New year, renewed focus for Eagle Chamber

The decades-old Eagle Chamber of Commerce is launching the new year with new faces on its board of directors, new offices at Eagle Town Hall, a new paid administrator and a re-newed commitment to provide vital support to the local business community.

Last week, the Eagle Chamber began that mission by launching its redesigned website at www.eaglechamber.co. As the website itself declares, “The main features of the site will be not only to promote our members and provide marketing opportunities for them, but also a directory of members, sortable alphabetically and by category, as well as links back to members’ websites. It will also provide a schedule of Eagle Chamber events and links to the town of Eagle and EagleOutside websites.”

According to newly elected Chamber President Jim Ash, the new board believes the website launch signals the organization’s commitment to provide more needed services to the local business community.

“Not only is it (website presence) part of doing business today, but our whole mission in 2013 is to provide more value to our members,” said Ash.

In that vein, Ash said the hiring of chamber administrator Taylor Slaugh is a major benefit for members. He cited Slaugh’s professionalism and her background in marketing and noted now she is employing her business skills to both build the chamber membership and provide practical advice and services once businesses do join.

“The chamber is blessed to have an individual of her caliber, with her marketing and professional background. It’s been a great fit,” said Ash.

Slaugh said with the website now up and running, her next focus will be on a chamber membership drive and “Buy Local” and “Member to Member” campaigns.

The chamber’s Buy Local effort is an awareness campaign that highlights the positive results when consumers and businesses support area companies. “Campaigns such as this have proven to provide a big boost for small businesses and local economies. Participating members will receive campaign collateral for their place of business and may use the graphics/logo in their own promotional advertising and websites.” the chamber website states.

The Eagle Chamber’s Member-To-Member Discount Program is designed to encourage local businesses to support each other by offering discounts to fellow Eagle Chamber members. “Each chamber member receives two Member-To-Member Discount Cards. Discount cards are valid for the term of your membership and will be renewed each year with your chamber membership,” notes the website.

Slaugh is now working from the new Eagle Chamber offices at Eagle Town Hall. The Eagle Town Board recently approved a chamber request to operate a storefront from the downtown building.

“Having a storefront is huge,” said Slaugh. “Not only do we now have office space but we also have access to conference rooms and a proximity to the town administrative staff.”

As 2013 unfolds, Ash said people in the community will see a concerted effort to bring in new chamber volunteers through an ambassadors program and amped up efforts on traditional chamber events, including the Screaming Eagle Golf Tournament. The tournament, planned Friday, May 31, benefits the chambers scholarship fund and organizers are already looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tournament functions, including food and beverage, prizes and donations, sponsorship recruitment, tournament day organization and more.

With all that is under way and planned in the coming months, chamber officials plan on a high-profile year for the organization in 2013. Anyone interested in learning more about the Eagle Chamber is encouraged to visit www.eaglechamber.co or contact Slaugh at 970-306-2262 or stop by the Eagle Chamber office at 200 Broadway.