50 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, February 3 - February 9, 1995
Resort chamber puts forth goals,
budget, member survey results
By Trish Vernon
"A united business community
will be ready for the year 2000,"
1995 Rehoboth Beach-Dewey
Beach Chamber of Commerce
President Susan Ceff fold fellow
members at the Feb. I monthly
luncheon meeting in her State of
the Chamber address.
She reminded everyone that the
future will arrive, despite the fact
that some people would like Re-
hoboth "to be like it was ten or
twenty years ago. Those people
who say we are not affected by
what is happening outside our
boundaries will be left behind.
One lesson should be clear -
everything affects us."
What happens on Route One, in
Dover, Ocean City and Washing-
ton, D.C. all have an effect on the
Rehoboth-Dewey business com-
munity.
"As your chamber, it is our job
to make sure we are ready for the
year 2000 - keeping up with new
technologies, new business trends
and new ideas that other states
might have for tourism. We are
your business advocates," she
said, "and as a resort town, one of
the best ways to help ensure that
health is to promote the growth of
our tourism industry, specifically
in our area."
In 1995 the Rehoboth-Dewey
Chamber plans to direct its focus
on the state legislature, educating
them to the fact that spending
money on tourism will bring a
tenfold return. "Tourism benefits
our entire community. It creates
jobs and generates income for lo-
cal and state government with 5.5
million people visiting the state
each year spending $806 million."
It is also the chamber's objec-
tive to clear up some myths re-
garding tourists. "Some of you
have said 'we don't want bus peo-
ple' but one 40-passenger bus
spends $5,300 per day, and we
have enabled hotels to book their
facilities during the shoulder sea-
son with bus groups," Cerf said,
calling for an agreement with the
state-run park and ride to set up a
system that would keep them from
parking on the avenue.
As for "day trippers,,' Cerf not-
ed that it's a popular misconcep-
tion that they don't spend any
money in the resort, as they gener-
ate $53 per person a day. Also, as
many of them are families, their
children grow up and return to va-
cation.
In 1995; the chamber will con-
tinue its aggressive marketing and
concentrate efforts on positive so-
lutions and directions. "We will
not be sidetracked by anyone in
being your voice, your advocate,
your information and your mar-
keting tool. A united business
community will be more than
ready for the year 2000," Cerf
said.
Executive Director Carol Ever-
hart took to the podium to give the
financial report, noting the cham-
ber had $157,000 cash on hand as
of Dec. 31, 1994, as well as re-
serves for such building, emer-
gency and Vacationland brochure
sales, totaling $138,000.
Projected revenues and expen-
ditures for 1995 total $312,885,
Everhart said, noting the chamber
board asked for changes in tally-
ing up what the chamber collects
line by line and what is outstand-
ing in accounts receivable.
She noted that those revenues
come equally from three sources,
the Vacationland brochure ads;
the Sussex County Convention
and Tourism Commission
(SCC&TC); and from members
dues and other services provided.
The funds are broken down into
three accounts. The projected ex-
penses for the "100" or operating
account, used to run the chamber
office, newsletter, etc., is
$104,685, while the programs of
work or "200" account expenses
should come in at $80,200, while
the SCC&TC or "300" account
expenses are projected at
$128,000. (Since the chamber on-
ly receives $100,000 toward that
goal, Everhart noted that they will
need to get the additional $28,000
from somewhere else.)
The "200" account pays for ef-
forts made to increase tourism on
a local basis, such as the job fair,
newsletter, Sea Witch Festival,
map and visitors guide, Easter and
Christmas projects, etc. The
"300" account funds go solely to
attracting and tracking tourism
from outside the area.
It was then Chamber First Vice
President Kay Wheafley's turn to
convey the results of the recent
survey of chamber members on
directions in which they would
like to see the organization move.
"We are doing an excellent job
with marketing and member ser-
vices," she noted, "but the survey
says we need to be more political-
ly involved as business advo-
cates." However, many voiced
the opinion that "development on
Route One, for instance, is in-
evitable and there is no need to try
and stop it. But they expect us to
play a major role in planning and
vision because the people influ-
encing the development may not
have an idea of how it can effect
residents and tourism," Wheatley
said.
Main Street received a strong
nod of encouragement, but most
members felt that the chamber
should only play a role.
"By February we expect to have
the chamber long range plan fin-
ished and then move forward with
committees to implement these
goals," she added.
Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber honors volunteers
The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce honored its Chamber Champions
on Monday, Jan. 30, all of whom received pins of recognition. Among those on hand for the
presentation are (1. to r.) John Brown, a city employee who has been instrumental in putting
up Christmas lights and performing numerous tasks for the chamber;, Christine Hastings, who
helped coordinate the hospitality seminars; Diane Kramer, Sea Witch Festival volunteer who
coordinated the craft area; Carol Everhart, chamber executive director, who presents a cer.
tificate for outstanding achievement to outgoing chamber beard member John Kleitz, who al-
so helped with the group tour committee; Bob McCulloch, who helped with loading and un-
loading trucks for events; JoAnn Bradley, who volunteered with the Sea Witch Festival and
Kids Convention; and Delores Gue, chairman of Business After Hours and Santa's House.
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce First
Vice President Kay Wheatley gives a report at the Wednes:
day, Feb. I meeting concerning a recent member survey on di
rections in which they would Hke the organization to pro-
ceed, while President Susan Cerf looks on.
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