Dear Members:

Later this week we will be opening our Annual Membership Satisfaction Survey and I ask you to please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Rest assured your feedback doesn’t just sit in a drawer and collect dust, we use it to measure our past efforts, assess where we’ve fallen short and chart a path to the future.

As an organization we are committed to continually improving and evolving. The other day I was flipping through a report from the early 2000’s and I was struck by how much the Chamber has changed.

Our board has new leaders, several from companies that didn’t exist at the turn of the century. Our staff is entirely different. Our committee structure has evolved and changed. Most importantly, we’ve incorporated new ideas, new blood and new Members to our Chamber.

However, that isn’t to say that our focus changes on a monthly basis. In fact, much of our work to improve the business climate by supporting policies that foster economic growth, providing services to our Members and community, while meeting the changing needs of our Members, marches on through the years and decades.

For example, nearly a century ago the Chamber had a Transportation Committee whose mission was to help secure funds for paving Chicago Avenue. Just a few brief years ago, we were educating officials in Springfield about the urgent need to expand Route 59 and pass a capital bill.

Our goal is to advance economic progress for Naperville’s regional businesses and help support individual achievement. That’s why we were founded and we’ve never – in our 99 year history – deviated from that focus. What changes are the means, methods and services we utilize to deliver services and programs to you, our Members.

The staff has probably grown tired of my expression that I’ve used since I became president & CEO, “The Chamber is the Members, and without them we don’t need an office and we don’t need staff.” Serving the Members is always our top priority.

But, we can’t read your minds. One of the most challenging aspects of running the Chamber is balancing the needs of our various Members. We’re fortunate to have small start-up companies and Fortune 100 organizations as involved Members.

Your feedback enables our staff, board and committee leaders to analyze the needs and interests of the membership. We can’t be all things, to all people. Your feedback helps us prioritize our decisions and resources.

Over the past several years, we’ve been responsive to the changing dynamics of the economy and made appropriate, but difficult decisions. I’m pleased that as broader economic recovery continues, the Chamber is in a position of strength, and working on bringing innovative products and services to you.

I appreciate your honest feedback on our survey. Our goal is to constantly strengthen the Chamber and provide you with outstanding 5-Star service.

The Chamber belongs to you, as staff we are just the temporary custodians of this organization. I hope that you will take a few minutes and let us know how we’re doing.

Sincerely,

John Schmitt
President & CEO
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
630-544-33670
jschmitt@naperville.net