Chamber finalizing its website launch
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
GRAND FALLS - The Grand Falls, Drummond and St. André Chamber of Commerce is busy putting the finishing touches on its soon-to-be-launched website.
"We are planning on having the launch either in December of January," stated Chamber general manager Mélanie Ouellette-Toner during an interview last week with The Victoria Star.
"Our objective is to give more visibility to our members as well as encouraging them to network via the Internet," she added. "Everyone will have access to the website but to send e-mails to each other, etc., they will have to be members of the Chamber of Commerce. That way, they can establish closer links within the business community. We have the technology, so why not use it?"
Ouellette-Toner added that the website will also feature links to other organizations as well as the Town of Grand Falls.
The chamber has been very active throughout the past year with its its luncheon conferences held three to four times a year and its recently-launched Prestige Enterprise facet.
"This event highlights a different business which is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. September saw chamber members visit Open Sky Adventures while this month's visit on Oct. 21 will be held at the Maritime Travel agency located on Broadway Boulevard from 5 to 7 p.m.," Ouellette-Toner said.
"This initiative is a direct response to our survey dating back to this past May among chamber of commerce members," she said during an interview with The Victoria Star. "The survey results were most definite pertaining to what our members would like to see activity-wise in the coming year."
"Seventy-eight percent of our members surveyed stated they believed that the chamber of commerce is organizing interesting activities, while 88 per cent stated they felt that increased networking possibilities within the business community was important."
Eighty-seven percent want to network with business people. Most of them also stated they like the "5 to 7" activities after work as well as the business luncheons," she added.
"The new programming is meant to increase networking to our members' advantage. When a business does a 5 to 7 event, it wants to stand out and let people know what it is all about and why they should be its clients. The chamber sends out the invitations and the business is responsible to greet the members and organize the evening. The business owners can also choose to offer a light lunch, etc. It is left to them to decide.
As we expected in accordance with our survey's results, this initiative is proving to be a successful one," Ouellette-Toner said.
"We will try and have a prestige enterprise each month except for December when we will again have our member appreciation evening which will be held at the end of November or early December at the E. and P. Sénéchal Centre. In November, the prestige entreprise will be the Best Western. In January, it will be Falls in Shape while February's has yet to be determined. We will also have a business luncheon in February. In March, we will have our annual employee of the year gala and the prestige enterprise will be Cajmo Comfort."
"Our annual meeting will be held at the end of April when our programming for 2010-2011 will be unveiled," she added.
Since its last annual meeting, the chamber has a new slate of directors.
"They are a young and dynamic group. They are motivated and excited," stated Ouellette-Toner. "Most of them are business owners themselves and they are working both for the members and themselves as part of the same group."
In 2006, the chamber had 114 members. In 2009, that number has increased to 215.
"While it is a big improvement, we are always recruting new members," staid Ouellette-Toner.
And, becoming a new member has never been more interesting than the present. "We currently have a contest whereby someone can become a new member for next year. However, if the membership fee is paid now, the business will benefit from the chamber's services, etc. for the months of October, November and December as well. It's like getting three free months and the ability to participate in our activities," she added.
"If the new membership is purchased before Nov. 30, their names will be part of a draw in which the first prize will be $400 in gift certificates and two tickets to our employee appreciation evening. The second and third prizes will be $200 and $100 in gift certificates respectively as well as two tickets each for the same evening," Ouellette-Toner explained.
Also in 2010, the chamber of commerce, which was founded in 1960, will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
"Another well-known organization, the Regional Potato Festival, will also mark its 50th anniversary next year. So, in that context, the chamber of commerce is planning an activity during the Regional Potato Festival week. Definite planning towards this special celebration will begin following our Dec. 5th evening and the holidays," she added.
"It is very important for our members to participate in our activities. We want to create opportunities for our members and area businesses in order for all, in turn, to create their own partnerships," stated Ouellette-Toner. "The survey results led to these initiatives. It's up to the members to follow through. We are just responding to their needs. The survey not only created demands but also needs which are being addressed."
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