By Gina Cambre and Carlo Pellegrini
The reorganization of the Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks has recently raised questions among members, business owners and Chamber supporters. While the organization has been focused on the strategic mission (Destination Nyack) and support for members, a prompt response to these queries has been regrettably delayed.
During the past year the COCN has maintained focus on the mission of a reorganization that would best serve our members and our community. While suffering the same economic hardships as every other business and non profit, we have diligently moved ahead towards our objectives: A needs assessment determined for the Board of Directors that our previous office no longer fit the requirements of a reorganized staff, the majority of whom either worked from home or spend their time meeting with merchants, members and prospective members in and around the Nyacks, thus prompting our move to a more functional space above Woolworth Way. The changeover in COCN staff continues to be based on evolving needs as we move forward: Executive Director Lorie Reynolds, for whose many years with the Chamber the board is ever grateful, moved on from her position during the initial stages of the reorganization as the Chamber followed the lead of many organizations in outsourcing our major events in order to grow and revitalize.
Having achieved certain milestones, it became incumbent upon us after 9 months to revisit our staff needs: The new COCN web site, launched in April of this year, is already receiving more traffic than anticipated and a steady clientele of advertisers and inquiries. Likewise, our goal of putting in place a new Marketing Strategy was accomplished early in 2009, setting the path to achieve our mission to drive visitor traffic to the downtown. Anissa New-Walker’s assistance in these areas is much appreciated, but the office requirements of the COCN are addressed through the addition of 2 new staff members as the transition moves forward’€”working in the areas of Membership and Advertising/ Sponsorship, respectively.
In addition to our new President, Carol Fleischmann, the COCN is pleased to announce 2 new Directors: Joseph Lux and Marion Breland Oswald. As always, the vitality of our board is the centerpiece to our continued success and we are pleased to welcome them as we move into our annual strategic planning retreat.
While the Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks will continue to struggle with the same economic issues that every business currently endures, we are very confident in the direction our planning has taken us and very pleased in the successes we continue to achieve– the excellent response and analytics for our web site (over 200 unique visitors every day), our support of all Nyack merchants and the targeted groups they’ve created to address their specific promotional needs, our involvement in the current, historic and extremely exciting Circus-in-the-Park Extravaganza via the Circus Savings Program, Septemberfest/ Halloween Parade planning, and much more. The Board of Directors can appreciate the concerns expressed by the community as this transition continues to unfold, but are quite confident that we will continue to meet our goals, while doing a better job of proactively providing information to the public.
Our mission is pro-business, pro-Nyack: Destination Nyack. Look for other upcoming initiatives to drive visitor traffic through all of the Nyacks via new promotions, designed and executed by the Chamber, to promote the health and vitality of all Nyack businesses.
Gina Cambre and Carlo Pellegrini are Executive Committee Members of the Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks. The COCN’s Website is NyackChamber.com
