Look at any community where businesses are thriving and you will likely also find a thriving chamber of commerce.
“And it will be the chamber that is driving the success,” Rob Schepers said.
Schepers, who owns Home Hardware Building Centre, is president of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce. He admits to being a prime example of a businessman who had no appreciation of the value that chambers of commerce have to the broader community. Until he joined the board of directors three years ago.
“I’ve learned a lot in those three years, and we are only just starting to regain some of the momentum that has been lost over the last 20 years,” he said.
“As an organization, we haven’t done a good job of articulating what we do and what we can do, and that’s nation wide. In essence, we are the only real link between local businesses and the B.C. and Canadian chambers of commerce, and to all levels of government.
“If I have learned anything in my involvement it is that there isn’t any business that shouldn’t be a member. Three years ago I wouldn’t have said that, but then I got involved and have come to understand what we can accomplish.
“There is strength in numbers. The more members we have the stronger we are, the more horsepower we have in our leverage. Who gets more attention: a group of 40 or a group of 400?”
At its peak, the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce had 210 members. Today’s membership totals 140, but it is growing, and Schepers is confident that a resurgence is coming.
“Being able to connect with one another means everybody gets on the same page,” he said. “We can promote our town and our businesses, and that leads to more job creation and a larger tax base, which benefits the entire community. We aren’t just a voice for the business community, but for the entire community.”
For evidence, people need only look as far as Nelson, where a large membership, hotel tax, ski hill and more allows it to spend $200,000 a year on advertising to promote tourism and the community. By contrast, the Creston chamber spends about $10,000.
“We are working very hard to create a positive growth trend in membership because we are convinced that it will help the Creston Valley grow and thrive,” he said.
Increasing paid membership is only a start, though. Attracting members who want to become active is the key to success, he said.
“The simple fact is that a chamber of commerce exists to make any community a better place to live. That’s a very worthy goal.”
