Chamber growing with new memberships

When it comes to the Southern Boone Chamber of Commerce, this year is all about increasing membership, improving communication and promoting Ashland and the Southern Boone area. A major campaign for this year includes working toward creating value in its existing as well as potential future memberships.

“We feel that we can create that through education, networking and development of relationships of the businesses in town currently and hope that we can offer that positive environment to future businesses that would consider Ashland,” chamber President Jason Reynolds said. The chamber currently has about 60 members including the Southern Boone Economic Development Council, which has helped Ashland’s economic growth, the Southern Boone YMCA, which has assisted in community growth and expansion and the Optimist Club of Ashland. Reynolds said there has been more interest from businesses that have been members but haven’t been involved in the organization in the past.

“With that new enthusiasm, we have very active committees with lots of great forward thinking ideas that we will take steps to putting into affect for 2017,” he said. To get more members involved, the chamber will host events with educational opportunities to support and promote Ashland as well as the Southern Boone area, spotlight active members as well as new members, provide marketing, branding and financial planning and bring awareness to the local opportunities for businesses.

The chamber’s largest challenge is communication between the organization and its members including updating the organization’s website.

“With growth and change in this community, keeping accurate contact and paid and active memberships have not been evaluated as thoroughly as we would like,” Reynolds said. The updated website will include:

• An updated and active community and chamber calendar.

• Updated membership contact information. • More thorough and accurate history of meeting minutes and agendas.

• Spotlights on new and existing members. • Links to the City of Ashland and school websites.

• Photos of community events and activities.