The Official Website of the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce and Putnam Development Authority

The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce offers numerous benefits to its membership. No matter what a business is looking for in the Chamber, there is a service to meet its needs. Below are answers to very common questions.

How will the Chamber promote my business?
What events will my membership give me access to?
What discounts do I have access to as a member?
What will I receive when I join?
How does the Chamber keep me updated with what’s happening in the business community?
What advertising opportunities do I have as a member?
How can I get involved with the Chamber?
Still have a question that we did not answer?

How do I join the Chamber?

How will the Chamber promote my business?

Ribbon Cuttings / Grand Openings: If eligible, the Chamber will assist members in planning and implementing a groundbreaking, grand opening, ribbon cutting or plaque presentation ceremony. We invite the Board of Directors, Ambassadors, all elected officials and the reporters from The Eatonton Messenger /Lake Oconee News, The Lake Oconee Breeze, The Union Recorder, Dock 103 and Z97 (over 40 invitations). The picture and press release will be published in our monthly newsletter and are sent to the surrounding papers.

Referral System: The Chamber refers prospective customers to Chamber members within the category of that prospect’s needs. Only Chamber members are referred!

Membership Directory: The membership directory is a listing of all Chamber members by category of business type. The directory is available on our Web site and is printed in our office each month to distribute to the public. Members may request the directory through email in a format appropriate for its need, such as set up for mailing labels. The membership directory is updated monthly. The online directory also offers an Advanced Package where members pay $15 a year to include a link to their Web site, logo, picture, 50 word description and a special offer. The Advanced Package creates a mini Web page for members within the Chamber’s Web site. Members may also choose to pay the $5 standout fee to have their business name highlighted from other businesses in the same category.

Local Welcome Center: The Chamber office serves as the local Welcome Center for Putnam County and the lake area, and greets visitors from around the world with southern charm and hospitality. Chamber members are recommended to visitors when they ask for places to see, shop, play or stay!

Relocation Information: Requests for relocation information received by the Chamber are responded to with Chamber publications and member brochures exclusively. When applicable, requests for relocation are sent to member real estate companies.

What events will my membership give me access to?

Business After Hours: Once a month, a member sponsors a Business After Hours inviting members to come and network over food and drinks. Members are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards to pass out to those contacts that they meet. Dates are announced in a flyer in the newsletter and reminders are emailed in the weekly email and the day before the event.

AM Exchange: Once a month, members from the Putnam, Morgan and Greene chambers gather to network and promote their businesses over coffee. AM Exchange is a structured networking event where participants prepare a 90 second commercial about their business to share with small groups. By the end of the morning, participants have met nearly everyone who attended the event. Members are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards since they will meet so many new people and will want to enter their name for the door prize! AM Exchange is always the last Wednesday of each month and the location rotates between the three counties. Dates and locations are announced in a flyer in the monthly newsletter and email reminders are sent out in the weekly email and the day before the event.

Better Business Seminars: Chamber members and their employees have the opportunity to attend a variety of Better Business Seminars that provide them with “how to” tips to improve their bottom line. Topics range from “Networking 101” to “Creating a Great Business Card.” Topics are selected based on membership feedback from the annual survey. Seminar topics are announced in the monthly newsletter and email reminders are sent out in the weekly email.

What discounts do I have access to as a member?

Drugs Don’t Work: Chamber members may obtain a 7.5 percent discount off of their workers compensation insurance (including self-insured companies) by obtaining a drug-free certified workplace. Visit www.gachamber.com/affiliates/drugs/ for more information regarding the program.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance: Chamber members may be eligible to receive a discount on their Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance through Purchasing Alliance Solution’s Member / Care Alliance program. Visit www.purchasingalliance.com for more information.

New Member Discounts: Members are able to submit coupons for their fellow new members. These coupons are inserted into the new member packets when available.

Member to Member Discounts: Members are able to submit “Member to Member” discounts to their new and existing fellow members which are published on our Web site. The specifications for each discount are determined by the member.

What will I receive when I join?

Chamber Plaque & Window Decal: Members are able to establish creditability for their company or organization as a leading local business by displaying the Chamber membership plaque, certificate and a door / window decal.

How does the Chamber keep me updated with what’s happening in the business community?

Chamber Newsletter: The Chamber informs our members of Chamber activities, important business / community issues and “Member to Member” events through its monthly newsletter. The newsletter contains a list of newcomers available for members to mail them literature on their business. Chamber members are able to purchase inserts promoting their business for a nominal fee. The newsletter is sent to members at the beginning of each month. Members may request the newsletter through mail or email.

Email Reminders: The Chamber sends out weekly emails to members reminding them of upcoming events or informing members of important issues which may affect their business. Members are allowed to submit “Member to Member” events for the weekly email. The Chamber also sends out an email reminder the day before a networking event.

What Advertising opportunities do I have as a member?

Brochure Rack: Chamber members are encouraged to bring their brochures and business cards to display in the Chamber’s welcome center. Visitors search and select from these brochures every day.

Newcomer Bag: The Chamber assembles a “goodie bag” of information for newcomers including the latest telephone book, Community Magazine and the Eatonton-Putnam County map. Chamber members are encouraged to bring their brochures and various advertising “goodies” to add to the newcomer bag. Only Chamber members are able to insert their promotional material in the newcomer bag. All newcomers who receive the bag provide the Chamber with their new address which is published in the monthly newsletter so that members can send them direct mail about their business.

Newsletter Insert: Members can reach over 450 members directly with the Chamber’s monthly newsletter by paying $50 and supplying the Chamber with copies of the insert.

Quarterly Newspaper Insert: A newspaper is produced with Chamber updates and is distributed quarterly with The Eatonton Messenger and Lake Oconee News. New Chamber members are listed and members can win a chance to be spotlighted with a feature article. Only Chamber members can advertise in the quarterly insert.

County Map: The Chamber produces the official county map biannually. Only Chamber members are allowed to advertise on the map which is distributed everyday.

Community Magazine: The Chamber produces a full color magazine covering all aspects of business, education, tourism, recreation and quality of life in Eatonton and Putnam County. The magazine is distributed to newcomers, industrial and business prospects, and individuals requesting information for relocating to the area. Only members are eligible to advertise in the magazine.

How can I get involved with the Chamber?

Committee / Chamber Involvement: The Chamber has numerous committees or programs where members can become more involved. Some of these include the committee for the Taste of Eatonton, the Ambassador Program and the Putnam
Leadership Program.

Still have a question that we did not answer?

Email us any questions you have at epchamber@eatonton.com. We will be more than happy to provide you with the necessary information.