Contributed by Rick Schum, 2008 Chairman of the Board
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
February 2008
As I mentioned in last months article, we enter 2008 with a new structure to the Board of Directors that is in line with the long term strategic plan of the organization. I wanted to take a moment this month and focus on one of these strategic areas of the Chamber, specifically, the Action and Advocacy initiative.
Action and Advocacy encompasses the Chambers relations with governmental entities (local, state and federal). After hearing Senator Enzi’s presentation at the January luncheon, it is obvious that governmental relations and relationships have never been more important to the business community than they are today. Action and Advocacy is charged with the task of "Representing Business to Government" and encompasses two primary committees within the Chamber, Governmental Affairs and the Military Affairs Committee.
The Vice Chairman responsible for the Action and Advocacy efforts is John Balser, who is also serving as the 2009 Chairman-elect. The Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Forum is Mike Dowling, who is working to assure that programs on various governmental activities are presented to members and that issues impacting the Business Community are brought to the forefront. The Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee (MAC) is Ron Van Voast.
The relationship between the Greater Cheyenne Business community and the regional military is critically important to our community. A continued and/or expanded military presence in the greater Cheyenne area is a benefit to all members of the community. If you happened to see John, Mike or Ron, be sure to thank them for their hard work.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Banquet on February 22nd and hope that you have a prosperous February.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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.
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.
A Great Time to be Part of the Chamber
Contributed by Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
December 2007
The holidays are a great time to reflect on how lucky we are to live, work, and do business in Cheyenne and the surrounding region. I never cease to be amazed at the dedication that our citizens have to this community. Motivated members are the dream of chamber staffers everywhere and in Cheyenne we certainly have them. I am always pleased at how well our members attend the different events that the chamber hosts. Last month we had a very large crowd at Business After Hours and a great showing of support when we unveiled our boot and the artwork for 2008. Although we always have great support at our social events, our support for more serious affairs is excellent as well. Woody Allan has a quote that says (and I paraphrase) "90% of life is just showing up" and I think it has quite a message for all of us. Whether it be paying attention to the details in our business, helping the community prosper through volunteerism or just supporting our neighbors by attending the events sponsored by their organizations, our community always shows up.
I am so excited about the possibilities for our chamber and our community in the coming year. I would like to share with you a few of the neat projects that are on tap for the next few months. One of the first changes you will notice in 2008 is our new web presence. We will have a fresh new web site and a powerful new membership software tool to reinforce the site. The new site will be a tremendous boost to your businesses by providing cutting edge technology coupled with professional marketing. You and the community will be a part of a web "map" that will send you to what you are looking for with the fewest number of clicks. Pertinent information will be more easily found on the site and the images used on the site will be designed to inspire positive response from the browser. The new web site will have updated calendars, blogs, chat room opportunities, links to business and government entities and more user friendly accoutrements. The new site will be color coded to quickly drive traffic toward their intended destination.
With new pictures, sights, and sounds the site is sure to a popular web destination and a partner to increase the bottom line for your business. The software driving the membership services of this site is no less impressive. Members can use the software to define how their business is represented to the world through the chamber. Members will be able to register for chamber events online, pay their dues through ACH, manipulate their personal information, update business information, post jobs, post specials and offer specials to chamber members. The web and marketing opportunities offered by the sight will be second to none!
The chamber is also embarking on a new partnership with the U.S. Chamber entitled the U.S. Chamber Federation Partnership. This new program allows our small businesses to receive the benefits of U.S. Chamber membership by being a member here locally. Many of you will receive newsletters, federal legislative updates, access to hundreds of small business tools (marketing, planning, budgeting and banking tools examples) to improve your bottom line. You will also receive opportunities to express your opinion about how we at the local chamber and the folks at the U.S. Chamber can help you improve your bottom line. The Federation Partnership Program provides you as local small business the opportunity to reap the benefits of US Chamber membership without added cost burden.
The chamber is also proud to announce its intention to become an accredited chamber of commerce. Accreditation is the benchmark by which chambers are measured and then recognized for excellence. The accreditation symbol is a that your chamber is efficient and effective and is working toward the high standards of integrity and responsibility you expect.
I am thankful, thankful to live in a community that believes in their ability to change the destiny of their business and community. We are blessed that we have a great partnership like the chamber to facilitate our hopes and dreams and work toward greatness for our community and our business
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
December 2007
The holidays are a great time to reflect on how lucky we are to live, work, and do business in Cheyenne and the surrounding region. I never cease to be amazed at the dedication that our citizens have to this community. Motivated members are the dream of chamber staffers everywhere and in Cheyenne we certainly have them. I am always pleased at how well our members attend the different events that the chamber hosts. Last month we had a very large crowd at Business After Hours and a great showing of support when we unveiled our boot and the artwork for 2008. Although we always have great support at our social events, our support for more serious affairs is excellent as well. Woody Allan has a quote that says (and I paraphrase) "90% of life is just showing up" and I think it has quite a message for all of us. Whether it be paying attention to the details in our business, helping the community prosper through volunteerism or just supporting our neighbors by attending the events sponsored by their organizations, our community always shows up.
I am so excited about the possibilities for our chamber and our community in the coming year. I would like to share with you a few of the neat projects that are on tap for the next few months. One of the first changes you will notice in 2008 is our new web presence. We will have a fresh new web site and a powerful new membership software tool to reinforce the site. The new site will be a tremendous boost to your businesses by providing cutting edge technology coupled with professional marketing. You and the community will be a part of a web "map" that will send you to what you are looking for with the fewest number of clicks. Pertinent information will be more easily found on the site and the images used on the site will be designed to inspire positive response from the browser. The new web site will have updated calendars, blogs, chat room opportunities, links to business and government entities and more user friendly accoutrements. The new site will be color coded to quickly drive traffic toward their intended destination.
With new pictures, sights, and sounds the site is sure to a popular web destination and a partner to increase the bottom line for your business. The software driving the membership services of this site is no less impressive. Members can use the software to define how their business is represented to the world through the chamber. Members will be able to register for chamber events online, pay their dues through ACH, manipulate their personal information, update business information, post jobs, post specials and offer specials to chamber members. The web and marketing opportunities offered by the sight will be second to none!
The chamber is also embarking on a new partnership with the U.S. Chamber entitled the U.S. Chamber Federation Partnership. This new program allows our small businesses to receive the benefits of U.S. Chamber membership by being a member here locally. Many of you will receive newsletters, federal legislative updates, access to hundreds of small business tools (marketing, planning, budgeting and banking tools examples) to improve your bottom line. You will also receive opportunities to express your opinion about how we at the local chamber and the folks at the U.S. Chamber can help you improve your bottom line. The Federation Partnership Program provides you as local small business the opportunity to reap the benefits of US Chamber membership without added cost burden.
The chamber is also proud to announce its intention to become an accredited chamber of commerce. Accreditation is the benchmark by which chambers are measured and then recognized for excellence. The accreditation symbol is a that your chamber is efficient and effective and is working toward the high standards of integrity and responsibility you expect.
I am thankful, thankful to live in a community that believes in their ability to change the destiny of their business and community. We are blessed that we have a great partnership like the chamber to facilitate our hopes and dreams and work toward greatness for our community and our business
January Newsletter - Leading the Way
Contributed by Rick Schum, 2008 Chairman of the Board
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
January 2008
2007 was a remarkable year at the Chamber. We celebrated our 100th anniversary, said goodbye to our long time President and welcomed Dale Steenbergen and his family to Cheyenne, along with an untold number of other accomplishments Now that Stephanie Teubner will have significantly more free time on her hands (a comment I have heard from many "Past Chairman") if you see her around town, be sure to thank her for her leadership and commitment to the Chamber this past year.
Looking forward to 2008, I can’t begin to tell you what an honor it is for me to serve the members of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce as your Chairman. I am confident the momentum we built in 2007 will continue in the coming year. Speaking of the new year, January is truly a remarkable month. Unfortunately, many people think of January as the month of short days, long cold nights and something to simply endure until spring. In business, as it is at the Chamber, January marks the beginning of a new business year with new opportunities and challenges.
We begin 2008 with a new structure to our Board of Directors which is a culmination of the planning process we have undertaken the past few years. In order to better meet the needs of our members we have realigned the Chamber Board into five key strategic areas, Governmental and Military Affairs, Business Prosperity, Finance, Marketing and Fundraising and Community Relations. Each of these areas is being guided by a Board Member who will serve as a Vice Chairman, one of whom serves at the Chairman-elect for 2009. Each of the five key areas will focus on various aspects of the strategic plan and help to insure that the Chamber reaches its strategic goals. Many new activities are on tap for 2008, including a new website with a new look, improved communications with members, a more active role in representing business to government, exciting lunch programs, and the continuation and enhancement of the great programs we have become accustomed to as Chamber members.
As a native of Cheyenne, I have watched our community grow over the years and have never been more encouraged for the future of our community. If you haven’t had the chance to read the book "We’ve Worked Hard to Get Here: The First One Hundred Years of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce", by local authors Bill Dubois and Shirley Flynn, I would encourage you to do so. The vision of those who founded our Chamber was one of an economically prosperous community. One hundred years later I think they would be pleased to see just how well our economy has developed and what a great community we have become. It is now our turn to carry on this vision for the next 100 years and I can happily report to you that we are on our way. Our Chamber remains committed to assisting our members build an economy for the future and a community we are proud to represent.
On a closing note, during this past year I gained a lot of appreciation for the commitment it takes to serve as Chairman Elect. I would like to personally thank John Balser for the commitment he has made to serve as my Chairman Elect (he will also be serving as Vice Chairman of Governmental and Military Affairs) during the coming year as well as those Board Members who have agreed to serve as Vice Chairman. I will be sure to highlight each of them in the coming months. Have a Happy and "prosperous" New Year.
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
January 2008
2007 was a remarkable year at the Chamber. We celebrated our 100th anniversary, said goodbye to our long time President and welcomed Dale Steenbergen and his family to Cheyenne, along with an untold number of other accomplishments Now that Stephanie Teubner will have significantly more free time on her hands (a comment I have heard from many "Past Chairman") if you see her around town, be sure to thank her for her leadership and commitment to the Chamber this past year.
Looking forward to 2008, I can’t begin to tell you what an honor it is for me to serve the members of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce as your Chairman. I am confident the momentum we built in 2007 will continue in the coming year. Speaking of the new year, January is truly a remarkable month. Unfortunately, many people think of January as the month of short days, long cold nights and something to simply endure until spring. In business, as it is at the Chamber, January marks the beginning of a new business year with new opportunities and challenges.
We begin 2008 with a new structure to our Board of Directors which is a culmination of the planning process we have undertaken the past few years. In order to better meet the needs of our members we have realigned the Chamber Board into five key strategic areas, Governmental and Military Affairs, Business Prosperity, Finance, Marketing and Fundraising and Community Relations. Each of these areas is being guided by a Board Member who will serve as a Vice Chairman, one of whom serves at the Chairman-elect for 2009. Each of the five key areas will focus on various aspects of the strategic plan and help to insure that the Chamber reaches its strategic goals. Many new activities are on tap for 2008, including a new website with a new look, improved communications with members, a more active role in representing business to government, exciting lunch programs, and the continuation and enhancement of the great programs we have become accustomed to as Chamber members.
As a native of Cheyenne, I have watched our community grow over the years and have never been more encouraged for the future of our community. If you haven’t had the chance to read the book "We’ve Worked Hard to Get Here: The First One Hundred Years of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce", by local authors Bill Dubois and Shirley Flynn, I would encourage you to do so. The vision of those who founded our Chamber was one of an economically prosperous community. One hundred years later I think they would be pleased to see just how well our economy has developed and what a great community we have become. It is now our turn to carry on this vision for the next 100 years and I can happily report to you that we are on our way. Our Chamber remains committed to assisting our members build an economy for the future and a community we are proud to represent.
On a closing note, during this past year I gained a lot of appreciation for the commitment it takes to serve as Chairman Elect. I would like to personally thank John Balser for the commitment he has made to serve as my Chairman Elect (he will also be serving as Vice Chairman of Governmental and Military Affairs) during the coming year as well as those Board Members who have agreed to serve as Vice Chairman. I will be sure to highlight each of them in the coming months. Have a Happy and "prosperous" New Year.
Excellence in 2008
Contributed by Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
January 2008
The end of the year is a busy time at the Chamber of Commerce. We are busy with budget planning, program of work, gift certificates and end of the year finances. Through all of this hurry the basic tenets of the chamber’s existence sometimes get lost in the administration that is necessary as the year draws to an end. It’s important to slow down and gain a perspective on the events and happenings of the past year and what their impact will be on the future.
The year 2007 was the chamber’s centennial. The chamber celebrated with special events and publications including the painting and mounting of our own big boot outside the depot. We had more than 500 members attend the CFD kick off lunch where we celebrated with our Hawaiian friends who will soon be celebrating the centennial of the Waiomina (100 years since a Hawaiian won the steer roping at CFD). The chamber had a transition of staff, too, as I came on board as CEO of the chamber and Susan Kruse joined us shortly after as Membership Director. There were many exciting events in the past year but perhaps most exciting of all was the renewed commitment to the core values of the chamber and how we intend to make these core values a reality in our chamber and our community. The items below are how we as a business organization intend to improve your business and your community in 2008.
The chamber has a renewed spirit in 2008 with effort to more clearly outline our business plan on an annual basis. We are committed to having a working document with specific goals that you as members can review and make suggestions about. We have streamlined staff function at the chamber to insure that the program of work is carried out and that our staff is responsive to member needs and concerns. We have backed our program of work up with a budget that is based on the activities of the committees of the chamber so that our organization can truly say that our handling of your finances is methodical, careful and meaningful.
The structure of the chamber has also been revived for 2008. We will have a member of your board of directors that is responsible for each committee and activity of the chamber and they will be monitoring and facilitating the activities of the chamber’s committees to make sure that we are moving forward with the goals of each segment of the chamber. We have streamlined every segment of administration in the chamber from technology and software to staffing so we can give you the most return for your investment dollar.
Creating a strong local economy has a new meaning in the chamber for 2008. We are adamant about moving beyond the usual paper filing of statistics that is common with chambers and becoming a one stop service for all of your business needs.
We want to be your first stop for business startup, business expansion and business questions. In 2008 you will see us more effectively use our partners like LCCC and the SBDC to become a one stop resource center for all of your business needs and questions. The newly formed alliance with the U.S. Chamber will also be a great help to small business members. This new partnership will provide small business members the tools and information they need to be more successful in 2008. In addition to the business services we will provide the chamber is also constantly facilitating the environment needed for our people to do business. Creating a desirable place to live work and do business has always been a primary goal of the organization and we are determined to remain steadfast in this pursuit.
The chamber will roll out a new website and marketing campaign after the first of the year. The new site will be a marketing centerpiece for community promotion but it will also provide added exposure for our businesses throughout the campaign. Community promotion is extremely important and I think you will like the new efforts that the chamber is exerting.
The year 2008 will mean many of the same important networking opportunities that you have come to expect. There will be some new twists to some of these events as we try to keep these meaningful and profitable for you. Your feed back through surveys tells us that networking is one of the most important aspects of the chamber.
The chamber will have a reinvigorated role in business advocacy and political action. The chamber is committed to carry the issues of our business community to the forefront of attention at local, county, state and government levels. Our promise to you is that we will advocate business to government in a way that is respectful of our friends and partners who are elected to represent us, but also boldly so that the needs of the business community are articulately presented.
Our new Action and Advocacy committee will work diligently to insure that we disseminate important information to our membership so that they can be informed well versed citizens regarding issues of importance. The role of Action and Advocacy in any chamber is to capitalize on the partnerships with our elected officials to help further the needs of the business community. We pledge to insure that our member’s needs are represented and that they can count on us as their #1 advocate.
The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce has much to be proud of and yet we have much work to do. Our goal, as we work toward excellence in our chamber, is to work toward a better brighter tomorrow while never forgetting the principles and character that got us this far. If we can achieve that notion our chamber our region and our members will prosper both financially and socially.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and enjoy a
Happy New Year.
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
January 2008
The end of the year is a busy time at the Chamber of Commerce. We are busy with budget planning, program of work, gift certificates and end of the year finances. Through all of this hurry the basic tenets of the chamber’s existence sometimes get lost in the administration that is necessary as the year draws to an end. It’s important to slow down and gain a perspective on the events and happenings of the past year and what their impact will be on the future.
The year 2007 was the chamber’s centennial. The chamber celebrated with special events and publications including the painting and mounting of our own big boot outside the depot. We had more than 500 members attend the CFD kick off lunch where we celebrated with our Hawaiian friends who will soon be celebrating the centennial of the Waiomina (100 years since a Hawaiian won the steer roping at CFD). The chamber had a transition of staff, too, as I came on board as CEO of the chamber and Susan Kruse joined us shortly after as Membership Director. There were many exciting events in the past year but perhaps most exciting of all was the renewed commitment to the core values of the chamber and how we intend to make these core values a reality in our chamber and our community. The items below are how we as a business organization intend to improve your business and your community in 2008.
The chamber has a renewed spirit in 2008 with effort to more clearly outline our business plan on an annual basis. We are committed to having a working document with specific goals that you as members can review and make suggestions about. We have streamlined staff function at the chamber to insure that the program of work is carried out and that our staff is responsive to member needs and concerns. We have backed our program of work up with a budget that is based on the activities of the committees of the chamber so that our organization can truly say that our handling of your finances is methodical, careful and meaningful.
The structure of the chamber has also been revived for 2008. We will have a member of your board of directors that is responsible for each committee and activity of the chamber and they will be monitoring and facilitating the activities of the chamber’s committees to make sure that we are moving forward with the goals of each segment of the chamber. We have streamlined every segment of administration in the chamber from technology and software to staffing so we can give you the most return for your investment dollar.
Creating a strong local economy has a new meaning in the chamber for 2008. We are adamant about moving beyond the usual paper filing of statistics that is common with chambers and becoming a one stop service for all of your business needs.
We want to be your first stop for business startup, business expansion and business questions. In 2008 you will see us more effectively use our partners like LCCC and the SBDC to become a one stop resource center for all of your business needs and questions. The newly formed alliance with the U.S. Chamber will also be a great help to small business members. This new partnership will provide small business members the tools and information they need to be more successful in 2008. In addition to the business services we will provide the chamber is also constantly facilitating the environment needed for our people to do business. Creating a desirable place to live work and do business has always been a primary goal of the organization and we are determined to remain steadfast in this pursuit.
The chamber will roll out a new website and marketing campaign after the first of the year. The new site will be a marketing centerpiece for community promotion but it will also provide added exposure for our businesses throughout the campaign. Community promotion is extremely important and I think you will like the new efforts that the chamber is exerting.
The year 2008 will mean many of the same important networking opportunities that you have come to expect. There will be some new twists to some of these events as we try to keep these meaningful and profitable for you. Your feed back through surveys tells us that networking is one of the most important aspects of the chamber.
The chamber will have a reinvigorated role in business advocacy and political action. The chamber is committed to carry the issues of our business community to the forefront of attention at local, county, state and government levels. Our promise to you is that we will advocate business to government in a way that is respectful of our friends and partners who are elected to represent us, but also boldly so that the needs of the business community are articulately presented.
Our new Action and Advocacy committee will work diligently to insure that we disseminate important information to our membership so that they can be informed well versed citizens regarding issues of importance. The role of Action and Advocacy in any chamber is to capitalize on the partnerships with our elected officials to help further the needs of the business community. We pledge to insure that our member’s needs are represented and that they can count on us as their #1 advocate.
The Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce has much to be proud of and yet we have much work to do. Our goal, as we work toward excellence in our chamber, is to work toward a better brighter tomorrow while never forgetting the principles and character that got us this far. If we can achieve that notion our chamber our region and our members will prosper both financially and socially.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and enjoy a
Happy New Year.
What a Great Time to be a Part of Cheyenne
By Dale Steenbergen, President and CEO
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
November 2007
What a great time to be a part of Cheyenne and your Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce. This is a very exciting and busy time for the chamber and its guiding board. We would first like to welcome our newest board members to the chamber. We have elected five new members that will take their position in January to help guide the future of our chamber. This year for the first time we used electronic voting to elect our board and the result was very exciting. The electronic voting increased participation in the process by more than 400%. The chamber needs to be about openness and participation and from the response to the election we certainly made a great step toward that end. October also means board planning, budget creation, new board members and a host of events. It is exciting to think about the possibilities of what the future holds for the chamber and what we can do to make our members more profitable. It is often asked by our members "what is the return on my investment to the chamber?" If you are a member that doesn’t ask this question I would encourage you to ask us annually what our value to you as a member and to the community at large entails. I thought I would take a few paragraphs and discuss the value proposition that we offer from the chamber of commerce and discuss how we measure success for these areas.
In the chamber world we address our success by dividing our work into five core competencies. These are: creating a strong local economy, promoting the community, providing networking opportunities, representing the needs of business to government and political action. While these core priorities play different roles of importance in different community environments they are all ultimately the responsibility of the chamber and its resources.
The first of the core competencies is "Creating a strong local economy." The chamber works tirelessly to equip our members to be able to make money in our economic climate. We facilitate new business startup, recruit businesses that are within segments with demonstrated tax leak problems, offer seminars relating to business issues, publish timely information relating to the economy, work with schools, colleges and state agencies to accomplish progress on workforce issues and many other events and activities that directly affect the economy of individuals and the group. We work for a better standard of living, encouraging arts and cultural activities to make our community a more conducive place to do business. We work with elected officials to promote community planning for infrastructure and transportation needs. Our work to create a strong local economy encompasses much but the essence of our work is aimed at making you more money.
The second core competency is "Promoting the community." The chamber uses all forms of media including print media, web, and various broadcast media to promote the community of Cheyenne. We work constantly to improve the community through quality of life projects so that our marketing product continues to grow in stature. The other implication of our efforts, and arguably the most important result of the effort, is that people have abundant pride in the community they call home. Promoting Cheyenne is about building a feeling of belonging and place for the people that live here and making our community a great place for people of all ages to live.
The third core competency by which we measure success is "Providing networking opportunities." Business success is largely associated with the extent of our network. All businesses big and small rely on their counterparts in the business community for advice, services, problem solving, business leads and a host of other issues. It is our desire to create a climate that let’s the business community interact in an environment that promotes profitability and good will in our community. We provide luncheons, business after hours, BIZlink (leads group) and many other unique opportunities for you to meet the colleagues that can help you create a more profitable business.
The fourth core competency is "Representing the needs of business to government." Daily, the chamber attends council meetings, board meetings, committee meetings, hearings and planning meetings on your behalf. We constantly work to make sure that the voice of business is heard at all levels of government. We work to ensure that our community, our state, and our nation provide an environment that encourages prosperity.
The fifth and last core competency is "Political action." It is our belief that to inspire your participation in our democratic process must be a priority for us. The Cheyenne chamber works to educate you on the issues that are important to your business. There is nothing more valuable to a chamber and a community than stakeholders who know all sides of an issue and are prepared to make an informed decision. There will be times when the chamber will find it in the best interest of the business community to take a position but our most important role regarding political action is that of educator and facilitator.
The chamber is working diligently to achieve proficiency in all of the five core competencies. Our discussions with you indicate that we do quite well in achieving the goals of a number of the competencies and yet we also realize that there are a couple of areas that need significant improvement. The board and staff of the chamber are committed to achieving excellence in all five of these competencies. We are diligently working daily to have measurable goals that achieve the results that our members aspire to.
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
November 2007
What a great time to be a part of Cheyenne and your Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce. This is a very exciting and busy time for the chamber and its guiding board. We would first like to welcome our newest board members to the chamber. We have elected five new members that will take their position in January to help guide the future of our chamber. This year for the first time we used electronic voting to elect our board and the result was very exciting. The electronic voting increased participation in the process by more than 400%. The chamber needs to be about openness and participation and from the response to the election we certainly made a great step toward that end. October also means board planning, budget creation, new board members and a host of events. It is exciting to think about the possibilities of what the future holds for the chamber and what we can do to make our members more profitable. It is often asked by our members "what is the return on my investment to the chamber?" If you are a member that doesn’t ask this question I would encourage you to ask us annually what our value to you as a member and to the community at large entails. I thought I would take a few paragraphs and discuss the value proposition that we offer from the chamber of commerce and discuss how we measure success for these areas.
In the chamber world we address our success by dividing our work into five core competencies. These are: creating a strong local economy, promoting the community, providing networking opportunities, representing the needs of business to government and political action. While these core priorities play different roles of importance in different community environments they are all ultimately the responsibility of the chamber and its resources.
The first of the core competencies is "Creating a strong local economy." The chamber works tirelessly to equip our members to be able to make money in our economic climate. We facilitate new business startup, recruit businesses that are within segments with demonstrated tax leak problems, offer seminars relating to business issues, publish timely information relating to the economy, work with schools, colleges and state agencies to accomplish progress on workforce issues and many other events and activities that directly affect the economy of individuals and the group. We work for a better standard of living, encouraging arts and cultural activities to make our community a more conducive place to do business. We work with elected officials to promote community planning for infrastructure and transportation needs. Our work to create a strong local economy encompasses much but the essence of our work is aimed at making you more money.
The second core competency is "Promoting the community." The chamber uses all forms of media including print media, web, and various broadcast media to promote the community of Cheyenne. We work constantly to improve the community through quality of life projects so that our marketing product continues to grow in stature. The other implication of our efforts, and arguably the most important result of the effort, is that people have abundant pride in the community they call home. Promoting Cheyenne is about building a feeling of belonging and place for the people that live here and making our community a great place for people of all ages to live.
The third core competency by which we measure success is "Providing networking opportunities." Business success is largely associated with the extent of our network. All businesses big and small rely on their counterparts in the business community for advice, services, problem solving, business leads and a host of other issues. It is our desire to create a climate that let’s the business community interact in an environment that promotes profitability and good will in our community. We provide luncheons, business after hours, BIZlink (leads group) and many other unique opportunities for you to meet the colleagues that can help you create a more profitable business.
The fourth core competency is "Representing the needs of business to government." Daily, the chamber attends council meetings, board meetings, committee meetings, hearings and planning meetings on your behalf. We constantly work to make sure that the voice of business is heard at all levels of government. We work to ensure that our community, our state, and our nation provide an environment that encourages prosperity.
The fifth and last core competency is "Political action." It is our belief that to inspire your participation in our democratic process must be a priority for us. The Cheyenne chamber works to educate you on the issues that are important to your business. There is nothing more valuable to a chamber and a community than stakeholders who know all sides of an issue and are prepared to make an informed decision. There will be times when the chamber will find it in the best interest of the business community to take a position but our most important role regarding political action is that of educator and facilitator.
The chamber is working diligently to achieve proficiency in all of the five core competencies. Our discussions with you indicate that we do quite well in achieving the goals of a number of the competencies and yet we also realize that there are a couple of areas that need significant improvement. The board and staff of the chamber are committed to achieving excellence in all five of these competencies. We are diligently working daily to have measurable goals that achieve the results that our members aspire to.
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