Page 31 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

QUESTIONS FOR

GSBA increased its fundraising goals
to $200,000, including an additional 21ST-CENTURY
$50,000 donation from Comcast.
“It’s still a drop in the bucket, but it
is a start,” Rosén said. “We know every CHAMBERS
business we help also uplifts a family
and a community.”
These programs, implemented
quickly but designed with a deep 1 What role is our organization playing for our community?
understanding of what their constituents
need, are a testament to how well
the Ocala CEP and GSBA know their 2 What role do corporations and the greater business community
respective members. And how prepared serve?
each team is to meet those needs.
Building a strong, inclusive business 3 What major industries and employers are represented in our area?
organization that serves members and
partners effectively in times of crisis as
well as in times of prosperity requires 4 What major industries and employers do we want to attract to the
a shift in mindset from the networking area?
and social affairs of the last century. To
achieve this, the Ocala CEP and GSBA 5 What are our members/partners expecting from our organization?
What should they expect from our organization?
put the focus on what the business
community they serve needs to succeed.
[see sideBAr] 6 Where is the greatest economic development need in the
community? How can we address the need?
BUILDING A BUSINESS Is our organization inclusive?
PIPELINE 7

Strong communities need strong
local businesses and local leaders. 8 How are the needs of the diverse business community being
Strong leaders and businesses need an addressed within our organization?
environment that nurtures and supports
development and growth. 9 How are we developing talent and entrepreneurship?
Early in its history, GSBA leaders
identified a lack of financial and
educational support as a serious obstacle 10 How are we helping our small business community with Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion?
to success for the LGBTQ community
in Seattle. The organization set about What services are best served by the traditional chamber of
building those supports through 11 commerce and what services are niche and best delivered by an
scholarships and leadership training. affinity chamber or organization?
“The Scholarship Fund was created
by two educators who saw the need to 12 Do we need partnerships or affiliations with other organizations
support LGBTQ students who had very to ensure services for our members?
little familial support at a time when no
other such scholarship program existed 13 Does it make sense to have an overlap in services provided by
in the country,” said Rosén. affinity chambers (or organizations) and traditional chambers of
The scholarship is renewable for up commerce (or Economic Development organizations)?

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