Ken Warner: Chamber dues are a superior investment in community

In some cases, they conduct a assessment and decide it is an financial commitment and when factors get much better, there will be the similar chances as in the earlier to be engaged and concerned. Other people determine not to spend and hold out to see how points are upcoming year. Some terminate their membership for reasons unknown other than the problem of price.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Chamber membership, and we know this is a outcome of the financial impression on our customers. When companies have shared with us that they are battling and are unable to make their investment decision or make the financial commitment at the same level, the Chamber has labored with the member to support them keep included in hopes that they will carry on their financial commitment when the financial system improves.

Our Chamber has lost more than 70 customers in 2020. In my 36 many years of Chamber management, I have never ever experienced a loss so significant. An interesting reality to note is that we have not shed any dining establishments or bars in spite of how negatively individuals businesses ended up and keep on to be impacted by COVID-19.

We hope to attain the shed memberships back in 2021, and go on to clearly show worth in new means. We will need to take care of the effects of COVID-19 and not permit it manage or define us. We are no for a longer time inquiring prospects to be part of or pay out for membership (which indicates that you have to do some thing to stay active) but fairly, we are phrasing it as an investment in the community.

In my opinion, a Chamber membership is one particular of the very best means to spend in your neighborhood. Chamber membership is a determination to goodwill, training, and improvement. We require our investors to go on their membership so the Chamber can keep on to supply the packages, expert services, and worth that our local community and neighborhood firms have occur to be expecting and need to rebuild a powerful area and condition economy.

Via our investors’ participation and engagement, your Chamber can only increase and bolster the marketing and advocacy for the area-large enterprise community. Over the earlier year our members’ fiscal investments have served the Chamber aid users, non-associates and the community:

In these hard social and economic moments, we are more powerful collectively. Your Chamber proceeds to be the leader in neighborhood advertising, advocacy, associations, and financial development, as nicely as the only group symbolizing company in Kandiyohi County. We have in no way labored more durable for the neighborhood than we have around the previous calendar year and we will continue on to do so. If you are a member, thank you. If not, you should give us a get in touch with at (320) 235-0300.

Ken Warner is the president of the Willmar Lakes Place Chamber of Commerce.