Ashland, Ohio Chamber - Elevating your Chamber of Commerce/Association Awards Banquet

Charles "Chuck" Ewart wrote us this note:

John, It's About the Customer!

In the not-for-profit world, members are our primary customers... and we should always treat them as such. I had the opportunity on March 12th to serve as the keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual Member Awards Banquet of the 480 member Ashland Area, OH, Chamber of Commerce. I emphasize 480 members to tell you that almost 450 people attended the gala.

Let me also emphasize that the event was not their annual meeting... that event draws around 250... or almost 200 less than the awards banquet. What the Ashland Chamber realizes is that the awards banquet is not about the organization... it is about the member... the customer.

Several years back the only award presented was the "small business of the year"... a very important award, mind you, but it attracted a much smaller audience. Barbie Lange, CEO of the Ashland Chamber, decided to shake things up and make the event attractive to all sectors of the membership. During the banquet, the Chamber had award winners in nine different categories. In addition to the nine award winners, there were over 30 finalists. Each finalist brought an average of seven people with them... there were banquet sponsors at the platinum, gold, silver, and bronze levels... there were committed board members and ambassadors in attendance... you get the picture... Voila, huge attendance for any size chamber, but especially so for an organization with 480 members.

Another nice touch that caused greater attendance was that each finalist and sponsor was able to put up a display table around the walls of the event center at Ashland University. The doors opened one hour prior to serving dinner, and everyone was encouraged to mingle and visit the finalists and sponsors at their displays. Space will not permit me to go into further detail, but suffice it to say that all of the event details were attended to... the site was beautifully decorated and the meeting was a huge success. I spoke with numerous participants who had only glowing remarks about the event; the work of the chamber, and the talent of the staff. Let me encourage you to call the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce for further information.

Remember, it's about the customer... not us!

Contact Chuck at www.theewartgroup.com