FRIDAY, September 6, 2013
TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM / 1
Chamber President Launches “Listening Tour” To Help Plan Organization’s Future
SEPT•2013 EVENTS CALENDAR 6 Firestone Ribbon Cutting, 12 pm 10 Charter Real Estate Business Link Lunch, 12 pm Jefferson Ribbon Cutting, 5 pm 11 Hilton Garden Inn Business Networking Breakfast, 7 am Business Networking Breakfast Committee Meeting, 8 am RCA Committee Meeting, 12 pm 17 Military Appreciation Luncheon, 11:30 am 18 Workforce Development Committee Meeting, 8 am 19 Board Meeting, 8 am National Nursing & Rehab Ribbon Cutting, 4:30 pm 20 Secondary Education Legislative Luncheon, 11:45 am 23 Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting, 7 am 26 Union State Bank Business After Hours, 5 pm 27 Kashemak Bay Ribbon Cutting, 9 am
Rod Henry, the new President of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, is a veteran of developing business/community relationships. He has more than 30 years of chamber experience and spent 21 of them as Chamber President for Terre Haute, IN . Carol Mouché (Chisholm Trail Chorus, Sweet Adelines International) caught up with Rod between meetings to learn what he hopes to accomplish here. Chamber members? Q: What attracted you to Temple? A : Currently I am spending more time A : After meeting the leadership of the out of the office, than in. Members are community, I saw an hosting “Coffee opportunity to take a with Rod,” which good organization to a are small group higher level, to truly be interactions where the advocate to preI talk and ask a few serve, protect and proleading questions. I mote a businesscall this process my friendly environment “listening tour” to free of obstacles to gain valuable input. growth and developThis face-to-face ment. As cliché as it sounds, the passion of New Temple Chamber President Rod Henry exercise will provide the individuals my wife, makes his rounds on the golf course to meet me with an opporBenita, and I met was members during the 5th Annual Temple tunity to better understand what what convinced us that Chamber Golf Classic. drives the organizaTemple was definitely tion and to develop a good grounding on the right move. the environment and culture. It can conQ: How are you getting to know our
firm our existence, as well as uncover and inform us of areas not previously addressed. Most importantly, it gives me the opportunity to begin developing relationships. I invite our members to host a “Coffee with Rod” and help me accomplish my goal of reaching as many of our members as possible in my first 90 days. To arrange for a date, simply call Sheila at the Chamber of Commerce office. Q: Tell us some of your goals for the coming year. A : My initial focus will be on 5 essential strategies to provide for successful leadership, management and planning: (1) Membership retention/expansion: define the Chamber’s value and outline why we deserve support. (2) Strategic direction: what are our short- and long-term plans? (3) Resource development: do we have the staff and financial capabilities? (4) Constituency outreach: where have we been, where are we now and where do we want to go? (5) Partnership development. (cont. on pg. 5)
“Vote Yes” For Our Kids With the Tax Ratification Election With the hope of growing our schools in Temple, the Board of Directors of the Temple Chamber of Commerce joined many others in endorsing the passage of the Tax Ratification Election (TRE). We encourage you to do the same and “Vote Yes” on September 21. The TRE is needed to continue the transformation of Temple schools that is part of the ten-year strategic plan that began with passage of the school bonds in 2007 and 2011. A bond can only pay for long-term capital projects
like new and renovated facilities, furniture, and major repairs. Funds from the TRE will be used to fill the new buildings with computers and ipads for our children, security officers, new buses and enhanced educational and library resources. The TRE will continue the transformation of Temple schools by ensuring our children have the best possible 21st Century educational programs to go along with the new facilities. (cont. on pg. 6)