Your business is running smoothly. It’s well respected in the marketplace. Things are good.
So, why would you make a significant change in the way you do business?
The only reason you would do that is because it was important to your customers, it benefited them, and consequently it improved your long-term viability.
That is exactly what the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce is doing.
After careful consideration by the Board of Directors, the organization is making a substantial shift in the way that members will invest in their Chamber. Businesses will no longer be classified based on the number of employees, but will instead choose the benefits that meet their needs, and invest accordingly.
“Chamber members will be able to shop for the benefits that make sense to them,” says Vince Reinig, current Chamber President. “Members will no longer be “penalized” for growing, expanding, or acquiring another business, since the number of employees will no longer determine the amount of investment each business makes in the Chamber. The board and staff listened to the feedback of the membership. The new dues structure reflects the desire of the membership to have new benefits and choices. ”
A national trend
The Mount Shasta Chamber is certainly not the first to adopt a system that includes tiers of benefits. In fact, for the past decade, chambers of commerce across the United States have looked for ways to deliver customizable packages of benefits to their members. A tiered membership structure has become the new trend of large and small chambers alike.
Careful consideration and a measured decision
“In the past, I’ve had members approach me and share their frustrations with the employee-based dues structure,” says Executive Director, Marie-Josée Wells. “For example, a business with 50 employees that was required to invest more than the basic fee annually in the Chamber did not understand why a member with three employees received the exact same benefits at a much lower cost. I didn’t have a good answer for them.
The Mount Shasta Chamber began considering making the change to a different membership structure in 2008. For nearly three years the board and staff looked critically at the potential and studied the effects the change would have on the organization and the membership. We were able to identify areas where the Chamber could do more to meet the needs of our members and make the whole process more equitable.”
In the end, the Board of Directors recommended that the Mount Shasta Chamber transition to a tiered benefits model. However, they didn’t make that recommendation lightly. They challenged the staff to identify new benefits at each and every level of membership.
“After all, the Mount Shasta Chamber is a membership driven business organization,” says Reinig. “We only wanted to move to this tiered benefit structure if it met the needs and desires of the membership. That required the staff to identify new and expanded benefits that would match what had been gathered from our membership surveys.”
Among the new member benefits available:
Greater visibility for Chamber members via:
- Improved access to the Chamber and the Visitors Bureau websites for member information
- Links to member business’ web and social media sites, links to Google maps showing your location
- Logos and banners strategically placed at community events and on event promotional materials
- Savings on booth space at community events, ads in Chamber Directory, Newsletter inserts and more
More Marketing Opportunities via access to:
- Chamber bulk mailing rate,
- Front page of Chamber web site placement
- Email blast marketing and more
Many more benefits designed to help your business thrive – both today and tomorrow.
The tiered benefit structure has five levels to choose from. Each level increases the benefits for the member business culminating with inclusion in the Community Partners Legacy program. The chamber staff is eager to help each member find the level of benefit that is right for them. The new tier structure went into effect June 1st, 2011.
The Board along with the staff of the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing maximum value for the investment that its members make. They encourage you to take advantage of these new opportunities to enhance your business.They also encourage you to continue to suggest ways to improve the benefits you derive from your investment in the Chamber.
Please call Marie Wells at 530-926-3696 or send her an email at marie@mtshastachamber.com to schedule a consultation.
