2008 Victoria Chamber of Commerce

Program of Work

VISION STATEMENT:

The Victoria Chamber of Commerce will be INDISPENSABLE to the Members it Serves

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Mission of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce is to lead, empower and unite our business community

Ambassadors:

Mission:  Represent the Chamber Members in the business community.

Action Points:

• Attend Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings, Awards Presentations, luncheons and other chamber functions.
• Attend monthly ambassador meetings.
• Support membership retention efforts.

Education

Mission:  To improve the quality of education in Victoria; to enhance communications between educational institutions and the business community about educational needs, issues and opportunities and to provide opportunities for businesses to support and enhance area educational systems.

Action Points:

• Respond to identified educational issues and needs.
• Develop and expand partnerships between education and business.
• Support VISD through the Chamber's SURE B.E.T. Program.
• Support increased Vocational Tech opportunities for VISD students.

Golf Tournament

Mission:  Bring a nationally known tour to Victoria as a promotional event for the community, a tourism event for Victoria  and a fundraising event for the Chamber.

Action Points;

• Find appropriate tournament (tour) and negotiate contract
• Plan event:  schedule, budget and sponsor levels
• Recruit sponsorship team to secure sponsors
• Ensure chamber members are used for all tournament purchases
• Identify potential players and send Visit Victoria! Kit to them
• Support Youth Golf through the event
• Support tour's marketing representative

Leadership Victoria Alumni

Mission:  To identify, educate and motivate emerging community leaders to become more involved in various community affairs.

Action Points:

• Organize programs and logistics for 9 month leadership program that will enhance the participant's leadership skills, provide them with practical experience in community action, facilitate their opportunities to interact with community leaders and involve them as trustees of our community.
• Coordinate program presentations with the assistance of LV alumni.
• Encourage program participation throughout Victoria

Legislative Affairs

Mission:  Inform chamber members of Legislative issues affecting their businesses and the community.  Support our elected officials and encourage the business community to take an active role in the legislative process.

Action Points:

• Encourage active participation by members in the Legislative process.
• Communicate issues of concern to members and facilitate their communication with elected officials on those issues.
• Work with the League of Women Voters to organize Candidate Forums in local contested races.

Medical

Mission:  To promote the health-care community and provide scholarships to address the nursing shortage in this region.

Action Points:

• Plan and execute Health A Rama - health Expo at Victoria Mall as a fundraiser and promotional event for health-care providers.
• Award allied health scholarships to Victoria College students.
• Encourage active involvement of medical community in Chamber activities.
• Organize Health Care Practitioner of the Year Award to encourage excellence.
• Promote public health awareness to reduce medical costs for area businesses.

Minority Business Council

Mission:  To encourage active participation and involvement of all groups on the Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

Action Points:

• Per the Chamber By-Laws, MBC is responsible for nominating 5 positions on the Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to ensure adequate representation of minorities on the board.
• Raise scholarship funds for minorities to encourage higher educational attainment rates within the minority community.
• conduct Noche en Olde Victoria annual event in May to promote Hispanic Heritage and raise funds.
• Work with the DeLeon Club to organize and run the annual Christmas dance as a fundraiser.

Transportation

Mission: Work with local, state and federal entities to ensure our regional transportation needs are served.

Action Points:

• Actively participate in public transportation meetings ensuring the business community's interests are represented.
• Support Airport's efforts to obtain air service between Victoria and Dallas.
• Support I-69 corridor and work to utilize existing transportation corridor for this project.
• Disseminate relevant transportation issues to membership on a timely basis.

Small Business Roundtable

Mission:  Establish a supportive network for small business owners in Victoria.

Action Points:

• conduct monthly meetings with programming requested by Small Business.
• Discuss issues unique to small businesses and help them find solutions.
• Identify support partners that can assist small businesses.

Victoria Young Professionals

Mission:  Provide a social network for Young Professionals in this region to acquaint them with the community and help them feel welcome.

Action Points:

• Organize a variety of sponsored social activities for young professionals
• Create an awareness of the network among area businesses so they can use it as a recruiting and retention tool for their younger employees.