Great Du Quoin Chamber, great things; Merry Money, annual banquet & more

What is the Chamber?

The November Chamber meeting was held on Nov. 4 at Alongi's Italian Restaurant and the focus of the meeting was to continue to find answers to the current lingering question: "What is the chamber?" The task will be to take those answers and formulate a refined image and create a marketing strategy.

The marketing committee met on Oct. 27 to discuss what materials do we need to portray what the Chamber is, what it does, and how to get people to realize the value of the Chamber and become a member or retain their membership.

We also discussed how the "traditional" chamber model is much different from the "modern" chamber model since the Internet has given individuals an easier path to finding quality provider referrals than to call or stop in the Chamber office .

Being a "dynamic Chamber" can take some extra work as we figure out how to reinvent our practices and reinvigorate our membership recruitment and retention.

I came across an interesting article while researching volunteerism and the motivation to volunteer. The article featured a study focused on Why People Volunteer (1985). This study conducted by Dr. Mark Snyder and Dr. Allan Amoto, determined people have five motives for volunteering.

1. Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns. For some people this can have a religious component.

2. Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.

3. Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or escape other pressures.

4. Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.

5. Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career (Lea Winerman, American Psychological Association, Monitor on Psychology, December 2006, Vol 37, No. 11).

To help the marketing committee get to the meat of all this, I developed and administered a short four-question survey at our meeting.

The first question was: What is the Chamber supposed to be?

The top three answers were:

1. Attract and support local businesses (16)

2. Advocate for the business community (13)

3. Connect/network with business people/leaders (10)

The second question, obviously administered to a room full of Chamber members, was to find out exactly what about them or about the Chamber has made them join and be a Chamber member.

Why did you join the Chamber?

1. Feel like it's your civic duty to belong (10)

2. Take advantage of Chamber's services and assistance (9)

3. Membership will lead to increased business (6)

I thought these answers were quite revealing as the top three referred to thoughts and feelings within a person and what they need to get out of a Chamber membership to help themselves or their business (which in turn is helping themselves). The third question was trying to get at reasons that we could use to market the Chamber. I have included all answers here, since they were so diverse and we need all the reasons we can get.

What is the one, most important thing you would tell someone to try to get them join our Chamber?

1. Network!

2. Build a vibrant community and deter other business from becoming obsolete.

3. Eat, fellowship, get acquainted with the community.

4. Good networking opportunities. Increased visibility. Create strong local business community.

5. To support the expansion and health of the local economy.

6. Fun!

7. Visibility, marketing for your business, and getting to know your community.

8. To support and promote local business and connect individuals.

9. It's exciting to get involved in the community and make connections to stay informed on everything happening in your area.

10. There is strength in numbers. If we pool our resources and work together it can help us all. The better we know each other, the better we can help each other too.

11. To get involved.

12. Get known locally.

13. Great opportunity to meet new people.

Other News Items

First of all, we had a great turnout for the Veteran's Day Parade; special thanks to Stacy Hirsch for pulling that all together and to Gary Kelly and Doc Holladay for continuing the spirit of showing our support and thanks to our local Veterans and Current Service Members. The Chamber is very thankful for our Military Members and their service to the United States.

The DuQuoin Chamber is kicking off its third year of the "Merry Money" program, in conjunction with the "Shop Locally" initiative hosted by the Southern Illinois Regional Chambers. The Chamber will award total prizes in the amount of $250 over the course of the program. Those winners selected through the weekly drawing will be given a voucher to take to any participating business and that amount can be applied to any purchase. Then the Chamber will reimburse the business in the amount of the voucher provided to the weekly winner. On the following dates, winners will be drawn from all the tickets entered that week.

$25--Week 1 Drawing: Wednesday, November 25th

$50--Week 2 Drawing: Thursday, December 3rd

$75--Week 3 Drawing: Thursday, December 10th

$100--Week 4 Drawing: Thursday, December 17th

All businesses that choose to participate in the program will be recognized by the Chamber through promotion of the program in the local Du Quoin Evening Call newspaper, Du Quoin Weekly, and the local radio station WDQN. Participating businesses so far include: Alongi's Italian Restaurant, Chip Banks Chevrolet-Buick, Doc Z's Fitness Center, Du Quoin Evening Call, Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge, Frank Deaton Insurance, Favorite Things by Judy & Co., Heights Finance Co., Janice Tilley's Bookkeeping & Tax Service, Red Hawk Golf Course, St. Nicholas Brewing Co., The Cellular Connection, Travel R Way, Zimmerman Chiropractic, Valvoline Express Care, Ye Ole Country Store Ice Cream and Fudge Shop.

The Chamber will make its annual Christmas party "the more the merrier" this year as we have invited the members of the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce to join us on Dec. 2 at our Chamber Party hosted at the St. Nick Brewing Company. Members can buy tickets from the Chamber office. Tickets are $20 per person.

The Annual DuQuoin Chamber Banquet is just around the corner of 2015 on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, 6pm, at the Elks Club. Ticket prices are $25 per person and tickets will be available in mid-December. Sponsors are being sought for our

banquet and would be much appreciated. Nominations for Citizen of the Year must be written and sent to the Chamber office at PO Box 57 before Dec. 2 to be considered. We are also taking nominations for Emerging Business of the Year and Business of the Year. The Banquet will again host a Silent Auction, chaired by Dane Mason. Please think of a nice item your business can donate to our auction fundraiser and call Dane and/or Stacy, and they will be happy to pick those items up from you.

Membership and Dues

As we try to grow our membership and develop a new marketing strategy, we would like others to join us in this charge! Please contact us if you are interested in joining the Chamber. We'd love to get as many new members as we can!

Reaching Us

If you have questions, would like to become a member, or would like to participate in any of our programs, please contact the Chamber Executive Director, Stacy Hirsch, at the Chamber office by calling 542-9570 or via e-mail at dqchamber@nwcable.net. I can be reached at rlaur@siu.edu or you can leave a message for me with Stacy.