Studio City Attorney, Joann Deutch • (818) 753-9922
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Studio City
Chamber of Commerce
Business Plan
&
Six Month Assessment
BY: Joann Deutch, President
2001/2
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STUDIO CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
For Board Consideration 4/3/02
BUSINESS PLAN for 2001/2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chamber Goals .....................................
President’s Expectation ............................
Introduction .............................................
Plan of Work ....................................... Page 3
1. Communications ...................... Page 3
2. Chamber Business Development.... Page 4
3. Activities/Involvement in Events.... Page 4
4. Strategic Community Outreach...... Page 4/5
Six Month Assessment ....................... Page 6
1. Communications ...................... Page 7
2. Chamber Business Development..... Page 8
3. Activities/Involvement in Events..... Page 8
4. Strategic Community Outreach....... Page 8/9
CHAMBER GOALS:
1. Increase Visibility of the Chamber locally and regionally
2. Articulate the Chamber’s message
3. Communicate and Disseminate the Chamber’s Message
Expectations of President:
I started my Presidency with the expectation that by facilitating the Board to develop a Business Plan, the organization would have benchmarks towards which to strive, and a clear plan to achieve the goals which we defined as having priority for the organization. Goals would help the organization stay focused.
Achieving our goals would mean that the organization would grow in strength, reputation and visibility. Accomplishing these goals using a committee format would give each of us ownership and pride in the organization's success.
Once the mechanisms to achieve the goals are established, the organization can easily establish systems to maintain the progress that has been made, which would allow us to set new goals, and continue to grow in a cohesive fashion.
Introduction:
During the August, September and October Board of Director’s Meetings the Board discussed its goals and the direction the Chamber needed to take in the upcoming year. Committees were set, goals for those committees were articulated. After 6 months we need to access our progress, revisit our plan of work, rededicate ourselves to achieving our stated mission.
Plan of Work:
In October, 2001 the Board set goals for the organization:
1. Communications
GOAL- The Chamber would focus on improving its communications and visibility to both members and the community as a whole.
Objective: Improve the reputation of the Chamber locally and regionally
GOAL - Develop local and region resources for the membership use.
Objective: Providing access to resources otherwise not available or known to Chamber membership, and vesting membership in their Chamber relationship
TOOLS: _Improve the newsletter content to appeal to broader base
_Increase newsletter presence through community dissemination
_Market to the website
_Keep website current
_Create direct mailing/email communications system
_Seek out/establish & maintain contacts with local regulators
_Press Releases
_Signage for the Chamber
_Create and maintain a calendar of events and activities
_Develop and disseminate Directory
2. Chamber Business Development
GOAL: - Promote perception that Chamber alliance has real commercial value
Objective: Increase Membership
Increase Membership retention
TOOLS: _Locate potential members early
_Develop relationship with landlords
_Develop relationships with the property managers
_Prepare and disseminate membership packets
_Develop membership retention strategies
_Develop membership support routines
3. Activities/Involvement in Events
GOAL - Promote Chamber visibility within the business community
Objective: Assess value of events to the Chamber’s stated goals
Assess involvement in major events
Clarify message and purpose of participation in the event
Stay focused on tasks
Focus on fund-raising
TOOLS: _Focus on message
_Assess involvement in minor monthly activities
_Assess time/value ratio to involvement
_Increase attendance at monthly mixers
_Referred to Committee: breakfasts and other opportunities
_Institutionalize a calendar to assure the maintenance of ongoing functions
4. Strategic Community Outreach
Politics:
GOAL - Giving membership access to cutting “red tape”
TOOLS: Increase access to and relationship with local politicians.
Be available to politicians to support their projects
Parking:
GOAL - _Advocate for the construction of the parking structure as our #1 community priority
TOOLS: _Form local alliances to foster a push for development of the parking structure
_Communicate with politicians and agency regulators our desire to facilitate the building of the parking structure
_Offer assistance where ever possible
Residents Association:
GOAL - Establish a broad base relationship with the residents and their leadership.
TOOLS: _Cooperate on projects whenever possible
_Encourage dialogue with merchant
_Assist them in staging events of they so choose
BID:
GOAL - Maintain contact with the BID
TOOLS: _Offer cooperation with their projects
_Provide the BID with any merchant input we develop
_Form alliance on issues of mutual interest
SIX MONTH ASSESSMENT
1. Communications
Accomplishments:
Increase Visibility:
Announcement Board at Farmer’s Market
Coupon Carousal to be unveiled at Business Expo
Landmark Signage in conjunction with Jack Weiss’s Office (entrance to the Riverway Project)
Completed and distributed 4,700 copies of the Directory
BOARD VOTE: Reprint of Directory for 4th of July? OR prep CD of Directory to attach to 4th of July program
Newsletter format revised
Meaningful news for the next 30 days on front page
Picture on front & page 3
Content Ø reflects useful business information/tips making the
Chamber a useful resource
Ø community bulletin board making the Chamber a
community wide clearinghouse creating new partnerships
City Council Talk on front page whenever possible _(_ Stephanie
1,000 copies
Distribution by Barry/Joann and office “about town”
Distribution by email
Tasks Remaining:
Formalize distribution mechanism/locations to create consumer expectations
Honor deadlines
Contact Board members/civic leaders for stories
Obtain merchant email lists to augment further distribute newsletter
BOARD VOTE: Pay for colorized newsletter
Change advertising price to reflect larger circulation
Website
Accomplishments:
Traffic assessed: leading pages: Visitors
most traffic: Event associated
Active advertising campaign to drive traffic to the website
All newsletter pages have web address
All stationery has web address
All event flyers have website
Website updated monthly for event news
Invitation to our email list to visit web by link
Tasks Remaining:
Develop Visitor’s page in a user friendly fashion
Change front page on a regular basis to make it look fresh
Get banner sales going
Allow multiple listings for members on directory
Launch studiocityhomes.org as a profit center
Create protocol for handling info for events
Press Release:
Accomplishments:
Prepared and circulated press releases for major events
Article in Sunset Magazine from Best of the West competition
Tasks Remaining:
Prep commercial/ membership CD
Prep Press Packet, refreshed every 4 months
Write Op Ed and Editorials
Solicit competition within which to enter Studio City
Develop contacts to plant stories
Prep formula for Press packet 4th of July circulate before event
2. Chamber Business Development
Accomplishments:
Reinstated Membership Reports to the Board, Motions to admit new
Members
Developed Membership A/P policies and procedures
Established billing protocol
Established protocol for prospective membership packet distribution
Established protocol to contact prospective members to participate in Chamber events
Developed use of scripts to contact for Chamber events
Using past attendance at mixers. etc. to maintain contact
with members and prospective members
Mixer policy and procedures in development.
In Development - Membership committee to outreach
Tasks Remaining:
Establish and maintain a regular presence on the Blvd.
Establish contact with landlords for potential membership
Establish contact with management companies/early identification of potential members
Establish personalized networking for service industry members to make useful connections
Maintain and update records of membership interests
Establish procedures for following up on membership satisfaction
BOARD VOTE:New dues structure
3. Activities/Involvement in Events
Accomplishments:
Completing Cost/Benefit analysts of events
Focus on tasks involved in events
Decline invitations that do not serve our constituency
Early planning for events
4th of July planning started in November
Holiday Open House set December 7, 2002 Planning ongoing
Association with other community events for visibility
Dissemination of community events information to forge partnerships with
Other groups
Tasks Remaining:
Develop additional revenue stream for the Chamber
In development -- Annual Fund-Raising format for “President’s Circle”
4. Strategic Community Outreach
Politics
Accomplishments:
Establish meaningful presence at the Studio City Neighborhood Council
Forged daily working relationship with Jack Weiss’ Office
Forged daily working relationship with Mayor’s Business Team
Forged daily working relationship with new zoning officers
Established contacts with State Bd of Equalization
Introductions to Tom LaBonge’s Office
Introductions to LA Convention and Visitor’s Center
Tasks Remaining:
Establish working relationship with Wendy Greuel’s staff
Establish working relationship with Tom LaBonge’s staff
Re-Establish relationship with Sharon Meyer/downtown Planning Office
Establish Chamber presence on Planning Advisory Board
Establish Chamber presence on Streetscape
Parking
Accomplishments:
Set construction as a priority
Attend regular meetings with Weiss staff to pressure for ground breaking
Liaison with Residents in support for parking structure
Liaison with BID for support for the parking structure
Regular status reports to the Board from Weiss’ staff
Tasks Remaining:
Inquiry into lapse and renewal possibilities for the permit
Locate access to leadership in Dept. Of Transportation
Actively seek letters and pressure by Mayor’s Office for construction start date.
Actively seek letters and pressure from both LaBonge and Greuel for a
start date.
Seek joint meeting among council representatives and local groups.
Track redistricting for responsibility to move to Wendy Greuel based upon new jurisdiction
Residents’ Association
Accomplishments:
hosted joint Board meetings
co-sponsored joint candidates forums
collaborate on the development of parking structure
collaborate on the development of the Neighborhood Council, using UCC sources to disseminate information
Tasks Remaining:
discuss Neighborhood Watch arbitrary enforcement process
encourage development of revenues from the Farmer’s Market
BID
Accomplishments:
maintain contact with leadership/keep informed of decision making
cooperate with parking structure
recommend tree decorating and planting of tree bases
Tasks Remaining:
discuss contract duties for clarity of goals and objectives
review street decorating plan
YOUR NOTES:
With Law Offices convenient to Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Van Nuys, North Hollywood and Universal City
(818) 753-9922
SKYPE JoannDeutch
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