Date: December 15, 2006

Dear Business Owner,

We would like to invite you to the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Members Dinner & Meeting. Whether you are an existing business or a new business to the area, we would like you to join us for the 2007 year. We have enclosed an invitation to the dinner along with a membership form, Business of the Year form, Board Member Nomination form and an RSVP Form.

Chamber members represent the wide spectrum of people and types of businesses that comprise McGregor and the surrounding area. Our members include resorts, camps, retail shops, restaurants, contractors, media, school administration, individuals and non-profit organizations. Some businesses with headquarters outside of the McGregor Area are also active members.

We have been representing the area for over 40 years. Our members know that by working together we can play a leading role in improving the local economy. The McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of the business community. The chamber is not a civic club, charitable organization, or department of the city. The Chamber unites businesses, professional firms, resorts and individuals; thus creating a unique central agency working to improve business, tourism and the community.

There are many benefits to belonging to the Chamber, among them: networking opportunities, marketing and promotional activities, such as Referral Services, Chamber Directory Listing, Web Site Opportunities, Advertising Opportunities, Event Sponsorship Opportunities, Tourism Information Center Brochure Distribution, Monthly Newsletter, Member-Only Email Alerts and many others.

The Chamber operates the Tourism Information Center, which is located at the Rest Area on the East side of McGregor and is open May through October annually. All of our members are encouraged to provide advertising materials for distribution to our summer visitors who stop at the Information Center, and also for distribution at the Chamber Office. The Chamber holds monthly meetings to keep our members informed. All members are encouraged to attend. We value the input from our members. The Board of Directors is a volunteer organization that serves the McGregor Lakes Area business community. The Board of Directors is comprised of nine people elected by the members.

The McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors seven events annually. The Annual Dinner in January, Winterfish in February, McGregor Lakes Area Fishing Tournament in June, Wild Encounters Birding & Nature Festival in June, Let’s Go Golfing Tournament & FUNdraiser in August, Wild Rice Days over Labor Day Weekend, and Old Fashioned Christmas in December. Our events are important to the McGregor Area as they draw people in from miles around in order to promote the community, businesses and the area. This is the most volunteer intensive area of the Chamber. We try to have committees of 3-4 people on each event. The events are structured to be flexible and fit anyone’s schedule. Without membership involvement, our events would not be successful.

Consider joining the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce. All membership investments are a deductible business expense. Your Chamber membership is an investment in the McGregor Area and an investment in your business.

P O Box 68 ~ McGregor, MN 55760 ~ 218-768-3692 ~ 877-768-3692 ~ chamber@mcgregormn.com