Committee and Volunteer Opportunities

When it comes to helping members make meaningful connections with other Chamber members, the Chamber has "something for everyone." Several affiliated subgroups offer additional ways to customize your chamber experience through interaction with others who share your interests, age/gender or common experiences. Member- and community focused committees support strategic initiatives of the Chamber's board of trustees. Others offer volunteer opportunities to plan and implement fundraising events. The Chamber's affiliated subgroups are described below. To learn more about committee and volunteer opportunities, click on:

Member-Focused Committees Community-Oriented Committees Chamber Events Committees

Affiliated Subgroups of the Chamber

The Women's Business Network provides additional networking, career development, personal and professional exchange opportunities for women business owners and professionals. The group was formed in 2008 with the assimilation of the former Worthington Area Business & Professional Women.

The group meets 10-12 times per year, typically at luncheons with keynote speakers or panels addressing topics of mutual interest. In addition to business-building topics, programs may include women's health topics or issues related to balancing work and family. Approximately 50 to 60 business women attend each monthly event. Gentlemen are also welcome to attend. At each meeting, members and guests can support our scholarship fund by making announcements ($5/member; $10/guest) and participating in door prize drawings ($1/member/guest).

The group has a career mentoring program supporting Worthington's public high schools and regularly assists with mock interviews, career shadowing and mentoring. Each year in May, the Women's Business Network provides two scholarships to young women at Worthington's two public high schools who aspire to a career in business or a profession. The scholarship application process is competitive, including essay responses from applicants, and is judged by a committee of the Women's Business Network.

Meetings of the Women's Business Network are posted on the Chamber's Calendar of Events and the Community Calendar. To learn more about the group, call the Chamber office at 888-3040.

Are you between the ages of 21 and 39? Get powered up with Young Professionals of Worthington (YPoW).

YPoW is organized by the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce to equip young professionals who live and work in the Worthington area with networking, educational and social opportunities. YPoW will help to grow emerging leaders to serve our community’s future. The group plans networking and social events, philanthropic and charitable activities, and leadership development opportunities throughout the year.

Click here to download a brochure about YPoW that includes a membership application and an explanation of the $30 annual membership fee. To learn more about YPoW and how you can get involved, contact YPoW chair Craig Bringman at office@bringmanlegal.com or by phone at (614) 505-6706. Review and register for events on the on the Calendar of Events on this website.

The Impact Tips Group of the Worthington Area Chamber of a Commerce is a "business referral network" of Chamber members from non-competing businesses who thrive on direct business leads exchanged, and relationships developed, through weekly interaction at a breakfast meeting. The group consists of 15-20 members from disparate industries or professions who steer appropriate referrals to other members on a regular basis. Members of the group learn about each others’ products and services; identify new potential customers and supply sources; discuss and attend other Chamber events individually or as a group; and establish relationships with others they know, like and trust. A typical meeting may include brief presentations from group members on their business, sharing or follow-up of referrals or business dealings with others in the group, and a reminder of other business-building Chamber activities.

To be a member of the Impact Tips Group, one must first be a Chamber member in good standing and represent an industry or profession not already filled within the group. Tips group members pay an annual fee of $30 in addition to their Chamber membership dues investment. The group currently meets on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. To learn more about the group and arrange to visit a session as a guest, contact the Chamber at 888-3040.

Do you work in a home office or very small office? You may benefit from monthly meetings with others like you, featuring speakers and discussions on topics of common interest, in the Chamber's new Small Office/Home Office "SOHO" subgroup. Marketing, legal and tax issues, customer service, organizational tips and many other concerns are among those the group expects to address at its monthly "brown bag lunch" sessions.

SOHO is a Chamber affiliate group serving home-based businesses and small businesses of five or fewer employees where the owner typically “wears all the hats.” The group offers peer support, exchange of best practices, education about topics of common interest, and networking/lead exchange among Chamber members who share this business type. The 90-minute meetings include networking time before and after the structured topic/agenda.

All members of the SOHO group must be Chamber business or associate members in good standing (dues current). The group is not open to individual or retiree members. Consistent with the Chamber’s other special interest subgroups, SOHO members pay a $30 annual participation fee for the group.

The group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a brown-bag-lunch format. Glen Allie of Prudential serves as chair for the period of April 2011 – April 2012. Howard Brody, licensed massage therapist, will serve as chair-elect for the period of April 2011 – April 2012.

For more information or to sign up for the SOHO group, call the Chamber office at (614) 888-3040.