2008 - The Year in Review

The Chamber of Commerce serving Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows turns 99 in 2009, and is an important regional business organization that offers a wide variety of marketing, business support / development resources, and benefits programs to members and the business community. It is an advocate and voice on key regional economic issues, a connector of services and resources and an organizer of various business and social networking events.

Late in 2007, the Chamber faced a number of challenges which led to the hiring of a new business oriented Executive Director. There was immediate impact within the Chamber office as the staff and Directors proactively changed the layout of the office, updated the technology - hardware and software, and developed a more visible approach to marketing and public relations. On the flip side the confidence, of members and community stakeholders, was at an all time low with membership cancellations, little member to member communication, and the strong connections and partnerships of the past gone or forgotten.

Internally, there were operational, management and membership issues. After a detailed analysis of the situation, the Chamber's leadership team approved the;

• Hiring of a third party to review our 2007 financials and become a monthly auditor in 2008
• Re-branding of the Chamber with a new logo, website and marketing campaign
• Changes in Chamber policy in areas of "Beach of Trust" and "Conflict of Interest"
• Aggressive "Open for Business" marketing and promotions plan
• Investment in a new computer hardware (server and admin system) and software upgrades
• Introduction of new and exciting events and partnerships
  

The Chamber's role is one of leadership, advocacy, connectivity and resourcefulness and is an important voice in the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows business community. In 2008, the Chamber established or strengthened relationships with;

• Maple Ridge City Hall and Economic Advisory Commission
• Pitt Meadows City Hall and Economic Development Advisory Commission
• Tourism - Pitt Meadow Airport, Hotels and the four (4) Main Golf Courses
• Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association (MRBIA)
• School District 42 - School Board and Work Experience Coordinators
• Local Social Service Providers – Family Support Services, Bowmen Employment, etc.
• The Local Media - News, Times and Bugel
• RCMP
• Katzie First Nations
• Women's AM
• Spirit of BC
• Translink
• Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation
• Camp Good Times - Loon Lake Research Centre
• Ministry of Small Business and Revenue and Small Business BC
• BC Chamber of Commerce
• Regional Chambers - Tri-Cities, Mission, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack

Current membership (December 2008) is 615 members, with 80 percent of those having from 1 to 6 employees. Membership has grown by over 125 members in the past year with a large portion of those members returning after a prolonged absence from the chamber. With continued growth in the region and a large number of home-based businesses, we estimate that there are 4000 “businesses” in the community, and our goal is to attract twenty (20) new members each month with the desired goal to be at 700 members in December 2009.