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The Saranac Lake Area
Chamber of Commerce scored well on a recent survey of its
membership.
Chamber members were
asked to answer a 10-question survey last month. Executive Director
Sylvie Nelson says the input will be used by the chamber’s staff and
Board of Directors to improve services.
“Without our members’
comments, the chamber would not be able to address issues and
concerns they might have,” she said in a news release. “As a
responsive organization, we need those comments as it is one of the
tools we use to shape our strategic plan.”
There were 74 survey
respondents, which is about 16 percent of chamber membership. Of
those who responded, 69 percent feel the chamber has helped their
business this past year. Some were pleased with the referrals the
chamber provides while others liked the creation of a health and
wellness section in the chamber’s visitor’s guide.
Sixty percent of
respondents were aware of the benefits chamber membership including
a monthly e-newsletter, access to group health insurance, a commerce
card, volunteering opportunities, events and more.
81 percent said they read the monthly
e-newsletter on the chamber’s website at www.saranaclake.com;
another 38 percent have a weblink from the chamber’s website to
theirs and 30 percent take advantage of the display rack in the
office.
“We are proud to know
that almost 70 percent of the respondents feel we are meeting their
needs,” Nelson said. “And now, we know that 30 percent of the
respondents say there is room for improvement and we will be
addressing that issue.”
Among the services
that members said they’d like the chamber to work on were upgrading
the website, advertising opportunities on the website, the creation
of an Ambassador group to welcome newcomers and new businesses to
the community and a quarterly membership information session. Some
said the chamber needs a stronger presence in the Lake Placid
region, needs to do a better job in informing members of advertising
opportunities and should upgrade its marketing strategy.
Nelson said a meeting
with members will be held in early 2009 to review the comments, take
them into consideration and implement changes.
For more information,
contact that Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 891-1990.
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