Chamber Letter

Dear Chamber Member,

We are all aware the economic recession we have endured the past couple years has had a devastating effect on all Americans. It is causing all of us to rethink how we live, work and play. It is causing all of us to reconsider how we view the future.

The East Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is no different. After the Chamber separated from the Des Moines Partnership it has been faced with numerous challenges. We needed to hire an Executive Director, manage chamber resources effectively, plan events and set budgets. Numerous board members and members stepped forward to lead and assist with those efforts.

After hiring an Executive Director and beginning to move forward with Chamber activities it became apparent we were facing financial challenges. In spite of everyone’s best efforts we could not afford a full time director. Membership was declining dramatically. The Executive Committee and Board approved changing the position to half time recognizing the focus on membership recruiting was job one.

As happens from time to time, the new part time director accepted another position and we were back to square one. Very little was accomplished in terms of member recruitment/retention. As fortune would have it, the South Des Moines Chamber was also recruiting an Executive Director. After several meetings of the Executive Committees it was determined that the best business model was to recruit an Executive Director that would serve both Chambers. I cannot understate the significance of this decision. This was a tremendous leap of faith by both executive committees and boards. It required several major decisions almost immediately. The dues structures had to be the same, both chambers had to agree philosophically on the job description and both boards had to agree on distribution of revenue. All of those we accomplished in a spirit of cooperation and excitement as to what the future of this new direction might bring.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the four “Des Moines” Chambers (Downtown, East Des Moines, South Des Moines and West Side) began meeting. Those discussions focused on what East and South were doing and the recognition that if all four chambers were to maximize their efficiency and operate cost effectively they would almost certainly need to function as one chamber.

In the short term this is where we are. The East and South Des Moines Chambers of Commerce are sharing an Executive Director. Sadie Trytten has been hired to lead and inspire both Chambers. While she is recruiting new members she will also be leading the effort to combine programming/events when it makes sense to do that. The ultimate goal will be to combine the two chambers. Why? If we hear one message over and over it is “Why do you make me join so many chambers?” or “Why do you make me choose which chamber to join? ”When will that be? No one knows. One would guess a few months or a year or so. We will know when the time is right. The number one goal is to maintain current value and bring new value during the coming months.

What does all this mean to you? It means a more effective organization. It means a financially viable organization. It means you are a member of an organization focused on your needs and focused bringing additional value to current and future members. The new economic model demands organizations like Chambers of Commerce find new economies of scale and new ways to bring value to not only its members but to the community they represent.

What I can assure you is that no matter what happens no geographic area will lose its identity. Even if all four chambers merged it would be critical that each local chamber area be represented. One can envision a model with an Executive Director of a Des Moines Chamber and a coordinating representative for each of the four current chambers. There may well be many other more viable and effective models. Time will tell.

For now, what we are most excited about is our new Executive Director. Sadie is enthusiastic, has unlimited energy and is passionate about what Chambers can do for their members. She brings a wealth of Chamber experience to this position from a member perspective and is committed to community involvement. If you haven’t met her, you will. She is everywhere.

Let me close with this – Neither I or anyone else can tell you exactly what is going to happen as we move forward with these ambitious plans. I can tell you, with complete confidence, what will happen if we don’t. The future of the East Des Moines Chamber will be at risk.

We must move forward boldly and with vision. With your support and participation we will do just that.

On behalf of the East Des Moines Chamber Executive Committee,

Sincerely,
Dennis A. White
President
East Des Moines Chamber of Commerce