Greetings!
Thank you for the continued support of your local chamber of commerce. Our newly elected Board of Directors has spent the last few months developing a strategic plan to ensure a positive and long-term future with you, your business and our community.
Currently, the Chamber operates as a part-time organization with a part-time office manager and bookkeeper. We are without the services of an executive director so w
e are thankful for Jen Kittell and Marlene Merriam Tobin, the Chamber’s employees, who have been busy working with the Board of Directors to develop that plan.
Since January of 2018 we have achieved the following objectives:
March 1 Annual Meeting:
Thank you to Johnson State College for hosting this opportunity to learn from Vermont documentary filmmaker Bess O'Brien of Kingdom County Productions, while recognizing "local heroes" from our communities.
Legislative Breakfasts:
Thank you to our Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and our local legislators for educating us on all that has been happening in Montpelier. Geoff Lindemer of L2 Training and Consulting was instrumental in moderating and revitalizing this program.
Board Reorganization
:
Current board members are: Jessica Bonath of Sterling Ridge Resort, Jim Curran of The United Way of Lamoille County, Chris Damato of GMTCC, Nicole Grisgraber of Meals on Wheels, Keith Kohler of MSI, Ryan Meravi of VT Web Marketing, Rich Jacobs of Edward Jones, Josh Smith of GMSS, and Matt Volitis of Smugglers’ Notch Resort. We have been adding new members to our Board of Directors to represent more industries and a larger geographical area. Our goal has been to complete the strategic plan by June 30, 2018.
Board / Employee Retreat
: Short and Long-Range Planning:
The Board of Directors and Chamber staff will conduct a day-long planning session on June 26 with the assistance of an outside facilitator. This retreat is designed to address the question of what services and structure our organization will encompass. Additionally, this session is designed to help us finalize our strategic plan and determine how best to implement it.
Briefly, the program will include discussions about: where we have been as an organization, historical patterns and priorities, short term objectives (0 - 12 months), as well as long term objectives (5 - 10 years).
Potential follow-up activities include a summer membership barbeque at which time we review the plan with you.
Young Professionals Group
:
Jim Curran of the United Way of Lamoille County and Stefanie Eichler of NFP are leading an effort to support the many young professionals who make up our community.
Organizational Survey:
To everyone that responded to the membership survey, thank you.
The top three-member identified priorities are:
A.
Advocating for legislation that supports the local economy.
B.
Promoting workforce and job growth.
C.
Promoting member businesses through marketing and educational opportunities.
We cannot succeed without you. Please reach out to us if you have a desire to either join the board of directors, serve on a committee, provide encouragement, or to assist in another way. We are looking toward a better and stronger Lamoille Chamber of Commerce.
