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Kirby Lindsay, a local instigator and Chamber supporter, offers her recollections and reflections on the State of Mind that is Fremont.
Contact Kirby Lindsay:
fremont@oz.net
June / July 2008
What The Survey Says (About Us)
In January of 2007, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors surveyed Chamber membership - electronically - about the Chamber's role in our community. They received a good response, thank you very much, with 44 people responding out of a membership of approximately 200.
What Bothers You Most
The survey started with an open question, answered by 39 respondents, "what are the top two issues or problems facing the business community in the Fremont area." Without word prompts or multiple choice, the answers came back varied and phrased in different ways.
Even so, 16 respondents mentioned "parking," nine said "traffic," and four used other words that amounted to the same thing. Eleven responses mentioned crime, security, safety or related issues, but not always as the problem itself. These included mentions about an "unsafe reputation" or feeling safe, more like an issue of perception.
Not surprisingly, a strong majority of respondents (81%) said the Chamber should be very involved in issues they themselves had identified. In a neighborhood as eclectic and diverse as Fremont, this is impressive unity. After all, when asked another open question, "what other things could the Fremont Chamber be doing to help you in your business, or to benefit local businesses" the answers spanned a wide variety of diverse topics and concepts that lacked even a single unifying thread.
Why Did You Join
The Chamber met the expectations of 72% of respondents with respect to the reason they joined. When offered choice of four possible reasons, 58% said it was to support the community and 26% said they wanted networking. No one surveyed joined for the benefits and services the Chamber offers or to participate in Chamber events.
The survey asked if the Chamber does a good job using technology and 66% either somewhat agreed or strongly agreed. Asked if the Chamber has an image as a social organization, 68% somewhat or strongly agreed. They must have heard about our June Picnic in the Park or the Ride the Duck tour in August. When asked if the Chamber is an advocacy organization, 70% agreed somewhat or strongly. Respondents also somewhat or strongly agreed (91%) that the Chamber should take positions on issues that affect the business community.
The Chamber is an influential force in the community according to 51% who somewhat agreed and 33% who strongly agreed. As to the main purpose of the Chamber, 51% feel we must promote the community and 40% want the Chamber to create strong local economy. One person surveyed wants the Chamber to represent business interests with government.
Maybe that person is one of the two that agreed, somewhat, that the Chamber is "too involved in things and events and not enough in issues." However, 48% somewhat disagreed, 9% strongly disagreed, and 39% don't know.
The "don't know" folks really came out (58%) for the statement "overall, the Chamber has improved and is stronger today than it was three years ago." Of those that do know, the majority agreed (26% somewhat agreeing and 14% strongly agreeing) and only one person somewhat disagreed.
Who Are You
Some people might not know if we've improved because they have little history with the Chamber. Out of 44 respondents, 13 (30%) have been members less than 1 year, and 12 (27%) have been members over 10 years. The rest said they've been members 1-2 years (11%), 3-5 years (14%) or 6-10 years (18%). I'm proud to say no one marked "don't know" on this one.
We remain the Chamber of small businesses. Of respondents, 67% have 5 or fewer employees (self-employed or owner only weren't options). The rest, 33%, spread themselves evenly over the other three levels, having anywhere from 6 to over 20 employees.
Finally, two respondents said they were either somewhat or very unlikely to renew their membership in the Chamber. Highlight, however, before these survey results, like those before it, get lost in a file cabinet and forgotten, the seven respondents who said they were somewhat likely to renew. Or my new best friends, the 79% of the respondents - 34 wonderful people - who said they were very likely to renew. That's a result to be embraced!
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