VISION:

To be a committed, viable, supportive organization contributing to the ongoing health of the Okotoks and District business community.

MISSION:

The mission of the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce is to strengthen the business climate by providing leadership, representation, networking opportunities, services and education to our membership.

PLAN:

The Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce is positioned to take the next step in meeting the needs of its Business Community and to ensuring its Goals & Objectives are aligned to assist the Town in its vision of sustainable development & economic partnerships. We see the Chamber contributing with the Town in providing a creative and innovative Business Centre Program for Economic Development.

The following pages in this document will recap the success of the goals and objectives of the Chamber for the year 2011 and highlight the goals and objectives for 2012.

The Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce sees within its mandate a clear role in supporting the Town in its growth, business sustainability; business retention; business promotion strategies; business competitiveness support; and business/residential tax base targets.

Through a positive partnership, enhanced greatly by cohabitation of its operations, both organizations provide a cohesive message to the community and in particular to the business community that the Town is “Open for Business” and ready to work with all business ventures.

2012 GOALS & OBJECTIVES

1.    MEMBERSHIP IN EXCESS OF 400

• Hire a contracted dedicated Membership Co-ordinator.
• Stronger focus on promoting Chamber benefits.
• Provide educational and informative guest speakers.
• Maintain average luncheon attendance at 80 attendees.
• Continue with packages providing membership benefits at all events the Chamber is represented.
• Continue with the Chamber membership application on Business Licence invoice through Town of Okotoks.

2.    CONTINUE TO IMPROVE CHAMBER IMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY

• Continue with monthly “Chamber Connection” in the local newspaper.
• Stronger radio campaign.
• Display banner signs at Chamber functions and various community events.
• Continue with expansion of website and newsletter and keep well maintained.
• Float in parade.
• Continue with Service Excellence awards.
• Continue with a golf tournament.
• Continue with Speed Networking workshop with other partners.
• Continue presence with local government and have representatives on the Economic Development Committee, Okotoks Public Safety and Security Committee, Foothills Community Centre, United Way Partnership, Bow Valley Community College Steering Committee and Foothills Community Immigrant Services.

3.    DELIVER EDUCATIONAL & INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS & SEMINARS

• Offer the membership opportunities for business training by way of a selection of courses and speakers.

4.    TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR BUSINESS ADVOCACY, LOBBY AND REPRESENTATION

• Board member as a representative on the following committees; Economic Development, Okotoks Public Safety & Security Committee, Foothills Community Centre, United Way Partnership, Bow Valley Community College Steering Committee and Foothills Community Immigrant Services.
• Chamber representatives continue to support and represent our Chamber in the community.
• Provide a forum for the business community to discuss and present common issues for presentation to Town Council.
• Maintain our membership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

5.    MORE ACTIVE ROLE WITH THE ALBERTA AND CANADIAN CHAMBER

• Send delegates to Regional round table discussions.
• Where possible, attend Provincial and National conferences.

2011 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

1.    MEMBERSHIP IN EXCESS OF 350

Achieved through:

1. Dedicated Membership Co-ordinator.
2. Utilizing the list of newly licensed businesses provided by the Town of Okotoks and Welcome Wagon, followed up by visitation or e-mail.
3. Hosting an annual Trade & Lifestyle Show.
4. Maintaining a permanent Executive Assistant.
5. Maintaining a permanent part-time Chamber Assistant.
6. Providing educational, high caliber & informative guest speakers.
7. Making it a requisite for Directors to obtain two new memberships and to actively sit on two committees.
8. Distributing an informative benefit package for all potential Chamber Members as well as for existing Members.
9. Updating website regularly to advertise events, member benefits and promote members businesses.
10. Growing and promoting our business lending library.

2.    CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY

Achieved through:

1. Advertising and communicating the services provided by the Chamber, not only to the business community, but also to the general public.
2. Trade & Lifestyle Show.
3. Recognizing individuals and businesses in the community who give excellent customer service through our Service Excellence awards.
4. Utilizing Chamber signage more regularly in the community at different events.
5. Maintaining a presence by continuing to partner with the Town and Community Futures Highwood on educational opportunities.
6. Retaining a high profile presence by occupying an office with Community Futures Highwood in Okotoks downtown location.
7. Continuing to promote the Chamber through a business golf tournament and Christmas Social.
8. Continuing to explore and investigate new venues for promoting the Chamber.

3.    DELIVER EDUCATIONAL & INFORMATIVE SPEAKERS AND SEMINARS:

Achieved through:

1. Booking quality speakers that present community relative topics.
2. Soliciting feedback after events by way of survey form to measure success and value of the topic and request ideas and topics for future events from our membership.
3. Utilizing the Alberta Chamber of Commerce and other Chambers for ideas.
4. Offering the Membership business training opportunities.

4.    TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR BUSINESS ADVOCACY, LOBBY AND REPRESENTATION

Achieved Through:

1. Having a presence on the Town’s Economic Development Committee and the Okotoks Public Safety & Security Committee, Foothills Community Centre, United Way Partnership, Bow Valley Community College Steering Committee and Foothills Community Immigrant Services.
2. Providing a forum for the Town’s business community to discuss and present common issues for presentation to the Town’s Economic Development committee and as appropriate to Council.
3. Maintaining a membership in the Alberta Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which provides the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce access to comparable solutions in other parts of the province and, if appropriate, the country. This network will enhance the Okotoks Chamber’s credibility as it takes this leadership role in advocacy for its membership.
4. Provide candidates forum for municipal, provincial and federal elections.
5. Obtaining membership feedback and keeping them and the public apprised of what Chamber is doing on their behalf.

 

SWOT ANALYSIS

Reviewed Oct 2011