From
the
Chamber
president
Embracing an attitude of gratitude for our members and volunteers
N
ot too long ago, we turned the page on a new year with most of us setting resolutions. One of ours at the Greater Green Bay Chamber is a consistent one from year to year: to practice gratitude for all our members, including those who volunteer their time, their resources (financial and otherwise) and their talents/treasures with us.
It’s an amazing feat that the Chamber will celebrate its 135th birthday in 2017, and I credit much of that to how vested our members are. Our longevity is also a nod to the relevance and value we bring not only to the business community we exist to serve, but also the Greater Green Bay community at large. We could not accomplish all that we do in the name of economic development and workforce development without members who share their voices, and particularly, members who volunteer/contribute to the Chamber. Volunteers have always been an extended workforce for chambers of commerce, in addition to the people on the staff roster. Our Chamber’s volunteer positions include our boards of directors (we have our main Chamber board, the Advance economic development board and Partners in Education board as well as steering committees for Current young professionals and Leadership Green Bay). Thanks to them, the Chamber continues to have the ability to touch, change and transform. Our boards provide strategic insights, secure funding, address challenges, make policies and perform other decision-making that’s done with the organization’s best interests in mind. They entrust the staff – the people closest to those impacted by our deliverables – to
be candid with their input, and listen to us as we share what the voice of the customer (our members). We appreciate you, our directors/committee members, for being adaptable and flexible as we continue to ask,“How can we maintain our ROI for members?” Asking this question has led to the creation of our Membership ROI quarterly sessions so members can learn just that. It’s also enabled us to realign the organization to focus on economic development and workforce development over the past five-plus years; this was a critical part of creating synergy for all the programs, services and initiatives provided by the Chamber, to encompassing workforce development in our mission and finally, to rebranding to tell the world we are here to serve GREATER Green Bay. In addition, volunteer impact extends to the areas of governance (Public Policy Council), allowing us to – among other things – create a legislative agenda and grassroots efforts to rally members around business-oriented initiatives. Volunteers staff our ad hoc committees and respond to our requests (such as volunteering to present for our Food for Thought series or as a subject matter expert at a Current event).
And let’s not forget our hard-working ambassadors (for the overall Chamber as well as for Current), who come out en masse for member business ribbon-cuttings and grand openings, Business After Hours, golf outings, annual dinners and other Chamber events. Thank you to all of you for internalizing an attitude of caring for our members. Finally, I believe that in today’s day and age, the definition of volunteer even extends to the member who signs a letter to a legislator on an initiative’s behalf, supports an effort such as the Southern De Pere Bridge or weighs in on our Legislative Agenda.We know everyone’s time is precious, and that volunteerism doesn’t have to fit in formal blocks of time or annual events. Even members who don’t have an excess of time invest in the Chamber through their support. It all makes a difference. And know that we realize that collectively, all these contributions are the backbone of an organization that’s 134 years old – and counting.Thank you for your part!
— Laurie Radke
President, Greater Green Bay Chamber
Winter 2017 | Collective IMPACT 3