Port Ludlow Chamber of Commerce

Chamber News 

Chamber Merger Statement

The members of the Chamber Connection Committee, Ryan Anderson, Dr. Molly Force, Jennifer MacGillonie, Dana

Petrick, Frances Rawski, Susan Whitmire and Paula Zimmerman, have released the following statement regarding the merging of the individual Chambers of Commerce of Jefferson County.

Merger Statement

The purpose of this merger is to create a united Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. The combined Chambers

would include the four existing Chambers of Commerce: The Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, The Tri-Area Chamber of Commerce, The Port Ludlow Chamber of Commerce and The North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce.

The individual established Chambers will have appointed Board Members from each Chamber to serve on existing

and /or future Boards. These appointments will establish equal representation and voting rights, to maintain a balance

of City and County view points. The sub-Chambers will maintain their own Board to address the needs of its unique areas. This will ensure the individual identity and serve as a continuous voice for their respective areas.

Advantages:

• To provide a greater voice by numbers and create a larger circle of business-to-business networking

• Better effectiveness in being proactive in local and state issues that affect our businesses and our community

• Improved communication and support throughout our county

• A larger business base for promoting and assisting in economic growth in Jefferson County

• Increased marketing and advertising

• Expanded health care benefits

• Increased benefits to all Chamber members

• Expanded and expedient informational newsletters

• One Chamber membership fee

• A larger e-commerce

• Consolidated administrative responsibilities

This Committee is actively working to seek answers to questions in order to move forward to accomplish our goal. It is our desire to establish a united working team of Chamber members and a powerful Chamber Board of Officers and Directors that will benefit all of our businesses and members through this merger.

Chamber Connections Committee Update

Chamber Connections Committee (CCC) Chair Dana Petrick gave an outstanding report on the Jefferson County Chamber merger talks at the Port Ludlow Chamber General Meeting. The luncheon meeting was held at the Port

Ludlow Beach Club on October 13 and was catered by Suzie of the Snug Harbor Café. Chamber Co-President Paula Zimmerman and CCC member affirmed Petrick’s presentation by stating “The collaboration between the chamber representatives on the Chamber Connections Committee in itself has been rewarding. Sharing ideas and resources while we work together to form the framework for the proposed merger has fostered a strength that we feel could be mirrored in the future Jefferson County Chamber.”

Monthly General Meeting luncheons are not being scheduled at this time. The Chamber Board is working on other venues for Chamber networking opportunities in 2009. Please contact Co-Presidents Paula Zimmerman or Kathie Sharp at info@portludlowchamber.org should your business or a group of businesses want to host a business mixer.

Board  Meetings are the last Tuesday of the month at 5p.m. at American Marine Bank. If you would like to serve on the Chamber Board please send a email indicating your interest to Paula Zimmerman, paulaz@americanmarinebank.com. It doesn't require much time and is a great opportunity to get civically involved.