ALAMOGORDO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Phil Runnels
Meeting time: 11:30 a.m. Monday before the full board meeting
Location: Varies

• The responsibility of the Executive Committee is to serve as the administrative body of the Chamber between meetings of the Board of Directors.

• The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, President Elect, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Immediate Past President, and shall meet at the pleasure of the President.

COMMITTEE OF FIFTY
Board Sponsor: David Gottula
Chairperson: Charles Ferrell
Meeting Time: At least once quarterly as scheduled by the Chairperson

• The purpose of this committee shall be to promote the expansion, development, and effectiveness of Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range; to promote industrial development in Alamogordo and Otero County; and to promote and develop relationships with other governmental entities.

• To the end that these purposes may be reasonably attained, any of the Committee of Fifty members, or others, with the committee’s prior consent, may be commissioned to proceed wherever and whenever necessary, and to be assigned certain tasks and duties if, in the opinion of the committee’s Executive Board, such travel and representation would be consistent with the objectives of the Committee.

• Sponsors annual Thanks Team Holloman appreciation party.

• Membership in the Committee of Fifty is by invitation only. This committee has its own by-laws, officers, and dues, which fully fund committee activities.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Board Sponsor: Becky Lane
Chairperson: Becky Lane
Meeting Time: Last Friday of the Month, Noon, Elk’s Club

• Continue ongoing relationship between the Chamber of Commerce, City, County, State and Federal governments to help develop a plan relative to transportation issues.

• Monitor and provide input to appropriate offices for all air and land transportation-related issues affecting the local area.

• Attendance by Transportation Committee to the New Mexico State Highway & Transportation Department meetings.

• Support highway beautification efforts throughout the City & County.

• Support goals of R.I.D.E. New Mexico and S.P.I.R.I.T.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Board Sponsor & Chairperson: Genie Harshey
Meeting Time: Annually, not later than February 1.
The purpose of this committee is to prepare a slate of nominees for positions on the Chamber Board of Directors that will be vacant the next fiscal year. These vacancies will be announced to, and nominations accepted from, the general membership. For each vacancy, the committee will select two members in good standing from the nominations received.

• The committee consists of the Immediate Past President as Chairperson and Board sponsor, two Directors who cannot be candidates for re-election, and at least two other members selected at-large from the Chamber membership.

• The goal of the committee is to develop for these positions a slate of high quality candidates who have the desire to serve the business community in this capacity.

CANVASSING COMMITTEE
Board Sponsor and Chairperson: Doug Brabson
Meeting Time: No later than 4:00 p.m. on April 5 or the following Monday if the 5th is on a weekend.
Location: Chamber

• The purpose of the committee is to count the ballots for the Board of Directors candidates and report results to the Board of Directors.

• The committee consists of three members of the Chamber of Commerce, not to include any person who is a candidate for election or re-election.

• This meeting shall be open to the membership of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce.

AMBASSADORS
Board Sponsor: Mary Pieper
Chairperson: Mary Parra
Meeting Time: 1st Wednesday of the Month, 4 p.m.
Location: Chamber

• Conduct the Chamber membership drive at least annually or more frequently as needed.

• Educate Ambassadors and Ambassador candidates prior to any Membership Drive about the organization, function, purpose, and capabilities of the Chamber of Commerce.

• Continue a viable Membership Retention program to insure continued participation.

• Develop the Ambassadors Always Available (AAA) program to conduct visitations to community businesses three times a year.

• Conduct Goodwill Trips as appropriate.

• Provide the Official Greeting Service for the Chamber of Commerce, its committees, and the City of Alamogordo, to all visiting dignitaries as requested.

• Support the Chamber of Commerce in the organization of two Trinity Site Tours.

• Attend annual NACA (National Association of Chamber Ambassadors) conference.

• Sponsor the Junior Ambassadors Program.

• Membership in the Ambassadors is by invitation. This committee has its own rules, officers, and dues, which fully fund committee activities.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Board Sponsor: Mike Espiritu
Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday
9:00 a.m. Location: Chamber
Purpose: To provide non-dues revenue generation for the Chamber of Commerce.

• Plan and institute special events to provide non-dues income to support the program of work for the Chamber of Commerce.

• Establish and promote on-going annual events, including Stealth Classic Softball Tournament, Gus Macker Basketball Tournament, and Bennetts Amusements and Circus Chimera, Frontier Village, Balloon Invitational, Cottonwood Festival, and Christmas Parade.

BALLOON INVITATIONAL
Board Sponsor: Mike Espiritu
Chairperson:  Ed Brabson

• Coordinate Chamber assistance in publicizing and supporting the Annual White Sands Balloon Invitational.

COTTONWOOD FESTIVAL
Board Sponsor: Mike Espiritu
Chairperson: Anthony Wilson
Meeting Time: 2nd Thursday, 1:30 p.m.; March through August.
Location: Chamber

• Organize Cottonwood Arts & Crafts Festival—including live entertainment, arts & craft vendors and food vendors—held over Labor Day weekend.

CHRISTMAS PARADE
Board sponsor: Juanita Whiteside
Chairperson: CJ Cooper 

• Plan, organize, and conduct the Annual Christmas Parade.


While the Chamber of Commerce is the official sponsor, the Christmas parade is a collaborative effort between the City, Chamber members, and Holloman personnel.

FRONTIER VILLAGE
Board Sponsor: Rick Williamson
Chairperson: Roger Powell

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct the Frontier Village operation at the annual Otero County Fair, and provide liaison to the Otero County Fair Association.

EDUCATION
Board Sponsor: Connie Perusse
Chairperson: Bertha Garza
Meeting time: 3rd Thursday of each month during the school year, 3:45 p.m.
at Oregon Elementary School

• Continue the Partners in Education Program. Include all schools that serve children in our  community and businesses that are members of the Chamber.

• Continue Partners in Education Week, which includes the Partners in Education Banquet.

• Investigate other ways to further the Chamber’s involvement with the schools to enhance students’ knowledge of the business community and the skills necessary to become successful employees and business leaders.

• Youth Leadership

TOURISM
Board Sponsor: Marianne Schweers
Chairperson: Mona Fredrick
Chairperson: Mark Santiago
Meeting Time: 1st Tuesday, Noon, Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce office.
The purpose of the Tourism Committee is to expand the tourism industry in Alamogordo and Otero County and to support tourism-related attractions and businesses. The Tourism Committee meets with Rural Economic Development Through Tourism (REDTT) in order to provide a broader scope of tourism-related activities. Both groups work with the New Mexico Department of Tourism and its regional marketing board and the Tourism Association of New Mexico.

• Promotes long range plans to include tourism and recreational enhancements within the infrastructure of the local area, and investigates avenues of cooperation between the Chamber and local government to make these enhancements a reality.

• Develops and promotes avenues to assist with local tourism promotion. -sponsors periodic familiarization (“Fam”) tours; -provides information to member tourism-related businesses to assist them with community promotion; -promotes the Chamber as the focal point for individuals and organizations sponsoring tournaments, conventions, and other events. Provides promotional bags with information on the local area to these groups; -provides industry-related advice and counsel on development of a tourism-based marketing plan and advertising program.

BUSINESS IMPACT
Board Sponsor: Ed Ely
Chairperson: Dwight Harp
Meeting Time: 2nd Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.
Location: Chamber

The Business Impact Committee is an information sharing committee that meets on a monthly basis to explore issues, events and activities that have or could have an influence and impact on living, working, and even playing in the Alamogordo-Holloman AFB area. Such issues might include economic, political, social, educational issues or a combination of all.  Each month a speaker is invited to share his or her area of expertise, and the information is presented in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Such presentations often lead to related areas of discussion and committee action if required. Statistical information that might impact living and working in our area and the current calendar of events are also reviewed.

It's mission is also to provide support and networking opportunities to established and new businesses in Alamogordo through promotions, seminars, and special
events.

• Seminars: Conduct seminars and workshops and develop and provide resource and referral information.

• Special Events: Sponsor Business After Hours on a regular basis.

• Leadership Alamogordo: To oversee and provide direction to the Leadership Alamogordo course.

The Business Impact Committee also presents an award to a Chamber of Commerce Business of the Quarter and Associate Member of the Quarter from the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and welcome new members of the quarter.

• Each quarter of the year, the Beacon Committee will solicit nominations for a Business of the Quarter and Associate Member of the Quarter through the Chamber Chat and local media. Nominations are also accepted online at www.alamogordo.com.

• Each quarter the committee will nominate four businesses and one associate member from all nominations turned in during the nominating period. All nominees must be Chamber members in good standing.

• The Chamber, its Board of Directors, and the Beacon Committee will host a luncheon for the four nominated businesses and one associate member winner. The winners will be announced at the quarterly luncheon and presented a plaque acknowledging their award. Their names will go on a permanent plaque at the Chamber of Commerce. An announcement congratulating the winners will appear in the Chamber Chat. Finally, a banner will be hung at the business recognizing the “Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Business of the Quarter.” The Associate Member will receive a framed certificate.

• Each Business of the Quarter will be eligible for the “Business of the Year” award presented at the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR- 2004 Mayor Don Carroll
A recognition awarded to one individual who has made contributions to the Alamogordo community in all-around community and civic activities. That individual must have demonstrated leadership abilities as well as personal and business progress.

• Nominations are solicited from the community, Chamber members, civic organizations, and individuals.

• Nominations are not carried over from year to year.

• The Citizen of the Year is announced at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Board Sponsor and Chairperson: Bill Burt
Meeting Time: 7:30 AM
Location: Chamber

Purpose: To identify common items of interest to the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce and our community and support them in a fair, non-partisan fashion to the State Legislature.