SOUTH FORK— The South Fork Chamber of Commerce has gone through many difficulties throughout the last several years, but has finally reached a point where the entire organization has been reformed and the future is looking bright.
In an interview conducted on Sept. 5, Chamber Administrative Assistant Joe McCarn stated that the new board is reforming the dormant role the chamber has played in the community and everyone is ready to see it grow into something local and new businesses can depend on.
“We have a long way to go, but we are headed in the right direction. The first thing we focused on was separating the chamber from the town. At one point, the old chamber had opted to join forces with the town and combine websites, though there is nothing wrong with that, it is not the job of a chamber of commerce within a community. We love tourism and tourists that come here to South Fork, but we needed to be more focused on our clientele and support our business members,” stated McCarn.
A few months ago, after a brief change of presidency, the chamber looked to the business community in South Fork to form its new board and begin the process of rebuilding the chamber. Several local business representatives and owners embarked on the journey with President James Stephens and McCarn to see that the new regiment could help bring out the best in South Fork and offer support to local businesses as well as bring in new businesses. “We have a very diverse and proactive team of individuals who want to see South Fork become what it could be,” said McCarn.
The chamber also now has an official office located at McCarn Computers on Highway 160 just on the other side of the post office. The location was a huge step in the direction the new chamber was wanting to take by creating something it had lacked for a very long time: a permanent home. “I became very involved in the chamber and due to the fact that I focus on networking with my computer business, it was a perfect fit for us to have the chamber office here at McCarn Computers,” finished McCarn.
The board recently decided to begin a marketing committee dedicated to helping local business owners get more out of their chamber membership by helping them network what they have to offer. McCarn explained that the chamber is currently working with B4 Studios to create a new innovative and member friendly web page as well as starting a new Facebook page that links all of the chamber businesses together in order to enhance marketing strategies. “We offer constant contact through email blasts, opening a more secure line of communication with our members and by doing that can also offer them a discount if they also want to begin a constant contact with their consumers,” said McCarn. “Bottom line is that we will be constantly looking for ways to improve the chamber and offer the most support we can to our members.”
“It is our job as the chamber to support our members, the businesses, by offering tools for success, networking capabilities and look to the positives here in South Fork,” he continued.
The new chamber board members consist of the following, Vice President Hannah Hannah with Steffens Realty; Kim Krahn with the Malt Shoppe; Linda Hicks, owner of Blue Eyed Bear and Cabin Keeper owner Dianna Peto. The new web page will be up in the near future.