Chamber "Givens"

Several folks have asked about upcoming changes to the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce programs and operations. While it's a bit premature to speculate about what or when things might change, you might find it interesting to know about some of my basic chamber beliefs.

1. "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right." Too often chambers get caught up in trying to be all things to all people. Quality should always win over quantity of efforts. Down the road, you will see the chamber focus on providing quality programs and services, even at the expense of handing off projects to other groups and organizations, or possibly even retiring a longstanding program or two.
2. "People do business with people they know." In this age of high tech, it still makes a difference about where and who we do business with. While often times the temptation might drive business to on-line or discount providers, the majority of business is still done based on well established business relationships. It goes beyond price point and should include service, reliability and positive working relationships. We remain a membership based organization and we will always strive to do business with our members first. It's imperative that we continue to establish that trust and familiarity with our members.
3. "Return on Investment." Everything we do must be done with our members in mind. Is it creating value for our members and the community? Does it provide a valuable service that might not be available elsewhere within the region? Is there both fiscal and relevant value to our members? The value equation is not always the easiest to determine, but we will always strive to work hard for the investment our members make in this organization.
4. "What's in it for me?" Programs, services, committees, task forces, and all of our efforts need to focus on the value for our members. While not every effort will appeal to every member, it's almost certain that a niche group will benefit from our actions.
5. "Listen and pay attention." It's imperative that we are always listening to and seeking input from our members and the community. The bottom line is that we work for you the member. You are our customers, leaders, and reason for existing. To think otherwise does a disservice to our entire membership.

Change is not an easy process, and the next few weeks and months will be a challenge as our chamber goes through some necessary changes. Your input and feedback is critical. Even when we don't ask for it, please feel free to offer your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. After all, this is YOUR chamber of commerce.

Those are my thoughts. What about yours?