The Northeast Kingdom Chamber, the regional chamber for the tri-county region, recently had the Heart of Vermont Chamber come in under its wings. It has been contacting members and putting them on the web site as quick as possible.
Vermont Business Magazine The Heart of Vermont Chamber of Commerce, based in Hardwick, announced this month that it has just completed a merger with the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce, the regional chamber serving the tri-county region of Caledonia, Essex and Orleans. The Heart of Vermont Chamber covers Cabot, Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, Stannard, Walden, Wolcott and Woodbury.
According to Heart of Vermont Executive Director Maria Roosevelt, the organization was at a crossroads following the pandemic, as it could not garner the necessary volunteer board members to keep the chamber operational. The board and its members voted to merge with the NEK Chamber at the end of June.
For Roosevelt, who has served as its director for 16 years, the merger is bittersweet but noted that she has had a longtime working relationship with the Northeast Kingdom Chamber and believed that organization was the best equipped to take on and best serve her members.
Heart of Vermont Chamber Executive Director Maria Roosevelt signs a letter to members, explaining her organization recently merged with the Northeast Kingdom Chamber. Courtesy photos.
Roosevelt noted that not having her members represented by a chamber was not an option, adding, “Following one of the worst economic downturns in the last century, chambers of commerce are needed more than ever, to promote, market and support their areas and businesses.
“This chamber has meant a lot to many folks over the years, said Roosevelt. :When I first came on board 16 years ago, there was minimal area representation. Like other business owners, I have a business here, too, and during my time as director, I was dedicated to increasing the visibility and reputation of this region.
“Success in any endeavor doesn’t always come instantly,” she added. “Sometimes, it takes persistence and a lot of creativity. We didn’t merge with the NEK Chamber because we failed in our mission; we merged because we actually succeeded in many areas.”
During Roosevelt’s tenure, the chamber web site averaged more than 40,000 page views, 20,000 unique visitors and 400,000 hits a year and grew in membership before the pandemic. She believes merging with the NEK Chamber of Commerce will continue to enhance exposure, for the Heart of Vermont area and the Northeast Kingdom as a whole.
NEK Chamber Executive Director Darcie McCann believes had it not been for the challenges of the pandemic, the chamber would still be in operation, noting Roosevelt deserves much praise for her accomplishments as director in promoting and marketing her area. The NEK Chamber director takes the trust that the Heart of Vermont Chamber has placed with her chamber very seriously, she said.
“It has been important for us and Maria to hit the ground running, to have this merger be as seamless as possible,” said McCann, a 26-year veteran of her organization. “We are getting their members on our web site and contacting area businesses as fast as we can to keep them informed and apprised of this new partnership.” She noted that she hopes to have representation on her board from the Heart of Vermont area soon, so that the region has a strong voice in the organization.
Heart of Vermont members that have already paid through 2021 were accepted into the NEK Chamber at no additional cost until the end of the year and its other members are currently being contacted by the NEK organization to alert them of the changes and gauge their interest in joining the new chamber.
Roosevelt and McCann will be checking in with members going forward, to hear their feedback and opinions on what they need and want the NEK Chamber to do on their behalf. Already, the popular All-Towns map, produced by the Heart of Vermont Chamber, is expected to be a project that will continue going forward.
“The first lesson of taking on new responsibilities is to ‘look, listen and learn,’” said McCann. “We do not come into this partnership expecting we know everything. We want to meet with as many people as possible, including town leaders from the chamber’s catchment area, to determine their priorities for the chamber, now and in the future. These members deserve our best effort.”
Source: NEK Chamber 7.23.2021