Delaware County Chamber of Commerce 2006 Operation Plan
Membership Development
The Chamber's Membership Development Committee will work to ensure that attention is given to the needs of member firms so that value-driven benefits are provided. This will assist in the retention and recruitment of member firms and contribute to future organizational growth.
I. Member Awareness
A. Member Communication
1. Chambergram published quarterly
2. Quarterly meetings with local chamber leaders
3. Make better use of the Chamber website and email to facilitate communication to and between members
B. Chamber Member Recognition
1. "New Investors" listing in Chambergram.
2. Annual Dinner Awards. Seek to expand the categories.
3. Recognition of Chamber volunteers.
C. Local Chamber Outreach: The County Chamber will strengthen its connections to local chambers in the County and support, when appropriate, their efforts to create stronger communities. We will also facilitate interaction among the volunteer leadership of these groups. Specifically, we will:
1. Continue to host quarterly dinner meetings of local Chamber presidents
2. Seek the involvement of local chambers on topics of concern to their communities
3. Coordinate new resident information packets with local chambers
4. Pursue dual membership arrangements with local chambers
5. Raise public awareness of local chambers during Chamber of Commerce Week in September
6. Attend at least two meetings of each local chamber annually
7. Whenever possible, attend annual dinner of each local chamber
II. Member Retention and Recruitment Activities
A. Increase membership retention by 3%
1. The Director of Member Services will visit with members to assess satisfaction with chamber
2. Mail "Chamber benefits" letter to members one month prior to their renewal dates.
3. "Thank you for your continued support" letter upon renewal
4. Call all non-renewing members
B. Recruit 100 new members to the Chamber
1. Develop a prospective member information packet
2. Mail Chambergram to all non-members (annual)
3. Mail member information package to non-members (annual)
4. Mail Membership information to new businesses
5. Visit all new businesses to discuss the role of the Chamber
III. Program Activities
A. Annual Dinner
B. Business to Business Networking Breakfasts: Quarterly breakfast meetings will be arranged in towns throughout the county, featuring a speaker and topic. New and established businesses are invited to attend for presentations, updates and discussions on critical business-related issues. College and high school students are invited to attend to learn more about career opportunities.
C. Add at least one networking activity
IV. Development of Value-Based Direct and Group Benefits
A. Determine criteria for adding member services and benefits
B. Increase benefit offerings
1. Solicit member input on potential future program offerings
2. Investigate long-distance and cellular phone discount programs
3. Investigate group pricing for electricity and natural gas
4. Expand participation in member-to-member discount program
5. Create special discount days for Chamber members.
C. Evaluate Current Benefit Program: Assess member satisfaction and use of current benefits
D. Contact with Benefit Providers: The Chamber will provide effective oversight of companies that are providing program services and benefits to membership, including periodic meetings with the Membership Committee.
V. Professional Development
A. Conferences
1. Maintain information of area conferences which may benefit member firms
B. Training
1. Create a Quality Service program directed initially to the service industry
2. Maintain an inventory of regional training opportunities and establish ourselves as a clearinghouse and referral source
C. Business Counseling
1. Maintain agreement with the Small Business Development Center at Binghamton University to provide business counseling
2. Facilitate establishment of SCORE services in county
3. Promote the services available through the Executive Service Corps of Otsego-Delaware Counties
Communications
Achieving a broad-based public support for Chamber goals and programs will result in private-public partnerships, providing value to membership and leading to adequate financial support.
I. Community Awareness
1. Increase number of press releases to keep general public informed of Chamber activities and accomplishments
2. Monthly radio interview reporting Chamber activities
3. Continue monthly newspaper column, "Where We Stand" in Walton Reporter. Seek to expand column to other newspapers.
II. Advocacy
Our role as advocate is to be a catalyst and stimulus to facilitate and promote business growth and community betterment.
A. Assess members concerns and create a legislative agenda
Through its Governmental Affairs Committee, the Chamber will identify issues of greatest concern and impact to its membership and formulate lobbying efforts to achieve the desired results.
Topics may include:
1. Inherit Risk Legislation
2. New York inclusion in the Northeast Dairy Compact
3. Catskill Reinvestment Act
4. New York State Department of Transportation take-over of some County routes including Co. Rt. 21 and 7
5. US Army Corps of Engineers wetland regulations
B. Participation in industry and state lobbying efforts
1. National Federation of Independent Businesses
2. Business Council of New York State
3. New York State Vacation and Travel Association
C. Encourage members to join Chamber leadership at lobbying events
1. Small Business Day
2. Tourism Industry Government Action Day
3. Regional Tourism Legislative Reception
D. Maintain a visible role in the County's Phosphorus Management Study and subsequent implementation plan
E. Board members and/or staff will attend each meeting of the County Board of Supervisors
F. Establish quarterly meetings with Economic Opportunity and Development Committee of the Board of Supervisors and IDA.
G. Create mechanism to meet periodically with appropriate committees of the CWC
Economic Development
The Chamber will support and participate in economic development activities that lead to economic growth for the Delaware County region. Our greatest success will be achieved through partnership with economic and community development organizations located in our region.
I. Business Recruitment and Retention Activities
A. Use Business Resource Center as a tool for business retention.
The Chamber will work with the Office for Employment and Training and other county and regional agencies to better use the Business Resource Center for business retention efforts. Marketing the Center's resources to the business community as well as the Center as a conduit to those groups wishing to assist businesses will be key parts of this effort.
B. Economic Development Work Group Coordination.
The Chamber will continue to take a leadership role in bringing together the appropriate stakeholders to encourage a better-coordinated approach to economic development in Delaware County.
Specifically, the Chamber will host a meeting of, but not limited to, representatives from Delaware County Economic Development and Planning, IDA, Office for Employment and Training, Delhi College, ONC BOCES, DCMO BOCES, CWC, WAC, Farm Bureau, the Catskill Center, M-ARK Project, Cooperative Extension and County Government.
The Chamber will also invite County industry representatives, including health care, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, business services and others, to periodic meetings to comment on the progress of economic development efforts and suggest new approaches.
C. Comprehensive Resource Guide: The Chamber will create a Resource Guide of materials for newly established business owners or entrepreneurs investigating the possibility of establishing a business in Delaware County. The Guide will include a checklist and information such as funding, setting up an office, technology, employees, marketing, advertising, and education. Individual components of the guide will also be accessible on the Chamber's website.
D. Market Delaware County as a desirable business location: The Chamber will seek to expand upon the promotional themes developed for the tourism promotional effort and, using the factual data compiled by NYSEG and others, to develop a campaign for business attraction.
A separate section of the Chamber's website will be developed for this purpose. The extent to which that Chamber will be able to mount an advertising campaign is dependent upon securing external sources of funding.
II. Business Promotion Activities
A. Delaware County Business EXPO: The Chamber will stage an in-county trade/consumer show highlighting the diversity of businesses in the County. A special emphasis will be made to encourage intra-county business opportunities and promote future employment and entrepreneur opportunities to students.
Participants will include county businesses and business support agencies. This event will be supported by a promotional campaign designed to maximize public attendance.
B. In-office promotion: Evaluate the promotion value of the front office. Consider purchasing a display case for County products.
III. Community Partnerships
The Chamber will endeavor to build partnerships with all groups that will enhance the business and social climate. Specifically, we will continue our formal relationships with:
Delaware County Phosphorus Management Task Force
Delaware County Farm Land Protection Plan Working Group
Delaware County Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corp.
The Chamber will also continue to support and participate in the activities of the Business Council of New York State, NYS Vacation and Travel Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses and the New York State Chamber Alliance.
Operations
The Chamber will responsibly manage its operation as a successful business organization building the necessary resources to assure its continued growth.
I. Technology
A. Internal Systems
1. Purchase equipment capable of electronic data transfer and fast internet connection
2. Create a networked computer system
B. Internet
1. Revise Chamber website to allow increased user interaction and access to data
2. Integrate resources of New York State Tourism Division website and database into our website and office operations. Permit tourism stakeholders to submit information about their properties in an electronic format via a submission form on our website.
3. Facilitate electronic communication between Chamber and membership.
4. Create on-line membership directory
C. Evaluate phone system
II. Human Resources
A. Review personnel policies and procedures
B. Create Employee Handbook
III. Finances
A. Assess membership investment schedule
B. Continue budget operating surplus
C. Increase fund balance
D. Formalize budget preparation and review process through Finance Committee
E. Assess short-term investment possibilities
F. Investigate sources of revenue other than that from membership fees
IV. Information Services
A. Purchase dedicated Chamber management software
B. Maintain membership database including such elements as e-mail address, fax numbers, business category and number of employees
C. Update tourism database to include property characteristics in a format which will facilitate electronic transfer to the New York State Tourism Department database
V. Facilities
A. Review office layout to ensure maximum efficiency and consistency with Chamber goals
B. Evaluate office lease and location
Tourism Promotion
Through its Tourism Committee, the Chamber will encourage economic growth through tourism initiatives and expansion that will preserve and promote our cultural heritage and be compatible with our natural environment.
I. Promotion Plan
The promotion plan will include the following efforts and related activities:
A. Fishing Season Promotion (to begin in late March)
1. Design fisherman's map of Delaware County
2. Design giveaway program using radio, print and web advertising
3. Develop parallel public relations campaign
4. Create web presence for fishing
B. Hiking Promotion (to be launched Memorial Day)
1. Identify hiking trails in Delaware County
2. Research and develop funding opportunities for production of hiking map
3. Design hiking map/book
4. Design promotional campaign
5. Create web presence for day hikes in Delaware County
6. Develop public relations campaign for recreational hiking
C. Biking Promotion (to be launched mid-late June and build to biking event in August)
1. Develop bike routes in Delaware County
2. Post tour date on biking event calendars (print and internet)
3. Create bike tour brochure and distribute to bike clubs
4. Highlight bike tours on web site
5. Develop bike tours into publication format
6. Develop sponsorship opportunities for bike tour
7. Develop PR campaign to promote bicycling in Delaware County
8. Create bike tour committee that draws in community and college participation
9. Continue to support and market downhill mountain biking and off-road biking
D. Retail Publication - Regional development
We need to develop a brochure for distribution regionally to increase day visits and overnights in Delaware County. This will be heavily promoted to Cooperstown/Oneonta area visitors and will feature lodging, attractions, antiques, auctions, art galleries and bookstores, as well as restaurants. This piece needs to fit in a brochure rack and be a quick and easy reference guide.
1. Confirm information in existing travel planner through direct contact
2. Design user-friendly brochure
3. Approach featured businesses for giveaways/freebies/possible fam tour materials
4. Design night at the ball park promotion
5. Target marketing to Dreams Park and both Hall of Fame attendees and their families
6. Baseball Promotion with first game in Delaware County hook
E. Snowmobiling Guide
1. Convene meeting of all snowmobile clubs
2. Encourage development of a map/guide through commercial sources
3. Encourage increased signage
4. Encourage utilization of available state funding through education of grant process
5. Public relations plan
F. Hunting Promotion
Hunting promotion will be considered after reviewing the response to our fishing season promotion.
G. Farm Tours
1. Existing farm map will be supplemented with the creation of appropriate signage for display by participating properties
2. Create web presence for farm map
H. Events Calendar
1. Increase distribution within the county and in neighboring counties
2. Tie in with "I Love NY" site
3. Tie-in with Delaware County site
4. Development of Catskills regional site
5. Increase sources of information
6. Design vehicle for regular delivery of information
7. Institutionalize event submission procedures with appropriate lead time
I.Strengthen programming within the county
1. Encourage addition of craft element at Catskill Llama Festival and other events
2. Identify events that could grow and improve with assistance from the Chamber
J. Complete Inventory of Properties & Lodging facilities: A goal this year is develop a complete inventory of the county's tourism assets. In addition, a marking/rating system for accommodations and a means to collect that information needs to be
developed. This is still in the idea stage but could possibly be completed with the assistance
of Delhi Tech hospitality interns or other appropriate manpower.
II. Operations
A. Renew contract for tourism promotion services with Delaware County
B. Expand the Tourism Committee to include representatives from different areas of the County
III. Outreach and Education
A. Working with our regional partners, the Chamber will sponsor a tourism conference directed toward the hospitality industry.
B. Actions directed toward elected officials will include a Regional Legislative Reception, cosponsored with NYS Hotel and Travel Association, and Government Action Day, sponsored by NYS Vacation and Travel Association.
C. The chamber will select present the Banker Tourism Award at its annual dinner.
IV. Public Awareness
A. Signage: The Chamber will review directional signage needs within the County and seek funding to implement a program.
B. Consumer and Trade Shows: The Chamber will attend promotional shows and expositions in our target markets to provide Delaware County to the travel consumer and tourism professionals. Understanding that this effort is best accomplished using a regional approach, we will coordinate this shows with our regional tourism partners. When special opportunities present themselves or when the region will not be participating in an event, we will attend to promote Delaware County as a separate entity.
C. State Tourism Department: The Chamber will continue to support New York State's tourism promotion efforts in such a way as to maximize our public exposure in State publications and promotional programs. We will maintain and expand relationships with Department staff to influence editorial and resource decisions.
V. Regional Promotion
A. Catskill Association for Tourism Services
The Chamber will work to strengthen the organization and create a framework to manage an image campaign targeted to appropriate markets and other promotional and tourism development activities. We will fully participate in the decision-making process and lend our assistance at travel shows.
B. Catskill Watershed Corporation
Understanding the potential for tourism promotion through the CWC, the Chamber will seek to be a continued resource for the CWC on tourism promotion issues. We will also pursue the CWC as a source of long-term consistent funding.
Special Projects
Special projects afford the Chamber opportunities for heightened public and member awareness and involvement.
I. National Junior College Division III Men's Basketball Championship
Working with the Tournament Committee and the Delhi Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber will seek to heighten local and regional visibility of the tournament and, by extension, the County. Promotions may include:
1. Targeted press releases
2. Retail sales opportunities
3. Chamber member discount night
4. Advance ticket sales promotions
5. Consignment sales of tournament soft goods
II. Quarterly Breakfast Meetings
Quarterly breakfast meetings will be arranged in towns throughout the county featuring a speaker or topic. Members and new businesses owners will be invited to attend for presentations, updates and discussions on critical business-related issues. College and high school students will also be invited to attend to learn more about career opportunities. Responsibility for this project will be with the Membership Development Committee.
III. Annual Dinner
This is the Chamber's opportunity to formally recognize those individuals who are working to improve the business community and environment of Delaware County. The evening is also an opportunity to feature the uniqueness of our County.
IV. Delaware County Fair
As the central event of the summer, the Fair provides a venue to contact a high percentage of county full and part-time residents as well as visitors. Our presence will emphasize county diversity and opportunity for growth. County pride and economic potential need to be the dual thrusts of the effort.
V. Delaware County Bicycle Tour
To promote Delaware County as an ideal place for recreational bicycling, the Chamber will again sponsor a bicycle tour day. This non-competitive event attracted fifty riders last year. We will continue to seek the active participation of the local chambers from those communities in which the course travels. The responsibility of this event will lie in the Tourism Committee.
VI. Delaware County Business EXPO
The Chamber will stage a trade/consumer show highlighting the diversity of businesses in the County. A special emphasis will be made to encourage intra-county business opportunities and promote future employment and entrepreneur opportunities to students. The Economic Development Committee will oversee the development of this project.
See how the Delaware Chamber of Commerce can help your business prosper by contacting us today at 607.746.2281 or info@delawarecounty.org.
