As the board chairperson, I am only one of 18 members charged with setting a direction of our organization. Since I am in the leadership position, I assume the responsibility of setting an agenda our conversations and actions. I have a full list of dreams and ideas that I would like to address, but I have narrowed it to three big initiatives for the year. These are aggressive goals, but I believe it is critical for us to be aggressive, purposeful and organized in today’s business climate. The good news is that we are already making strides in each of these areas. Follow this blog for updates on specific action steps.
Reclaim our role as an advocate for and within the business community.
A traditional role for a chamber of commerce is that of a voice for the business community. When our civic leaders are making important decisions, we need to be an active in communicating with our membership and business community and effective in sharing this information with decision makers. There are also opportunities for us to serve as advocates within the business community so that we all work together for a more vibrant and viable business community.
Define and fulfill our role in economic development.
The chamber of commerce has participated in several discussions and strategy sessions with regarding economic development in our area. Effective communities have learned that economic development is a team effort. The City of Raytown has taken a significant step in hiring an economic development professional to head a new city department. As an organization, we need to work with our local governments to define in very specific terms how we can be an effective team member and then DO IT.
Recruit and share ownership in community events.
For several decades, our chamber of commerce has assumed responsibility for every major community event in Raytown. These include the former Roundup Days, Roundup Days Parade, Championship BBQ Contest, SummerFest, etc. However, if our organization is going to concentrate on issues of advocacy and economic development, we need to share ownership and responsibility of community events. This will lead to better events and a more effective chamber.
