By:
Steve Gilmore
CEO
Throughout the year we ask member business to reinvest in their business through membership in the Chamber. A very common response I get from those who are interested in dropping their membership is that they can't make it to events.
Let’s think about this for a minute, when did a Chamber become an organization that’s only benefit is networking? A Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the business community. It is an action organization that helps businesses grow and thrive through advocacy, promotion, education and of course networking.
Networking is vital to small business, and that is why the Chamber has over 80 networking events each year. People do business with those they know, like, and trust and a Chamber is the vehicle to get people to connect, but it isn't the only benefit.
Take advocacy for example. The Chamber has been extremely active on transportation issues, and if you travel north on I-5 you can see some of the results of our work, which is the construction of the auxiliary lane between I-205 and Wilsonville. We are also in the middle of working with the city on a variety of issues including the sign code, promoting/developing the Coffee Creek Industrial Area, and encouraging businesses to move to Wilsonville. It is vitally important the business community is at the table with all levels of government, because if we aren’t we will likely be on the menu. We are prepared to represent businesses on every level from the city up and truly be a unified voice for business in our region.
The Chamber receives thousands of visitors, phone calls, and visitors to our website each year and we only refer Chamber members. The Chamber’s award winning printed Community and Business directory is mailed to approximately 13,500 addresses in Aurora, Wilsonville, rural Washington County, and parts of Stafford. This directory is the go to place for business information in our south Metro region. Our website has nearly a thousand unique user visits each day, and that number continues to rise.
Benefits in Chambers differ by Chamber, but they are all working hard for business members. An investment in your Chamber of Commerce is an investment in your business. The question isn't if you can afford membership in the Chamber, it is whether you can afford NOT to be a member in the Chamber.
www.wilsonvillechamber.com
Monday, March 8, 2010
Ambassador Corner!
Ambassadors are Chamber members who volunteer their time to provide a crucial link between the Chamber and its members. They also make business a priority and encourage Chamber members to shop locally, increasing the economic vitality for the Wilsonville area. Ambassadors enjoy the rewards of making new contacts, strengthening relationships and accessing a wealth of information and resources. Ambassadors will be seen greeting attendees at our networking events, volunteering at our large annual events, and reaching out to our members throughout the year. Our 2010 Ambassador team includes:
• Rhonda Bakke (Chair), John Ludlow Realty Inc.
• Danny Abrego, Portland Reign Photography
• Tim Aye, McLarens Carpet One
• Tammy Beal, West Coast Bank
• Carol Boeckman, Paychex Inc.
• Dorie Christman, Bay Northwest / T-Line
• Valia Eskandari, Chic Design
• Leslie James, Mary Kay
• Carole Maylender, Key Bank – Tualatin
• Kim Rose, Mack Johnsen, DMD, PC
• Donny Salinas, Integra Telecom
• Vivian Wilcox, Edward Jones / Investments
• Rhonda Bakke (Chair), John Ludlow Realty Inc.
• Danny Abrego, Portland Reign Photography
• Tim Aye, McLarens Carpet One
• Tammy Beal, West Coast Bank
• Carol Boeckman, Paychex Inc.
• Dorie Christman, Bay Northwest / T-Line
• Valia Eskandari, Chic Design
• Leslie James, Mary Kay
• Carole Maylender, Key Bank – Tualatin
• Kim Rose, Mack Johnsen, DMD, PC
• Donny Salinas, Integra Telecom
• Vivian Wilcox, Edward Jones / Investments
Points from the President
By: Ray Phelps
The voters have spoken. As you know, your Chamber opposed the passage of Ballot Measures 66 & 67 since we felt the more appropriate question for Oregonians is tax reform, not higher taxes. Your Chamber continues to believe business will be the leader in bringing economic recovery to Oregon. A thriving business community, both large and small businesses, creates jobs, brings income to families, promotes economic vitality and ultimately raises consumer confidence.
The University of Oregon’s Index of Economic Indicators rose 1.2% in December to 86.8 (1997=100) from a revised November figure of 85.8. Since reaching a low in July 2009, the UO index has risen for five consecutive months as Oregon’s economy pulled out of recession. The UO index was revised to account for an annual update of seasonal adjustment and standardization factors; the revisions resulted on only minor quantitative changes.
I am going to follow the UO’s Index for the next several months. I believe it is one way for us to track the impact of Measures 66 & 67 on Oregon’s economy during 2010 since this Index was compiled immediately prior to passage of these measures. Timothy Duy, University of Oregon’s Department of Economics, reported the following highlights based on December’s Index of Economic Indicators:
• Labor markets are improved. Initial employment claims continue to edge down, signaling a slow but steady reduction in the pace of layoffs, while employment services payrolls – largely temporary employment firms – extended the previous month’s modest improvement, rising to the highest level since last July. This is a sign that some firms need to bolster their workforce in the face of firming economic activity. Overall nonfarm payrolls posted a 2,900 gain on employment increases in manufacturing, education and health services, and the trade, transportation and utilities sectors.
• Residential building permits (seasonally adjusted and smoothed) rose again, continuing improvement from this summer’s lows. Even with the gains, however, residential construction activity remains at very low levels and the industry remains susceptible to decreasing federal support in the months ahead.
• In a very positive development, orders for core manufactured goods rose again, signaling further improvement in business confidence. Pent-up demand from firms that delayed capital purchases during the financial crisis combined with firming economic activity is bolstering manufacturing orders, which will in turn help support Oregon’s manufacturing sector.
• While Oregon’s economy, like the national economy, is no longer in recession, considerable uncertainty about the pace of the recovery remains. The combined impact of inventory correction, pent-up demand, and fiscal and monetary stimulus greatly supported economic activity at the end of 2009. The underlying rate of growth may prove disappointing and unable to sustain strong, consistent improvement in labor market conditions as the impact of these factors wanes in the months ahead.
I truly hope our business community can continue this progress toward a better Oregon economy for all Oregonians. Time will tell!
www.wilsonvillechamber.com
The voters have spoken. As you know, your Chamber opposed the passage of Ballot Measures 66 & 67 since we felt the more appropriate question for Oregonians is tax reform, not higher taxes. Your Chamber continues to believe business will be the leader in bringing economic recovery to Oregon. A thriving business community, both large and small businesses, creates jobs, brings income to families, promotes economic vitality and ultimately raises consumer confidence.
The University of Oregon’s Index of Economic Indicators rose 1.2% in December to 86.8 (1997=100) from a revised November figure of 85.8. Since reaching a low in July 2009, the UO index has risen for five consecutive months as Oregon’s economy pulled out of recession. The UO index was revised to account for an annual update of seasonal adjustment and standardization factors; the revisions resulted on only minor quantitative changes.
I am going to follow the UO’s Index for the next several months. I believe it is one way for us to track the impact of Measures 66 & 67 on Oregon’s economy during 2010 since this Index was compiled immediately prior to passage of these measures. Timothy Duy, University of Oregon’s Department of Economics, reported the following highlights based on December’s Index of Economic Indicators:
• Labor markets are improved. Initial employment claims continue to edge down, signaling a slow but steady reduction in the pace of layoffs, while employment services payrolls – largely temporary employment firms – extended the previous month’s modest improvement, rising to the highest level since last July. This is a sign that some firms need to bolster their workforce in the face of firming economic activity. Overall nonfarm payrolls posted a 2,900 gain on employment increases in manufacturing, education and health services, and the trade, transportation and utilities sectors.
• Residential building permits (seasonally adjusted and smoothed) rose again, continuing improvement from this summer’s lows. Even with the gains, however, residential construction activity remains at very low levels and the industry remains susceptible to decreasing federal support in the months ahead.
• In a very positive development, orders for core manufactured goods rose again, signaling further improvement in business confidence. Pent-up demand from firms that delayed capital purchases during the financial crisis combined with firming economic activity is bolstering manufacturing orders, which will in turn help support Oregon’s manufacturing sector.
• While Oregon’s economy, like the national economy, is no longer in recession, considerable uncertainty about the pace of the recovery remains. The combined impact of inventory correction, pent-up demand, and fiscal and monetary stimulus greatly supported economic activity at the end of 2009. The underlying rate of growth may prove disappointing and unable to sustain strong, consistent improvement in labor market conditions as the impact of these factors wanes in the months ahead.
I truly hope our business community can continue this progress toward a better Oregon economy for all Oregonians. Time will tell!
www.wilsonvillechamber.com
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