Chamber Window - August 10, 2008

By Phyllis Snodgrass
President - San Marcos Chamber of Commerce

August 09, 2008 01:49 pm

Are you nervous about your job?
We understand.
Are you nervous about where the country is headed?
We understand.
Are you nervous about rising gas prices, high taxes, rising healthcare costs and the current state of the housing market? We understand.
Your San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is focused on these and other quality of life issues in San Marcos.
Because in order for a business community to thrive and compete in today's global economy - you need someone watching your back. You need a business membership organization whose sole reason for existence is to promote and protect your business, fight onerous regulations and burdensome taxes and help you prosper and succeed.
We are currently operating in very turbulent times. And what has been happening at the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, the oldest business organization in San Marcos dedicated 100 percent to helping you succeed?
Keeping You Informed
The San Marcos Chamber has developed a weekly e-newsletter to provide timely communication to its members about events and activities in the community that affect the businesses in our region. If you are not on our e-newsletter subscription list, contact us today.

Providing Feedback
The San Marcos Chamber now conducts e-surveys about issues affecting members and uses the results to drive actions that protect and support our member businesses.

Causing Collaboration
The San Marcos Chamber is working with the city of San Marcos to promote economic development, with the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District and Texas State University to close educational gaps in the community, with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Texas State University to promote a trade mission to Mexico.
We are also working closer with area chambers to foster a regional approach to issues facing our communities.
We are reaching out to achieve more and avoiding duplication of efforts.

Seeking Simplicity
The San Marcos Chamber is simplifying its membership investment structure to fit today's businesses. Soon you will see a menu-driven system which emphasizes the value of membership and eliminates the inequality of traditional chamber dues structures.

New Experiences
The San Marcos Chamber is looking for cutting edge programming that address the needs of today's member such as Speed Networking, LEADS GROUPS and Webinars.

Responsiveness
Through the President's 12 @ 12 Focus group luncheons and an open door policy with members, we are reaching more and more business owners, managers and staff and finding out what's on their minds today. And, we are using that information to make sure we are focused on what matters to members today. Not yesterday, not five years ago, but today.
Enough Already! Sometimes we have to focus less on our “to do” list and more on our “stop doing” list. As we go from “Good to Great,” we have to focus more on the things that our members want us to focus on and less on maintaining all the committees and programs we have had in prior years.
We are weeding out programs that lack genuine demand, that are not mission focused and that do not come with funding streams and/or growth potential.
We are working to ensure the highest-best use of staff and resources that bring the greatest value to our members.
As we continue to work on the issues facing our community, we realize that our hard working Chamber members deserve a break.
We are going to continue to fight for business - because that means careers, opportunities and an increased tax base to support the quality of life we are all seeking. And that's something everyone can feel good about.
For more information on the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, call us at 393-5900.
The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is focused on business, focused on you!

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