Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce

[Townsend]

Conan brought up a good point in another thread.

I've looked at a few sites including the chamber's own FB wall.

I've found nothing touting their accomplishments.

What have they done to help Tulsa lately, metro area or not?  I can't find much of anything.

[Renaissance]

<crickets chirping>

[Townsend]

<crickets chirping>

Yeah, I wasn't sure if it was just a boring topic or if there isn't a damned thing to list.

[Vision 2025]

Well, since I have been directly involved for two years now I'll nominate the "One Voice" Lobby (continuing) effort as being highly effective for Tulsa and the entire Metro region and I predict it will continue to gain strength next year (this was only the 3rd year).


   

[Townsend]

I'll nominate the "One Voice" Lobby (continuing) effort as being highly effective for Tulsa and the entire Metro region and I predict it will continue to gain strength next year (this was only the 3rd year).    

Can you elaborate?  What has the effectiveness been?

[Conan71]

For the budget our CoC has, I've been incredibly disappointed with the leadership and results ever since Clyde Cole retired in 1998.  Of course, The Chamber will blame opinions like mine as being "typical anti-chamber rhetoric" and that "we don't understand what The Chamber" does.  Perhaps they should listen to their critics and try to learn from it.

When the owner of our company died, ownership went to his widow.  One of her sons set about trying to figure out how to get the company certified as a woman-owned business which carries with it certain advantages in bidding on governement work.  The son was told by someone in a business-development function at The Chamber that they had no clue how to do that and that really wasn't their function.  Needless to say, my company has not been a CoC member for six years. 

Generally the function of a CoC is to help existing business grow and to attract tourism and new business.

[we vs us]

I deal almost daily with the CVB/Tulsa Sports Commission arm of the Metro Chamber, and they work their butts off selling the city to outside groups.  Unfortunately, they're leaderless and woefully understaffed.  The Tulsa Sports Commission is about to be leaderless, too, now that Mike Dodson has resigned.  Combine that with chronic underfunding for both groups, and the CVB is in what I would call something of a funk. 

One of the senior guys I work with had an interesting take on Tulsa's relationship with tourism and hospitality.  He said that Tulsa's money and interest tends to gravitate towards making the lives of people who already live here better, rather than gravitating towards being a tourism destination or a draw on a regional/national level.  In other words, the city still looks inwards rather than outwards, and you can see that at all levels of the hospitality/tourism game, from how the CVB is prioritzed (it's not), to the lame "I AM" marketing campaign, to the lack of followthrough with it. 

There's also the sense that a general plan is lacking, and that even though we're investing in stadiums and arenas, a revamped convention center, etc, we aren't helping make them truly work with infrastructure ranging from good parking to a convention hotel, etc.  So because we won't invest entirely in tourism/hospitality, the investment that we do make doesn't pay off fully. 

Note:  Senior Guy isn't from here, but 1) has been here long enough to get a feel for the place and 2) has done work in other similar sized cities and knows what he's talking about. 

[Conan71]

So in other words, it's our fault that the CVB is lame...

[we vs us]

So in other words, it's our fault that the CVB is lame...

Well . . . sorta.  It's actually the Chamber's fault that the CVB's underfunded/understaffed, but it's the City's fault that there's no real major push for a tourism infrastructure or a general plan. 

[waterboy]

I was a member. Some observations.

It is a fraternal type organization in that they merely provide a framework to meet other like minded business people who want to network with each other. That seems to work okay.

The small entrepreneur may feel it is obligatory but not too helpful. Mainly because it is skewed towards established medium to large corporates, fast rising organizations and mainstream businesses. IOW, if you are a small guy with a new idea that needs help in the early stages, they are not suited.

It would be a really good idea to have a COC that specialized in these non-conforming, small, entrepreneurial enterprizes. They could help with promotional efforts and pass on contacts with full CoC members who can help them grow.

I think people expect too much from them. For instance, on another topic they were criticized for not helping to promote Green Country  outdoor activities, along with the Ozarks in Arkansas and SW Missouri. They really aren't going to do that.

I can't say much bad about them though. They tried to help me and even steered business to my boat operation. But when it came to functions that they sponsored I had no one much to relate to.

[Rico]

Vision 2025 that is a very "company man" answer.


Can we discuss the ca$h the TMCC gets to do... dodooo.

What you get for your money. and the fact that we have duplication of Economic Development in our City.

We need companies to move to Tulsa and the TMCC "One Voice" is just a lobbying effort. The money they receive is a sin.

Have a look.
sorry about the size of the pdf  -  but worth the look
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1952827/metro-chamber-09-10-contracts-pdf-9-9-meg?da=y

[sgrizzle]

I said something about the chamber near a former board member and he went off. Said that if not for the chamber, the Drillers would be playing in Jenks.

[Conan71]

I said something about the chamber near a former board member and he went off. Said that if not for the chamber, the Drillers would be playing in Jenks.

Did you offer to call the Whaaaambulance for the board member?

[TheLofts@120]

Having seen the same discussion for quite some time regarding the Drillers...I just want to add my two cents.  Having spoken at length with City of Jenks leaders, and in particular one of their planners, Tulsa was never really in jeopardy of losing the Driller's to Jenks.  The idea was thrown out there by the developer of a parcel (that has yet to start) as an interesting addition to the overall development, but nothing more.  There wasnt any money being offered to build an entire park out of pocket on the part of the developer, or Jenks, for the Driller's to lease. 

Just wanted to clear that up since it seems to be a common misconception.

Its my understanding, and according to various media articles, that the Drillers were convinced to stay in Tulsa by the Taylor administration and those leading the ballpark trust effort, but I saw no mention of the Chamber's involvement in any of those articles. 

The question posed is still a very valid one...what accomplishments has the Chamber provided in terms of actual job growth, corporate relocations to Tulsa, job retention, etc.  As for the CVB, I have to agree there as well.  Tulsa could be much further ahead with skilled leadership in place to actively promote and secure increased convention and entertainment business while taking advantage of the recently built BOKCenter and remodeled convention center while they are in their best shape and up-to-date.

[Vision 2025]

Can you elaborate?  What has the effectiveness been?

Last year-
They greatly assisted with successful efforts to obtain the first appropriation of federal funding ($50,000,000 authorized) for the Arkansas River Master Plan projects.

The chamber led the effort to successfully secure $25,000,000 from the State for the Low Water Dams which primarily benefits the City of Tulsa.

This year-
The again led efforts necessary to provide continued funding (second appropriation request) for the Arkansas River projects.

The One Voice agenda is noticed, having 50-100 in a lobby groups makes a big difference and the Chamber facilitates that quite well.