Chairman's Perspective - October 2021

What’s next? A little personal reflection

A look at where the Chamber is headed

BC and AC, before COVID and after COVID, is how I have been measuring time over the past 18 months or so. In my mind, until recently, AC was a destination that we had not yet reached … it was life without COVID.

I find myself thinking about and talking about all of the things that I would like to do personally and professionally “after COVID.” I absolutely do not want to offer up any theories, medical, religious, political or otherwise, as to when or if we will reach the state of “after COVID” as I just defined it. However, I do feel COVID is going to be a part of our lives for a while and maybe even permanently.

If I continue to look at time as I just described it, BC and AC, with BC being in the past and AC being a time we have not yet reached, where does that leave me now? Stuck in the middle!

As I look back at my several decades on earth, there have always been uncertainties and challenges, some bigger than others, but I have always kept moving forward. Now is not the time to abandon this tried-and-true method of living my life. I would encourage each of us to just keep swimming! (My Disney friends will get the reference, but if it is not ringing a bell with you, call me, and we can watch the movie together).

But enough personal reflection time. …

The Chamber has not been exempted from the uncertainty associated with COVID. Significant efforts have been made to return to the types of activities we were doing BC, before COVID, in the hopes that we will reach the AC state described above at some point.

Recently, your Chamber leadership has begun to ask the question: Is what we were doing BC addressing the needs of our members today? The answer to that question is going to need your input. So, here are some of the near-term actions we are taking:

Returning to In-Person Board Meetings

This may seem like a small step, but the past 18 months has shown us that in-person meetings, as long as we can do them safely, foster significantly more effective communication. Asking for Your Input The leadership team is working on multiple ways to engage you, our members, to get your feedback regarding how the Chamber can provide the most value to you and your organizations. Be on the lookout for communications soon.

Focus Groups

There are a couple of topics, like events and communications, that require a deeper dive, and we will be using focus groups to discuss those items.

Short-Term Planning

We are fortunate to have several new members joining our board shortly. It is the perfect time to get the board together and do some planning. When I say planning in this context, I am talking about 12 months, not five years.

Strategic Planning

As a member of the newly formed Greater Rockford Growth Partnership, the Chamber is excited to be a part of larger, coordinated strategic plan.

I would encourage each of you to speak up and tell us what the Chamber can do to help you and your organization today and in the years to come. If one of the formal methods of soliciting your feedback does not work for you, pick up the phone and call me or any other Chamber leader. I would love to chat.

Your Chamber has been here for you long before COVID was a blip on the radar, and it will be here long after.

Dan Ross is chairman of the Rockford Chamber and president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.