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2012 Chair Jef Dueck
Country 105/Energy 99.7/91.9 BOBFM |
Be Seen. Be Heard. Belong.
2012 is the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s 123rd year! Obviously a milestone like that means our Chamber has a long history of doing things right…and we do A LOT of ‘things’! Like most businesses at the start of the New Year, the Chamber staff and Board of Directors conducted an annual review of all the ‘things’ the Chamber does. Part of that included analyzing a recent survey of our members and it revealed that what you value most in your Chamber membership is our ability to strengthen the local economy. Other key priorities include representing business interests with government, providing access to resources, providing promotional opportunities and promoting and protecting ethical business practices.
You may have seen a recent video or heard Stuart promoting a new slogan that states: “Be Seen. Be Heard. Belong.” It might sound simple – but it’s an incredibly loaded statement.
Be Seen: There are many ways for your business to be seen via the Chamber – at any one of our networking events, in our tradeshows, in this magazine, on our website and social media channels – your opportunities for exposure are almost endless! And showing you’re a member is very important because 63% of consumers are more likely to do business with a Chamber Member.
Be Heard: Our Chamber is very proactive on the issues that matter to the business community and we’re constantly working with all levels of Government, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. We try to stay on top of it all, but we need to know the challenges you face and your opinions on the issues. If you ever have a business concern, bring it to us. If we send you a survey, please don’t ignore it. This information is incredibly valuable to us and the entire community.
Belong: Membership comes with access to many discounts and savings programs. Added up, these savings can make a big difference to your businesses bottom line at the end of the year.
Many would say we have not yet seen a full economic recovery and ongoing global issues still weigh heavily on consumer confidence. But locally we see many encouraging signs including the completion of some significant municipal projects, ongoing expansion in post-secondary, and several recent new business announcements. #ThinkPositive and let’s carry that momentum forward. The Chamber is ready to help, and as always, we’re happy to promote our members, so we hope that our members are happy to sell the Chamber in return. In order to do that, we know it takes some reminding of ALL the things the Chamber is and does. So if you are ever asked if you’re a Chamber member, we hope you are proud to say “Yes!” and can easily explain why.
Be Seen. Be Heard. Belong. On behalf of the Chamber Staff, our Committees and many fabulous volunteers, I thank you for your continued support and look forward to a 2012 full of exciting new opportunities!
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President & CEO
Stuart Harrison |
This is a very important time for the Chamber as we work hard to help improve the climate for business, locally, provincially and federally.
Our advocacy efforts over the last year continue to contribute to strengthen the local economy. Our initiatives include:
- Policy, Government Affairs, and Prosperity Round Table Committees
- Innovation Cluster, and Immigrant Integration Committees
- Ontario (34 Resolutions) & Canadian Chamber (56 Resolutions) Policy Committees
- Shining Waters Railway Committee
- Our Lobbying efforts include:
- Addressing Access Bottlenecks to Health Care
- Immigrant Integration, Statutory Holiday Openings Survey
- Provincial Election, Places to Grow, Highway 407
- Beavermead Park, Little Lake Master Plan, City Official Plan
- Peterborough Transit, Peterborough Airport, Skilled Trades, School Closures
- ORCA, Real Estate Board, GPAEDC, Innovation Round Table
- Trent Severn Waterway, Industrial/Commercial Tax Ratios
- Municipal, Provincial, and Federal Budgets
- Ontario Health Study, Native Tobacco Sales
- Cross Border Shopping, Even Backflow preventers….!
The number one issue for any Chamber of Commerce is to remain relevant, thus we continue to adjust and improve our products and services including:
- We are pleased to announce that OLG Slots at Kawartha Downs has once again agreed to sponsor our regular monthly Business after Hours, allowing us to completely eliminate any charge to our members.
- Similarly, our Peterborough Young Professionals Group remains a free event as The Venue Peterborough has agreed to be the sponsor and host. YPG is targeted at young business people under 40. If you are on the wrong side of this number I sympathize with you, however if you have younger employees it’s a great way to engage them in the Chamber network and help them start to build their own connections in the local business community. The YPG meetings include professional development opportunities so they are well worth it. There is information on our website, or call Shelby Parker at x210 for more information.
- The Chamber marketing products continue to represent good value. Utilize our social media tools, Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook to raise your profile, comment on issues, and promote your business.
- Use the Coupon feature on our website to offer a special.
- Our popular Promo Pack now includes your standard membership fee, and gives you an enhanced directory listing that can dramatically improve your online presence.
- We now have three exciting tradeshow opportunities: the Wellness Expo in May, our annual Prosperity Business Tradeshow in September, and a new Home and Design Show in October, in partnership with the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association.
- A booth at one of our Tradeshows, a banner ad on the website, an e-flyer in one of our new and improved “Chamber Connect” email blasts, or an advertisement in our Voice of Business Magazine or online Membership Directory are all great ways to reach the business community.
- The Voice of Business is published bi-monthly and is distributed not only to our over 1000 members, but members of Women’s Business Network, Sales and Ad, the Home Builders Association, Construction Exchange and the Kawartha Manufacturers’ Association.
- Our website has been completely re-designed with numerous new features and offers another great opportunity to reach the business community, as well as tourists and newcomers. It includes a mobile “app”, and our social media tools located right on the homepage!
As you can see by all of the above, the biggest problem we have is communicating all that we do in a simple way. My current favourite way is just five words – Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong.
2011 Board of Directors
2011 Annual Report