Communication is sometimes difficult to achieve. Today with all the technological equipment available to us, we can call anywhere using cell phones or text messaging. Plus we have computers to send e-mail in the blink of an eye. So, you’d think that communicating with others would be easy. But it’s not! A good example of how it isn’t easy, is this message. With all the avenues available to communicate we still neglect to get messages out to you in a timely manner.

When I took on the job of being the Chamber President one of my goals was to reinstate better communication between the Chamber office, Board and membership. I believe we have started to do so. You should be receiving information via e-mail from the office when items that we believe are of interest to you as a business owner come across our desk. You also should be receiving information on community issues that could affect you both in business and in the quality of life here in the Valley.

I have also committed to writing a monthly news article concerning Chamber activities that will be published in the Kern Valley Sun. In addition I will also write a “Presidents Message” that will be here on our web site each month. My message will be designed to keep you aware of the issues facing your Chamber of Commerce and our businesses in the valley.

My initial message to you is fairly brief and to the point (that’s the type of person I am). We need HELP. More specifically we need YOUR HELP. What do I mean by this? Well, to put it bluntly, we need you to participate more in your Chamber of Commerce. We have a general meeting of the Chamber Membership each month and to be candid with you the attendance is miserable. Usually less than 20 people turn up for the meeting. This is a concern in more ways than one. It means you are missing out on information and items of importance that could affect you and your business. It also affects our ability to attract speakers that can have important information or can influence decisions that can affect our communities and businesses. When we contact a potential speaker and ask them to speak at our meeting, the first question they ask is “How many people will be in attendance”. When we respond “maybe 20” their interest disappears and so does our (and your) opportunity to hear them.

The Chamber general membership meeting is held at 12:00 noon every second Wednesday of the month at Paradise Cove Restaurant. It’s a luncheon meeting, plus a good time to meet with other business owners in the valley and exchange concerns, ideas and general information. We try to hold the meeting to a max of 1-1/2 hours so that no one is away from business for too long. Come and join us. If this is not a convenient time for you, then we need to hear it. We would like to know when is. If the schedule is not the reason you don’t attend our meetings then I’d like to know that also. Communication goes in more direction than from me to you. I need you to communicate back to me and the best way to do that is face to face at one of our meetings. Please take the time to do that and join us next month on May 14th at 12:00 noon at Paradise Cove. See you there.

Barrie Mann - President