•Identify process and people and establish a Community Action Group.

• Build influence from the business community with elected leaders, and

• Provide community leadership on critical issues.

• A significant amount of work took place in 2003 to lay the groundwork for a Community Action Group.  A number of meetings have taken place toward this end and will continue into 2004.

•Monitor issues at the local, state and federal levels and provide information to Chamber members on issues that may affect local businesses. 

• Worthless Check Legislation – voted to support state legislation for a new “Worthless Check” program in Pitt County.

• A “No Child Left Behind” briefing was held for government officials at all levels (local, state and federal) to provide understanding and seek support.  This briefing was held at the Murphy Center at ECU.  Briefings for the business community are being planned.  Will also partner with other chambers to bring briefings to different parts of the county (Farmville, Ayden/Grifton, possibly Bethel).

•Education Compact Funding – supported county funding of the Education Compact at $1.8 million and worked to communicate views to commissioners. 

• Support of Funding for Immediate and Short Term Facilities needs of Pitt County Schools.  Resolution was passed by Education Cabinet and Board and was presented to County Commissioners in May.

• Support for H1294 – Extend the Qualified Business Venture Tax Credit. 

• The Chamber took a strong stance and passed a resolution in opposition to union organization in Pitt County.  The position was communicated in a full-page ad in the newspaper in June.

• Presented a position paper to the General Assembly and sent personal representation to House and Senate public hearings urging them to give careful consideration to Pitt County when creating voting districts in North Carolina.

• The Chamber adopted a resolution in support of the establishment of the North Carolina Cardiovascular Diseases Institute that is proposed to be located in Greenville/Pitt County.

•Strongly support and promote positions on air and road transportation.

• We have continued to support by integrating these positions into interviews and speeches.  Positions are on website.

•Continue to support the SouthEast Crescent Authority initiative.

• We have continued to support by integrating our support into interviews and speeches.

•Provide leadership in the building of a chamber coalition in the Eastern Economic Development Region (13 counties).  Co-host with other chambers an event to help build political unity among elected state lawmakers.

• This has turned out to be one of the major projects for our Chamber this year.  In June 2002, chamber executives and business leaders from an eight-county region met in an effort to identify common issues.  The main theme that emerged was the need to have identifiable regions and to build political unity in those regions to eventually effect change.  With this in mind, the eight-county partnership expanded to work within the already defined boundaries of the Eastern Economic Development Region, which includes the counties of Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Edgecombe, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Wayne and Wilson.

• From there, three unity building events have been held – an oyster roast on Feb. 27, 2003, at which 125 people were present, a subsequent meeting with legislators on March 18, 2003, in Raleigh. At the Raleigh meeting, it was decided and approved that a steering committee be formed to provide leadership in uniting business and government throughout the region and to identify issues of common interest.  The third event was held on October 28 in New Bern with 70 people in attendance.  

• This Steering Committee is comprised of the region’s senate and house members, a business representative from each of the 13 counties and chamber of commerce executives.  There are several at-large regional business representatives as well.

• The Chairman of this Regional Steering Committee is Joel Butler.  Legislative co-chairs are Senator A.B. Swindell (D-Nash) and Representative Jean Preston (R-Carteret, Onslow).  Chamber Executive Co-Chairs are Bruce Beasley of Wilson and Susanne Sartelle of Greenville.

• The Steering Committee has met regularly and has taken strong positions supporting the Global Transpark’s bid for the location of a Boeing Plant, the Eastern NC Transportation Plan, and the Cardiovascular Diseases Institute. 

• Our Chamber is definitely recognized as a leader in this regional effort.

•Host a series of events to provide “Insight on Issues” for chamber members.

• The following events have been held:

• February 20, “The Federal Outlook” with Congressman Frank Ballance.  Approximately 50 attended.

• March 17, “Outlook on State Government” with NC Legislators.   Approximately 45 attended.

• April 30, “A Visit with the Greenville Redevelopment Commission” with speaker Andy Harris.  More than 50 attended.

• October 23 “No Child Left Behind Legislation” with speaker Dr. Mary Williamson, Pitt County Schools.  Approximately 40 attended.
  
   

•Host the North Carolina Environmental Conference in Greenville.

• Environmental Conference was held March 6 & 7 at the Hilton.  In terms of participants, the numbers were down but still 100 people attended.  In terms of the program, comments were that the content of the program was the best ever. 

•Celebrate chamber membership via the 2003 Annual Banquet and recognize excellence in leadership with awards to Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and Outstanding Membership Sales Person.

• The 2003 Annual Dinner was held January 30 at Rock Springs.  There were 255 in attendance.  Awards were presented to the following:  Top Membership Sales:  Renee Blount, NACCO Materials Handling Group; Outstanding Membership Sales:  Leslie Messerli, Richard Cox, CPA; and George Mills, Confidential Records Management.  Ambassador of the Year:  Bert Powell, AXA Advisors.  Volunteer of the Year:  Larry Seigler and Citizen of the Year, Janice Faulkner.

•Implement the Membership Plan for Recruitment and Retention as written in 2002.

• Implementation of this plan is ongoing.  Plan includes methods for calling on past due accounts (delayed renewals) as well as a communication plan for new members.

•Host periodic new member orientations to provide information on the Chamber and to encourage involvement.

•  Organized new member orientations were not held this year; information was generally shared individually with new members.

•Implement a process to track membership involvement.

• This has been achieved via our membership database software, Membership Partner.  The Executive Committee is given a contacts report periodically to show communication with members and we are now able to track membership involvement as to which events members attend and/or sponsor.

•Identify more networking opportunities for members.

• See Business Division Networking Roundtable.

• Networking opportunities are now available on line via the Members Only section Message Boards. 

•Host an annual planning retreat to review the Chamber’s Strategic Plan with input from leadership and membership.

• Hosted the Annual Planning Retreat October 26-27 at Wrightsville Beach to review the Chamber’s Strategic Plan and to identify priorities for the 2004 Program of Work.  More than 50 attended.

•Train future community leaders through the Leadership Institute Network. 

• Another big success with 24 participants graduating from the program in May.  Community projects this year included Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, New  Directions Violence Center, First Born, Leadership Institute Database and Carolina Pregnancy Center.

•Provide direct benefits to chamber members through affinity programs

• Comp Carolina Workers’ Comp Plan

• Sprint Long Distance

• Worksite Solutions

•Seek additional money and/or time saving programs for members

• This has proven to be a challenging area this year.  We have been challenged in support from the companies providing the services due to lack of employees on their part.  Some new marketing attempts are being considered.
  
   

•Continue to conduct an aggressive Ambassador program for membership retention.

• Ambassadors call on new members and existing members each month and attend ribbon cuttings.  In addition to visits, they assist with Business After Hours and they participated in the Telemarketing Membership Campaign in May.  There are 24 Ambassadors, chaired by Dawn Raiford of Bank of America.

•Coordinate ribbon cuttings and grand openings for Chamber members and provide publicity.

• Coordinated 45 ribbon cuttings this year.

•Establish a Task Force to determine methods of non-dues revenue for the Chamber.

• This Task Force was formed and met early on in the year and was chaired by Larry Seigler.  It was decided and then approved by the Board to hold a Reverse Raffle event, which was held on September 11. 

•Conducted a very successful Telemarketing Membership Campaign in May, broadcast live on Cable 7.  “Join the Chamber…it’s the Talk of the Town” was the theme.  Recruited 41 new members during the campaign.  Conducted a Mini-Telemarketing Campaign in October and recruited 17 new members.

•Scheduled and coordinated seven Business After Hours during the year. 

•A Community Leaders Breakfast to commemorate East Carolina University Founder’s Day was held on Monday, March 24 at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church.   More than 200 community leaders attended.

•Establish a Marketing Task Force to review and enhance chamber communication methods.

• Marketing Task Force was formed in 2003 and began meeting early on with Emily Faulkner as Chairman.  The first issue they tackled was the Chamber newsletter.  (see newsletter below)

• The committee then reviewed the newsletter and looked at potential marketing efforts to publicize the website to members and non-members. (see website below)

•Revise newsletter to expand reach and information and reduce cost.

• Marketing task force looked at ways to reduce the cost of the newsletter.

• The size and the weight of the newsletter were changed which reduced cost and allowed for more copy space – a very efficient change.

• The content of the newsletter was also reviewed and enhanced.

•Investigate partnerships with media.

• Partnerships with the media will continue to be a topic that the Marketing Task Force will tackle in 2004.

•Maximize use of the chamber website www.greenvillenc.org

• Offer business solutions and program information.

• Investigate use of website for member networking opportunities.

• Membership Software was linked to Chamber website with one benefit being the message board.  Members can log-into the member’s only section at any time and post messages for other members concerning business related topics.

• Provide assistance to members in recruiting employees through a Job Bank.

• Additional software was also added to the website that allows members to post jobs that are available within their place of work.  Through a simple and easy process, a member can enter their information for a job that will then be available for visitors to the Chamber website to view.  This is great for newcomers and individuals locating to the area and is a top request that we get when they contact us: “Where can we look for jobs?”

• Offer advertising opportunities.

• Banner advertising was made available this year on the Chamber’s website.  This allows members to post a banner ad that will rotate throughout the website on each page.

• Offer a “premiere” website package, providing direct links to members’ websites, emails and maps to their business locations.

• The website has seen and undergone many changes and upgrades this year that we feel will benefit every Chamber member.

• One big addition was the online membership directory.  This means that now potentially anyone anywhere in the world can look up Greenville-Pitt County Chamber members.  This easy and at-your-fingertip service, will make it more convenient for people to access Chamber members.

• Another benefit that was added is the Member’s Only Section.  This section has various components that make it a great benefit and resource for members.

• Chamber members can update and change any of their information at any time for the Chamber database.  Before, the only methods were to call or fax in corrections.

• The message boards allow Chamber members to talk to each other through the website and ask for advice, suggestions, etc.

• The calendar of events is available so that everyone may look at upcoming Chamber and Chamber member events.  For many Chamber events online registration is available through this section.  Members may also list an event that they have in their business.

• The premier website package as listed above is a great advertising and marketing tool that we are currently offering to Chamber members.  Throughout the summer and fall, a staff member has been contacting every Chamber member to tell him or her about all of the new services that are available in the web including everything that was talked about above.  So far, 100 members have invested in this package!

•Publish an Annual Report of previous year’s accomplishments along with the 2003 Program of Work.

• Annual Report of 2002 was published in same document with Program of Work for 2003.

•Publish IMAGES magazine to highlight quality of life in Greenville-Pitt County and to serve as a newcomers guide.

• Magazine for 2003 published actually before the beginning of the year.

• Sales and editorial for the 2004 magazine began in August of this year.  The 2004 magazine will be available in the beginning of 2004.

•Produce various other publications such as a community data book to assist with newcomer services.

• Many publications are available to order through the office and through the website that are great resources.  These include a Clubs and Organizations Book that list area civic and social organizations, a Manufacturers Directory which lists all of Pitt County manufacturers and the contact information.  City/County maps are also available for sale through the Chamber.  Many other newcomer resources are available in the office including various literature and brochures from Chamber members that promote their business.

• A new package has been developed which is used to respond to newcomer requests.

•Develop a membership directory on CD Rom.

• This project is currently being finished and should be available by the end of December.  UHS and Sprint are sponsoring this CD Rom, which will be mailed to all Chamber members in January of 2004.

•Promote camaraderie and networking among chamber members via the annual Bowling Tournament.

• Reverse Raffle took the place of the Bowling Tournament.

•“Find Your Treasure on Chamber Island” Reverse Raffle was held on Thursday, September 11 at Rock Springs Center.  The evening was filled with lots of great food, entertainment by the Tupelo Blues Band, silent auction items and Chamber members donated lots of door prizes.  RBC Centura, Rock Springs Center, Sprint, The Clement Companies and NACCO MATERIALS HANDLING GROUP, INC sponsored the event.  The Chamber Reverse Raffle Committee was chaired by Susan Daughtry.

•Serve as liaison to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and assist with the annual basketball tournament in Greenville.

• Tournament was held in March and the Chamber (mostly Henry Hinton and Jennifer Angevine) again took the lead in raising the necessary dollars (on top of PCMH’s annual commitment) to make the event happen.