There are a few different things on the landscape of chamber discussion these days — the first would be the upcoming Membership Expansion event scheduled to take place Oct. 22 and 23.

With a team of dynamic coaches in line, I am confident we will reach our goal of 100 new members within this two-day period.

We are building a target list and will be personally reaching out to any business in the three-parish area that is currently not a member of the Chamber.

I want to thank the following folks for stepping up as coach of this effort: James Wagner, Butch Ockman, Brian Greffanius, Flo Dumas, Doug Rhodes, Jackie McCreary and Rhonda Louque. These coaches will be seeking out Team captains for their teams.

If you are interested in being a part of this event, contact us at 985-359-9777.

As we prepare to recruit new Board members for the next term, the words “Young Professional Group” keeps popping up. As an organization, we try to stay cognizant to the horizon at hand, which knows to expect about 35 percent of our workforce to retire in the next five years.

Then what?

As a chamber, we sit down annually to look at whose term is expiring and who is there to fill the seat, paying close attention to making sure the right people are at the table. Meaning, does this prospective board member have the authority to vote on issues on behalf of their company?

Do they have that authority to either support or not support a particular issue the chamber has been asked to take on?

Chambers everywhere have had these groups for a few years now. We asked members a while back how they felt about a YPG and if they would support it, but the response was very low. So, in realizing that future new business leaders are evolving from the younger generations, we have to ask ourselves, are we missing something?

And what exactly do we classify as “young professional.” Most chambers have an age criteria (example under 40 yrs). The criteria for us would need to be designed, but we are open to your ideas!

Are YOU a young professional in the River Parishes that would like to be a part of a group that networks with other young professionals routinely throughout the year? If so, contact us at the Chamber.

We would love to hear your ideas.

Chassity McComack is executive director of the River Region Chamber of Commerce. Email her at Chassity@riverregionchamber.org or log onto riverregionchamber.org.