What is the Chamber of Commerce?

The Ayden Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer organization of businesses, professionals, individuals, industry and community members with the purpose of creating and maintaining an economically strong and attractive town.  The Ayden Chamber of Commerce currently has over 87 members who are represented by an 12 member Board of Directors that manages the Chamber’s business. The Chamber employs an Executive Director to work with committees and reach out to members to assure that the Chamber meets its goal of providing meaningful benefit.

What does the Chamber do for you? We prepare Ayden for the future -  Our Program of Work 2012 is designed to address various businesses, community, and citizen related matters in the Ayden Area. Membership Membership is going to be the Chamber’s primary focus in 2011. This committee will work on improving the relationship between members and the Chamber Board. To accomplish this goal, the Membership Chair, Executive Director, and Chairman of the Board will personally build relationships with each member. To better communicate Chamber events and news with members and the public, we will improve our newsletter by having it printed professionally, inserting it into the local newspaper and offering advertising opportunities to members.

Furthermore, we will post the newsletter on the Chamber web site and keep old newsletter issues on file for members to view. Providing networking opportunities is one of the Ayden Chamber’s top challenges. In 2012, the Chamber will sponsor four “Chamber Chats” that will offer food, fun and fellowship for Chamber members. Additional membership benefits will be offered through our web site, like banner advertising and an online member directory. Marketing The Chamber understands that increased visibility means increased profits. That’s why marketing both the town and our members is our second goal for 2012. The Executive Director will serve as marketing and communication specialist to the Chamber’s committees. A marketing plan that encompasses aggressive marketing for our members and the community will be developed. The Chamber will continue to sponsor the Award-winning Ayden Magazine, which features a Chamber Member Directory and has a circulation of 10,000 copies. Our Web site will be promoted and will offer advertising opportunities to our members.

Economic Development In 2012, the Economic Development Committee will work with the Small Town Main Street program to make information on potential business locations and the local economy available on the Chamber’s web site. The Chamber will also continue its business office incubator program, evaluating it to see where it can be strengthened. Special Events In 2012, the Chamber will again sponsor its annual Golf Tournament in memory of Roy Petty and host the annual Christmas Parade. In addition to those well-established events, the Chamber will develop new ideas for special occasions that will encourage citizens of Ayden as well as visitors to explore Ayden as an event and travel destination. School & Education Our goal in 2011 is to find new ways to build up our educational institutions. Civic Liaison Excellent communication between the Chamber and the Town of Ayden will be continued in 2012.

To support this, the Civic Liaison Committee will inform the Chamber’s Board of Directors about issues affecting citizens and businesses on town, county and state issues. Additionally, the committee will serve as representatives of the Town and the County at special events and presentations. Membership Benefits! Together, we can do what none of us can do alone! The leverage of this group-dynamic includes, but is not limited, to the following: Networking through business activities like “Chamber Chats” allow you to establish new contacts or refresh and tighten old ones. Exposure through a free listing in the Ayden Chamber Directory. You can also feel free to display information in the Ayden Chamber’s office or ask about online-advertising with the Chamber. Access to information, for example through the bi-monthly newsletter. Promoting Ayden’s businesses as a group rather than individually also has a higher impact and is less expensive. Organization and Elected Officials Chairman Mike Goff (2012) Vice-Chairman Mitchell Oakley (2012) Vice-Chairman Finance Linda Weathersby (2012) Vice-Chairman of Legal Counsel Delyle Evans Staff Stacy Gaskins, Executive Director (252) 746-2266 Term to expire 2012: John Crawford Chad Matta Term to expire 2011: Mike Harris Paula Loftin Appointed Directors at Large: John Ross Don Brown Larry Dennis Ex-Officio Members County Commissioner, Glen Webb Town Manager, Adam Mitchell

 Organization and Elected Officials