Klamath Chamber Leaders Messages

2011 Incoming President's Message

Jodi kucera,
mia & Pia’s pizzeria and brewery

Your Chamber of Commerce has had quite an exciting year. While 2007 certainly presented some challenges, we were able to not only meet our mission, but spend a good amount of time identifying what we want to look like in 2008. I am very excited about the results of our late summer strategic planning session, which centered mostly around how we get back to providing services and opportunities to our Members.

This year's theme, “Teamwork Taking Flight” ", puts those strategies into action. Our marquee event this year will be an airshow featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, an aerial demonstration squadron that has committed to Klamath Falls as part of its 55th show season. As with most events of this magnitude, "Feel the Thunder!", Klamath Airshow 2008 will be a team effort. Kingsley Field, the Military Affairs Committee, the Klamath Falls Airport and many Chamber Members will partner to make this event a smashing success. What a perfect example of the teamwork that the Chamber hopes to continue to foster, facilitate, and participate in!

The most critical part of our team is you - our Members. You are the reason that we exist, and the foundation of our success. You are the consumer of our services, and the hands and minds that create progress in our organization and in our community. You are also our board members, our Ambassadors, our Military Affairs Committee members, and our volunteers. For all of those things, I would like to personally say thank you. Thank you for being a part of this community. Thank you for volunteering your valuable time to events and projects that make Klamath County what it is. And most importantly, thank you for being a Member of the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. Our board recognizes that you probably haven't heard that enough from us, and I'm hopeful that our efforts to change that have been apparent. It is my goal that each and every member will be personally contacted by a director, officer or staff member to personally thank you for your commitment to the Chamber, and to ask you if there's anything we can do for you.

As a Chamber member, I can also tell you that your Chamber membership will increase in value the more you become involved, by way of increased marketing and networking opportunities. Here are just a few of the many ways the Chamber provides opportunities to its members:

• Volunteer for a committee such as Military Affairs, Airshow, or Ambassadors
• Nominate individuals to our board of directors (or participate yourself)
• Suggest specialized services that your business can provide to other Members through Chamber educational opportunities
• Make sure other Chamber members are the core of your business-to-business interaction

The easiest way to become involved is to simply let us know what you think. Send us an e-mail, or better yet, give us a call. Better still, invite us to your business for a personal chat! We'll be providing opportunities for you to comment on specific areas through formal and informal surveys, as well. I encourage you to look for those opportunities and take advantage of them. As the most critical piece of our team, it is important that we act on reliable information directly from our Members.

Here's to a busy, exciting and productive 2008! I am very confident in the abilities of our staff, executive director, board members and officers, and the commitment of our Membership is strong. Together, we are Taking Care of Business in Klamath County.

To Our Success,
Darin Rutledge
Operations Manager, Running Y Resort

Executive Director's Message

The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is the largest business representative organization in Klamath County and works for close to 530 businesses and organizations in the community.

Chamber members make up a cross section of every business category in the county and region. It is a hard working, dedicated group that stays focused on building a better community and economy. Through the Chamber, members support a variety of programs, projects and events ranging from the 4th of July Parade and celebration in downtown Klamath Falls to business education programs.

The Chamber is a hub of networking and marketing activities, on a weekly basis, the staff handles hundreds of telephone calls, e-mails and visitors looking for information about Klamath County and doing business here. KLAMATH.ORG receives hundreds of hits daily and is fast becoming the "go to" site for information about events, relocation and business education.

The Chamber manages a variety of programs that help member businesses adopt "best practices" in management, create community leaders for tomorrow, advocate strongly for business and community friendly legislation and provide leadership in economic and commercial development.

Klamath County is lucky to have a vibrant downtown in Klamath Falls, picturesque attractions like Crater Lake, a thriving arts scene and friendly small towns. Our membership is represented in all these areas and many more. Members support many local causes and non profit organizations directly and in partnership with Chamber activities, knowing it is an important part of building a livable community and ensuring an ever improving quality of life.

As the business world changes the Chamber Board of Directors and staff will strive to meet the changing needs of the membership and community by engaging in strong advocacy, taking advantage of creative marketing opportunities and continuing to build partnerships that improve economic vitality in Klamath County.

It is a joy to work for an organization that is so well supported and takes a leadership role in the community.

Charles "Chip" Massie
Executive Director