Tuesday 1st April 2008
Rydges Hotel, Wollongong

Meeting held at Wollongong Small Business Club 1st April 2008 along with Corimal Chamber Commerce.

NICC attendance: Pauline Smith/Scott Smith/Andrew Sheath/Carol van der Water/Suzi van Middlelkoop/John and Tracie Noonan/Kayleen Prendergast/Barbara Allen/Neil and Lyn Craddock/Lynda Starkey/Nicky Schaffer/ Steve Melchoir/Shelley Daniew/Leila Visser.

Apologies: Di Derenzie/Humphrey Armstrong/Curt Warren/Ronda Ryan/QuentinField/Rosemary Goldman/R+R/Greig Watts.

Guest Speaker - Dr Craig Emerson M.P.

Presidents Report:

The Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce encompasses the area from Historic Helensburgh, the gateway to the Illawarra in the north, through the Coastal Villages and Escarpment Heights to the Arts and Culture, business town of Thirroul.

The population of this area is around 14,000 with 500 small businesses. Chamber member businesses are extremely varied including retail, hospitality, professional services, tourism and service industries.

The Chambers 90 member businesses employ almost 400 local people, comprising full time, part time, casual and apprentices with many contractors also being employed.

The enthusiasm and dedication of our Executive Committee and Members propels the Chamber forward and during the past 7 months membership has increased by a third.

NICC provides an effective organisational, member-based platform that values, supports and gives voice to the business community of the Northern Illawarra.

Strategies that the Chamber has committed to this year include improving communication through the upgrading of our website being the online communications for NICC, serving members, media, government and local community.

Our Member Directory and Map is in the final preparation stages before printing and is a free added bonus to members.

The Chamber Focus Group is initiating 5 Tourist Trails in the Northern Illawarra which will provide visitors to our region a users guide to ‘what to do and see’ in our area.

In this year of climate change and because of our unique, sensitive location, the Chamber is pursuing, with the assistance of Wollongong Council’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, strategies that will assist our members to ‘reduce their environmental footprints’; the encouragement and enthusiasm with which this strategy has been received is very rewarding for all concerned.

On behalf of NICC I would like to thank the Minister Craig Emerson for visiting our area and look forward to his removing the "Red Tape" for small business admistration.Also Dick Bradley of IACC for his strong support which small businesses in this area have never had before and also initiating the invaluable small business workshops.And lastly our small business owners who are the backbone of the Chamber and whose ethical business standards provide the environment for growth and prosperity in the region.