The Chamber will maintain its marketing despite budget pressures because these efforts are important to you.  While we, like most businesses, are looking for cost savings opportunities, this is not an area that will be slighted.

Not surprisingly, we are staunch promoters of buying locally. We have increased our efforts with holiday shop locally campaigns and constant reminders through newspaper articles and emails that local spending really does have an impact on our friends and neighbors.

As we look for what more might be done, we ask our members to provide feedback on a few programs that we could consider implementing.

The first is an organized member-to-member discount program. Nothing complicated, but nothing minor, either. We would expect participants to provide meaningful discounts for members in return for the promotion received through the program. A meaningful discount may be a minimum of 10%.

Some members have already chosen to provide discount to fellow members, like Lost Nation Theater's 25% sponsorship discount described here.

1. Would you be willing to offer a discount to fellow members?
2. Would you be likely to take advantage of offered discounts?

The second, still in the conceptual stage, would be more of an e-network, in the sense that it could bring buyers and sellers together. To help define it, I need answers to some questions.

1. Of the goods and services that you don't buy locally, is it:
    a. out of habit - you've not given it much thought lately?
    b. because you haven't found it locally?
    c. because it is a substantially better price?
    d. out of convenience?

2. Would you consider taking a look at your out-of-area purchases?

3. Would you consider switching to a local purchase if it was             discovered to be available?

4. Is the impact of local spending important to you?

5. Do you offer a unique product or service that others may not know can be found locally?

Please get your comments on these questions to me. It will only take a few minutes, and your input is very important to get before we can move forward with any potential programs.
Take a minute and email your response to me atmailto:cvchamber@aol.com.