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Towns are know for the chambers they keep.
Or, as former Enterprise publisher Marilla McCain said back in 1972, “A chamber of commerce is no more effective than the people behind it — and a town is no more progressive than the chamber of commerce promoting it.”
These days, the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce is facing difficult times. There are plenty of reasons why — everything from a tough national economy to a more community centered focus. Dwindling membership has resulted in tight finances and the departure of the former director.
But the people on the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors remain adamant that the organization has an important role to fill in the community at large. Hopefully they can find an operational model that bears out that goal.
In the meantime, merchant organizations have sprung up in Eagle and Gypsum. These groups have the advantage of energized organizers who are coming to the table with fresh ideas. They are working on projects that are close to their own hearts and livelihoods. We applaud their efforts and look forward to participating in the events they are planning.
The big question is whether the new groups — One Eagle and the Gypsum Chamber — will join forces with the long-existing Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce. For that to happen the chamber has to present some bona fide benefits for members.
The suggestion that the chamber act as an umbrella organization has been floated and it may prove workable. Maybe the new chamber does focus on valleywide publications and information center operations while merchant groups work on specific community events and promotions. But before businesses agree to pay dues to the valleywide chamber, the organization needs to lay out what it will do in exchange. We suspect there’s plenty of work for the chamber to do.
In the meantime, everyone can help out the community, the chamber and the merchant associations by shopping locally and supporting upcoming events. The Party for the Planet, Eagle’s Earth Day celebration is planned Saturday, April 25. Next Saturday, April 11, the Eagle Valley Bull Stomp comes to the Eagle County Fairgrounds.
Come out, spend a few dollars and do something good for the community..
Or, as former Enterprise publisher Marilla McCain said back in 1972, “A chamber of commerce is no more effective than the people behind it — and a town is no more progressive than the chamber of commerce promoting it.”
These days, the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce is facing difficult times. There are plenty of reasons why — everything from a tough national economy to a more community centered focus. Dwindling membership has resulted in tight finances and the departure of the former director.
But the people on the Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors remain adamant that the organization has an important role to fill in the community at large. Hopefully they can find an operational model that bears out that goal.
In the meantime, merchant organizations have sprung up in Eagle and Gypsum. These groups have the advantage of energized organizers who are coming to the table with fresh ideas. They are working on projects that are close to their own hearts and livelihoods. We applaud their efforts and look forward to participating in the events they are planning.
The big question is whether the new groups — One Eagle and the Gypsum Chamber — will join forces with the long-existing Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce. For that to happen the chamber has to present some bona fide benefits for members.
The suggestion that the chamber act as an umbrella organization has been floated and it may prove workable. Maybe the new chamber does focus on valleywide publications and information center operations while merchant groups work on specific community events and promotions. But before businesses agree to pay dues to the valleywide chamber, the organization needs to lay out what it will do in exchange. We suspect there’s plenty of work for the chamber to do.
In the meantime, everyone can help out the community, the chamber and the merchant associations by shopping locally and supporting upcoming events. The Party for the Planet, Eagle’s Earth Day celebration is planned Saturday, April 25. Next Saturday, April 11, the Eagle Valley Bull Stomp comes to the Eagle County Fairgrounds.
Come out, spend a few dollars and do something good for the community..
