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January 2017 Newsletter
February Networking Event
Tuesday, February 7
4:30-6:30 pm
Mischief Toy Store
818 Grand Ave, St. Paul
Guests welcome / No RSVP required
Networking Events are held the first Tuesday of the month at member businesses. Please check our website for upcoming times and locations.
Letter from the President
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Mary Hamel and her 8 years of leadership as Executive Director earlier this month at The Loop West End. It was a great turnout and we were glad to have so many members and supporters present to honor her. Mary not only served as a strong advocate for Independent Businesses throughout her tenure, but also helped to establish and build the Buy Local Movement in the Twin Cities. We thank her for her time, dedication, and vision for our organization and the local business community.
Over the next few months, MetroIBA will be working with Roger Meyer Consulting (RMC), a long time MetroIBA member, to lead the Executive Director search process. Stay tuned for details regarding the search. We anticipate posting the position in the next week or so. As always, if you have questions or something that needs attention, you can contact us at info@metroiba.org.
As we move our focus into 2017, it is time to once again honor the local independent businesses that make our communities what they are. Last year we had the opportunity to hold the first awards that exclusively honored independent businesses in Minnesota (to our knowledge), and this year we are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the Second Annual Twin Cities Indie Business Awards! Nominate those who you would like to see recognized for their work to strengthen our communities and the local business community. You can find more information in this newsletter and on our website.
Until next time,
Molly Glasgow
Owner, Point Acupressure
President, MetroIBA
What’s better than a free lunch?
A free lunch AND great networking with other small business owners! Take a sandwich, share a laugh and make a new connection- you never know where your next great contact will come from!
Please join us:
Micro Networking Lunch
Wednesday January 18 .
11:30am-1:00pm
Central Library Saint Paul, Andy Boss Community Room 90 W 4th St. St Paul, MN 55102
Please RSVP: joulemn.eventbrite.com
Thanks to our Lunch Sponsors!
John Badgley . Key Insurance
Ben Theis . Skol Marketing
Roger Miller . REM Video & Event Company
Diane Brehmer . Catena Investment Services
Jim Gambone . Points of View
Lois Koffi . Lois Koffi
Jackie Menne . Joule
Hosted by WIN Center & Joule Micro Nation
2nd ANNUAL INDIE AWARDS
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Nominations now open!
Nominate your favorite Independent Business (including your own) for an award in one of the five categories and mark your calendars to join us on Wednesday, May 24th!
ADA News
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Disability access lawsuits targeting small businesses persist. Last year, MetroIBA’s Vice President Michael Frasier, Rubric Legal, worked with other business organizations and disability advocacy groups to amend the Minnesota Human Rights Act in an effort to curb these drive-by lawsuits. The 2016 amendment has not shown much of an impact. The same group is beginning work to tackle the issue this legislative session. As before, the difficulty lies in balancing the interests of the small businesses being disproportionately targeted by the lawsuits with the interests of the disabled community at large. Michael expects a more aggressive amendment to be presented this session.
Calling all Members: Send us your SWAG!
Would you like your business product samples or special offers or coupons to be included in our monthly Metro IBA Membership Packets? Then NOW is the time to send us your goodies!! Our current supply is Gone! Gone! Gone! and we need more goodies for the membership packets right away!!
We are looking to gather up your product samples, promotional items (pens, trinkets, etc.) special offers or discount coupons to be distributed monthly in the Membership renewal packets. Membership packets are distributed monthly to all new and renewing members and including YOUR item is a wonderful business introduction to other Metro IBA members.
Don’t be shy – any amount of items you can share with us is needed!! Maybe you can spare 25 items – Great!! Maybe you can share 300 items – Great!! Email us and make arrangements to mail us your items, drop them off, or we will gladly pick them up from you. The next membership packet distribution is scheduled for the end of January so don’t delay!
Thank you in advance for your support of MetroIBA and all its members.
Public Policy Committee
The next Public Policy Meeting will be held on
Thursday, January 26th, Location TBD
Please contact Committee Chair, Brett Buckner, with any questions.
Member News
W
e want to help you to toot your own horn! Please let us know if you win and award, gain some media attention, have an anniversary, or do something awesome.
MORE-B Business Owners Roundtable
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Join a monthly peer group of MetroIBA member participants to discuss business issues; share concerns, ideas, contacts, and event information; and receive and offer feedback.
Third Thursday of the month
3:30-4:30 PM
CHESS
33 E Wentworth Ave., Suite 320
West St. Paul
RSVP – host & moderator Carol Keyes
carkey@chess-safety.com
651-481-9787
Start the new year off right – join or renew today!
Visit www.buylocaltwincities.com for information about membership and benefits.
Thank you Volunteers
Mary Jo Koplos~Postal Dispatch Business Center
Interested in volunteering? Email us!
