Photos: Chamber Bowled Over During Monthly Mixer

In true form, the threw a merry monthly mixer for its members June 13, inviting the city's business community to mingle and exchange ideas, along with a few business cards.

The evening, held inside Bowlmor Lanes , welcomed long-standing chamberites and new recruits alike.

"I just joined," said Scott Kolodiezki. Kolodiezki is co-owner of Crossroads Music and Instruments, a De Anza Boulevard music store that'll be opening its doors June 23.

"Some other business owners had recommended we join the chamber," he said. "While the free food and ping pong is great, I hope we can get advice from the other business owners on how to be a successful business in town."

For Chwen Lim, a graphic designer and web consultant, being able to meet other business people outside of her home office is reason enough to maintain a spot in the chamber.

“When you actually meet people face-to-face, instead of just online, it makes it much easier to make referrals to them,” she said.

As she spoke, Mike Balistreri, owner of Get Found on the First Page, an Internet marketing service, approached, business card in hand.

“See! Now we can exchange referrals with one another,” Lim said.

Philip Levine, a CPA and owner of Padgett Business Services in Los Gatos, is a member of both that city's chamber and Cupertino's. While he said he enjoys his membership in The Cats, he finds Cupertino to be a more diverse community to do business in.

"The Cupertino market is different," he said. "There is a higher immigrant population here. As a member of the chamber, I can leverage a different community that is in a more changing and dynamic environment."

Though he's seen benefits to his business thanks to his chamber memberships, including having a safe environment to bounce ideas, Levine said the real benefits of membership come from making long-term contributions to the business community.

"It's like John F. Kennedy's quote, 'Don't ask what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country,'" he said. "That applies to business too. It's important not to look at the short-term benefit of a chamber membership but to focus on making a long-term commitment."