Madera District Chamber of Commerce
120 North E Street
Madera, CA 93638-3215
(559) 673-3563
(559) 673-5009 FAX
www.maderachamber.com
dbray@maderachamber.com

MISSION, PURPOSE, AND COMMITMENT STATEMENTS

OUR MISSION:  The Mission of the Madera District Chamber of Commerce is to support a diverse regional economy by promoting a thriving business environment that contributes to our community's quality of life.

OUR PURPOSE:  The Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization representing all segments of the business community with the potential for marshaling the energies and efforts of its membership toward the accomplishment of common goals for a better community.

OUR COMMITMENT:  The Madera District Chamber of Commerce strives to:

• Endorse a Strong Local Economy
• Represent and Advocate on Behalf of Business
• Provide Opportunites for Enhancing Business Connections
• Promote Our Community

ENDORSING A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY:  

• The Chamber receives thousands of telephone & walk-in requests resulting in business and agency referrals. (Consumer to business referrals, business-to-business referrals, and business to consumer referrals.)
• Out-of-town event coordinators are assisted by the Chamber in bringing their activities to Madera. This includes providing input and referrals regarding: National Bikers Round Up, National Fiddlers Association, Car Shows, Dog Shows, bike race and much more.
• Partnership with the Small Business Development Center which offers counseling for small businesses.
• Provide resource materials regarding community to potential new business and industry.
• Partnership with City of Madera, Valley Small Business Incubator, and Madera County Economic Development Commission for small business start up and existing business support.
• Appoint and hold a seat on the Madera County Economic Development Commission, Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau and the Madera County Workforce Development Board.
• Partnership with Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism in Madera County.
• Working partnership with Redevelopment Agency.
• Host the Madera Business Extravaganza annually to promote local business to our community.
• Hosted the Madera Redevelopment Agency and their sessions to develop plans for a cultural center.
• Supported two state correctional facilities move to Madera County.
• As Madera's number one economy, the chamber has been involved in many agricultural programs. In partnership with the Madera County Farm Bureau, the Chamber hosts the annual Salute to Agriculture Dinner. This dinner honors the Senior Farmer of the Year, a longstanding farmer in our community, passing on the tradition to others.

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCING BUSINESS CONNECTIONS:  

• Professional Website-offering free member listing, advertising, member to member discounts.
• Chamber monthly newsletter-The Madera Business Beat offers advertising in the form of a flyer insert or a business card size advertisement.
• Business and Agency Referrals
• Membership Directory
• Madera Business Extravaganza and Trade Show , which is where the consumers get the opportunity to meet their local business community.

REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF BUSINESS: 

Government (State, Federal, and Local)
The Madera Chamber of Commerce holds a monthly Governmental Affairs Breakfast Meeting. The purpose of these meetings is to link business to government and vies versa. The Governmental Review Committee is designed to provide a forum for our members to receive and discuss local, state and federal issues that will affect how we do business in the greater Madera area. The committee brings an informative speaker each month. In January 2004 the GRC will begin to track and discuss pending legislation that impacts our local businesses or governmental agencies.

Education

Based on employer/business input and needs, the Madera Chamber of Commerce 'Business & Education Committee' sponsors events reinforcing the link between business and education. 

• Salute to Education has been a longstanding event in Madera. The business community honors teachers for their outstanding efforts. In return the local education system honors those businesses that have continued to provide commitment and support to local schools.
• New Educators Breakfast is the longest running event in Chamber history. This event has always welcomed new teachers into our community and helps familiarize them with Madera and its resources available to them.
• The Chamber along with organized local leadership helped developed a plan of action to successfully lobby the State Center Community College District to ensure the next campus be built in Madera.
• Encouraged and promoted the need for a nursing program, and in partnering with the college; Madera Center developed and implemented the Customer Service Academy.
• The Chamber has also participated in the State Center Community College, Madera Center Young Authors Conference.
• Members and Leaders of the Chamber have participated in the Principal for a Day Program.
• Leadership role on board for the new Sherman Thomas Charter School and Pioneer Technical Center.
• Each year the Chamber will give an Agricultural Scholarship to students who will be continuing their education in the field of agriculture.

PROMOTING OUR COMMUNITY
The Madera Chamber of Commerce supports a number of different community events such as:

• Old Timers Day Parade
• Halloween Parade
• Wine Stroll and Christmas Light Parade
• Madera High School Homecoming Parade
• 'Meet Madera' Program
• Mayor's Prayer Breakfast
• Madera Wine Trail Events
• And more... please see our website calendar 

The Chamber provides many community resources to the public. We are the "front door to your community" and central information center: 

• Business Resources and Referrals
• City/County Map
• Demographic Information
• Transportation Information
• Relocation Information
• Community Calendar
• Manufacturers Directory
• Clubs and Organizations Directory
• State of California Tourism information
• Voter registration information
• Wine Trail Information
• Visitors Guide
• Telephone Directory
• The Chamber has created an Inter Service Club Council, which will determine and work together to address these needs.

HOW TO USE YOUR CHAMBER

Networking
Networking does not take any special talents or tools, but you do need to take every opportunity to do it. The technique can best be used at Chamber meetings, luncheons, mixers, and other events. Join us at these functions to introduce yourself and your business.

Mixers
Bring your business cards and introduce yourself to anyone you haven?t met yet. Spend some time telling them about yourself, and then listen to what they have to say. You never know when you?ll pick up a lead, or when you can refer them to another chamber member who can help them with a need. Have your top sales and service people attend the functions as well, and introduce them to the people thy will need to know. The best way to network at these functions is to get into the conversations with as may people as possible. You have an opportunity to find our more about the people you may be dealing with in the future, and they have the opportunity to find out about you.

Speaking Opportunities
If you have a topic that you feel would be good for chamber programs, send a letter giving details such as a name, business, subject and content. This information will be reviewed and kept on file to be used for future reference. Your topic may even create a program for our membership as well. This information will also assist us in referring you to local businesses and associations. The chamber maintains a Clubs and Organizations Packet. This is the perfect chance to make some contacts with our organizations, to possibly speak to their service clubs about the programs you have in mind. Most local service clubs have weekly programs and they are always interested in recruiting business programs.

Seminars
The Chamber throughout the year organizes seminars. For current scheduling contact the Chamber Office at 673-3563. Also watch your newsletter and monthly flyers to announce upcoming sessions.

Referrals
The Chamber of Commerce keeps a file of all members by category. This is referred to when an inquiry comes into the office needing a certain product.

Committees
Do you really want to get to know people and make new contacts? A smaller group like this is an excellent way to network with other business professionals that have your same interests in the local business climate. Committee work gives you an outlet for the talents that you possess and that can benefit both the Chamber and your business. See list of Chamber Committees and Activities for more information.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CHAMBER MEMBER...

• Pay your annual membership dues promptly. This helps you by ensuring you continue to receive your benefits in a timely manner, and it helps everyone in the organization because the financial bas is there to provide the programs.
• Join a committee if there is a program or project you are interested in.
• Provide us with feedback, such as responding to our surveys or offering us any suggestions you may have regarding how to improve our services.
• Ask us?if you have a question about what we are doing, why we are doing it, or even why aren?t we doing something, let us hear it so we may respond.
• Let us know when you have concerns, suggestion, or when things are going well and you would like to let us know.
• Attend events when you can, or if you can?t, maybe you can support them in another way.
• Support other chamber member, shop chamber businesses first. Refer to your membership directory, or call the office for information on who in the chamber can supply your needs.
• Tell your business associates the benefits of Chamber Membership and if they aren't members themselves, offer them to join your organization! We would be more than happy to meet with them.

IN CONCLUSION...
The rewards of belonging to the Chamber are full time representation and year round results as the organization carries out the job that no individual, business or agency could alone achieve. Through serving on committees, coordinating activities and attending functions, every member has a voice in an organizational effort that is mutually beneficial to the community and themselves.