MAI Chamber of Commerce
The following is the outline of a meeting that was held to initiate the MAI Chamber of Commerce. For further information about the MAI Chamber of Commerce, please contact the Chambers President Dr Ali Akhtar Khan at
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Chamber of Commerce for Muslims, Minorities and Friends
ISNA/MAI Conference
October 18, 2008
Sagamore Ballroom, Noon – 2 pm
Welcome
What is the Purpose of the Meeting?
1. To connect Muslim entrepreneurs and friends in Indiana.
2. To form a support group and promote the idea of the Chamber of Commerce of Muslims and friends in Indiana.
Why should we be a part of the Chamber? What is in it for me?
VISIBILITY (Networking, Contacts and Exposure)
1. Get connected and maximize sales opportunities
2. Name recognition and representation at various social, commercial and political events.
3. Showcase products & services.
4. Gain recognition & exposure.
INFORMATION
1. Mentoring opportunities.
2. Exchange of ideas and information.
3. Dissemination information, e.g. what events are happening in town that may affect your business. Have our eyes and years, representation, and visibility at various levels of government and business community.
4. MAI can become member of various other chambers and send members to attend appropriate functions and represent the community. Thus we get a piece of pie without buying the whole pie individually and run with big dogs. Have access to important speakers that keep coming to the Indiana.
5. Learn about the issues facing our community today, explore them in-depth with current community leaders and discover ways to get involved and help affect change. Become a more informed, more motivated, more connected and more effective community leader.
6. Target potential customers
7. Take advantage of online business resources
8. Receive updates about community and political issues that affect your business
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
1. Supporting the causes that are helpful to the Muslim community.
2. Economic Development of the Community
3. Helping small and new businesses grow.
4. Reinvest within the Community.
5. Muslim community needs to be seen playing constructive roles so that being a Muslim is not synonymous of being an extremist.
SAVINGS & DISCOUNTS
1. Member-to-member discounts.
2. Finding products and services economically while benefiting the community.
How do we organize and move forward?
1. Find entities and individuals who can help us organized.
2. We can use retired Muslim executives from various countries living in USA.
3. We can explore internship opportunities with various schools and colleges.
What are our goals?
1. Increased membership
2. Directory of Muslim businesses.
3. Quarterly meetings.
What is the action plan?
1. Formation of Committees.
2. Increasing membership.
3. Engaging governmental officials, bankers, and other helpful entities in our activities.
4. Raising necessary funds.
5. Contacting other Chambers and Learning from their experiences.
6. Developing a mission statement.
7. Develop meeting schedule and venue.
8. Develop a mailing list.
How will we measure our success?
1. Quantify the goals and evaluate success on a quarterly basis.
