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Member Services
Welcome to the website of the Laurel Board of Trade. We are a local chamber of commerce, which focuses on the businesses within the Laurel Area. We are here to help with your questions, problem, marketing, and your voice to the City of Laurel. We can open doors, place you in the right area and direct you to the correct person to resolve your business questions and concerns.
Your investment in the Laurel Board of Trade will generate strong returns for your business – especially if you and your staff get involved. Whether you join to build your business network, to save money through exclusive membership benefits, to advertise and promote your business, attend social events and informative business seminars, or for our advocacy, work on behalf of Main Street businesses and the surrounding areas your firm will benefit from membership with us.
| Networking & Social Events | Laurel Board of Trade networking and social events give you the opportunity to build your business network and promote your organization to the Laurel business community and citizens. Not only on Historic Main Street but the entire business district of Laurel. You can also take advantage of the seminars featuring local expertise and focusing on key topics and issues relevant to Laurel such as the growth plan for the next five years. Helping you to target the demographic groups, this is pertinent to your business growth. |
| Newsletter | A monthly newsletter informing you of up coming events, new businesses with the business district, and important information about current event within the city. We encourage members input and participation. |
| Staffed Office | A highly professional Office Manager is in the office Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 2:00pm able to answer your questions, direct you to the appropriate person within the City, listen to your ideas, suggestions, and provide you with statistics which can contribute to your business growth and success. |
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Event Participation at Reduced Cost |
Being a member of
the Laurel Board of Trade entitles you to participate in the
festivals sponsored by the Board at a greatly reduced cost. The
Main Street Festival, which is held on the second Saturday
of May, attracts over 100,000 people to Main Street. This is
your opportunity to address and inform 100,000 people that your
business exists. Your business does not need to be on Main Street
to participate. You only need to be a member of the Board of
Trade. - The same offer applies to the Riverfest Festival held the second Saturday in October. The savings on these two events alone can be more than your yearly Membership. |
| Board of Directors | The Officers and Directors of the Laurel Board of Trade are volunteer positions and any member of the organization in good standing can place their name or the name of another member to the nominating committee for consideration of any position. Board election are held once a year in December. |
These are only
some of the benefits to being a member of the Laurel Board of
Trade. Please take a minute to look at our website and make one
of the smartest business decision you can make for the welfare
of your business by clicking on the tab JOIN LBOT.
Basic Membership
- Annual Fee $50
| 501 (C) 6 corporation | It's tax deductable |
| Leadership of a Board made of up of Laurel Business Men and Women |
Consisting of four
officers - Chairman - President - Vice President - Treasurer - Eleven Directors -Paid Administrative Coordinator |
| A voice to the City | |
| Business Group Presentation | |
| Networking Business Meetings | |
| Reduced Fees for Vending at Festivals | |
| Access to City Documents maintained in the Office |
City Zoning Ordinance
and Subdivision Regulations Historic Commission District rules City of Laurel Population Demographic Capital Improvement Program Annual Budget (current year) All Available for public review Monday – Friday |
| Member E-Mail Listing | Communicate your advertising messages to members of the Board of Trade. Our member mailing list is a low –cost method of reaching area businesses. Share with others you thoughts, ideas and opinions. |
| Online Member’s Directory & Buyer’s Guide | By listing your business in the Membership Directory Buyers’ Guide, your business is exposed to many of the visitors to our site each month. Your listing includes a direct link to your website and the opportunity to participate with banner ads in you industry category. |
| Traders Post | Board of Trade members can barter goods and services online. Have an extra copier on hand, but need a FAX machine? Find another member online you can swap with. Swap or sell excess equipment, office space, or services. Laurel Board of Trade classifieds are much more than line item ads in the newspaper. Members can attach multiple images, sounds, and even video clips to each ad. |
| Your own free e-mail address | If you don’t have an Internet e-mail address, you will now. All Board of Trade members get an email address of the form yourid@laurelboardoftrede.com. You can use our web-based email service allowing you to read your mail from any computer anywhere. |
| Sounding Board | Express your opinions, share ideas, and business practices in our online bulletin board discussion area with other members. Read and write responses when convenient for you (day or night) from your home or office. |
| E-mail Discussion Lists | E-mail Discussion Lists allows collaboration and discussion between members within their own e-mail In-Box. It is similar to public discussion groups and an e-mail mailing list – all rolled into one. Members join the list them each member can send email to all listed member by simply sending a message to the list address, something like news@laurelboardoftrade.com |
| Chat Room | For real-time live discussions. Hold an online meeting with vendors from remote locations. Discuss an important upcoming event with members who can not all be at the face – to – face meeting. |
Advanced Membership - Annual Fee $100/250/500
| Includes all benefits of the Basic Membership | |
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Special Interest
Groups |
Committees and special ‘working groups’ can have their private areas on the system for working and collaborating on specific projects such as the Main Street Festival, Riverfest, Trick or Treat on Main Street or Farmers' Market. These members have access to a private discussion area, file storage for memos, meeting minutes, documents and private e-mail list for their group. Laurel Board of Trade makes it easy for members to work with others on a project. |
| Online File Storage |
Our file sharing
service offers you or your business a private area where you
can store files such as word documents. PDF files, spreadsheets,
and event forms such as applications for one of the Board of
Trade events. These “File Libraries” are the same web
service Laurel Board of Trade uses to store archives of it electronic
meeting minutes association rules, and other important document.
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| Presentation Room | Advanced members have access to the LBOT E-Presentation Room. This allows your business/organization to conduct live interactive presentations with customers, prospects, suppliers and colleagues with only a web browser and a phone. Make live interactive presentations or sales pitches, offer a web-tours, demo software, or provide tech support and training right from your web site. Contact LBOT for a demo and to make your reservation. |
| Web Site Advertisement | Have a banner ad displayed on the LBOT web site |
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