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Chamber PresidentAbout the Chamber

With more than 300 members, the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the leading advocate for local businesses – both large and small. Following are excerpts from a speech delivered by Chamber Chairman Omer ErSelcuk at the Chamber’s 2008 Annual Membership Meeting. For more information about the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, visit www.stxchamber.org or email: info@stxchamber.org

Last year, we successfully re-positioned the Chamber as a positive force for business here on St. Croix.  Among our goals was to begin a collaborative and constructive relationship with our Government.

While we are working together with Government, we are not doing so blindly. During the year, we took stands on key issues such as Education and Waste Management.  We did, however, in a respectful manner that has kept the doors throughout government open. 

It is my strong belief that our Government, through our Governor, has chosen a road that will lead us strongly towards the economic success we all desire.  And as with any strong leader who is moving in the right direction, our role can, in part, become one of being supportive of his efforts.

Believe it or not, there are still some who naively or consciously do not want to wish to see forward progress as they have become used to the old wasteful and divisive ways of the past. It is up to all of us, not just our leaders, to power past these road blocks to the success we so richly deserve.

Also, there are elections coming – we need to ensure we know where our legislative candidates, old and new, stand on the key issues and to let them know where we stand!

The good news is that with the Government moving in the right direction, along with our continued involvement to ensure the interests of the private sector are protected, we can begin to focus more energy on tackling the rest of our goals, including:

     Economic Development

  1. Workforce Development and Education
  2. Civil Justice Reform
  3. Charitable Causes
  4. Internal Chamber Improvements
  5. Building our Chamber and continuing to diversify our membership, board, and leadership to better represent the private sector on St. Croix

I cannot say how excited I am about 2008 and St. Croix and the Virgin Islands’ future.  We all know great things are coming!  If we put them together, plus what we already have they spell real progress.

St. Croix Chamber of Commerce 2008 Operating Plan

Scope and Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to outline the 2008 Operating Plan (the Plan) of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce (Chamber).  The Plan will form the basis of the Chamber’s 2008 Goals and Objectives (G&Os).  These G&Os will then be assigned appropriately to the Executive Director, President/Chairman, and respective committees.

Goals & Objectives

  1. Chamber Enhancement
    1. Executive Director
      1. Establish of bi-annual G&Os based on the Plan.
        1. Owner: Executive Director, Chairman
      2. Review of G&Os by Executive Committee prior to end of year
    2. Boost Financial Status Via
      1. Continued strict financial oversight
        1. Owner: Budget and Finance Committee
      2. Establish 2008 Budget
        1. Owner: Budget and Finance Committee
      3. Ensuring existing membership renewal
        1. Owner: Executive Director
      4. Membership growth (25 to 30 percent increase revenue)
        1. Owner: Executive Director, Chamber Development and Enhancement Committee
      5. Generate new revenue streams
        1. Owner: Executive Director, Chamber Development and Enhancement Committee
    3. Chamber Platform
      1. Adjust mission statement to include:
        1. Continued collaboration with government and tourism
        2. Owner: Board
    4. Chamber Management
      1. Use of Plan based G&Os
        1. Owner: Executive Committee
  2. Chamber PR
    1. Pro-active business voice
      1. Board approved press releases, takes positions on key initiatives
      2. Owner: Executive Director, Board
    2. Participation in New Events
      1. Awards Banquet
      2. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
      3. Owner: Events Committee
    3. Presence at key government and private sector events
      1. Owner: Executive Director, Board
  3. Government Accountability and Productivity
    1. Meet your Senator After Hours
      1.  In conjunction with VI Hotel & Tourism
      2. Special debate series to help membership choose candidates and to assist candidates with knowing/supporting our key issues
    2. Meet your Government luncheons
      1. Governor
      2. Delegate to Congress (Possible Debate)
      3. Select Commissioners
    3. Coordination/support of VI Government as feasible
      1. Invite St. Croix Administrator, Assistant to the Governor for quarterly Chamber participation
    4. Owner: Governmental Affairs and Events Committee
  4. Tort Reform
    1. Assist in developing a balanced playing field for business and individuals
    2. Owner: Economic Development Committee
  5. Healthcare Reform
    1. Ensure proper basis, methodology, and placement are utilized
    2. Owner: Government Affairs Committee
  6. Tourism
    1. Work closely with VI Hotel & Tourism (HTA)
      1. Ensure Chamber participation on HTA Board
      2. Assist HTA in development of new resorts
      3. Help coordination preparation for cruise ships in 2009
      4. Holiday Hope Event 2008
      5. St. Croix Hotel & Tourism Association President invited to participate in quarterly Chamber Board Meetings
    2. Work with Department of Tourism
      1. Assistant Commissioner (St. Croix) invited to participate with quarterly Chamber meetings
      2. Assist in maintaining/developing air transport
    3. Owner: Government Affairs and Economic Development Committees
  7. Infrastructure and Public Safety
    1. Work closely with HTA and others including Public Safety to boost crime prevention
    2. Work closely with Public Works to enhance conditions
      1. Invite Commissioner of Public Works to a Board Meeting
    3. Owner: Government Affairs Committee
  8. Economic Development
    1. EDC Program promotion
    2. Coordination with Department of Interior
      1. EDC and other key areas
      2. Assist Delegate in obtaining our fair share of Federal Funding
    3. Assistance in development of beneficial projects (IE: Tech Park, Gallows Bay Marina, Williams & Punch, others)
    4. Owner:  Economic Development Committee
  9. Community, Education, Workforce, Culture, and Charitable Causes
    1. Coordination with these important community components
      1. Participation of the Workforce Development Committee
      2. Annual contributions/participation with community and charitable causes: Holiday Hope Event (Boys and Girls Club, Toys for Tots)
      3. Scholastic writing competition
      4. Establish/re-launch the scholarship program
      5. Joint sponsorship of at least one annual community event
    2. Owner: Education and Workforce Development Committee

 

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