The first, as I’ve already referenced, is in the area of membership development. Having worked on membership recruitment and retention with the Chamber for several years now, I can attest that the primary reason business people give for not belonging to the Chamber is that “no one has ever asked me.” Let’s make a concentrated effort this year to reach out and extend the invitation to “join us.”

            The second priority is to increase members’ involvement and participation.  We like having their money, but what we really want is to tap into our members’ talents, ideas and energy. By working collectively, we can come up with creative solutions to the challenges that confront us as a community.

            Additionally, every Chamber event is a unique networking opportunity, whereby you can increase exposure and visibility for your business. Through the Chamber, I have met a lot of people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. In the business world, every contact adds up.

            The third priority is communications.   I realize that everyone is busy, and it’s physically impossible to attend all the Chamber meetings or go to all the functions, but that doesn’t matter. The Chamber is a clearinghouse to distribute timely and accurate information that contains “news you can use” to improve your profitability. Through the Chamber’s print and electronic media, we want you to be connected, and for you to use these channels to provide your input and feedback.  

            The fourth priority involves visioning. What do we want Carteret County to look like five, 10, 20 years down the road?  We are a destination – for tourists who want to relax, for young families who are seeking a brighter future, for second home owners and for retirees who want to live their golden years by the sea. So, growth is inevitable.

            We want people to keep coming here, but we want them to come for the right reasons. Among those right reasons are a sense of appreciation for the natural beauty of the place and a love for the seashore. Consider what makes Carteret County distinctive and unique. It’s our water-based heritage and culture. The marshes, estuaries, the sounds and the Atlantic Ocean are both our front and back yards, and we need to practice good conservation.

            At the same time, we cannot strangle good development projects with a regulate-at-all-costs mentality, either. A stagnant community is a dying community. Through interactive collaboration, we have to put our heads together and develop a plan for the future – one that guides us toward attaining that delicate balance between progress and preservation. Stewardship and sustainability are key words in the dialogue. 

            Our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are counting on us to make smart decisions.