SCOTTSDALECHAMBER.COM
MEMBER COMMUNIQUÉ AUGUST 2014 - NOVEMBER 2014
Rick Kidder
Message from the CEO While the chamber is a not-for-profit corporation, it is not a charitable entity as defined through the IRS. All nonprofits share one thing in common — a need and a dependence on volunteers. At our monthly Know Your Chamber events, I stress to new members coming on board that without our volunteers, the chamber would have closed its doors many years ago, rather than thrive for more than 67 years. In fact, the chamber depends so heavily on our volunteers that we have more than 250 individuals who choose to give their work and wisdom to our orgwanization on an annual basis. I have the finest staff in the chamber business, a fact I tout at every possible opportunity. Seven individuals work with me toward the common goal of fulfilling our mission: Building a vibrant and prosperous community through business leadership. They are team motivated, proactive, hard-working and smart, all attributes that make any organization stronger. But they are also over-stretched and under-compensated,
KIDDER — CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Scottsdale Area Chamber Year In Review 2013-2014 saw the welcoming of North Scottsdale Chamber members into the fold of the Scottsdale Area Chamber. The chamber has taken great pains to help make that transition seamless and positive, and, once again, the area will be served by one chamber, supporting and representing the business community. As the chamber begins the new fiscal year, it is with a level of confidence not felt for many years. The sales team has brought many new members into the organization, and the chamber’s membership is the largest it has been in many years. The team works to ensure member value, and retention numbers reflect that fact. The Partner Council has rebounded to the levels of before the Great Recession, and in
every sense the chamber has upped its game. The Scottsdale Area Chamber concluded this fiscal year in the black and substantially ahead of budget on June 30. Our cash position is strong, and the organization will continue this year and next to rebuild reserves tapped during our challenging years. The year ahead will bring more enhancements and positive change to improve the member experience. For years, the chamber has staged the Scottsdale Business Showcase in the fall, where member firms secure booth space and the public is invited to attend. While always a profitable event, the most important factor for anything we do is member value. The chamber has seen diminishing member value
YEAR IN REVIEW — CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
SCOTTSDALE@WORK - 1