Enhancing the Value of Chamber Membership

Contributed by Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
February 2008

Your Chamber is geared up for a great 2008! In the coming year you will see enhanced value of your chamber investment in nearly every corner of our organization. Our new website will be the centerpiece for a much improved communications piece. Some of the new features will include instant question and answer messaging on the site, blogs for local state and federal issues, and a comprehensive link map that will help the chamber fulfill its role as a one stop shop for business retention, expansion and startup. Online reservation and ticket purchase, information management for your company and updated calendar features are all part of our new web presence.

The chamber is also expanding its role in promoting and sustaining business through our new Business Prosperity division. The new division is especially targeted to support and sustain business through a variety of returning and new products. One of the most exciting of these is our partnership with the U.S. Chamber through the Federation Partnership Program. The program makes all of the small business members in our chamber a member of the U.S. Chamber. In essence you get two memberships for the price of one. The Federation Partnership Program provides small business tool kits, educational materials about hot issues such as workforce and sends informational briefings about items of importance to your business success. The Business Prosperity division is about putting money in your back pocket and making the Greater Cheyenne Chamber the true voice of business.

The Chamber’s role in advocacy and military affairs is also enhanced for ‘08. We are strengthening our advocacy efforts by introducing more involved, precise and timely polling on issues of importance to your business. We are expanding our roll of military advocacy by taking active stances on issues and funding initiatives that nurture the military community in our area. Several trips to strategic military bases and visits with key personnel are also scheduled to insure that our military facilities and personnel remain strong and prepared. The chamber is also redoubling its efforts to interact with our federal officials. We are striving to insure that your needs are communicated clearly and effectively to the elected officials that represent you.
These are just a few of the many enhancements that are on tap for ‘08. You, the investor, are our most important asset. We need you to communicate your needs to us, attend our events, and weigh in on our important decisions. This is your chamber and as such we need your help and commitment to insure that 2008 is the chamber’s greatest year yet.