New chamber to provide direction and leadership

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

The Wellington area has a new chamber of commerce, which will work to complement past and future efforts of the community's economic development association.

Officially registered as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation, the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to kick off a membership drive at the end of March.

Wendell Nelson, owner of the Chocolate Rose, is chairman of the newly minted board of directors, with real estate developer Lou Kinzli holding the vice chair position. Wayne Jensen, John Slutsky (parliamentarian), Ila Drohman, Henry Obermeyer (secretary), Travis Stevens, Mike Whalen, Mike Graves (treasurer), Ron Young and Bert McCaffrey complete the board.

The chamber evolved from the Wellington Economic Development Association, a group that helps find and encourage businesses to come to the area. At one point last year, WEDA, headed by developer Doug Andersen, was poised to disband and transform into a chamber-style organization.

"Sometimes," said Andersen, "the goals of WEDA and those of a chamber of commerce are polar opposites as far as the interests of the people involved." WEDA looks to bring in new business, some of which may compete with established businesses, Andersen explained, while a chamber is designed to promote and encourage existing businesses.

Andersen and Nelson are working together to define how the chamber and economic development agencies can work together. A draft proposal puts new business development, existing business development and community development under the umbrella of chamber activities. Work with the enterprise zone, commercial and residential opportunities, new land development and coordination with regional economic development would constitute WEDA territory. Both organizations would work with town government where joint influence would best serve community growth and development. The organizations might share office space, web sites, accounting and legal services, as well as ex officio board members as communication links but maintain separate governance. Some community projects would involve both the chamber and WEDA.

After discussions with the town board, Nelson said that he "expects the chamber to take the lead in following up on the recent community assessment recommendations."

A team of economic experts visited Wellington in December to question community focus groups about their perspectives on town issues. After a series of meetings, the team identified community strengths and weaknesses and gave Wellington a list of recommendations. They included the following:

• Develop a 5-, 10- and 15-year strategic plan
• Engage state and county facilitators to help with strategic planning
• Evaluate and update a master plan in 2006
• Encourage private sector involvement with community development
• Develop a communication plan with town residents

Nelson said that the chamber plans to put together more focus groups composed of special interest and business groups to address these issues.

"We expect to develop the strategic plan out of these focus groups," he said. "It will take some time. There's a lot of work to do. We would like to come up with a series of projects with price tags that would get us to our strategic goals."

But first, the chamber needs members. Businesses of all sizes registered with the town will get letters about the March membership drive. By that time, the chamber will have dues schedules in place and know more about how it will communicate effectively with members.

Nelson said there will be two fee levels at which businesses can join. The board is in the process of setting costs and determining the services offered at each level. The chamber also hopes to get donations from larger businesses. "Donations and membership fees should be a tax-deductible expense for businesses," said Nelson.

WEDA will remain an independent organization with separate finances. It currently has about $7,000 in its accounts, some of which came from local businesses as dues.

"WEDA won't maintain a membership," said Andersen. Instead, he expects WEDA will pursue grant money. He also suggested WEDA could ask developers, builders and real estate people to contribute money to the economic development cause. In return, they would be entitled to a position in an advisory committee that directs the business of the organization. WEDA could then coordinate all functions and activities with the chamber.

The chamber board currently meets the third Tuesday of every month. The board expects to have quarterly meetings of the entire chamber membership, with one of them, probably in October, being a required annual meeting. When financing is in place, the chamber will be looking for permanent office space. Those wanting additional information about the chamber should call Nelson at 568-7883.