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Businesses gain by investing, supporting local chambers
- By Rosemary Dellinger
- Published 01/19/2010
- Commentary
- Unrated
Just when you thought all the celebration for the New Year was over – our area chamber of commerce groups have announced plans for several annual chamber festivities in the coming weeks.
For most, these events serve as major fundraising projects. I have heard some of the grumblings asking why chamber dues don’t cover the cost of chamber events. And these comments are not just unique to life in this little Valley.
I heard the same grumblings when I served on Chamber boards in Othello and Quincy as well. My first question to grumbling dissenters is – have you sent in your dues to your local chamber for 2010?
A look at the slow flow of dues dollars trickling in the doors at chamber offices in Zillah, Toppenish, Granger and Wapato tells me the answer is “probably not.” Well, the year is still young, so just a friendly reminder to make your local chamber a priority for 2010.
My second comment is that why it is true that these events do help fund chamber office operational costs, a large portion goes to help promote all the events and activities that our local chambers sponsor during the year.
Local chamber fundraising projects help provide scholarships for high school graduates. The fundraising events also help cover the costs of hosting projects like the Mural-In-A-Day in Toppenish; Community Days and Not-Just-A Farmer’s Market in Zillah; the Menudo Festival and Christmas Lighting tour in Granger; and the Labor Day event and Tamale Festival in Wapato.
Each event your local chambers promote takes time, talent and dollars. One of the main purposes of local celebrations and festivals is to promote community pride. It also promotes tourism. Sometimes promoting the event is as simple as getting local folks off of their sofas and down to the event to watch children, grandchildren, friends, and family involved in the event. But, the promoting aspect is also about attracting out of town dollars as well. Promoting commerce equates to business dollars in local tills.
Susan Treneer from the Toppenish Chamber said recently 1,000 visitors came through Toppenish last year during the Mural-In-A-Day event alone. That is pretty amazing. Capitalizing on out-of-town tourist money is essential during sluggish economic times.
In addition to planning and coordinating fundraising projects and activities for 2010, all the local chambers are seeking board members and volunteers. Granger has an opening for a vice president on its board, while Zillah, Toppenish and Wapato are all looking for nominations to their boards.
Serving on your chamber of commerce is a volunteer opportunity. If you are a local business owner, manager or simply employee at a business in one of these communities, why not consider stepping up to the plate. Don’t be shy and don’t let a past slight, arrogant pride or a preconceived notion that “they won’t want me” stop you. Volunteers are needed to keep these events going.
If you care about promoting and encouraging business efforts, call your local chamber office and volunteer. If not for a board position, then tell them you will help sell raffle tickets, put a poster in your window, or serve on a fundraising committee.
Don’t you think it is worth the effort to promote and encourage all business and commerce in your town -- including yours?
The local Chamber offices are listed in the phone book. If you can’t find them or your a bit shy, call me. I have a list of each chamber’s numbers on a list under a plastic sheet on my desk. And, I’ll be happy to put you in touch with a friendly chamber person when you call.
Each chamber also has a monthly board meeting and some host After Hour events. The meetings are a great chance to network with your fellow businesses and share common concerns. The lunches are great, the folks are friendly and the networking is worth it.
I’ll see you there! rd
For most, these events serve as major fundraising projects. I have heard some of the grumblings asking why chamber dues don’t cover the cost of chamber events. And these comments are not just unique to life in this little Valley.
I heard the same grumblings when I served on Chamber boards in Othello and Quincy as well. My first question to grumbling dissenters is – have you sent in your dues to your local chamber for 2010?
A look at the slow flow of dues dollars trickling in the doors at chamber offices in Zillah, Toppenish, Granger and Wapato tells me the answer is “probably not.” Well, the year is still young, so just a friendly reminder to make your local chamber a priority for 2010.
My second comment is that why it is true that these events do help fund chamber office operational costs, a large portion goes to help promote all the events and activities that our local chambers sponsor during the year.
Local chamber fundraising projects help provide scholarships for high school graduates. The fundraising events also help cover the costs of hosting projects like the Mural-In-A-Day in Toppenish; Community Days and Not-Just-A Farmer’s Market in Zillah; the Menudo Festival and Christmas Lighting tour in Granger; and the Labor Day event and Tamale Festival in Wapato.
Each event your local chambers promote takes time, talent and dollars. One of the main purposes of local celebrations and festivals is to promote community pride. It also promotes tourism. Sometimes promoting the event is as simple as getting local folks off of their sofas and down to the event to watch children, grandchildren, friends, and family involved in the event. But, the promoting aspect is also about attracting out of town dollars as well. Promoting commerce equates to business dollars in local tills.
Susan Treneer from the Toppenish Chamber said recently 1,000 visitors came through Toppenish last year during the Mural-In-A-Day event alone. That is pretty amazing. Capitalizing on out-of-town tourist money is essential during sluggish economic times.
In addition to planning and coordinating fundraising projects and activities for 2010, all the local chambers are seeking board members and volunteers. Granger has an opening for a vice president on its board, while Zillah, Toppenish and Wapato are all looking for nominations to their boards.
Serving on your chamber of commerce is a volunteer opportunity. If you are a local business owner, manager or simply employee at a business in one of these communities, why not consider stepping up to the plate. Don’t be shy and don’t let a past slight, arrogant pride or a preconceived notion that “they won’t want me” stop you. Volunteers are needed to keep these events going.
If you care about promoting and encouraging business efforts, call your local chamber office and volunteer. If not for a board position, then tell them you will help sell raffle tickets, put a poster in your window, or serve on a fundraising committee.
Don’t you think it is worth the effort to promote and encourage all business and commerce in your town -- including yours?
The local Chamber offices are listed in the phone book. If you can’t find them or your a bit shy, call me. I have a list of each chamber’s numbers on a list under a plastic sheet on my desk. And, I’ll be happy to put you in touch with a friendly chamber person when you call.
Each chamber also has a monthly board meeting and some host After Hour events. The meetings are a great chance to network with your fellow businesses and share common concerns. The lunches are great, the folks are friendly and the networking is worth it.
I’ll see you there! rd