As the Chamber year draws to a close it is time to look back at the past year.

A YEAR OF GROWTH - with membership rapidly increasing.

A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT - with many of our goals being met including NICC branding, the Chamber Blast, Cross Business Promotion and the NICC Directory and Map.

A YEAR OF CO-OPERATION - working in tandem with Tourism Wollongong and Wollongong City Council on various projects.

The NICC website not only provides minutes of meetings, executive contacts, links and organisation/membership details but has a comprehensive members directory which provides direct access to each of the businesses we represent. September also saw the inclusion of ‘Press Clippings’ and ‘Media Releases’ of the Chamber and its members designed to inform community about our current issues and activities.

Our LOGO is now reflected on our website, letterhead, chamber blast and all published material.

The Members Directory and Location Map was launched in January showing location of our members and places of interest to visit. The second phase of this initiative will be launched soon.

The ‘buy local / buy Chamber’ campaign has focussed on driving inter-chamber purchasing, collaborative cross-selling and cross promotional opportunities.

The new monthly Chamber Blast not only serves as a dynamic and measurable means of interacting with our members, but also with the broader business and government community.

The NICC Strategy Focus Group should be congratulated for their input into many of our activities and are currently working with Tourism Wollongong on opportunities and possibilities to promote ‘Hidden Treasures of the Northern Illawarra’.

During the past year two of our executive team, for personal reasons, resigned their positions - Darryl Bromley the President and John Vander the Membership Secretary. The tremendous input from Darryl and John was greatly appreciated.

Our new partnership with the Illawarra Area Consultative Committee is enabling us to bring free workshops and seminars to members and other Illawarra businesses.

The next 12 months promise even greater growth and development as we build upon the strategies initiated this past year. We anticipate that we will exceed all expectations of our members as we continue to consolidate our branding, online resources, profile and business networks.

We are a Chamber of Commerce and all our members are to be congratulated - from our larger businesses to each of we lesser, yet unique and individual operators - for your superb skills, your dedication and enthusiasm which gives our area the character to match, yet not compromise, the character of the exceptional NORTHERN ILLAWARRA.