Since 1888, the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce has been serving the community. Today, over 350 businesses and individuals make up the membership of the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce. Through the various committees within the Chamber, members involve themselves in programs aimed at developing the community into a better place in which to live and work

Membership Survey 2011

Membership Survey Results
Results from the membership survey are in and we’re very pleased! The response rate was excellent, with 27.9 percent replying by e-mail or fax and 71.1 percent filling in the survey online. Business sectors represented were manufacturing (12.3 percent), institutional/government (5.3 percent),
construction (8.8 percent), retail (22.8 percent) and other (50.9) percent. One of the most important sections of the survey dealt with how members perceived the role of the Chamber in the community. In the opinion of 73.8 percent of respondents, our most important function is to lobby government on
behalf of local business. Our second priority, according to 65.6 percent of respondents, is to function
as a business and community information centre. Promotion of tourism and free enterprise were rated
very important by about half the respondents, with tourism promotion receiving a 49.2 percent rating and free enterprise receiving 47.5 percent. Organizing social events to encourage business
networking was rated very important by 39.3 percent, while 36.1 percent believed that promotion of desirable community events is very important. The lowest-ranked service was the provision of group plans. Although 58.3 percent of respondents agreed that these services are somewhat important, only 20 percent listed them as very important.

Newsletter
The Business Observer is the Chamber’s primary membership communication tool. In the opinion of
70.5 percent of respondents the newsletter was excellent (18 percent) or good (52.5 percent.) However, it appears there is room for improvement. One-quarter of respondents rated the newsletter as fair (24.6 percent) or poor (.5 percent). Only 38.3 percent of respondents reported circulating the newsletter to their staff.

Group Insurance and Pensions
Most Chamber members do not use these plans. Just over one-fifth (21.3 percent) of respondents take advantage of the group insurance plan. While 20 percent report that they are very satisfied and 45 percent are satisfied, 35 percent of those who have the plan are not very satisfied. As far as the Chamber pension plan goes, only 1.6 of respondents have it. 98.4 percent who do not are not interested in receiving information about it.

Chamber Functions
Asked to list their preferred time for Chamber activities, 56.5 percent said after 7 p.m. was best. Second choice was 5 p.m., at 21 percent, followed by morning at 20.1 percent and noon at 17.7 percent. When it comes to Chamber events, between 15.1 and 27.7 percent of respondents reported attending. The most popular was the annual awards dinner, with 27.7 percent, followed by the golf
tournament (22.2 percent) and Chamber committee meetings (15.1 percent.). The annual awards dinner was rated excellent by 68.2 percent of respondents who attended, while 47.1 percent rated the golf tournament as excellent. Only 15.4 percent considered Chamber committee meetings they
attened as excellent, however, 30.1 percent rated them as good.

Services and Products
The Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce offers a range of products and services to its members. The most widely used of these are the Chamber’s directory and indexes, which 61.8 percent reported using, followed by newsletter inserts and advertising, utilized by 35.1 percent. Only 5.5 percent of respondents used the Chamber meeting room, and only 3.8 percent reported taking advantage of government assistance. This is another area which likely needs more attention, as 34.6
percent of those responding were unaware that the meeting room was available to Chamber members for a fee, while 28.3 percent were unaware of government assistance. Among those who did use our products and services, 24.3 percent found the directory and indexes very useful, while 48.6 said they were fairly useful. Newsletter inserts or advertising were rated very useful by 15.2 percent and fairly useful by 33.3 percent. Use of the meeting rooms was rated very useful by 14.9 percent; government
assistance was rated very useful by 7.4 percent and fairly useful by 11.1 percent.

If you wish to view these results in greater detail, click one of the links below to view them:

1. Click here to view the results from SurveyMonkey's website
2. Click here to view the results from the e-mail or faxed survey's

Membership

Our chamber is strong, with more than 350 members. Click here if you are interested in joining.

Special Announcement

Revitalize Norfolk Forum

Something has happened!

 We are very proud to announce that Norfolk County was awarded the #1 Place To Invest in Ontario; and #2 Place to Invest in Canada - by ReNew Canada Magazine: http://renewcanada.net/2010/canadas-best-places-to-invest/ .

The Revitalize Norfolk Forum (RFN) is a group of citizens from Norfolk County who have the support of Norfolk District Business Development Corporation and The Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce and the generosity of other individuals, businesses and local government. The goal has been to explore and act as the renewal “engine” for responsible and dynamic redevelopment;  and to broadcast that Norfolk County has the talent, resources and drive to be one of the best areas in Canada to live, work, play and invest in!

 The “10 best Places To Invest in Canada Award” recognition acknowledges the rich past of Norfolk and predicts a promising future. But, the efforts do not end with the recognition. There is more to do: ideas to explore, partnerships to be built, governments to be engaged at all levels, etc. This Forum is committed to act as the engine for redevelopment in Norfolk. You can be a valuable contributor to a greater future.

 Background

 Why did Norfolk County win this award?

 The survey questions are listed below.

1. RENEWAL URGENCY Our citizens feel strongly motivated to boost our economy, enhance our quality of life, and improve our environmental health?
2. RENEWAL VISION Our community has a widely-shared, clearly-described vision of the characteristics we wish to add, delete, change, and preserve?
3. RENEWAL CULTURE Our community has revitalization-friendly policies, regulations, building codes, zoning, and incentives to attract and support desirable investors/ redevelopers?
4. RENEWAL PARTNERING We effectively partner with the private sector, and with other levels of government?
5. RENEWAL ENGINE We have a permanent public-private organization to initiate, accelerate, and/or perpetuate our revitalization?
6. ENGAGE vs. IGNORE We effectively engage all stakeholders in major public or private projects affecting our future?
7. INTEGRATION vs. ISOLATION We manage our natural, built, and socioeconomic environments in an integrated manner?
8. DEWEALTH vs. REWEALTH Our economic growth is based less on dewealth (developing raw land, demolishing historic buildings, depleting natural resources) and more on rewealth (redeveloping properties, renewing buildings, restoring natural resources)?
9. RENEWAL LEADERSHIP Our leaders effectively and transparently promote rapid, resilient renewal and de-emphasize sprawl?
10. RENEWAL MOMENTUM Our community is already revitalizing. Our economy, quality of life, and environmental health have all been getting better in recent years?

We won our award through our documenting, in the submission,  that recognized that Norfolk is rich in the resources, talents, culture and community that are attractive to investors.

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