TOOLS FOR CHANGE
CEO/President's Message, November 2008
By Debi Bray
Madera District Chamber of Commerce

I am very happy to say that the 2008 Madera Business Conference was a hit! Keynote Speaker, Ann Phillips of the Ken Blanchard Companies, was dynamic and focused her presentation on dealing with change in such turbulent times. Change is difficult for most people to deal with. In the workplace when a major change is planned and about to take place it can be a disaster if you don’t have a plan to support your employees during the process. The plan that Richards outlined for leaders, managers, and business owners to utilize during such a transition was enlightening and helpful to all who attended. If you were unable to attend, or even if you did, The Ken Blanchard Companies has some great tools and information on planning and preparing for change that you can utilize. I encourage you to visit their website at www.kenblanchard.com. Go to “Tools for Change” and take the Change Readiness Quiz to find out how change is affecting your company's productivity and motivation. To get your results you will need to register with the website (it’s free); once you do so you will receive the results and the opportunity to download the Top 15 Reasons Why Change Efforts Fail . You also have an opportunity to sign up to receive the Ken Blanchard Companies free newsletter and other informational resources to assist you in your daily operations.

A very special thank you to Dr. John Cusaac who served as the Chair of the Madera Business Conference Committee; Robert Haller, the Assistant Chair, both SCCCD and Madera Community College; and all the instructors and students who served on the committee. They did a great job and are dedicated to bringing excellence in education to our business community with programs such as this. Thank you to all who attended and to our outstanding sponsors… Educational Employees Credit Union, Caste & Cooke, Citizens Business Bank, Madera County Workforce Investment Board, and Pacific Gas & Electric.

TOURISM MEETINGS
I would also like to share with you that the Chambers of Commerce in Madera County met recently, along with Dan Cunning, the new Executive Director of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau. Madera, Chowchilla, North Fork, and Golden Valley Chambers of Commerce were involved in the meeting and established the goal to meet on a quarterly basis to discuss how we, as Chambers of Commerce, can collaborate and work together to bring additional resources and programs for our members. Oakhurst and Bass Lake were unable to attend but are also dedicated to working together. In addition, working with Dan Cunning, the Madera

Chamber of Commerce will begin to conduct meetings throughout the year to work with our members in the tourism industry to enhance growth and market what the City of Madera has to offer. If you are interested in being involved in these tourism meetings please feel free to contact me.

I hope that at this time of Thanksgiving that your hearts are filled with gratitude for the joys that you experience each and everyday in your life. I am thankful to live in a community where so many give of themselves throughout the year and especially during the upcoming holiday season. Thank you all for what you do and making Madera a wonderful place to call home!

BIA PR APR08