6 CHAMBER WORKPLAN 2010 January 2010 Create a Shared Sense of Purpose and Direction through Opportunity! Chamber Board 2010 Strategic Focus The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce realizes that any vibrant organization must maintain a strong and positive image within the community through publicizing activities and actions. The Chamber’s marketing efforts work to keep the community focused on the important role the Chamber plays in our area’s welfare through its involvement in local and regional economics, educational, legislative and community affairs. The Havre Chamber’s strategic focus will be on it Members, Building Economy and Community Development. Membership is the backbone of the Chamber. The Chamber will look at new and better ways to serve the membership. The Chamber will work to facilitate, where and when possible, workshops for the businesses of Havre. Community relations and marketing will continue with regards to Chamber projects that benefit the membership and the community. on projects that Build Economy. This strategic focus has several areas: Transportation, Tourism, Education and Leadership. Transportation is vital to community growth and affects all sectors of the business community. Quality air service, rail service, pubic transportation and the 24hour commercial port status for Wild Horse will be the priorities for transportation, especially assisting where possible the marketing of our air service and supporting the airport. To increase Tourism in our area through partnerships with the Montana office of Tourism, Russell Country through the work of the Chamber’s Tourism Committee. To support the development of a local TBID and work to be a funded Convention and Visitor Bureau. An educated workforce is vital to community development. The Chamber will continue to partner with Havre Public Schools and Montana State UniversityNorthern to connect business and education. A strong and competitive workforce is a must for business to grow, thus the Chamber will continue to provide education and resources to help develop an effective work force and a good work place. Northern contributes to the development of economic opportunities that help sustain our population and community infrastructure. The Chamber advocates for its members, through a variety of public affairs, to city, county, state and federal officials to foster a business environment where business can survive and succeed. The Chamber feels strongly about the development of the growth policy and has participated in its framework development. The Chamber will contimue to lead and inform the business community on issues impacting business and our quality of life. Chamber leadership will participate in community conversations on ideas and projects that will better the economic base of the area. will be community development. In this area the Chamber will continue to provide quality community events such as Havre Festival Days, the S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Market, Kicks @ 6! and the community holiday celebration for all to enjoy. The Chamber will participate in discussions related to community projects that are good for Havre and improve our quality of life. The Event Center Project and the Cultural and Visitor Center projects remain on the long-range list of community projects the Chamber believes will be good for the area both economically and culturally. Board Education of community and area projects, is key to providing them the knowledge and base for which to continue to drive the Chamber to be catalyst for business and economic growth. Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson, file photo Pete Christenson reels in a trout during the sixth annual Big Money Ice Fishing Derby Jan. 24, 2009, at Beaver Creek Reservoir. Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson, file photo Nine-year-old Justin Pfeifer helps his buddy Jason Christenson catch "the big one" during the sixth annual Big Money Ice Fishing Derby Jan. 24, 2009, at Beaver Creek Reservoir.