South Lake Chamber Orientation April 2012

Welcome Chamber Members!
Chamber Orientation & Refresher Luncheon l April 11, 2012l

Make your business THRIVE
Help your community PROSPER

THANK YOU to our SPONSOR & PROVIDERS!

Main Sponsor:

Food provided by:

Our venue:

www.southlakechamber-fl.com

What is a Chamber of Commerce ?
 A self-funded membership organization of businesses and other
community oriented entities and individuals
 overall goal is to further the business interests of the community
 Board of Directors sets policy
 Board hires a President plus appropriate staff to run the operations
 History
 First chambers of commerce were founded in 1599 in Europe
 First chamber in the US was established in 1768 in New York City


Chamber – an integral part of the Community

Connect
local
schools
Connect Connect
local local civic
gov’t groups

Connect Connect
area local
visitors business
Connect
local
residents


 Our Mission - “To create and maintain an environment where
business and community will prosper”

 Values Statement - the Chamber is committed to:
v Membership v Relationships v Integrity
v Respect v Results

 Vision - To be recognized in South Lake County as the hub of pro
business and community influence characterized by:
 An engaged and informed membership
 A focus on producing beneficial results that strengthen the community-
building process
 The nurturing of a diverse and vibrant regional economy

South Lake Chamber of Commerce:
A Membership Organization
MEMBERS = THE CHAMBER
YOU are the Chamber
The South Lake Chamber has 700+ members
 YOU are a voting Member
 YOU have a voice in the organization
 YOU are an integral part of the organization
 YOUR input & participation makes the organization successful
 Membership dues – why the organization exists
 Dues fund all the operations of the organization
 Dues are an investment in your business & in your community


Chamber Membership

Builds your Business Builds our Community
• Promotes your business • Promotes the Community
• Networks your business • Recognize outstanding citizens
• Keeps you informed • Community events/outreach
• Connects you w/other • Connects you with residents/visitors
business owners • Connects you with government


Direct Benefits of Membership
 Listing on South Lake Chamber Website (10,000 hits/month)
 Listing in the South Lake Community Profile & Business Guide
 Business referrals provided by Chamber office
(phone calls, walk-ins)
 Business card/brochure display in Chamber lobby
 Opportunity for display ads in newsletter, e-newsletter, website
 Numerous promotional sponsorship opportunities
 $100 Advertising credit with the South Lake Press newspaper
 Ability to network your business at the numerous Chamber
events

Chamber Organizational Objectives
#1: Business Building - Assist members to build their businesses

#2: Create/Maintain a strong local economy

#3: Promote and Connect the South Lake Community

#4: Advocate for business – be a VOICE in the South Lake Community


Objective 1– Business Building
Creating environments to BUILD your BUSINESS

1. Networking environment --- all Chamber Events !
• Building relationships = Building YOUR business
“A wise man knows everything. A rich man knows everybody”
• Create Connections with residents & fellow business owners
• Encourage Collaboration – working together/strategic partnering

2. Knowledge environment:
• Increasing your business smarts
• Best practices – learning opportunities (Lunch and Learns)
• Increasing your awareness of the business landscape
 What knowledge is important to your customers???

3. Community environment:
• Opportunities to reach out and build your „relationship‟ with the public
eg. Teacher‟s Appreciation Breakfast


Objective – Business Building…EVENTS

“PRESENCE is always POWER”
 Monthly Chamber Breakfasts
 Monthly Business-After-Hours (member sponsored social)
 Monthly “First Friday Chamber Connection”
 Chairman‟s Gala, “Taste of South Lake”, Golf Outing, “Hob Nob”
 Participating in the various Chamber Committees
 Affiliated 3 business networking groups that meet regularly

First Friday Chamber Connections Monthly Business-After-Hours Monthly Chamber Breakfasts


Objective 2– Creating a strong local economy

 Coordinate the business community to WORK TOGETHER!
“A rising tide floats all boats…”
Synergy: “the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts”

 Promotion of chamber members within the community
Ribbon cuttings / local press / local business expos / events


Objective– Creating a strong local economy

 Connecting local businesses with local residents
Local businesses also employ local residents!

 “It Pays to Shop South Lake”
initiative creating awareness among residents of importance of where you spend your
money (where do you buy your gas?)
Word of mouth/banners/television/etc.


Objective 3– Promoting & Connecting the
Community
 Many community events coordinated, promoted, and broadcasted through the
Chamber
v Light up Clermont / Groveland 4th of July/ Pig-on-the-Pond/ Cinco de Mayo Celebration/
Montverde Day Festival /Taste of South Lake 2011

 Chambers act as the focal point – tying together the community:
v Businesses
v Educational Institutions (UCF, LSCC)
v Local Government Figures
v Civic Organizations
v Charitable Organizations
v Individual Residents


Objective 4 – act as a unified VOICE for business
(Public Policy)
 Chambers serve as the unified voice of the business community
v South Lake Chamber of Commerce (700+ members)
v Other Lake County Chambers: Leesburg, Tavares, Mt. Dora, Lady Lake, Eustis, East Lake,
Umatilla
v Lake County Chamber Alliance – 8 chambers (3500 members)

 What other organization is looking out for YOU and YOUR INTERESTS as a business
owner????
 South Lake Chamber is the “squeaky wheel” for South Lake area – making local
government aware of the specific needs of our area

 Examples:
v widening of Rt. 27…$41M out of $45M earmarked to South Lake area
v Vote NO on Amendment 4
v Political boundaries redistricting
v South Lake Business Incubator initiative


The Chamber Board of Directors


Chamber Committees
 Ambassador Committee – “friend raisers” for members & community
Chair: Chris Schramm, AVP Hancock Bank

 Member Services Committee – provide the members what they want/need
Co-Chairs: Larry King, ZMAX Radio
Linda Smith, New Beginnings

 Education Committee – connect with our South Lake Schools
Chair: Robin Revis-Pike, Montverde Academy

 Community Relations Committee – connect with the South Lake community
Chair: Lucy Hage, Goin’ Postal

 Public Policy Committee – provides representation for the membership on government
issues impacting business
Chair: Robert Thompson, TW Squared

 Economic Development Committee – provides guidance & direction to Chamber,
County, local gov‟t officials, CFL regarding issues vital to expanding the local economy
Chair: Curt Binney, Sines, Blakeslee, Madyda, CPAs


Chamber Committees

 Sports & Tourism Committee – formed to better coordinate, promote, and capitalize on
the many sports & fitness activities that happen in South Lake for the betterment of the
entire community
Chair: Gary Tolley, ADvantageous Media Partners

 Young Professionals Group – to cultivate young professionals in South Lake to become
leaders in business and community
Chair: Patrick Carey, Oasis Outsourcing


Chamber Membership Expectations
The Chamber IS:
 a centralized organization representing business interests
Eg…if the SLCC closed it‟s doors tomorrow, another „Chamber‟ would form within…2 months
or less?

 an ideal organization where you can further your business via networking, creating strategic
alliances, sharing ideas, and collaborating

 a very important ingredient in your recipe towards business success

The Chamber IS NOT:
 a “Silver Bullet” – customers are not created out of thin air, and your phone does not magically
start to ring!

Business basics, effort, luck, smarts are all still needed to succeed!


Membership reflecting on YOUR BUSINESS:

Chamber Membership:

 Establishes credibility for your business
 Demonstrates to your customers commitment to your business
 Demonstrates to the public your commitment to the community
 Shows your business‟ willingness to be a part of a larger picture – you are a
team player who contributes to the whole
 Affords you many opportunities to involve yourself in and promote your
business to the community


The Big Picture Summary
* Fighting for Business NOW in South Lake *
- Improving local business practices
- Promoting local businesses to the residents/visitors
- Connecting the entire business community

* Fighting for the FUTURE of Business in South Lake *
- Gathering the Leaders in the Business Community
- Developing a UNIFIED VOICE for the Business Community
- Public Policy/Economic Development
- Young Professionals

* Fighting for ALL of the South Lake Community *
- Community Outreach & Connection
- Community Relations (GEM of the Hills/Citizen of the Year)
- Education Committee (Teachers Appreciation Breakfast)
- Quality of Life for South Lake

Transformational vs. Transactional

 Transactional member
v What‟s my ROI for membership?
v What‟s in it for ME?

 Transformational member
v How can I help to build up the entire South Lake
Community?
v How can I be a part of the solution?

What type of member will YOU be?

The Chamber Staff
Ray San Fratello
President
South Lake Chamber of Commerce
352-394-4191
rays@southlakechamber-fl.com

Ray Villegas Christie Bobbitt
Director of Membership Communications Coordinator
South Lake Chamber of Commerce South Lake Chamber of Commerce
rayv@southlakechamber-fl.com christieb@southlakechamber-fl.com

Lucy Hage Janice Hull
Bookkeeper (contracted) Front Desk/Receptionist
South Lake Chamber of Commerce South Lake Chamber of Commerce
office@southlakechamber-fl.com receptionist@southlakechamber-fl.com


2012 Community Trustees


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