In
a recent meeting, I overheard someone say, "the Chamber doesn't do anything,"
and I was stunned. My staff and I run at top speed every day representing the
needs of business to government, advocating for business interests in nearly
every community discussion, producing meetings and events that connect
businesses to each other and to policy makers, engaging young professionals in
civic leadership opportunities...the list goes on and on.
But,
I hear the question behind the concern: what is the Chamber actually making?
What can a member hold in their hands that the Chamber has produced? What is
the ROI on membership dues if the outcome isn't tangible?
We
are fortunate that so many of our local policy makers are watching
the Chamber and listening to what our Board of
Directors, our members, and our staff have to say. We've created
the kind of presence that is undeniably influential. We should be
proud of this.
It's
clear to me, however, that this kind of influence
can't be seen or felt at times. We can't hold it in our hands.
The outcomes associated with our work connecting business to business, business
to government, and business to the community are profound and immeasurable but
they're largely invisible...at first.
Consider
this: we helped lead the Clean & Safe Chico
Community
Forum in May which led the Chico Association of
Realtors to create the House of Hope, a new women's housing facility in
Chico, which opened its doors today. You certainly can't say that the Chamber
created this house which will move women off the streets and into safe and clean
shelter (a better scenario for the entire community), but if you look closely
you'll see that the trail of this amazing project started with Clean & Safe
Chico which started, in part, with us.
 |
Katie, Bill Such with Jesus Center, Peggy Mead with Chico Association
of Realtors
|
Thank you, members, for making the invisible possible. We're all better off for it.
~
Katie
No comments:
Post a Comment