Membership
Total membership was stable in 2016, finishing 2016 up 2 at 350. We welcomed thirty-five new members, who are listed elsewhere in this package.
In 2016, we introduced a new national savings plan for audio conferencing, web collaboration and webinar services and added new offers to our Member to Member Marketplace (M2M) from Noonan Petroleum and iPaynet. The M2M program gives us all added incentive to support local. You can find details about making an offer under the “Money Saving Benefits” tab at summersidechamber.com.
Ten successful new matches were made in our mentorship program. This program continues to be funded by Innovation PEI and ACOA, and excellently managed by consultant Jo Ann Doughart.
Operations
We were pleased to welcome the West Prince office of Connector’s into our space this past spring. We are hopeful that having a local office will enhance our ability to attract newcomers to Summerside.
In 2016, we hosted short-term internships from Holland College, SYNC, East Prince Women’s Information Centre and Career Bridges. This year, we are pleased to have received funding from Skills PEI for 42 weeks for a Program & Events Coordinator. We anticipate that this increased capacity will have a positive impact upon our delivery of member programs.
Our new database is saving staff time and it is also a convenience for our members who can now register for events online, update their own directory listings and post jobs, calendar events and deals online.
We also launched a new mobile-friendly website earlier in the year and along with our eNews and social postings, do our best to keep members informed of the activities of both the Chamber and its members.
Staff’s role is to support the activities of the board and fundraising is an important part of financing our operations. With annual revenues down since the demise of our annual trade show, we rely to a greater extent upon events to fund the difference between membership dues and operating expenses. In 2016, our sponsorship revenues were down $12,000 from 2015, due in part to the Board’s considered decision to forgo the budgeted Way Forward conference in favour of implementing the priorities identified at the 2015 conference and to the unfortunate cancellation of our Succession Planning workshop due to lack of interest. We are continually reviewing our expenses and have managed to shave about $18,000 or 11% from our operating expenses in the last three years. However, we continue to seek expense reductions, this year conducting a series of operational reviews in areas which have not been recently examined. In the spring, we made changes to our phone & internet provider and were able to reduce our annual telecom costs. Our latest review is of financial services: banking, payroll and merchant services.
Programs & Events
Last February, with Downtown Summerside, we created and ran “Business Love”, an informal program designed to give our business community a warm hug in the worst of winter. Our Business Excellence Awards in the fall was a more formal celebration of the calibre of businesses we have in our midst. Other recognition goes to Derek Key, who was chosen as our 2016 Lifetime Member for his contribution to our community, and Carter MacDougall who was awarded our annual scholarship.
In addition, we ran numerous other member events, co-hosted the District 22 bi-election debate with the Journal Pioneer and Harbourfront Theatre, ran a year-end raffle, built stronger relationships with other Chambers on the Island and stayed in touch with the larger Chamber world through involvement in the Atlantic and Canadian Chambers.
Looking forward
In our 117th year, watch for a new series of Business Builder working sessions and new opportunities to promote your business through our New Business Welcome Basket, the return of our print directory and dues “value paks” to help you get more out of your membership.
We will also be hosting Chamber professionals and board members from across Atlantic Canada at the ACC AGM from June 4 – 6, so please help us give them a warm Summerside welcome.
| 2016 At a Glance |
| Programs & Special Events |
| · Hosted PEIBWA workshop “Business Startup 101”, January |
| · Business Love, in partnership with Downtown Summerside, February |
| · Forward Summerside community session, June |
| · Chamber Night at Red Shores, July |
| · MLA Debate with Journal Pioneer & Harbourfront Theatre, October |
| · 12 Days of Christmas Raffle, November/December |
| Traditional Events |
| · AGM and election of 2016 Board, February |
| · President’s Dinner, with guest speaker Michael Smith, February |
| · Federal Budget luncheon with MP Robert Morrissey, March |
| · Provincial Budget breakfast with Minister Alan Roach, April |
| · New Member breakfast, May |
| · Annual Golf Fun Day, June |
| · Business Excellence Awards, October |
| · Premier’s Breakfast with Premier Wade MacLauchlan, October |
| · Succession Planning Workshop, scheduled twice but cancelled due to lack of interest. |
| Mixers |
| · After–Hours events at Harbourfront Theatre in March, Slemon Park in April and Belle-Alliance in November |
| · Under 40 Mixers in February & May |
| · Presidents Annual Reception, co-hosted by Forward Summerside stakeholders, December |
| Communications |
| · Regular eNews and eBlasts to keep you informed about Chamber activities |
| · Bi-monthly Connections inserts in the Journal Pioneer to keep the community updated |
| · Regular posts on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. |
| Other activity |
| · Scholarship program – awarded in June each year, this year to Carter MacDougall |
| · Certificates of Origin – more than 1300 validated for exporting companies |
| · Mentorship – 10 more successful matches in 2016 |
| · Operational review: phone & internet, banking, payroll and merchant services |
| · Provided work experience for four participants through provincial and federal programs |