Our Mission
The objective of the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce is to advance the economic base and enhance the quality of life of the Kerrville/Kerr County area.

Our Vision
We the Chamber wish to preserve the natural beauty and rich heritage of the Hill Country by encouraging responsible commerce and carefully managed growth, by promoting opportunities for all citizens and by leaving a proud legacy for future generations.

2008- 2009 GOALS

1) Affordable Housing Task Force

• Assemble key community stakeholders
• Seek to define what affordable housing is among varied groups
• Achieve consensus of affordable housing definition
• Stakeholders to include, but not limited to, representatives of city government, county government, realtors, home builders, mortgage lenders, developers, KEDF, subsidized non-profits dealing with housing
• Assign two or three board members to build a symposium on the topic
• Implement symposium

2) Economic Strategic Plan Update Task Force

• Educate the membership about the incentives policy
• Promote the progress of plan implementation
• Assist in identifying potential roadblocks to implementation
• Utilize web site, newsletter and face-to-face meetings with businesses to help in getting the information out
• Assign two board members to coordinate with members of the incentives committee and develop communications tools accordingly

3) Initiate the Governmental Affairs Task Force

• Recruit task force members interested in state, county & local issues
• Solicit input from the membership to prioritize issues
• Advocate positions on issues affecting members’ interests
• Convey positions to elected officials at all levels of government as needed
• Build a task force capable of lobbying on behalf of the local business interests
• Assign two to three board members to reinitiate this task force and begin the process of communicating to the membership

4) Promoting the Airport as an asset to the community

• Feature photos and other key graphics of the airport on chamber website
• Find business sponsors/hosts and have an after hours mixer at the airport
• Assist in the development of talent for the airport’s governing board
• Assign one or two board members to assist in implementation

5) Communication with Chamber membership

• Develop posters that visually depict our events/programs
• Develop “action buttons” on email blasts when member input is needed
• Utilize Ambassadors to spread messages at mixers/events
• Coordinate a young professionals luncheon with focus on their needs
• Assign two or three board members to coordinate the luncheon; work with full board in all other areas

6) Monitoring, promoting encouraging downtown redevelopment

• Add regular updates to the website as information becomes available
• Send regular email updates; include “action buttons” when needed
• Notify the membership about developers already making things happen downtown; chart progress on businesses locating downtown

7) Support smart conservation

• Sponsor two (2) community shreds during the year
• Bring conservation entities together to talk about, promote and teach about various conservation opportunities including but not limited to xeriscaping, energy conservation, water usage, quality, river health
• Look at possibility of implementing a conservation expo during the year
• Assign two or three directors to spearhead goals

8) Public Transportation—Action plan to be determined

ONGOING BOARD OF DIRECTORS' GOALS

• Provide oversight of board operations, policy development, board training and planning
• Provide oversight of finances, including conducting an Annual Financial Review
• Maintain a sound financial position with the equivalent of up to three-months operating capital
• Review pricing structures and policies to maximize members’ return on investment

ONGOING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

• Membership—Ambassadors continue representing Chamber at ribbon cuttings and promote continued membership through Operation Thank You to be held in January, 2009
• Official Map of Kerrville & Our View magazine—Plan and produce these annual publications; maximize distribution to benefit advertisers as well as maximize revenue potential for the chamber
• Website & Newsletter—Redesign and improve these electronic and print communications media; maximize membership’s use of website through “Members Only” section; increase the amount of information available to the membership on-line

2008-2009 TASK FORCE GOALS

• Task Force On Education—Coordinate, plan and produce annual Job Shadowing Program on the first Thursday in February; coordinate plan and produce New Teacher Welcome Bags to be distributed at the beginning of August with each designed to help members become involved with the schools; coordinate and produce a Career Fair for 8th and 9th graders.
• Leadership Kerr County-#24—Continue training tomorrow’s leaders with this comprehensive program covering topics including social services, health care, tourism and the arts, government, education and others.
• Task Force on Government—Identify key election cycles at the state, county and local level and invite candidates to board meetings for information gathering purposes and then provide to members about specific issues that could impact their business or organization.  Poll members on a regular basis for input on candidates and issues.

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Co-Sponsor the 5th Annual Cowboy Breakfast on Friday, January 16, 2009 with Kerrville Main Street and the Hill Country District Junior Livestock Show
• After Hours Networking Mixers—October 16, 2008; November 20, 2008; January 15, 2009; February 19, 2008; April 16, 2009; May 21, 2009; July 16, 2009; August 20, 2009 to be held at various member locations to encourage networking among members; consider holding “themed” mixers
• 4th Annual Kerr County Camp Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Opening Reception on April 30, 2009 at the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center.
• Young Professionals—Develop a concept to attract young professionals to the chamber by offering “age specific” luncheon in 2009.
• 87th Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner to recognize business leaders' excellence in the past year and induction of new officers and board of directors—Thursday, September 10, 2009
• 5th Annual James Avery Hill Country Golf Classic—November 7, 8 & 9, 2008 at Scott Schreiner Golf Course, Riverhill Country Club and The Club at Comanche Trace.
• Holiday Membership Breakfast—December 11, 2008
• Membership Luncheons—March 19, 2009 and June 18, 2009 to be held at various member locations with a speaker at each meeting; topics will vary
• 14th Annual Sandbaggers Open—March 2, 2009 at Comanche Trace.
• 9th Annual Springtime Splendor—May 7, 2009 at Schreiner University.