ARTICLE
A year ago to the day — October 14, 2020— I wrote about the community in transition facing adversity as we battled the Coronavirus and wildfires. We pushed through these challenges as a unified community. The reflection of the past year shows a tremendous will to persevere. It all starts with you. Last year, my message to the community was simple: Let’s stay on top of the dreaded disease, watch each other’s back and prepare for the fall and winter season. We moved through the fall of 2020 and into a new year. In some way, it felt like we were standing still awaiting brighter times. And at other times, we have felt a sense of relief that the COVID numbers were moving in the right direction, that economically we are seeing trends that point to a positive holiday season despite the number of unoccupied storefronts. As we enter the last quarter of 2021, the Chamber has initiated our 2022 membership renewal process this month. For the first time since 2015, we are raising our membership rates to keep pace with the cost of doing business. These small increases across our six tiers are comparable to neighboring chambers’ membership rates. The last two years have been marked by many starts and stops because of ongoing health and safety notices from the CDC, the state, and county public health officers on which business activities are allowed outdoors, indoors, and through socially distant practices. The Chamber was instrumental in setting in place a weekly online meeting of community and business leaders (the Economic Recovery Council) with our public health officer beginning in mid-2020 and continuing through the first two quarters of 2021. These meetings helped create positive progress in giving the business community a voice at the table regarding the implementation of health and safety protocols. Through it all, the Chamber continues to deliver on its mission to help our community thrive in trying times. In March, we held our annual Community Recognition Gala on the pool deck at the Dream Inn. It was a wonderful night to honor community leaders despite the rain and wind. In June, the Chamber re-started our monthly business after hours events — hosted on the pool deck of Hotel Paradox. We held several other after hours and ribbon-cutting events during the late summer into the early fall season. In mid-summer, the Chamber hosted its first golf tournament since the early 2000s at the DeLaveaga Golf Course where community members safely enjoyed a round of golf followed by a buffet dinner. It was a reminder of how past Chamber networking events brought good cheer to all. And the 2021 Biz Expo was a great success outdoors on the Boardwalk back in early September. There is no question that 2020 and 2021 have been a challenge yet the Chamber pressed forward holding our Board and committee meetings via Zoom, ensuring we were keeping abreast of the latest issues happening in our county, and at the state and federal levels. Just last month the Chamber returned with its quarterly luncheon speaker series hosted at Chaminade Resort on their outdoor patio, with Congressman Jimmy Panetta as our esteemed guest speaker. We are carefully planning fall events with an eye toward ensuring the health and safety of our members and the community. So what's on deck for our Chamber members and the community? We will hold another Business After Hours later this month (October 27th) on the 10th Tee box at the Seascape Golf Club. Registration link is here: https://web.santacruzchamber.org/events/Business-After-Hours-Seascape-Golf-Club-4265/details\ There are plans in the works to host another lunchtime speakers event before the year ends. Stay tuned. And just this week we have confirmed the venue locations for three premier Chamber events: The Chamber Annual Membership breakfast meeting is set to return to the Dream Inn on January 26, 2022. Registration will open up soon. On March 24, 2022, the Chamber’s Annual Community Recognition Dinner will be hosted at the Cocoanut Grove. This community gala is the highlight of the season for Santa Cruz County. More details will be coming soon. And finally, based on the successful results of the Chamber Biz Expo last month, the Chamber will again hold the 2022 Biz Expo outside on the Boardwalk — September 8, 2022. The Chamber team will continue to fill in the gaps during the winter and spring of 2022 with a variety of events, workshops, and learning experiences to promote our members and the business community. It is because of the commitment of our members that we are able to continue to be the strong voice for our community. Thank you for being a part of the Santa Cruz County Chamber. As always, please don’t hesitate to call our office (831) 457-3713 or e-mail me (casey.beyer@santacruchamber.org) with any questions, concerns, or general feedback. Onward we go into 2022!
A year ago to the day — October 14, 2020— I wrote about the community in transition facing adversity as we battled the Coronavirus and wildfires. We pushed through these challenges as a unified community. The reflection of the past year shows a tremendous will to persevere. It all starts with you.
Last year, my message to the community was simple: Let’s stay on top of the dreaded disease, watch each other’s back and prepare for the fall and winter season. We moved through the fall of 2020 and into a new year. In some way, it felt like we were standing still awaiting brighter times. And at other times, we have felt a sense of relief that the COVID numbers were moving in the right direction, that economically we are seeing trends that point to a positive holiday season despite the number of unoccupied storefronts.
As we enter the last quarter of 2021, the Chamber has initiated our 2022 membership renewal process this month. For the first time since 2015, we are raising our membership rates to keep pace with the cost of doing business. These small increases across our six tiers are comparable to neighboring chambers’ membership rates. The last two years have been marked by many starts and stops because of ongoing health and safety notices from the CDC, the state, and county public health officers on which business activities are allowed outdoors, indoors, and through socially distant practices. The Chamber was instrumental in setting in place a weekly online meeting of community and business leaders (the Economic Recovery Council) with our public health officer beginning in mid-2020 and continuing through the first two quarters of 2021. These meetings helped create positive progress in giving the business community a voice at the table regarding the implementation of health and safety protocols.
Through it all, the Chamber continues to deliver on its mission to help our community thrive in trying times. In March, we held our annual Community Recognition Gala on the pool deck at the Dream Inn. It was a wonderful night to honor community leaders despite the rain and wind. In June, the Chamber re-started our monthly business after hours events — hosted on the pool deck of Hotel Paradox. We held several other after hours and ribbon-cutting events during the late summer into the early fall season. In mid-summer, the Chamber hosted its first golf tournament since the early 2000s at the DeLaveaga Golf Course where community members safely enjoyed a round of golf followed by a buffet dinner. It was a reminder of how past Chamber networking events brought good cheer to all. And the 2021 Biz Expo was a great success outdoors on the Boardwalk back in early September.
There is no question that 2020 and 2021 have been a challenge yet the Chamber pressed forward holding our Board and committee meetings via Zoom, ensuring we were keeping abreast of the latest issues happening in our county, and at the state and federal levels. Just last month the Chamber returned with its quarterly luncheon speaker series hosted at Chaminade Resort on their outdoor patio, with Congressman Jimmy Panetta as our esteemed guest speaker. We are carefully planning fall events with an eye toward ensuring the health and safety of our members and the community.
So what's on deck for our Chamber members and the community? We will hold another Business After Hours later this month (October 27th) on the 10th Tee box at the Seascape Golf Club. Registration link is here: https://web.santacruzchamber.org/events/Business-After-Hours-Seascape-Golf-Club-4265/details\
There are plans in the works to host another lunchtime speakers event before the year ends. Stay tuned. And just this week we have confirmed the venue locations for three premier Chamber events: The Chamber Annual Membership breakfast meeting is set to return to the Dream Inn on January 26, 2022. Registration will open up soon.
On March 24, 2022, the Chamber’s Annual Community Recognition Dinner will be hosted at the Cocoanut Grove. This community gala is the highlight of the season for Santa Cruz County. More details will be coming soon.
And finally, based on the successful results of the Chamber Biz Expo last month, the Chamber will again hold the 2022 Biz Expo outside on the Boardwalk — September 8, 2022.
The Chamber team will continue to fill in the gaps during the winter and spring of 2022 with a variety of events, workshops, and learning experiences to promote our members and the business community. It is because of the commitment of our members that we are able to continue to be the strong voice for our community. Thank you for being a part of the Santa Cruz County Chamber. As always, please don’t hesitate to call our office (831) 457-3713 or e-mail me (casey.beyer@santacruchamber.org) with any questions, concerns, or general feedback.
Onward we go into 2022!