The Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce recently held their regular monthly member meeting, the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Les Pates et Les Nouilles.
The dozen members in attendance gathered to discuss the summer season in Cazenovia, suggest ways to continue the successful trend into fall and winter, as well as sample complimentary hors d’oeuvres supplied by the restaurant’s owner, Wilson Jonn.
GCACC President Gene Gissin spoke to the crowd about highlighting companies outside of the Historic Cazenovia Business District and igniting a stronger sense of involvement among the more than 320 chamber members.
“I’m asking for all of your support, because the chamber is continuing to make this a better community. Our summer concert series, Caz Crusin’, Forth of July festivities and the other annual events we sponsor enhance Cazenovia,” he said. “We have to figure out better ways for our businesses to survive, and we need to keep re-thinking how we do business. Things aren’t like they were 40 years ago, or even 10 years ago.”
Gissin stressed the chamber’s current need for volunteers, both to populate the organization’s committees and to man the chamber office, located at 59 Albany St.
Hoping not to raise dues in order to pay a full-time employee to occupy the office, he asked attendees to considering volunteering a small amount of their time, to benefit the organization as a whole. Members suggested employing the help of local students to cover hours when the chamber office is empty. An internship with the GCACC would enhance a Cazenovia College business-student’s resume, and helping out once a month would slowly cut down high school students’ required community service hours.
As about only two-percent of chamber members showed up to the September meeting, Gissin also asked the business owners how they suggest increasing involvement. With board elections quickly approaching, the chamber needs three members to fill vacant seats.
During the meeting, Gissin applauded the work of CNY Web Designs owner Larry Wilcox and chamber accountant George Schaffner, on their improvements to the GCACC website and also discussed upcoming developments within the organization.
Recent visitors to cazenoviachamber.com may have noticed the organizations’ new designs, hyperlinks and comprehensive events calendar. In the coming months, site-surfers will be able to access their own virtual “shopping carts” and purchase Cazenovia-themed merchandise, as well as gift certificates to local businesses.
Gissin also discussed reaching out to members of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce, in efforts to further establish Cazenovia as destination along Route 20. Instead of viewing the many similarities of the nearby lake-community as competition, Gissin wants to entice weekend tourists to visit both municipalities on their exploration through Central New York.
More information on the GCACC can be found in their downtown location, at 59 Albany St. or their website, cazenoviachamber.com. To learn more about the organization and their contributions to Cazenovia’s economy, call 655-9243 or email [email protected].
Pierce Smith is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at 434-8889 ext. 338, or [email protected].
