chose not to run for another term. Newly elected board members Elaine Larabee and Holly Link joined the board beginning at the January 14 meeting.

District to engage parents, staff and community members in budget reduction process – As part of the process of identifying budget reductions for the 2014-2015 school year, the district will be seeking input from parents, staff and community members. The district has an estimated $4 million budget gap for 2014-2015. While specific details of the process have not yet been finalized, the centerpiece of the process will be one or more public sessions where, after receiving information about the district’s current financial condition, participants will work in small groups to identify potential budget reductions to be shared with Superintendent Tryggestad. The input from the session will be used by the superintendent and district administrators to develop recommended reductions to be presented to the board.

In addition to identifying reductions for 2014-2015, participants will also be asked to consider potential reductions for the 2015-2016 school year that could be used if the current operating levy is not approved in November 2014.

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11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Networking

David A. Hurley | IAR ÜÜÜ.Ì iÃv>. iÌ 7900 International Drive, Ste 300 Bloomington, MN 55425

952.876.4011 2fŵce 612.414.4171 Cell 952.876.4012 Fax ` ÕÀ iÞJÌ iÃv>. iÌ

Advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), member FINRA | SIPC. 'avid +urley is an Investment Advisor ReSresentative of SFA. SuServising ofŵce

Previously Allied Waste

Brian Flanagan Residential Sales Representative 9813 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN, 55347 612-412-7463 Fax 952-946-5320 bflanagan@republicservices.com republicservices.com Call me for the best pricing for your Trash, Recycling and Yard Waste needs.

Deal of the Month!

In March we will be having a great deal on 1/4 page ads in the Chamber Connections Newsletter!

Get your ad on this page in Black & White for only $75 (50% off regular price of $150)!

Contact Brianna at (952) 944-2830 to secure your spot! Other sizes are also available.

Space is limited! Deadline is February 19th.

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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FEBRUARY 2014 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday 3

Tuesday 4

10

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

5

6

7

7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony

8:30AM - Business Development Meeting

11

12

13

14

7:30-9AM :Government Committee Meeting

7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony

7:30AM - Board Meeting

7:30-9AM - Public Policy Breakfast @ Biaggi’s

11AM - 1PM - Valentine Vixens @ Brunswick Zone XL

17

24

18

25 11:30-1PM- Fusion @ STAR BANK- Dress For Success

19

20

7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony

11:30AM - 1PM - General Membership Luncheon @ Grace Church

26

27

21

28

7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony 4:30 - 6PM - After Hours @ Silver Lining Care Homes, LLC

PLEASE RSVP FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!