The Chamber invites you and your employees to take advantage of the wide variety of programs and events that offer valuable networking and educational opportunities for everyone:

» Annual Dinner & Business Expo | The Chamber's premier annual event, attracting nearly 500 attendees each year, the Annual Dinner is a celebration of the successes of our member businesses and organizations. The evening begins with a networking reception and Business Expo, where 45 member businesses present their products and services in a showcase style setting. In 2010, the Chamber responded to our membership's requests to build relationships and focused the event on networking. Guests enjoyed a variety of culinary food stations and made valuable connections throughout the evening.

» Baseball Challenge "ValleyCat for a Day" | This unique experience gives members the exclusive opportunity to step up to the plate at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium and play a full baseball game complete with p.a. and scoreboard as coworkers, friends and family cheer for their favorite.

» Business After Hours | Held at different member locations, these special after-hour networking events offer great opportunities to make those important business connections with a variety of regional professionals.

» Business Education Series Workshops | Held quarterly, these training workshops cover a variety of topics, such as sales training, public relations, marketing, human resources, fraud prevention, team building and much more. Featuring top industry professionals, the focus is on providing Chamber members with effective, affordable training.

» Golf Classic | A day on the links that mixes a top notch round of golf with valuable networking opportunities, all on the picturesque and professionally-rated greens of The Country Club of Troy. The event culminates with dinner and drinks in the clubhouse.

» Member Benefits Breakfasts | Great for new Chamber members, new employees, or for those who want a refresher on how to make the most of their membership, these informal breakfasts present an overview of your membership. From health insurance to networking opportunities, we cover everything you need to know about the value of your membership.

» Monthly Breakfasts | Cutting edge topics, professional guest speakers and the opportunity to learn about a range of business and civic issues, make the Chamber's monthly breakfast programs a must for every business and organization. These popular events attract an average of 150 regional professionals and feature a variety of diverse speakers and topics. Recent speakers include Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino and other elected officials, economic development professionals, technology and education experts, and many other regionally and nationally recognized professionals. In 2007, the Chamber started the annual "Good News Rensselaer County" event in conjunction with Rensselaer County, which honors five outstanding area businesses.

» Networking Series | Networking is the number one reason why businesses join the Chamber. The Chamber's Networking Series is a combination of exciting, fast-paced breakfast and luncheon programs with a focus on getting connected, developing leads and building relationships with a variety of business professionals from across the Tech Valley region. In 2010, the Chamber enhanced the networking series "NetworkingPlus" to feature three unique formats to guarantee maximum exposure and quality contacts for your business. Updated features include a fun, table rotation, the incorporation of technology such as LinkedIn, ambassador committee members to facilitate networking and much more.

» Troy Victorian Stroll | The Victorian Stroll is an outstanding holiday tradition which attracts nearly 20,000 visitors from all around the Northeast. The Stroll features music, performances, family activities, shopping, dining and more, all set in the Victorian splendor of historic downtown Troy. Event highlights include live musical performances at the world-renowned Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, activities at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, and the annual Van Rensselaer Garden Club's Greens Show at the Rensselaer County Historical Society. For more information, please visit www.troyvictorianstroll.com.

» Van Rensselaer Awards Dinner | This popular annual event is a forum for the presentation of the prestigious Van Rensselaer Corporate and Small Business Awards and the Edward H. Pattison Award, which provide the Chamber with the opportunity to publicly recognize outstanding examples of citizenship.

• The Van Rensselaer Awards | Awarded annually to businesses that have shown outstanding activity in civic and community organizations, enhancing the quality of life for people in the Rensselaer Gateway communities. The 2010 Corporate award recipient was Stewart's Shops and the Small Business recipient was The Old Daley Inn Catering.
• The Edward H. Pattison Citizenship Award | Known as "The Ebbie," this award is given annually to an individual who displays exemplary dedication to improving the lives of others. Chris Burke, of the Unity House was the 2010 award recipient for his outstanding dedication to community and civic involvement.