"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Katie, Bill Such with Jesus Center, Peggy Mead with Chico Association of Realtors

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.

Thank you, members, for making the invisible possible.  We're all better off for it.

~ Katie 

katie@chicochamber.com

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." ~ Charles Darwin

Just as it seems like we may be pulling out of one of the worst economic recessions to hit during our lifetimes, the City of Chico faces a financial crisis that has many of us reeling.  With the interruption and/or reduction of key City services, such as police and fire, we're questioning the impact on our businesses and on our families.  We wonder: what does this mean for me?

Because I sit in the shadow of City Hall on a daily basis -- literally hunkered down in the Old Municipal Building as questions and concerns fly -- I feel a great sense of responsibility and urgency to help businesses and members of our community understand not only what's going on but what's to come.

In many ways, it's business as usual for us.  We provide our members with extraordinary opportunities to connect, learn, and make a difference.  That's our job.  But, we're juggling issues on an advocacy level that are profoundly significant and unpredictable right now...issues that have enormous impact on the health and vitality of our economy and rest largely in the hands of our City staff and Council.

Most of my work is done behind the scenes and I share my opinions and suggestions with our policy makers regularly.  But, the best thing I can do at times is to simply get out of the way and let the businesses -- you -- speak directly.   After all, the voice of business belongs to all of us.

To that end, I encourage you to attend our Lunch Hour with the City Manager on Thursday, July 25th, at noon.  Brian Nakamura will be joined by Mark Orme, Assistant City Manager, and Chris Constantin, Administrative Services Director, and all have pledged their time and expertise to you during this Q&A session.  Seating is limited so let me know right away if you'd like to attend.

I'm counting on you!

~ Katie

katie@chicochamber.com

"It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide what to do." ~ Elbert Hubbard

Last night, with Winchester Goose (a proposed craft beer bar) on the agenda, the City Council decided to hold off on making any further alcohol license decisions until they've had a chance to review the municipal code and consider policy options at the Internal Affairs committee meeting now scheduled for July 24th at 8am.  Licenses for the Winchester Goose along with the Mangrove Mini Mart (reinstated for discussion) will be considered at the August 6th Council meeting.

This delay isn't ideal for the proprietors, I'm sure, but it halts a chain of events that was considered very business-unfriendly by some.  To grapple with the concerns raised at this year's Community Call for Action, hosted by Chico State, I'm in favor of bringing the City, campus officials, business organizations, owners, proprietors, student organizations, Enloe representatives, and others together to begin creating a community-wide strategy.  If we don't work toward the same solutions together, we're going to end up sharply divided and adrift.  As I said in a recent email to our Mayor, City manager, and Chief of Police about this issue: "Let's get ahead of this speeding train, slow it down, and decide where we want it to go.  Right now, it's carving a(nother) very contentious path through our community." And, in my honest opinion, the last thing we need is more conflict.

On another note, I recently met with Don Krysakowski and Renee Friemoth of the Work Training Center. They are actively looking to pair businesses with WTC clients through a job placement program called Community Employment Services.  Having worked as a job skills coach in college, I know how powerful programs like these can be for employers and potential employees.  If you're interested in exploring the benefits of a risk-free situational assessment in your business, please contact Renee at 343.7994 x 1407.

Enjoy the holiday tomorrow and stay cool!

~ Katie

"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity." ~ J.S. Baxter

I said to a trusted colleague yesterday morning that if our Visitor Center funding emerged from the Council's budget discussion 100% intact I would have a bit of survivor's guilt.  Watching broad cuts affect the full spectrum of City services, it made sense to me that we would see a reduction in funding for next fiscal year -- and it turns out we will.  So, what will we do with less?  Well...more!  I have big plans to do things differently, more creatively, and with a team of fabulous college students who will help us build our social media presence in the coming months.

Now more than ever, it is critical that we connect visitors, tourists, and residents to local businesses and that's why it makes perfect sense for the Visitor Center to continue to live squarely within the Chamber.  As the City continues to cope with financial challenges that directly impact the services provided by many non-profits in town, I hope collaborative strategies focused on economic recovery will bring us even closer as a community.  Our Team Chico approach -- pulling together the resources and expertise of the Alliance for Workforce Development, 3CORE, DCBA, Chico Chamber, Chabin Concepts, and City of Chico to reach as many business as possible with a full set of services -- is a great model. I am a firm believer that we have a hand in designing our future, and I have confidence that the Chamber will be a leading voice in paving the way forward.

In other news, I'm thrilled to congratulate our BBQ winners: Enloe FlightCare (Grand Prize and People's Choice in the backyard division), Hunter Drake Smokehouse BBQ (People's Choice professional division) and Kinder's Meats & Deli (Grand Prize professional division).  Many thanks to ALL of the teams for competing, to our sponsors for making the BBQ possible, and to our attendees for joining us on the lovely shaded lawns of Manzanita Place as we honored Enloe Medical Center's centennial anniversary.

Looking toward Fall, we're planning our Business Spotlight calendar for the first City Council meeting of each month. If you'd like to be a featured business, please let me know which month works best for you.  This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the economic, community, and historical impacts of local businesses and we want to aim the spotlight on YOU.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison

Shortly after I graduated from college, I took a temporary position assisting the staff at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine as they prepared for their annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.  The organization, I would soon learn, had thousands of members -- mostly M.D.s and Ph.D.s -- from all over the world who specialized in the research, development, and application of MRI.  These members would soon converge in Denver for a 7-day accredited medical convention with 9 parallel sessions, over 1500 poster exhibitions, and a technical exhibition featuring the latest equipment from 50+ companies including GE, Philips, and Toshiba.

My job, which I bit into with great force, was to assist the staff in anything and everything.  I alphabetized paperwork, ran errands, found files, took phone messages, and tied up loose ends.  Four short years later -- after learning from every conversation and transaction that came my way -- I'd wiggled my way up to top of the meetings staff and was directing conventions and workshops in Europe, Asia, North America...you name it...all because someone had given me an opportunity on that very first day by opening the door.

We all have stories like this.  We've climbed ladders, gone out on limbs, built things from scratch; our pathways are varied and unique.  But I'm sure we all have something in common, too: strong hands that have reached out to guide us, pull us forward, and to lift us.

Kimberly & Katie

I have no doubt that my new intern, Kimberly Cooke, will take advantage of the opportunity in front of her in the same way that I did when I was her age.  The Chamber has tackled enormous issues this year and she is perfectly positioned to make an impact that you, our members, will feel.

I love when doors open for me and I love opening doors for others.  It's the way the world works.  If you're in a position to take an intern under your wing I encourage you to connect with the career centers at Chico State and Butte College.

Open the door to your business, invite someone inside, and change a career path (and a life!) in the process.

~ Katie

katie@chicochamber.com

Last night, the Chico City Council discussed the need for a sit/lie ordinance in Chico.  Each and every Council member, whether or not they agreed with the ordinance, recognized the need to support local businesses and our business climate.  Read the results of their discussion and decision here.

We're moving full steam ahead with our Clean & Safe Chico Community Forum on Wednesday, May 29th, at 6:30p.m. at the El Rey Theatre.  You'll hear about the programs now in place to help address community-wide concerns and you'll have the opportunity to rally support for your solutions.  We have 600 seats to fill and we need to pack the house to make sure our voices are heard.  No RSVPs, no fees.  See you there!

The results of our recent Shopper Survey are in and -- round of applause -- we're pleased to report that nearly 1,500 people weighed in.  We'll be releasing the data shortly but here's a sneak peek.  We asked: What do you think are the major advantages of shopping or doing personal errands in Chico?  Nearly 70% of the respondents answered "Supporting Local Businesses."  Now that's the spirit!

On that note, did you know that $.68 of every dollar spent at a locally-owned business and $.43 of every dollar spent at a business within the city limits returns to the community (source: Local First/Collaborative Economics)?  We're working on a "Choose Chico" campaign to help build awareness around the power of patronizing businesses in Chico which dovetails back into our Clean & Safe work perfectly.  If we want to see changes within our community, we need to continue to strengthen the partnership with our City Council, do our part in supporting local initiatives, and choose Chico when shopping.

Tomorrow morning, we're hosting a Membership Orientation & Refresher at 8:30a.m. in the Chamber office (441 Main, 2nd floor).  If you're a member or interested in membership, this is the place for you.  Make the most of what we do for you.

Next week, on May 30th, Council member Tami Ritter will be our Lunch Hour guest from noon to 1p.m..  And, to give you a better understanding of the City of Chico's fiscal outlook and priorities, we're co-hosting a City of Chico Budget 101 session with the City of Chico, DCBA, and Chico Stewardship Network, on Friday, June 7th, from noon - 1:30p.m. at the Chamber office. Speakers include Brian Nakamura, Mark Orme, and Chris Constantin, the new Administrative Services Director.  Listen, learn, and ask your questions; we want City staff to hear from you.  RSVP to me: katie@chicochamber.com

At the Festival for Change two weeks ago, Chico State students were encouraged to share what they'd like to "save." Comments included rivers, creeks, the ocean, our land, etc.  My second grader sized up the task, grabbed a pen, and wrote, "save the businesses."  I heard the same sentiments from the City Council last night.  I think we're doing something right.  Let's keep up the good work.

~ Katie

katie@chicochamber.com

In light of the fact that the civil streets ordinance discussion was tabled at last night's City Council meeting, let's focus on what IS happening right now in our community:

The Goodwill Ambassador program is officially up and running with 20+ business owners, advocates, and citizens now serving as volunteers.  Shifts run from 11a.m.-2p.m. and 5p.m.-7p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of every week, providing merchants, shoppers, visitors, and all downtown patrons with information, hospitality, and assistance.  Chico Stewardship

 Network, the group spearheading the program, believes that the answers to our community problems rely largely on citizens.  Without a visible police presence in downtown Chico, this group 

will serve as the eyes and ears of the community, reporting issues and challenges as they arise.    To become a Goodwill Ambassador, contact Michelle Anderson-Curran.

The Chico Street Pastors program (above), an initiative of Neighborhood Church and the Jesus Center, will provide the community with a different kind of support.  Focusing on south campus neighborhoods and downtown Chico, volunteers will move through the streets between the hours of 10p.m. and 4a.m., providing assistance and light services to improve the safety and well-being of the hundreds of citizens who are out and about during late-night hours.  To volunteer, please contact Bill Such.

Speaking of community-driven change, SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere), invite you to the Community Festival for Change this Friday, May 10th from 4-8p.m. in the City Plaza. This event will serve as a continuation of the CSUC Community Call for Action and Campus Commitment to Action Summit hosted by California State University, Chico.  The Festival will feature music, food trucks, community tables, guest speakers, and a ceremony to remember the campus-changing events of this year.  In the words of SAVE, this event will "signify closing a chapter and moving forward with the positive momentum and change that is coming!"

If you're inspired by the work being done by businesses, organizations, students, and citizens and you want to learn more, mark your calendar for the Clean & Safe Community Forum on Wednesday, May 29th, at 6:30pm at the El Rey.  No RSVPs, no fees, just a good, solid opportunity to get involved.

Let's get it done.

~ Katie

katie@chicochamber.com