The Montevideo Area Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that provides, through the power of its membership, a variety of services for not only its members but the entire Montevideo area as well.

The Chamber draws upon the ideas, talents, energies, and leadership of its members to achieve our set goals.  By joining together, the Chamber’s membership is able to make a positive impact on the entire community.  The Chamber’s various committees and task force groups work to bring about reform and improvements in the areas of workforce, economic, industrial, and community development, as well as tourism and other areas that affect the quality of life in our community. 

Chamber of Commerce membership is not a contribution; it is an investment in the future.

Mission Statement

Support the growth and sustainability of businesses to make the Montevideo area a better place to live.
 

Goals of the Chamber

2007 Goals

Membership/Membership Retention
Marketing and Promotion – Awareness of Chamber

• Recognizing the need and discovering ways to have a large and involved membership that will understand the value of Chamber membership.
• Work on the retention of our current members by better marketing of the Chamber.  Helping our members, the community, and the region better understand what the Chamber does.  Helping them understand that much of what we do positively affects their businesses but is not always visibly tangible.
• Getting the schools more involved with our membership and the Chamber.
• Communicate and enhance the resources of the Chamber to both the members, but the Community as well. 
• To better define the benefits of membership.
• Continue to create additional benefits and added value to membership in the Chamber.

Finances
Dues Structure

• Secure financial independence.  There is too much risk with 65% of our budget relying on the success of events.  When one event is not well attended, if an event is rained out, the Chamber takes heavy financial hits.  We need other non-due revenue ideas that are steady and consistent.
• Examine and study the dues structure.  Dues account for only 35% of our budget, and have only been raised 3 times in 16 years.  There are concerns over inequalities in the current schedule.  However, a new dues schedule could change everyone’s dues dramatically, either up or down. This is a large task that must be weighed carefully.
• Collaborate with other organizations on events to fundraise.
• Develop system for timely dues collection.

Technology

• Develop opportunities to save money or make money through better use of technology.  For example, sending the newsletter through e-mail would save the Chamber thousands of dollars and would also allow members to forward it on to all staff.
• Enhance the benefits of our website.  Look into opportunities to upgrade the site that will attract more attention for our members and the Chamber, such as an enhanced community calendar.  Better opportunities for advertising. 
• Enhance efficiency through the use of technology in the Chamber office to allow the Executive Director more time to meet with membership.

Events & Programs

• Get the Education Committee active again to assist our businesses with the ever-growing need for employees. Keep a line of communications open between businesses and our schools on what the future needs will be in Montevideo and what their current needs are.  Educate the educators about what businesses we have here so they can educate our students.
• Create programs, seminars, and events to retain our youth in the community.
• Develop a leadership and youth leadership program within the Chamber.
• Define missions and goals of committees so they are committed.  Re-evaluate meeting times to better meet the volunteer’s needs and availability.
• Events need to be more focused and streamlined.  Can there be fewer, but larger, events that will benefit everyone?

On-Going Goals of the Chamber of Commerce

• Staff Keeping an Aggressive and Innovative Attitude

• Developing Move Value in Membership

• Visibility of the Chamber

• Commitment by Board Members in the Success of the Chamber

• Develop New Relations with other Groups and Committees

• Becoming More Organized and Detail Oriented

• Personal Visits by the Executive Director and the Board of Directors

• Expanding Electronic Communications

• Time Management - Measuring Staff’s Time as Part of the Event/Project Expense

• More Utilization of the Board of Directors

• Continued Strong Board Communication