Some additional stats in Group C which is the population category for the Whitby Chamber

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1 CEO REPORT OCTOBER 2011 TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT BUSINESS TO THE CHAMBER. Below are some stats out of the bi annual report completed by the Chamber Executives of Ontario on Chamber operations in Ontario and released at their fall meeting November 9 & 10 in Peterborough. The stats are from each Chamber s fiscal year ending prior to the summer of 2009 (Previous) and 2011 (Present). In our case the calendar year of 2008 and A total of 74 chambers participated in the survey for Group A Population up to 25,000 Group B Population 25,001 to 75,000 Group C Population 75,001 to 150,000 Group D Population over 150,000 The stats provided some very alarming information and great concern for many chambers. The current economic downtown has had significant impact on many chambers. The gross revenue for all chambers averaged down 20% over the previous period. Membership revenue for all chambers averaged down 17 % over the previous period. Some additional stats in Group C which is the population category for the Whitby Chamber Base membership fee - Average $ Low $ High $ Average board size has decrease from 17 in previous survey to 15 presently. Page 1 of 7

2 Board Meetings - Average 10 per year Total New Member applications in past 12 months - Average Present Previous Average market size (Number of business) - Average Present Previous 3186 Whitby has approximately 1900 businesses which is only 56 % of the average for our population category of 75,001 to 125,000. Membership Renewals Below is a chart with the membership renewal dollars collected by month with year to date totals from 2008 to 2011 for comparison purposes January 16, , , , February 16, , , , March 14, , , , April 6, , , , May 9, , , , June 6, , , , , July 5, , , , , , , , August 6, , , , , , , , September 8, , , , , , , , October 6, , , , , , , , November 7, , , December 31, , , , , , Events held over the Past Month October 25 November 8 Fall Business Showcase Food for Thought Page 2 of 7

3 November 10 November 17 Networking Breakfast Whitby Library Peter Perry & Business Awards Gala TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP RELEVANT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Scholarship Program A sub-committee of the Community & Education Committee have reviewed the applications received for the for the 2011 Chamber Scholarship Program. Two $ 1,000 scholarships were awarded: 1 st year College/University - Chris McAskill 2 nd year and beyond College/University Connor Creighton Scott The winners of the scholarships will be presented and awarded their scholarship at the Annual Peter Perry and Business Awards Gala on November 17, TO ENHANCE AND PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND ACTIVE COMMUNICATION. Web Site RFP During the past month the Communications Committee have been reviewing the RFPs received. They have made their recommendation to the CEO on their preferred proposal. The recommendation has been received and approved by the CEO on November 11. Managhan Design Solutions has been selected as the successful vendor to design and launch our new web site early in Page 3 of 7

4 TO INCREASE THE CHAMBER S VISIBILITY. The following is a summary of the visibility received from various Media during the past month: Snap Whitby November Issue Whitby This Week - Optymal Health Studios Grand Opening - Shoppers Drug Mart Welcome - Ontario Public Library Week (Whitby Library) - Annual Regional Chair s Luncheon - MacDonald s Grand Opening - Calendar of Events page Regional Chair s Lunch News article page 4 Whitby This Week - Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Editorial Article Regional chair s Lunch - page 6 Whitby This Week Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Frank McKenna Breakfast news story Whitby This Week, Friday, October 21, 2011 page 21 Ad Fall Business Showcase Whitby This Week Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 21, 2011 page 4 Peter Perry ticket sales Friday, October 14 Charity of Choice Article incorporated in with the Rick Hanson visit Business Awards Article Page 16, November 11 Durham Business Times - November Issue Front page story Flaherty event Page 2 Whitby Chamber advertorial Page 4 of 7

5 Invitations and Grand Openings Oct 14 th Oct 17 th Oct 27 th Oct27th Oct28th Oct28th Nov 4 th Nov9th Nov11th Shoppers Drug Mart new owner welcome - Photo opportunity Durham Region Supplier Information Night META Vocational Services Inc. - Open House The Abilities Centre Gala Anderson Collegiate Graduation Ceremony Henry Street High School Graduation Ceremony Donald A Wilson Graduation Ceremony LePapillon Events Grand Opening Sinclair Secondary School Graduation Ceremony Chamber Attends the Abilities Centre Annual Gala The annual Abilities Centre Gala was held on October 27. Attending as representatives of the Chamber were Teresa Shaver, Member Services Manager, Darla Price, Marketing & Communications Manager and Michele Hembrey, Board Member. Charity of Choice The Whitby Chamber of Commerce will be launching a new program at our Peter Perry and Business Awards Gala on November 17 th with the launch of the Charity of Choice Program The selected charity for this event is the Abilities Centre. Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee I attended my first meeting of the Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee on October 20, Items for discussion at the meeting included: BDDSC Strategic Plan update OMB hearing S/E Thickson & Winchester BIA update Special Events & Marketing Christmas in the Village Friday, November 25. TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL ADVOCACY FOR BUSINESS. Development of a Proactive Local Advocacy Policy UOIT Capstone Project Theme for the Project: What are the issues around Whitby s ability to accommodate more and grow existing business? Page 5 of 7

6 What are the impediments to growing or starting a business in Whitby? Is Durham Region part of the impediment for doing business in Whitby? What roads blocks exist for business opening or expanding in Whitby? Identify how Whitby can become a more competitive community to grow business. Streamlining the development approval processes. Identify the issues and recommendations to streamline the process. This project is a follow up to the study released a year ago Building Our Economic Future an economic competitiveness and development strategic plan. This project specifically addresses item # 8 in the plan. The group circulated their survey to get feedback from the Whitby business community the week of November 7. TO ESTABLISH FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES PLANS TO ACHIEVE THE BUSINESS OBJECTIVES AND GROWTH REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHAMBER. Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee Present Report The chair of the Strategic Plan Monitoring Committee, Steve Hurst presented their 2011 report to the board at the October board meeting. This report was completed in July Business Plan and Budget During September and October the first draft of the 2012 Business Plan and Budget has been drafted for presentation to the Board at the November meeting. Jim Lavelle Award As follow up from October s board meeting the board had requested that I meet with Mary Lavelle to confirm her support for the proposed Jim Lavelle Award. On Monday, October 24 Mary Norton and I meet with Mary Lavelle to discuss the proposed award. Mary Lavelle is honoured that the Chamber would name the award in memory of Jim. Page 6 of 7

7 Chamber Executives of Ontario Fall Professional Development Conference Teresa Shaver, Member Services Manager and Gordon Mackey, CEO attended the fall professional development conference in Peterborough on November 9 and 10 th. CEO provides professional development programs and seminars for sales staff and the chief staff person for chambers in Ontario. CEO released the results from the bi annual survey which were highlighted earlier in this report. Updated 11/14/11 Prepared by: Gordon Mackey Page 7 of 7