Last month my article reviewed the “integrity” of our organization – one of our core values. This month I want to talk about Value #2 – Progress.
Progress is defined as “gradual betterment” and is a trait that without working toward it, our organization would cease to exist.
We recognize the value of progress and even focus two of our annual events on the concept. For 30 plus years we have held an event focused solely on the Progress taking place in the Boyertown Area and recognize and showcase the new businesses that have located to the Boyertown community as well as showcase those that may not be new but have made additional investments in their business. Our 2020 event was postponed, and we will hold the rescheduled Boyertown Area Progress Dinner on July 28. Annually the program for this event features the viewing of a video providing our attendees access into the businesses being celebrated that year. The 2020 video is available on the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel. Several years ago, we duplicated the concept of this event, and we host a Pottstown Progress Luncheon with Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc. serving as our title sponsor and co-host for the Luncheon. We are excited to host the next Pottstown Progress Luncheon on October 14 and showcase the betterment that has happened in the Pottstown community over the last two years.
The Chamber has completed our 2020-2021 program year and we are extremely proud of the dedication of the Chamber staff, our board of directors, and our Members and Mission and Vision Partners that have seen us through the last year. Your Chamber sought every opportunity to be a community leader – gathering and sharing information from the various resources we are connected to. We continue to share valuable information to contribute to our Members’ progress. To be a partner in our Members’ progress we have and will continue through our next program year to adapt to offer opportunities that address our Members’ needs to grow their business. In the fall we are pursuing a new format for our former Business Card Exchange events. Our new, TriCounty Chamber Member Showcase events, will provide our Members that have not been able to host their own Business Card Exchange the opportunity to still showcase their business and their products and services to their fellow Members through an expo opportunity that will now be a constant feature of these events. Progress – “gradual betterment” – not only adapting to meet the needs of the Members that will choose to exhibit but improving the connections we are able to provide all Members attending, enabling them to learn more about the Chamber community at one time.
Technology progresses at an alarming rate. We want you, our Members, to be as engaged as you can be with you Chamber and your fellow Members. We recently launched the MemberPlus App providing our Members with access to event information and the ability to register for events at their fingertips while on their phone. In addition, Members can review the community feed, hot deals and member to member deals, job postings and Member news as well as add their own entries. Most importantly, while on the go, Chamber Members have access to the complete Member Directory so they can reach out to other Members for assistance or offer their help to someone.
We look forward to progress in our 2021-2022 program year as we continue to Build Communities, Create Connections, and Support Commerce in the tri-county region.