The Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce is ready for the 2009 tourism season. We have recently moved into our first physical location into an office located inside Harborstone Credit Union.

With the state Route 410 corridor as the gateway to Mount Rainier and all of its summertime recreation, and with the always popular Lake Tapps, visitors from all over are coming to Bonney Lake. Now we can finally offer visitors information and services on their way to their destination. With a full display of brochures of local interests and our newly published 2009 Bonney Lake Business Directory and Community guide, the Chamber can provide visitors with everything they need to get them on their way. Visitor information is always available during Harborstone’s normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We are planning a big grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony to be held on April 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the new Chamber office located at 20608 state Route 410 E. (inside Harborstone Credit Union). Join us for this free event that is open to the public.

The new Chamber office also allows us to expand our offerings of benefits to Chamber members. One of which includes hosting a weekly networking group every Tuesday from 8-9 a.m. This event has been well- received in our community, with 20 to 30 local business representatives in attendance each week from a variety of business categories. Persons interested in growing their business through networking is always invited to attend this free event.

The Chamber has also joined the ranks of the social networking craze by creating a Chamber page on Facebook. Our page is a great new resource for Chamber members and potential members by connecting them with other Bonney Lake business people. It also provides event information, the latest Chamber news and important links to the Chamber Web site, the City of Bonney Lake’s Web site and our new Twitter page. Yes that’s right, I said Twitter. Why Twitter? Every day more and more business people are networking to increase their business. We thought Twitter would be a great way to pass along referrals, give quick testimonials of great customer service, and give information on business events and special promotions.

If you have a Twitter account, check us out at http://twitter.com/blchamber and follow our conversations.

In addition to all of the new offerings, we are looking forward to our regularly scheduled events for April. Business After Hours is being held on Thursday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the new Lions-4-Kids House. The Chamber membership luncheon is April 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Windermere building.

Sumner School District Assistant Superintendent Craig Spencer will present an update on the new elementary school currently under construction in Cascadia and the replacement project for Lakeridge Middle School.

These projects were approved by voters in 2007 as part of a capital projects bond to modernize ageing facilities.

Lora Butterfield is the Executive Director of the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at (253) 222-5945 or lora@bonneylake.com. The Chamber’s Web site is www.bonneylake.com.