The Moore Oklahoma Tornado Tragedy Aftermath: How You Can Support the Moore,OK Chamber of Commerce - Rob O'Brian, President Joplin Chamber of Commerce

Blogger note: I attended the MAKO (Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma ) Conference last April, and one of the best conversations and new acquaintances I had was with Kathy Gillette, director of membership sales/services for the Moore, Oklahoma Chamber. After the tornado that recently devastated Moore, that seems a lifetime ago. Rob O'Brian of the Joplin, Missouri chamber (another town hit by a destructive tornado) posted this note on the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri (CCEM) website a few days earlier on ways any chamber (or chamber members) can support the Moore, OK Chamber of Commerce.

Support the Moore, OK Chamber of Commerce
A letter from Rob O'Brian, Joplin Chamber of Commerce
May 2013

Dear Chamber Friends

As you know, Moore, OK was hit yesterday with a devastating EF-4 tornado. This morning I talked with chamber President Brenda Roberts and she said they have a number of businesses, including their hospital, that were destroyed or significantly damaged by the storm.

We know from our own experience here that the support of our sister chambers and businesses around the country are critical to helping rebuild and restore a business community; immediately and for the long-term. As so many of you did for us, I encourage you to join the Moore Chamber www.moorechamber.com so they have replacement funds to offset loss of revenue from impacted members.

In addition, if you want to help provide them funds (or encourage your members to provide them funds) to help in business recovery, I would encourage that as well. We have set up a “Moore Business Recovery” fund within our Foundation. (Link: http://joplincc.com/help_moore_business.html ) Every dollar donated will go to the Moore Chamber and we will track contributions so they can provide an appropriate “thank-you” in the future. The Moore Chamber does not have its own foundation, which is why we are doing this in the interim so our members can contribute to a 501c3 organization. Once the dust settles some, Brenda will get back with the direction on sending the funds on in an appropriate manner for their use. Please feel free to use our Foundation if you want to encourage donations to support business/jobs recovery. Of course, if you have other local ways to help, please do that instead.

Two years later, we remain thankful for the support our chamber colleagues gave us. It was critical to our recovery. Please help us support the Moore Chamber in its efforts to help its community. 

Rob

Rob O’Brian, CEcD
President 
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
Involving employers, building relationships 
and connecting business and community since 1917.
robrian@joplincc.com
(417) 624-4150 (o)
(417) 438-0100 (m) 
(417) 624-4303 (f)
320 E. 4th Street
Joplin, MO 64801

John Dussman is Midwest Manager for VillageProfile.com, working with chambers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri. More than 1500 Chamber of Commerce all over the United States have trusted Village Profile to produce their Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Visitor Maps and Publications, Economic Development magazines and Chamber of Commerce Maps. Contact John at (800)-600-0134 x239.