Membership
What is a Chamber of Commerce?
A Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary federation of the business community. It unites the efforts of business and professionals to ensure that the entire community realizes a healthy economic and socio-economic benefit.
The Chamber of Commerce harnesses the tremendous potential of the private enterprise system and enables its membership to accomplish collectively what no one person or group could accomplish individually.
The Chamber is the voice of Business.
What does a Chamber of Commerce do?
The Chamber represents and promotes the area’s economy through various shop local initiatives. It encourages business and industrial investment in ways such as networking and seminars.
Chambers of Commerce are increasingly involved in non-commercial areas such as education, human relations, environmental, cultural and governmental concerns. Chambers of Commerce influence federal, provincial, and municipal legislation affecting business.
These challenges have encouraged Chambers to become a viable force in seeking solutions to today’s social problems.
Why join a Chamber of Commerce?
The Chamber of Commerce is the salesperson for its community and businesses. Chambers unceasingly promote their communities’ products and services while at the same time being their watchdog. This results in Chambers protecting their interests, particularly in the political arena. The united voice of the Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce has often proven effective and beneficial to business where a single voice can go unheard.
The benefits of belonging to the Chamber is full-time representation with year-round results.
How can I join the Chamber?
Joining the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce is easy. Fill out the application and email to info@portagedistrictchamber.com.
Who finances a Chamber of Commerce?
The Chamber is a business and incurs costs in conducting its operation as in any other type of organization. These expenses are met primarily through membership fees derived from its numerous members. Members share a mutual desire to achieve a better community for all its citizens. Membership in the Chamber is an investment in the present and future welfare of both the individuals and their community.
How can I find out who else is a member of the Chamber?
Our Membership Directory is published each year containing names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, website addresses, and contact names of all of the members for the current membership year. A listing in the Membership Directory will help increase your profile as well.
What are the Benefits of becoming a Chamber Member?
As a member of the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce, you belong to an organization dedicated to the business community in Portage la Prairie. You gain access to many benefits that promote your business, save your company money and recover the cost of your membership many times over.
Indirect Benefits
Stay Connected: Chamber membership allows you to stay connected with the business community in Portage la Prairie. Our active schedule of meetings, training seminars, networking luncheons and events helps you keep in touch with peers, keep current on affairs affecting business and provides you an opportunity to increase your contacts and build your business. As a Chamber member you receive reduced prices for all Chamber functions such as networking Quarterly Luncheons and Business Training Seminars.
Your Business Voice: The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce continually works together with the City of Portage la Prairie and local organizations to support our business community, but if the interests of business are compromised in our community, we don’t hesitate to speak out on your behalf. As a Chamber member, your voice wil be heard at all levels of government and we will lobby on your behalf to present your views and concerns on legislation, taxes, employment, industry, safety, education, transportation and various other issues.
A Helping Hand: The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce is a central point of contact for communication with the local business community. We can assist you through researching and providing business information and by faxing publications, letters, bulletins, and flyers to your market area.
Direct Benefits
As a member of the Portage la Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, your business is provided with discounted services that provide exclusive cost savings programs negotiated on the strength of membership numbers on a full range of products & services.
Communications
Insurance
Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan –
More than 30,000 business owners have selected Chambers Plan because it’s simple to use, but strong on features. Chambers Plan offers guaranteed coverage with NO minimum firm size and NO industry restrictions. Plans include life insurance and businesses can choose from options in disability, health and dental coverage that meet their needs and their budget.
All Plans include bonus features, like Business Assistance Services, Teladoc Medical Experts, online benefits management for you and your employees, and more, at no additional cost. Every Health option comes with the best travel coverage on the market and includes, absolutely free, Teladoc telemedicine services. As a not-for-profit program, Chambers Plan reinvests surpluses into the Plan to keep premiums stable and predictable. And it’s all backed by the industry’s benchmark in customer service. Chambers Plan is the simple, stable, and smart choice for employee benefits.
Visit www.chamberplan.ca for more information and to request a quote from your local Chambers Plan advisor.
Shipping
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Purolator –
Purolator is Canada’s leading integrated freight and parcel solutions provider, and we’re celebrating more than 50 years of delivering Canada a network unlike any other.
As Canada’s largest courier company, Purolator delivers innovative products and superior services on which you can depend. With more couriers, more vehicles, and more planes in more places than any other domestic courier, we provide solutions that are right for Canadians — whenever and wherever they need to ship.
Purolator has developed a tiered courier pricing structure for MCC members that offers the most opportunity for savings, ranging from 25% to 45% off our rates, depending on your organization’s annual volume.
For more information, please contact Tim Hick, Purolator Alliance Partner Program, at 1 (877) 324-0002 or tim.hick@purolator.com for a quote for your business or your chamber.
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Freightcom –Chamber members save big on shipping. Exclusive discounts, designated account manager, premier level support with 24 hour tour around time and much more. For more information Click here.
Fuel Savings
Esso –
Maintain control and security while saving time and money with the Esso and Mobil Fleet Business Card program.
Esso and Mobil Fleet Business Card programs deliver exceptional fuel savings and powerful yet easy-to-use fuel management tools. Plus Manitoba Chambers of Commerce members receive a discount of 3.5 cents per litre regardless of volume.
A large network with over 2,200 service stations across Canada. Whether your business is large or small, managing time and costs is always a priority. That’s why Esso and Mobil Business Fleet Card program offer security features, volume discounts, easy-to-use online tools, and no annual fee. The degree of control and reporting you want will help determine which card fits your business. Start taking advantage of the Esso and Mobil Fleet Program.
For more information please contact Robert Guaiani, robert.guaiani@wexinc.com. Tel 647-528-9950
Travel
Choice Hotels –
With the Choice Hotels BizCount program and the Choice Privileges® rewards program, we’re helping business travellers like you make every minute on the road count with a combination of extra savings, and great rewards.
Save up to 10% when you stay at Choice Hotels®, which includes Comfort™, Quality®, Clarion®, and a few others like the upscale Ascend Hotel Collection®. There are over 325 Choice locations spanning all provinces and over 6,300 worldwide. Hotels are conveniently located near major airports, key highways, and business districts. Connect easily with colleagues and friends using free high-speed internet and jump-start your day with free breakfast at most locations. Unlike many other hotel discount programs, members can use the discount for both business and leisure travel. Click here for more info.
Services
Vexxit – Save 20% on annual Vexxit professional Subscription. Connect with trusted lawyers, financial advisors, accountants and consultants who have the skills and experience best suited to your needs for FREE
Lenovo -
As the #1 PC manufacturer globally, Lenovo develops, produces, and markets reliable, high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use products and services for customers who want technology that does more. Founded as Legend Holding in 1984, Lenovo increased its North American presence in 2005 when it acquired the former Personal Computer Division of IBM, the company that invented the PC industry in 1981. A global Fortune 500 company, Lenovo has more than 54,000 employees in more than 60 countries, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Through the Lenovo Chamber program, chambers can offer members discounts of up to 30% off the everyday public web price of Lenovo’s technology product line for home and office, including laptops, tablets, desktops, all-in-ones, workstations, servers, and accessories. This includes savings on top products, such as the award-winning ThinkPad notebooks and innovative multimode YOGA tablets.
Members also receive free ground shipping on all web orders, monthly limited-time special offers, access to energy-efficient green technologies, and award-winning service and support. For more information, click here, visit www.lenovo.com/chambers, or call 1-888-315-7408 ext. 5221.
For more information on these benefits, please call Cindy at the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce office at: 204-857-7778 or email info@portagedistrictchamber.com