American Express Opens Huge Opportunity for Pro-local Initiatives

As fifty-plus communities can attest, there's no better way to instigate a high-impact buy local campaign or push your existing group past a plateau than with a presentation or workshop in your own community. We're now excited to offer the chance to host a local event at greatly reduced cost, thanks to support from American Express OPEN.

The company is stepping up its support for independent business in a big way by underwriting presentations for up to 25 communities between now and May 2013. See scheduled events and planned visits to your region here, and contact us for details on available dates and costs (first come, first served).

American Express' partnership also provides for AMIBA to train many additional presenters/facilitators around the continent. This will greatly reduce travel costs for hosts and allow us to deploy trainers with background best matched for specific community circumstances. If you have helped lead a local business coalition for at least one year and would like to explore facilitating workshops, please contact us.

We appreciate American Express enabling the critical work that occurs one community at a time.

Resources for AMIBA Affiliates

Please log in to members area prior to clicking links below).

Cash Mob Call Recording 
The May conference call and resources on organizing and executing successful cash mob events is now posted in member resources (mp3).

June 28 Call Topic: Reaching Community Newcomers 
A recent study (summary) supports what we've long observed: people who develop roots in a community are more likely to patronize local independents, while frequent movers tend toward chains. So how do you reach newcomers before habits form?

We don't have all the answers on this one, but we'll discuss ideas and facilitate additional brainstorming. This topic was inspired by interest in a recent discussion in the LinkedIn group for indie business advocates.

Cultivating Active Members -- ideas for creating an organizational culture that entices your members to engage in the activity of your organization as a volunteer and participant.

Welcome Anna Hernandez!

Next time you call AMIBA, that new voice you may hear answering is Anna Hernandez, our Operations Manager. Anna also teaches and coordinates the Professional Coaching Clinic at the Montana State University College of Business. In addition to Anna's business background in media and human resources, she puts her interest in upcycling in motion through founding and coordinating the Human Empowered Arts Project in Bozeman and her own art.