Moving Fort Collins Forward!

A Total Resource Campaign

The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to Northern Colorado and to helping make it a great place to work and live. As a great champion of the area and business. the Chamber is dedicated to improving community infrastructure, keeping our schools strong, sound public policy and economic growth, all of which lead to a more successful and vibrant community.  As well, the Chamber puts businesspeople in contact with potential customers.

The Fort Collins Area Chamber has launched Moving Fort Collins Forward!   This total resource campaign will make sure we have a properly funded chamber capable to accomplishing key initiatives for the community. The Fort Collins Area Chamber leadership has identified four critically important areas of focus in the community which must improve.  These include job creation, education and quality of life, small business success and public policy in Northern Colorado. 

This campaign will be launched on September 7 and we want to invite you to get involved in the campaign.  We have 21 businesses and over 100 volunteers that have committed to supporting the campaign and they will soon be talking to you and others about how you can be an active part of Moving Fort Collins Forward! 

You can get involved in the campaign by investing in a marketing product or special initiative, encouraging others in your network to join the chamber or volunteering to join one of our campaign teams.  To get involved, contact Kim Medina at kmedina@fcchamber.org.

What is a Total Resource Campaign?

The Fort Collins Area Chamber Board of Directors is seeking the support of the business and civic leaders of the Northern Colorado area allow us to address these important areas.  The Chamber's initiative is called Moving Fort Collins Forward! It's the type of fund raising campaign known as a ”˜total resource campaign', which is a proven technique to rally a broad cross section of the local and regional leaders to accomplish specific goals.  The main thrust of the campaign is to secure all resources necessary to have a well-funded chamber of commerce capable of positively influencing the economic well being of the area and providing programs and services that members deem valuable.

Who is involved?

The campaign is being lead by our Chamber Board of Directors, twenty-one of our member businesses and over 100 volunteers.  Key volunteers include:   

Campaign Co Chairs:  Mark Driscoll, President First National Bank; Rulon Stacey, President Poudre Valley Health System

What is being sold during Moving Fort Collins Forward?

The short answer is ”˜Anything the Chamber needs to operate during the next year.' Our campaign will focus on four general areas: special initiatives, memberships, events and advertising and budget reduction trades:

Special initiatives. There are four areas of emphasis that will be funded by this campaign including: Job Creation, Education & Quality of Life, Small Business Success, Public Policy Action.  For details on the initiatives, contact Kim Medina at kmedina@fcchamber.org.

Memberships. There are three areas of membership included in the campaign: New members. The Chamber needs to continually add new members; Assigned renewals. Some members have lapsed or are delayed. On a select basis, some of these accounts can be available for volunteers to re-sign; Member upgrades. Some members are paying less than they could be paying for companies of their stature. During Moving Fort Collins Forward they will be targeted for increased dues levels, known as upgrades. 

In addition to volunteers recruiting new members, the Fort Collins Chamber is launching the Member-Get-A-Member Campaign in conjunction with the Moving Fort Collins Forward! Campaign.  The goal is to recruit 100 new members by Thanksgiving.  Please click here for additional information.

Events, sponsorships and advertising. The Chamber has great name recognition and is perceived positively. Consequently, the Chamber can be a great platform for company marketing:   Event sponsorships. Opportunities Include: annual dinner, business before hours, business after hours, 12@12, new member reception, golf tournament, spring showcase, speed networking, etc.; Advertising. Print, electronic and Web site advertising through the Chamber are great avenues for B2B marketing.  For details on items available, click HERE or contact Kim Medina at kmedina@fcchamber.org.

Budget reduction trades. Trades with companies that help the Chamber reduce its outlay of cash for items are an important part of the campaign. This is carefully managed so that key items are identified prior to the campaign. While being careful not to stifle creativity during the campaign, there are clear criteria and approval processes in place to ensure that trade items actually reduce Chamber costs, not just enhance a team's competitive position. On the Chamber's ”˜wish list' for 2012 are: Replacement of Carpet; Printing; Art work in building; Furniture; Computers and more.  For details on items available, contact Kim Medina at kmedina@fcchamber.org.

How will this help our Chamber?

The short answer is that the Moving Fort Collins Forward campaign will provide the Chamber with the means to effectively promote the community and advocate for business. Here are the key benefits:

• Value identification, pricing, packaging and communication. Moving Fort Collins Forward is a disciplined, clear-eyed process of looking at what value the Chamber is now providing its members, identifying other valuable programs and services, packaging that value in an understandable form and communicating it to members and prospects.
• Lessens dependence on dues income. Most chambers have a 50-50 split between dues and non-dues revenue. We're currently at 71% to 29%.
• Generates the resources the Chamber needs. The Chamber is competing with many other entities for volunteer time and financial resources. In a difficult economy, it is imperative that we identify value, communicate it and do so with significant energy. Moving Fort Collins Forward does that and will generate the resources the Chamber needs to accomplish its mission. The Chamber can put more horsepower behind its programs. Moving Fort Collins Forward generates dollars for growth, stability and strength, broadens the membership base (so more firms are sharing the load), and allows us to retain our professional staff and stay current on technology.
• It's an effective and economical way to raise resources. The ”˜sales force' grows from 3 people (membership staff or 7 people if you include entire staff) to over 100. Plus, each of those 100 people brings their own unique set of contacts. Furthermore, there are efficiencies from concentrating on fund raising and doing it in a relatively short time period.
• Activates members and elevates the involvement and enthusiasm of volunteers. One good aspect of our chamber is that it is not ”˜committee-heavy.' A downside is that there are a limited number of avenues for members to help the organization. Moving Fort Collins Forward helps us ”˜discover' new volunteers because it engages some companies & individuals that were not previously involved.
• Elevates the interaction between Chamber Staff and Chamber Members. We have a positive culture at the Chamber with strong relationships between the members and their staff. As noted above, however, there are limited opportunities for members to be involved beyond attending events and / or working on a few committees.
• Creates positive visibility for the Chamber. Within both the business community and the overall community, the campaign will elevate the Chamber's profile. The Moving Fort Collins Forward campaign will educate members and the community to the breadth of Chamber activities.
• Opportunity to ”˜reactivate' past leadership. The Chamber has been very, very fortunate to have strong leadership over the years, as officers and on the board. The time and good will invested in the Chamber is a latent resource waiting to be tapped.
• Identifies new and emerging leaders. We do a good job of watching for emerging talent, but a project of this magnitude is custom-made to let motivated and talented people shine.
• Professional development for volunteers who participate. Moving Fort Collins Forward provides sales training and it provides leadership opportunities for volunteers.
• Staff is energized to think in entrepreneurial way. The staff should always be thinking about new and better programs and services. In a resource-constrained environment, however, just getting the work out the door is a challenge. Moving Fort Collins Forward allows the staff to break out of that grid and focus on the all the great ideas and services that the Chamber could provide for want of more resources. This is a very liberating and empowering aspect of the Moving Fort Collins Forward campaign.
• Higher member retention rate because volunteers develop equity. In future campaigns, volunteers are rewarded for bringing the same sales back year after year. The retention rate is higher compared to blitzes, phone solicitation, and heavy arm twisting. Additionally, the majority of the products/services/programs sold during Moving Fort Collins Forward provide tangible benefits, which retains members. By using Chamber marketing opportunities members build their brands, benefit financially.

What are the key dates for the campaign?

• Kick Off:  September 7 - 4:30-6pm - Rio Agave Room
• Weekly Sessions: Thursday, noon-1pm - locations around town
• Victory Celebration: November 17 - TBD

How can I get involved and learn more?

Contact Kim Medina at kmedina@fcchamber.org or 482-3746.

Special thanks to our Campaign Sponsor:  OtterBox
And our Campaign Media Sponsor:  The Fort Collins Coloradoan

Special thanks to our Campaign Supporters:  Austin's American Grill, Best Western University Inn, Big Al's Burgers & Dogs, Bisetti's Ristorante, Buffalo Wild Wings, Charco Broiler Restaurant, Chef Happy's Gourmet, Chick-fil-A of Fort Collins, Chipper's Lanes, Egg & I Restaurant, Enzio's Italian Kitchen, Harmony, Hilton Fort Collins, Jay's Bistro, Marriott Fort Collins, McDonald's, Pulinella Pizzeria, Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, The Cupboard, The Parlour, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Taverna Greek Grill & Tuana Hair Design