Minutes Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce
Minutes of General Meeting
Tuesday April 6th 2010
President Welcome – Pauline Lacelles-Smith
Encouraged members to use Easter promo to gauge customer numbers and base.
Next 2 meetings mobile – Mix@6, all business invited encouraged to bring new business to learn about Chamber, complimentary meeting $25 for member if a new business signs up on the night.
New Members – Little Cherub & Illawarra Folk Festival
Roman Browski – “Shared Spaces”, local Architect from Stanwell Park, represents group of residents discussing sharing our space.
Detailed presentation looking at finding connection between design & behaviour, social and economic aspects of creating a pleasant place to “Hang Out’ in town.
Positive change will have impact on growing visitors to the area, identify problems and highlight beauty of area. The need exists for traffic space and engineering to provide safety to the public ie. Separation of pedestrians and traffic, areas can be safer when people perceive risk they take more care.
Residents of Stanwell Park are sending submission to Council and politicians next week, highlighting problem areas in Coalcliff, Stanwell Park, Otford and Helensburgh. Roman encouraged support from all Chamber members.
A full copy of the presentation can be obtained from Pauline.
Question – Andrew Sheath
Happy to see approach applied, will there be an impact on parking space numbers?
Will be some impact but worthwhile for a better public space.
Question – Susie-Anne Blanshard
What is needed from local small business?
Support, help in lobbying, more strength in numbers, campaign the Pedestrian Council.
Media Report – Lynda Starkey
Promoting Easter Promo, advertising in Helensburgh and Austinmer, some TV.
Promoting Mix@6, some community advertising in local papers, direct marketing Helensburgh to Thirroul
Tourist Trails on Website, Tourism Wollongong Facebook & Twitter advertising. Talking with TW regarding location on their website, also promoted at Gateway Tourist Centre as recurring advertisement.
Meetings – Sally-Ann Blanshard
Mix@6 – short, sharp, snappy, no presentations, just networking. Aim is to get other business on board. Examples of invitations shown.
Changes to meetings discussed at AGM.
Vice President – Andrew Hedley
MS Bike Ride – Attended meeting with Lynda and Pauline
Agreed to cap cyclists. Event generates $3.5mil per year for charity.
Our priority – work better on road closures, agreed to better promo of road closures.
We want riders to come back through villages, look at providing a prize to spend and win in town. Have NICC promo stand at finish with member packs.
Business promotion at rest stops.
Chamber to investigate sponsorship ie. Bluescope Steel, promote on their website – chamber to help run event as volunteers.
Treasurer – Andrew Sheath
Expenses for Easter Prom – approx. cost $3500.
Andrew Hedley won business card draw – breakfast for 2 @ Otford Pantry!
Words of Wisdom – Susie “Tea by the Sea”
1. Know you customer, build a rapport, personalise their experience
2. Don’t underestimate the power of a smile J
Meeting closed 8.40pm.
Northern Ilawarra Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Minutes
2nd March 2010
Meeting opened 7.20pm
President - Pauline opened Meeting
Welcomed Telstra
Ian explained agenda
Police action line – many complaints received as number not widely known ie needs to be simple 1234 for eg.
Telstra advised PGL head office has rejected four digit number due to cost approx $90k set up plus monthly cost
Telstra Presentation – Wayne Rhodes
Pat Nolan unable to make it. Advertising on tools available for business. Serge available to visit & assist businesses.
Benefits of messages converting to SMS instead of voice mail saves time
Case Study shown promoting PDA & relay of information to command centre than to plumber (tradesman) for example. Invoices from PDA , customer signs, better speed, better communication, ability to request stock on site, advise suppliers of what’s required, increases productivity, able to assess next job on PDA. Staff have work/life balance – able to log on from anywhere when required. Thankful for opportunity to show what Telstra can offer business.
Question raised- Not all Northern suburbs can have wireless- advised that wont change
Did encourage members to contact Serge to assist, he can give advice on best package.
One member had issue with service was without internet for a week.
All agreed call centre is ineffective – problems are being addressed
New T-life in Telstra shop in Wollongong can play with different phones etc live!
Easter Promotion:
Ian handed out information packs, same concept as last year $1000 to spend at local stores. Letter box drop Helensburgh to Bulli.
Meeting closed 8.40pm
Executive Report to Annual General Meeting
August 2009.
Looking back on the past Chamber year we have had a year of tremendous growth with increased membership and the introduction of our new, limited, Platinum Membership level. The principal aim of the Executive has been to constantly look for, and put into action, initiatives that provide value to our membership – our record this year is a testament to that aim.
Working alongside Tourism Wollongong the five Northern Illawarra Coastal Villages Tourist Trails will soon be launched. Aimed specifically to encourage visitors to stay and spend longer in our region, each Trail will showcase the essence of what our region has to offer in Art and Antiques, Outdoor Activities, Natural Wonders, Cafes and Dining, and Local Attractions and History.
We have shown dedication to the Local Community with the ongoing battle to ensure Bulli Hospital remains open and operative, providing key services to the Northern Illawarra, keeping employment local and improving the regions business outlook.
On this same initiative, after concern from our members, street maps of Northern Illawarra are again going to be featured in the ‘Yellow Pages’ Directory – these disappeared a few years ago without any consultation.
The Membership Directory and Location Map released earlier this year – “Where you need to be” – has evolved into a sought after publication showcasing all NICC businesses complementing the alphabetical and group listings on the website.
The Chamber has taken over the use of a roadside sign in Stanwell Park for a Stanwell Park Village Directory and Map. After trialling this member benefit, we may be looking at the installation of other Business Directory Signage in all Northern Illawarra coastal village town centres.
We are, and will continue working closely with the local Police on the Community Safety Precinct Committee, monitoring and targeting crime in our area to ensure member and community safety. One of our objectives for the coming year is pressuring council, state and federal representatives for CCTV coverage in specific high crime areas.
Our relationship with the media has strengthened significantly over the past year, resulting in increased media coverage not only in print, but also through radio and local television. Where in the past the Chamber was the initiator of all its media coverage, the media now seek our comment on issues affecting local business. Subsequently, this has had a great effect in terms of raising the Chamber’s profile in the community, given a greater focus to Northern Illawarra issues and led to increased membership.
Our Easter Stimulus Promotion was extremely successful for participating businesses with the breakdown of entries providing a tremendous marketing tool. This promotion complemented our ‘Buy Local’ campaign, promoted the Northern Illawarra and provided a reward for our valuable customers.
In this technological age the NICC website has, again, proved invaluable and has been upgraded this past year to provide both members and visitors to the site direct access to Chamber initiatives and information. Our monthly communication tool, the Chamber Blast continues to keep members informed of current information and benefits. This year two new electronic communication tools were started – member SMS alerts and Facebook – we will be gauging their popularity and effectiveness this coming year.
The monthly business meetings continue to be successful giving business related speakers and members the chance to meet in a relaxing atmosphere to share ideas, improve local knowledge and solve mutual business issues to facilitate a greater voice at local, state and federal levels on matters that affect local business.
In the coming Chamber year we will continue on our progressive journey as we continue to refine our strategies to provide valuable support systems and resources to help meet the pressures of our unique local business environment and sustain growth in our extraordinary NORTHERN ILLAWARRA.
Pauline Lacelles-Smith
President 2008-9
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