Chamber FAQs

Thank you for your interest in joining the Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce! The work we do not only promotes our local community and city, but the Colorado County community. The Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization that has been helping Colorado County grow since 1987. And while we have gone through ups and downs over the years, our purpose has not changed. Currently, we have more than 100 members, including businesses, organizations, and individuals. Anyone who has an interest and desire in growing our community is welcome!

  • What is a Chamber of Commerce?

    A Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer organization of a city's business community. It unites business and professional individuals and firms, creating a central organization that lends itself to improving business and building a better community. Although Chamber of Commerce members are predominantly the members of the business community, there is a place in the Chamber for everyone who shares the desire to improve the community.

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    The Chamber organizes and directs the energies of those who believe that a community worth living in is a community worth improving. The strength of the organization lies in attracting the greatest number of individuals creating a pool of resources such as ideas, energy, and finances.

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    The major responsibility of a Chamber of Commerce is the community’s economic wellbeing. It works to increase wealth and prosperity by facilitating the growth of existing

  • What are the Chamber’s goals?

    The Weimar Area Chamber’s mission is to encourage a culture of business and community coming together in partnership, understanding that our success is measured by the economic vitality of our community.

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    We encourage local businesses to work in cooperation and collaboration as a whole. We work to advance the public awareness of issues important to the business community and are the conduit between government and business.

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    We understand all businesses make up a community and Chamber members will receive all of the assistance and support that the Chamber can offer.

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    Another focus of the Chamber is to promote tourism. Done successfully, tourism drives economic growth. A successful business community is more than the number of store fronts. It a group of positive, forward-thinking individuals and businesses motivated to share that drive with others..


    The Chamber is an organization that creates an avenue for increased tourism, participation in community events, collaboration with others with a business-centric attitude, and networking opportunities. Quite simply, the Chamber brings people together and invites others to come see why Weimar is open for business.

  • What's included in a Chamber membership?

    Committees:

    The Chamber has several committees that provide an organized voice for the Weimar Area business community.

    -Board of Directors

    -Events Committee (per event)

    -Fundraising


    Events:

    Not only does the Chamber execute regularly scheduled events, like Weimar’s Down Home Christmas and Chamber Business And Social Hour (BASH), it also helps plan community-wide events such as Gedenke! and the annual Lighted Christmas Parade.


    Website Exposure:

    Web presence has evolved into being one of the single most important avenues for a Chamber of Commerce. It is often the first impression a visitor has of our community. Being a member of the Chamber allows your business contact information to be displayed on our website under “Member Directory.” We are working to offer advertising opportunities in the near future.


    Chamber Communications:

    The Chamber publishes a monthly e-newsletter and regular updates on Facebook. The e-newsletter contains important information regarding Chamber events and news, includes a shortened version of the online calendar, and offers advertising opportunities.


    Visitors Center Information:

    Chamber members have the opportunity to display advertising flyers and/or business cards in the Visitors Center (Chamber office).

  • What are the benefits of membership?

    -Administrative help from Chamber staff

    -Business advocacy

    -Networking at Chamber events

    -Ground Breaking/Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

    -Chamber Website presence

    -Chamber newsletter presence and information

    -Chamber membership list (available to members only)

    -Chamber membership sign to display at your business

    -Brochure display in Visitors Center

    -Advertising and sponsorship opportunities

    -Community support through events and Information

  • How much does it cost to join the Chamber?

    The Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce strives to offer affordable membership fees. In fact, the Weimar Chamber has some of the lowest membership fees in the tri-county area.


    -Businesses (10+ employees): $225

    -Businesses (4-9 employees): $175

    -Businesses (1-3 employees): $125

    (Count 2 part-time employees as 1 full-time employee)

    -Civic/Church/Nonprofit Organization: $100

    -Individual or Couple Membership: $100

When you become a member of the Chamber:

We give you a voice via our various committees and the small business advocacy role the Chamber plays in local, regional, and state government.


We keep you informed with our monthly newsletter, social media updates, and online calendar.


We provide tools to help your business succeed through our networking events, business referrals, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities.


We drive quality of life with the non-tangible work we do for our members and our community. Our office is one of the first places visitors and locals come to for information. We can’t say we know everything; but it is our job to know who does!


Most importantly, as a member, ownership of the Chamber starts with you. We encourage input regarding the organization and how to make it THE organization to be a part of!

Get involved on a Chamber Committee:

Chamber Board of Directors
The Board of Directors makes decisions for the Chamber regarding policy, establishes an annual budget and program of work, elects the officers of the Chamber, and hires the Executive Director.

Event Committee (per event)
The Chamber puts on different events throughout the year. For each one of these events, an Event Committee is created from both the Chamber Board and Chamber members. Volunteers make the event a success. Tasks include making phone calls, securing equipment and vendors, recruiting additional volunteers, setting up, cleaning up and taking down the event, as well as working with the public in a cheerful and helpful manner. We appreciate all the help we receive!

Fundraising
The Weimar Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) non-profit. We run exclusively on memberships and donations. In order to better serve our members, fundraising is essential. The Fundraising committee is responsible for organizing and executing fundraising events so the Chamber can better serve you!