Comments on: Is Our Chamber of Commerce Obsolete?

By: Cynthia Spencer

Cynthia Spencer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:52:39 +0000

Wow, is this a town that loves to discuss or what?!?
I’ve found Chamber networking events and workshops to be valuable and know I could know more about the other biz advocacy that goes one. Feels like they spend a lot of time and energy organizing events and being the Director of an event that was cut loose from the Chamber because they wanted to be less event oriented sometimes makes me smile.

Feel that all the local biz groups have merit for what they do and advocate for. Each of us have our own passions and gravitate toward the groups to which we want to give more of our time. I don’t think one group rolling everyone together would work if the passion was lost in the shuffle. Sustainability of Corvallis itself is a good but lofty goal so hopefully even as separate groups we can all play together nicely and not let the $$ grubbing get in our way.

By: Matthew Andresen

Matthew Andresen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:09:57 +0000

How do you help an organization succeed when most people helping don’t have a vested interest in their organization’s success and have very little involvement in membership gatherings?

By: Loyan

Loyan — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:37:41 +0000

Is the inference that Chris is challenging the value of the Chamber to promote Young Pros and SpeakerLunch?

Should we point out that YoungPros and SpeakerLunch have no mechanisms to generate revenue? What I’m saying is, what does Chris have to gain?

By: Chris Nordyke

Chris Nordyke — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:31:11 +0000

I had a good meeting with Mysty Rusk, the president of the Chamber Coalition. She makes a good point, and in the interest of full disclosure, I want to clarify some things.

In John and I’s post, we both point at good examples of community building that has added value- Young Pros, SpeakerLunch, and Beer and Blog.

It’s worth disclosing that I am currently the president of Young Pros (merely a title) and also one of the founding board members. I’m proud of what Rebecca Badger and the rest of us created almost 3 years ago.

I am also the founder of SpeakerLunch, an executive and entrepreneurs forum that has been in hibernation for the last few months.

I don’t have any organizing role in Beer and Blog- I’m merely a semi-regular and enthusiastic participant.

I don’t believe this changes the validity of any of my earlier assertions, but hopefully it exposes any personal motivation for my comments.

By: WeLoveCorvallis.com | Coming Together for Positive Change in Corvallis

WeLoveCorvallis.com | Coming Together for Positive Change in Corvallis — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:51:26 +0000

[...] our desire for more engagements of a higher quality between the community and city leaders. In a comment on a previous post, Corvallis City Counselor Mark O’Brien (Ward 1 Rules!) shared what I hopefully believe is a [...]

By: Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:47:34 +0000

Ok, ya got me Bill. Lobbying is probably to fancy a word for what I had in mind. Something I’ve noted during my Council term is that there’s a big part of the population that is simply stupefied by the prospect of engaging in the civic dialogue or the City for that matter. I think that spills over to the business community too. Maybe it seems too complicated, time consuming or just plain frustrating. I’m not sure but it was my personal frustration dealing with the Council that prompted me to run for office in the first place. It seems like the Council often runs more like a tram then a taxi. You know, just going along with the program. It’s tough to break old habits. If we business persons would come together and express our aspirations and frustrations openly and often I think you’d start to see a positive change in culture of the Council. That’s why I find the occasional divisions among the partners so dispiriting. We got to get business folks actively engaged with the Council on a regular basis and running for office too. Mysty, Joan and Kathleen can’t do it by themselves. And I think your idea for a “how to” manual is a very good thought.

By: Bill Ford

Bill Ford — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:03:54 +0000

Good points Mark. Thanks for serving on the city council and bringing a business background to the council. I am not sure about a “lobbying effort to the city council”, what would that look like? I am not saying it is not a good idea just not something that I have participated in before or even heard of here in the city. Maybe there is something else for city staff to consider taking on, an article or training session on how do get things done in Corvallis. Lobbying….who would have “thunk it”! Hmmmmmmmmm.

By: Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:52:31 +0000

I serve on the Council sub-committee charged with allocating transient occupancy tax dollars to economic development groups in the city. We also review those groups to ensure that they are using those dollars effectively. So I suppose I have a fairly good vantage point. I wouldn’t read too much into the phrase “pretty good”. Each of the tax fund supported programs is succeeding in their own way and is an important piece of the puzzle. I don’t think this is a good forum to re-air old news. In other words, you’re probably already aware of the “warts” and most of them are probably unsubstantiated and based on misunderstandings. I think it’s worth noting that parts of what the Chamber has taken on are tasks no one else has been willing or able to assume. And, conversely, other partners like the BEC are uniquely qualified to fulfill their missions.
To specifically address your question about what the Chamber is doing well several items come to mind. Consistent and effective lobbying of City Council on local ED matters, i.e.; business license, Land Use Application Fees, Economic Development Policy, the Willamette Angel Conference, fostering T.Gerding and Natural Point Sustainable EZ applications, co presentation of Willamette Innovators Night and quite significantly… development of new reporting capability able to quantify start up/retention/expansion results due to substantive interaction between businesses and the Chamber.
Honestly I’m a big fan of all of the ED partners in the City and it’s not my place to criticize. If somebody wants to do an ego trip and stir up a mess or start a turf war I think that’s a shame. We don’t need that right now. We may have different ideas about how to get where were going but that by no means justifies attacking the other guy to get ahead. Incidentally, I could list great things about CIBA, DCA, BEC, ONS, and WNHS too. There’s nothing wrong with holding folks accountable but you’ve got to have a little faith in them as well.

By: Loyan

Loyan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:41:08 +0000

I can express my own perception that there are several disjointed organizations tasked with business advocacy and/or economic development within Corvallis. I believe they exist in a naturally competitive situation because they receive funding from common and finite sources and overlap in purpose and objectives.

I will confess that these perceptions are based on my limited knowledge and understanding. I would welcome any insight.

By: Chris Nordyke

Chris Nordyke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:05:47 +0000

Mark,
Thanks for your comment.

Do you mind elaborating a bit about your observations of the chamber? What do you feel the chamber is doing a “pretty good” job of? and what are the “warts and all” in your opinion.

I ask this with genuine interest, as I’m currently serving as the chair for the chamber’s membership services committee. I want to know what we’re doing well, and not so much. I have my opinions, but they’re only worth so much.

Chris