The Chamber recently formed a steering committee based on the responses we received from our survey conducted at the beginning of this year. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to review feedback from the survey and various other sources to develop an action plan aimed at meeting the needs of our members. It is our job to serve our current members and to seek the participation of all area businesses and organizations. We take this obligation very seriously and I assure you that it is our daily focus. However, that leads me to wonder if our members share any responsibility to the Chamber and to one another as well?
All chambers of commerce have similar missions. We all are mandated to promote member businesses; to provide networking opportunities; to have an active awareness of legislative issues that may impact members and communities and to help enhance the quality of life for all residents through commerce and community engagement. Our mandates are unique from most businesses/organizations in that they are not easily quantified. They are qualitative by design. The purpose is to support and enhance a community and its enterprises as a whole rather than directly affecting the revenue of an individual member.
I understand that there is always the question of return on investment in relation to membership. That is a fair concern, particularly in a struggling economy. Our corporate members' ROI is generally realized as community goodwill. Our smaller businesses, however, gain the most by our constant promotion of their events through our website, personal appearances, and numerous other activities. This leads me to my original question: "do our members share any responsibility to the Chamber and to one another?"
That question brings me back to my military days and a phrase I often heard and often repeated to those considering joining, “it’s what you make of it”. For some people, the military is not a good fit, and they flounder. For others, myself included, it was an extraordinary experience that I will never forget. I “worked” my time in the military. I completed my college degree. I traveled and lived abroad. I met some extraordinary people. These were all things that I wanted at the outset of my career. The military provided a framework that allowed me to realize a number of personal goals, but I had to put the effort into reaching those goals. Chamber membership also provides a similar framework, but it has to be “worked”. Your membership in the Chamber will provide you with opportunities, connections, and experiences that can be found nowhere else but by interacting with other members and engaging with the community.
We will do the work on our end. We will work hard to provide you with all of the information and opportunities that we can find to support and grow your businesses. We are committed to doing that. We will listen to your suggestions as well as your critiques to improve our operations. This is our pledge to all of our members. However, we also need something from all of you; we need your participation. We need you to be present. We need you to show up!
So, with all of that being said…please support one another’s Business After Hours when they occur. Show up at ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, dedication ceremonies, etc. as they happen. Make an effort to get to know other members. Shop one another’s businesses and encourage those who are not members to join. Participate in Board meetings in person or via Zoom. We are only as strong as the participation of our members. We value each and every one of you and offer a heartfelt thank you to all who take the time to “work” their membership. Our members represent the leadership in Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Together our collective efforts can make our communities the best places in the Valley to live, to work, and to visit.
