Chamber strengthens communications with members
As we get ready to pass the gavel from one leader to the next I would like to thank all of the members of the 2008 board of directors for their commitment, time and efforts on everyone’s behalf. Being leaders of such a diverse group of businesses brings many challenges and over the past year your 15 leaders in the business community have been hard at work for you. As we entered 2008, the Chamber had 286 members and we realized it would be difficult to maintain that level in the year ahead.So, like all of you, we began tightening our belts, and just as importantly we’ve been planning, setting a system in place, organizing the board into teams and dividing tasks of the chamber so we could put the right board members’ expertise to work in the right places in order to help you.
Here we are in the information age so, most importantly, we wanted to strengthen communications with you. We put together a committee to improve your newsletter through additional information, improved layout and production. Today, we have a modern, full-color newsletter delivered via e-mail, efficiently and inexpensively in today’s information age format. Production costs and people time previously used to mail it have been drastically reduced. While it is still a work in progress, look for continued improvements in 2009.
– The membership development team we created was faced with quite a challenge almost like pulling a tractor-trailer over Donner Pass with a rope and a mule.Their efforts paid off handsomely. As of today, we have increased membership, which is a direct contradiction to the trend most area chambers face a decrease in membership of some 25%. We urge this committee to set new goals for 2009 and continue its strong efforts.
– Our premier fund-raiser MangoMania was successful once again in 2008. All we ask for 2009 is a little extra offering to the Gods perhaps a light beer or two so Sunday’s weather can be as glorious as that we always seem to experience on Saturdays!
– Marketing our island is both a pleasure and a curse. We are truly unique. Pine Island has its various service businesses, retail outlets, restaurants and merchants, but it also serves the area’s tourist industry. As a semi-secluded outpost here in SW Florida, we naturally strive to attract more people and more awareness through events like MangoMania, but we feel it most important to showcase all our businesses. So our Marketing Committee’s plan was to begin to build awareness through a variety of means, including our newest marketing effort, “The Business Showcase.” The first was held in December and the next one is planned for the heart of our winter season February. This “showcase” is exactly what it is billed as: a means for you to bring your business to the general public, easily and inexpensively(there’s no cost to take part), as well as to your fellow businesses.
– The Chamber’s television campaign, which helped brand Pine Island has Florida’s Creative Coast and was detailed in previous newsletters, has just concluded.
– Florida’s Creative Coast weekends are now in full swing and the member participation increases with each month. Please don’t forget to tell us what you are doing during these weekends so we can help with your promotion.
Judging from the numbers of increased visitors we’re seeing, we’re pleased with the outcome of the marketing team’s efforts.
– Our Visitor Center hosted more than 1,000 additional visitors in 2008 than it did in 2007 and the number is now approaching 5,500 annually. Increased visitors mean increased work and our staff of 14 volunteers have handled this additional work handily. Thank you to the volunteers for their efforts in directing the visitors they see to our businesses’ doorsteps.
– The beautification committee, have successfully “beautified” the visitor center, made improvements and have plans to continue with more of the same in the coming year.
– We have a committee of talented liaison people who constantly interact with the county and state and other island organizations to ensure your chamber is always in the loop. Thank you to Bob Glennon, Elaine McLaughlin and Bernard Johnson for their endeavors on your behalf.
– Finally, a great big thank you to all of the members of the team that reignited the excitement of Pine Island’s famous Painted Poles. This committee has been responsible for the painting of 25 new poles on Pine Island and the freshening of many of our original poles as well. And thanks to their creative thinking and with the assistance of The Pine Island Eagle, the artists involved in painting the poles are taking part in a contest, in which judging will take place next month, so islanders can vote for their favorite poles.
Where I’m originally from, Ireland, there isn’t much in the way of Armed Forces. So I tend to notice television recruitment advertisements here that note “The Army of One.” The Chamber has its own Army of One. She’s not listed as being a member of any committee, yet she sits on them all. She’s the glue that holds everything together at the visitor center and the lubricant that makes everything run smoothly and without her, nothing any of us attempts would be as well done as it is. Thank you Lisa Benton, our Chamber’s Executive Director, for all you do.
– A final thought: The Chamber can and will assist you in any way possible. We’ll communicate our thoughts to you and we need you to communicate your thoughts and ideas to us. Remember, we’re in the information age now. And information will make us all thrive.
Good Luck in 2009.