Last month, the Morden Chamber Of Commerce Board of Directors took time to develop a strategic plan to guide their steps for the next few years.
Executive Director Clare Agnew explained the process.
"What we looked at first was what we've been doing, and what's working well, and how things have changed for us and the community, the business community for sure, since the pandemic. And moving forward, how that might look a little different? The facilitator helped us review what has worked in the past and then also helped us to focus on moving forward."
She said they established three areas of focus, "...and then out of those results, we came up with goals, and out of those goals we set three steps or things that we wanted to do."
She went on to unwrap the three areas that will be used to guide the work of the organization over the next three years.
"We want to make sure that any of our actions are helping us to enable organizational growth, that we are being the voice of business, regarding advocacy at a local level as well as municipal, and then enhancing our services to our membership and engaging our membership. Hoping to maintain the things that we have, but then also be something that new businesses in the community want to join."
They have rolled up their sleeves and gotten straight to work.
"One of the things we just completed this week, was doing an event review to make sure the events we've been hosting in the past, are also the ones that we want to be hosting into the future. We're going to do a little bit of a survey on a couple of those, just with some of our members, to make sure it's things they still want us to be doing for them."
She went on to talk about future actions the chamber will take.
"One of the things we really want to work on is enhancing our partnerships in the community. Like our partnership with the City of Morden, as well as some of the nonprofits in the area, with the school division, and partnering with other chambers to make sure we are a stronger voice. So, we're really looking at enhancing our partnerships as well."
She shared what this means for members.
"This is the first time I've been involved in a strategic plan with the Morden Chamber of Commerce. I think from what I've heard in the community since I've started my role and also what the board members had heard during the pandemic and the time since then, some of the challenges that the businesses are facing, we're really trying to take a member-focused strategic plan in the short duration of the three years. We're trying to make sure that we can be the voice of business and also help them in establishing themselves moving forward."
The plan will be posted on the chamber website in the coming weeks.