#1 PRIORITY -- EXPAND MEMBERSHIP
The Chamber will grow its membership by building and increasing awareness of value.
Actions:

• Staff personally visits 250 members
• Recruit 40 new members
• Retain 92% current members
• Organize semi-annual meetings for new members and prospective members
• Encourage Ambassadors to "Adopt a New Member"
• Feature members on web site and in newsletter
• Survey all members annually
• Increase Board of Directors' role in recruitment of new members
• Focus staff time more on membership recruitmeent/retention
• Offer discounted "new member" rates for first time attendees to Chamber events

#2 PRIORITY -- ENHANCE MARKETING EFFORTS
The Chamber will actively expand its activities, members and the community, and increase awareness as to the value of membership.
Actions:

• Continue to promote and enhance the Buy Mower/Grow Mower! campaign
• Continue to expand the Chamber Bucks program, tying in the Buy Mower, Grow Mower message
• Partner with media and members to expand visibility of Buy Mower message
• Promote Chamber bucks to major employers as an important tool for employee rewards
• Promote economic benefits of Chamber-sponsored events, particularly the festival and Government Affairs' policy positions.

#3 PRIORITY -- BUSINESS ADVOCACY
The Chamber will provide a strong, effective voice for its business members in government affairs.
Actions:

• Oppose continued escalation of property tax burden
• Actively participate in Chamber Federation on state issues
• Organize Day at the Capitol event
• Work with other organizations and government units to organize an Austin Day at the Capitol
• Advocate for 2010 construction of North Main flood mitigation project
• Host issues and candidate forums with legislators and local officials
• Continue Business Leadership Committee
• Build coalitions of support for Chamber positions
• Increased public visibility through media coverage/broadcast

#4 PRIORITY --BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The Chamber will work to help unify economic development efforts and resources.
Actions:

• Continue to work to improve communications between agencies involved with economic development
• Identify business-related resources
• Seek "Best Practices" from similar communities
• Improve and better coordinate economic development marketing efforts
• Host business training seminars
• Partner with school systems to raise visibility of member workforce needs

• Continue existing events that draw people to our community, such as Freedom Fest, Christmas in the City and the Ag Appreciation Summer Cookout
• Increase Festival revenues
• Seek community partners for Festival
• Brand Festival as "community" event

#6 PRIORITY -- OFFICE/STAFF
The Chamber will work to increase efficiencies in order to maximize return on membership investment.
Actions:

• Staff will research options for reducing operational costs, including lease
• Staff will be reconfigured to place emphasis on sales and membership
• Staff will research and develop additional programming opportunities to serve membership and enhance revenues

GUILDING PRINCIPLES - 2007-2011

TOP 5 LONG TERM GOALS

1. The Chamber will work toward organizing partnerships that place business-related organizations under one roof: One Stop Shop for Business
2. The Chamber will build partnerships that strengthen economic development efforts, emphasizing one source, one voice
3. The Chamber will become a model for “best practices” in the use of technology and the Internet.
4. The Chamber will increase revenues to provide resources for staff and program development.
5. The Chamber will broaden and strengthen its membership base, reaching out to all businesses in Mower County.