Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce and CenturyTel will enter a partnership that will help revitalize the Chamber’s programming.
“This coming season should be very exciting for area chamber business members thanks to (the) partnership,” Chamber Executive Director Carla Claasen said. “We have been working on the details for the past few months for this new project.”
After reading a story and editorial in The New Era last fall, Bob Campbell, area supervisor for Sweet Home and Brownsville, contacted the Chamber of Commerce. The story explained the tight financial situation at the chamber, and the editorial called for support for the chamber.
At the time, Claasen had been taken off payroll temporarily and was working as a volunteer. She has since returned to the payroll.
“CenturyTel has always been supportive of the chamber by helping on area projects,” Claasen said. “There was an opportunity to provide some financial assistance through corporate sponsorship, and Bob called to help.
“It became apparent that the most helpful way to support the chamber was to work on programs to help the chamber grow its membership by giving the members some exciting new ways to network,” Claasen said. Claasen worked with Campbell and CenturyTel Public Relations Manager Jacquie Goodwill, who was a chamber executive in Gig Harbor, Wash., before going to work for CenturyTel.
“We are going to have a lot of fun this year,” Claasen said. “I have been trying to get a few of these projects off the ground since I came on board a little over a year ago. Without a budget to get things started, it has been difficult.
“Once these activities are going, they support themselves, and there is an opportunity to bring in a little extra on other small business events. For now though, CenturyTel will be offering the financial support to get going. These events will be free to current chamber members, and members will have the option of bringing a guest.”
“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to sponsor the chamber,” Campbell told the chamber board during its regular meeting Monday. “Everybody knows that competition is driving our budget dollars down. With a utility like ours, brand recognition is important.”
CenturyTel essentially had a monopoly in the past, Campbell said. Now cell phones and cable service compete with CenturyTel. Working with the chamber gives CenturyTel the opportunity to help the community and build brand recognition.
“In the past, we’ve been staunch supporters of the Jamboree,” Campbell said.
The three-day Jamboree country music and camping festival is held in early August each year by Sweet Home Economic Development Group. Proceeds are used for local economic development efforts.
CenturyTel will continue to support the Jamboree, Campbell said, but at a little lower level than before.
“We really want to focus more on the local (level),” Campbell said, including events like Sportsman’s Holiday and the Sweet Home Rodeo. Those types of events don’t draw so many people from outside the area, like Portland or Bend, as the Jamboree.
Focusing on (out of town) patrons dilutes the public relations dollars, Campbell said. The Jamboree needed CenturyTel’s support years ago to keep it going, he said, but the festival has outgrown CenturyTel.
Among the programs on tap with the new sponsorship is a “Chamber Welcomes” program, Claasen said. “Our goal is that these events provide a fun and festive way for local chamber members to get to know one another. Here they can meet with each other, as well as community leaders, to build business contacts and opportunity. At each event, we invite another business to partner with CenturyTel in hosting this networking opportunity between members.”
The chamber has four events planned: “Chamber Welcomes … the Summer Season” on June 21; “Chamber Welcomes … the Jamboree” on Aug. 3; “Chamber Welcomes … the New School Year” in partnership with State Farm, Beth Lambert Insurance, on Sept. 9; and “Chamber Welcomes … the Holidays” in partnership with the chamber board, featuring board members’ businesses, on Nov. 11.
Other host businesses will be announced later. There are opportunities in July and October to run additional events if sponsors would like to get involved, Claasen said.
The chamber and CenturyTel also are planning two workshop-style seminars. The first, “Government and You,” will be held on May 17. The second workshop will be held in October or November and will be announced later.
“Along with the responsibilities and benefits of underwriting the “Chamber Welcomes” effort, CenturyTel also will serve as a sponsor of the annual member banquet held in early February. CenturyTel will also receive a highlighted position on the Chamber’s Web page with an increased number of category listings.”
Campbell said he would like to see the relationship continue year to year.
Claasen said the chamber and CenturyTel did not want to disclose the size of the financial sponsorship.
The chamber also is starting up a “greeters” function to welcome new businesses to the community. The greeters will attend ribbon cuttings and other special events.
The board changed its meeting date and time to noon on the third Monday each month at various area restaurants.
The public is invited to attend. Call 367-6186 for locations or for further information.