A Look Forward and a Look Back
The Chamber of Commerce held its 2017 Membership Meeting Thursday at Old Sycamore Golf Plantation. It included a buffet dinner and business meeting as well as an opportunity to reappoint directors in a public forum. The slate of nominees and the Board of Directors were provided.
Tony Long, Executive Board President, welcomed guests as well as the two Independence High School students chosen for the Junior Ambassador Program. This is a new Chamber initiative formed to partner with the future business owners of the Mint Hill area. These students are recommended by the school’s principal and teachers, are a junior or a senior, have a certain grade point average, and have shown a desire to be involved in business development marketing. Paige McKinney, Executive Director, said, “We want to help these students grow as they help us grow. They are experienced in all the modern technology that we may not have a handle on yet.”
Mr. Long then introduced Director Joy Greear to recap some of the year’s accomplishments. She presented the newly revised mission and vision statements, and joked about how long it took to write so few words. The new mission statement reads: “To promote and collaborate with businesses and cultivate a growing and connected community.” The new vision statement reads: “To be the influential organization to showcase members and attract new businesses to stimulate further growth and prosperity.” She reviewed the year’s highlights, which include attracting 37 new members, participating Mint Hill Madness and other community events, sponsoring their annual golf classic (their largest fundraiser to date) and awarding two college scholarships to local students.
Executive Board Vice President Tara Goodfellow then took the mike to look ahead to 2018. She told about the reinstatement of the job listing tab on the web page, currently being updated. This a website tab that members can use to list employment opportunities, and the public can utilize to find employment. The tab is expected to be available by the end of the year.
Tara went on to remind members of the spring fundraiser, the young professional networking group, the partnership with UNCC on an internship program, and announced future Mint Hill/Chamber partnerships. She encouraged members to increase their exposure through opportunities to host after hours events, attend ribbon cutting and grand opening events, provide a member to member discount, and, of course, renew their membership. She prompted members to “get social and engage” by following the Chamber on Instagram, connecting with the Chamber on LinkedIn, and adding the Chamber’s logo their own websites and social media accounts.
Lastly, Tara reminded members of the support that the Chamber provides in guiding businesses and helping them to connect and grow. She concluded by promising, “Ask us and we will help.” In regard to supporting the businesses of the members, Paige stressed wanting to hear about the successes as well as the concerns. She said, “We can’t change unless we know how. We encourage feedback.”
The board members were then reinstated, the Senior Citizen’s Christmas Party on December 2 was announced, door prizes were given, the meeting was adjourned, and it was time start the band and the socializing.
