MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS/SERVICES
AMBASSADORS: Jessica Rabe, Chairman
Purpose: Serve as the Goodwill group and the welcoming arm of the Chamber. Assist with retention and recruitment efforts as well as other activities.
- Help in the coordination and implementation of a membership event.
- Attend ground breakings, grand openings and ribbon cuttings as official Chamber representatives.
- Recognize the Ambassador of the quarter, of the Year, as well as other Ambassadors for outstanding service to the chamber.
- Serve as Master of Ceremonies at monthly luncheons and other activities.
- Create and implement a mentoring system for new members to establish a healthy and long relationship with the Chamber and improve retention.
- Assist in delivery of new member plaques, membership directories, etc.
- Organize the Annual Ambassador Fund-Raising Golf Tournament.
- Assist with special events such as Dodge City Days (including pin blitz), Annual Banquet, 3i Show, etc.
- Organize and conduct visits to all active members in 2012 and thank them for their continued support and participation. Included in the visits will be a “thank you” item from the Chamber sponsored by other members.
Other Membership Activities:
- Plan Room
- Chamber Network Mailing
- Newsletter
- Feature Business of the Month
- Quarterly Luncheons
- Annual Banquet
LEADERSHIP
21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DODGE: Karen Ackerman & Marg Yaroslaski, Co-Chairs
Purpose: The mission of the 21st Century Leadership Dodge program is to foster, renew and sustain vital and diverse leadership in Dodge City and Ford County.
- Organize the leadership program and select up to 15 individuals to participate. Design curriculum formats that stimulate thought and encourage discussion and debate.
- Create a communications plan to promote participation in the leadership program and encourage community involvement in boards at the city, county, state and federal levels.
- Analyze other opportunities and strategies to develop and encourage future political leadership in Dodge City/Ford County.
- Formalize a plan to develop future leadership in Chamber committees/task forces.
- Promote alumni members and their interests to other community organizations by creating a directory of the participants from the last 5 years for distribution.
- Encourage class participation in forming a class project.
- Applicants not selected in 2012 will be considered first in 2013.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
LEGISLATION AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Joe Peters, Chairman
Purpose: To increase the Chamber’s influence in the development of public policy concerning issues of critical importance to the future of Dodge City and its area businesses.
- Prepare specific legislative policies and position reports.
- Keep abreast of both state and federal legislation and encourage that which is pro- business and conducive to economic and community development by being pro-active and taking positions.
- Continue strong participation in the Southwest Kansas Chamber of Commerce which is designed to combine strengths of the local Chambers of Commerce in Southwest Kansas, to provide a positive impact on growth and development of Southwest Kansas by addressing regional issues, legislative concerns and internal issues within individual Chambers while maintaining the individuality of the local Chambers. Continue working on the regionalism theme established by the Southwest Kansas Economic Summit held in Oct. 2010.
- Coordinate Legislative Report Coffees, candidate forums, state and national elected officials and the like, for the benefit of the business community.
- Initiate at least one trip to Washington DC, particularly the annual visitation and reception for congressional staff, co-hosted with other area Chambers and private businesses.
- Annually coordinate and sponsor a State of the City and State of the County address.
- Continue a strong working coalition with the elected city and county commissioners and the members of the USD 443 Board and Dodge City Community College Trustees.
- Encourage chamber members, Young Professionals and Leadership Alumni to run for elected positions.
- Participate in the Dodge City Night in Topeka.
- Monitor the overall transportation systems in Dodge City and Southwest Kansas to assure maintained adequate rail and air service. Encourage business people and the community at-large to utilize local air service.
- Research and support the expansion of the county commission from 3 to 5 members. Educate county residents about the advantages of the expansion which will provide better representation overall.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DODGE CITY DAYS: John Bogner, Chairman
Purpose: To provide the community with an annual event to celebrate its western heritage that brings notoriety and exposure nation-wide.
- Oversee the entire operation of the July 27-August 5th, 2012 celebration.
- Explore additional methods of fund-raising to expand Dodge City Days.
- Research new events to be added to the celebration.
- Establish written criteria/policies for new event consideration as dictated by the Board of Directors to protect the integrity of the celebration.
- Assist other groups with their events in getting them established.
MULTI-CULTURAL COMMITTEE, Omar Lopez, Chairman
Purpose: Strive to promote participation from the entire minority business community in the Chamber, its committees and projects.
- Have monthly meetings to discuss issues facing the Hispanic businesses as well as the Hispanic community in general.
- Identify and encourage Hispanic involvement on city boards and commissions.
- Implement a marketing program to promote Chamber services to multi-cultural businesses to include Chamber materials, newsletter and advertising.
- Assist the Dodge City Days Committee by planning and organizing the ‘Dodge City Days Fiesta’ event.
- Plan and organize a multi-cultural Business Expo that will feature locally owned minority businesses and their services.
DODGE CITY AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (DCAYP) Adrianne Melendez, Chairman
“The mission of Dodge City Area Young Professionals is to promote the development, recruitment, and retention of young professionals in the Dodge City area; to build a bond between the business community and young professionals; and to help make the Dodge City area the best place to live, serve, work and play.”
- Provide opportunities for social and business networking
- Help establish the next generation of leaders in the Dodge City area
- Offer ways for the DCAYP to volunteer and give back to the community
- Promote and reflect community enthusiasm
SHOP LOCAL
Purpose: To support all shop local efforts and encourage and educate area citizens about the importance of it to our local economy.
- Continue offering the new “Chamber Checks” gift certificate program to encourage shopping locally.
- Support efforts of the buycloseby.com program.
- Regularly encourage members to ‘think Dodge City first’ when shopping.
3i SHOW
Purpose: Work with other community officials to organize and host the 2012 3i Show in Dodge City.
- Coordinate the overall 3i Show Management Committee to include representatives of the city, chamber, CVB, county, as well as the 3i Show Chair and Vice Chairs.
- Work with WKMA officials to coordinate all the volunteers/committees necessary for the show scheduled for July 12-14, 2012.
Other Community Development Activities:
- Continue to meet quarterly with other community leaders to expand inter-cooperation efforts
- Provide assistance in organizing local Job Fairs as deemed necessary
- Support and assist as necessary the current efforts of revitalizing the Downtown area
- Continue efforts to acclimate and welcome new professionals in the community
- Co-sponsor Business Appreciation Week with the Development Corporation
- Continue the Operation Crime Alert Network
- Distribute Newcomer Packets
ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES/PRIORITIES
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Terry Janson, Chairman
Purpose: To maintain strong, efficient internal operations of the Chamber and oversee the financial wellbeing of the organization.
- Ensure organizational resource capacity to meet future needs of the Chamber
- Ensure a volunteer and staff organizational structure to support strategic initiatives
- Review and initiate governance policy change to improve the organization
- Assure financial solvency of the Chamber by preparing the annual budget for board, approval and monitor the fiscal performance as it relates to the budget and recommend policies that enhance the Chamber’s financial status
- Organize the annual planning retreat to help develop a business plan
- Research the possibility of establishing a 501-C3 Foundation
- Create Business Development Solicitation teams (Board/Members)
- Create a ‘War Chest’ Development Project
- Support the Monolithic Dome
- Research and support Annex opportunities near the Expo Center
- Look at creating a Revolving Loan Fund to attract more businesses
- Encourage and educate the importance of shopping locally. Survey members on shopping habits, needs and desires.
- Create a dialogue with city officials on pre-development for streets and roads
- Continue to develop relationships within the Hispanic community and encourage Hispanic participation in community leadership roles.