MAKING TRACKS… A Chamber of many hats
By Bill Clow
Executive Director, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to the more than 30 people who joined us a little more than a week ago at the brainstorming session on ways to promote downtown businesses and attract customers during the streetscape construction project that is due to start on April 1st. There were many, many great ideas shared and the Chamber, the city and others are reviewing those, along with other ideas and plans to develop a plan of action. We will hold another community meeting in the next few weeks to share our plans to adopt some of those ideas and discuss how everyone can get involved.
The Roles of a Chamber of Commerce
This week I had the opportunity to talk with the Leadership Oneida County class about the roles that the Chamber plays in Rhinelander. I thought it was worth sharing that discussion here.
Chambers of Commerce serve many purposes, depending on the needs of the community.
All Chambers tend to be voluntary, member-focused and member-funded organizations that focus to some degree on a few primary goals:
- Building communities to which residents, visitors and investors are attracted;
- Promoting those communities;
- Striving to ensure future prosperity of the community and member businesses by supporting a positive business-friendly environment;
- Representing the voice of the employer community;
- The Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce (RACC), as with most chambers in areas such as the Northwoods, also serves as the Tourism and Visitors Bureau for the community.
- In that role, we develop and distribute information of interest to visitors and travelers;
- Provide a resource for visitors and newcomers to get answers to questions about the Rhinelander area;
- Develop and/or participate in events that will attract visitors to Rhinelander and support Rhinelander area businesses.
In addition to these areas, RACC helps to support economic development efforts within Rhinelander and Oneida County. We work hard to be collaborative with other organizations and efforts in the area, as there is ALWAYS more to be done than there are resources to do it. It is the belief of the Rhinelander Chamber that we can get more done and make better use of the resources we have by working together.
Ultimately, our goal is to help make Rhinelander a place where people want to come to live, work and play!
Mark Your Calendar
The Rhinelander area always has lots of activities! I want to highlight a few events you won’t want to miss. For a more complete and up-to-date listing of community events, please check our community calendar on our website at ExploreRhinelander.com.
Hodag Home Show – March 19 @ Rhinelander High School. We are taking exhibitor reservations and event sponsorships now! Plan on stopping by between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to check out the exhibitors, enjoy the entertainment, win prizes, and more!
Rhinelander Optimist Easter Egg Hunt – March 26; Pioneer Park
Community Health & Wellness Fair sponsored by the Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation – April 16
Reducing the Regulatory Burden with Nancy Mistle, Director of the Office of Business Development from the State of Wisconsin – April 20th @ ArtStart at 4pm (Details on this program to follow shortly)
Business After 5 at ArtStart, cohosted by the Rhinelander Brewing Company – April 20 at 5pm
Hops & Vines Beer & Wine Tasting – April 23 @ Quality Inn
If you have any questions or comments about anything in this column or any other aspect of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce, please contact us at 715-365-7464, email me at [email protected] or visit our website at www.ExploreRhinelander.com.
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