I believe a corner has been turned

[ljbab728]

You are very glib -- and you almost always make great points -- but this is a particularly good turn of phrase. It's actually quite brilliant. And it speaks to the lunacy of the mistakes our current leadership is making.

I wish you would scream this at the top of your lungs to Roy Williams and Cynthia Reid and Mike Carrier and Clay Bennett and Ackerman McQueen at the next "board meeting." Of course, you won't be invited and you wouldn't be heard.

Losers.

OMG, Don't call Spartan brilliant. We won't be able to live with him.

[Spartan]

Ha! Truth.

[Pete]

Remember, the job of the Chamber is to promote the city externally and bring in new business activity.

I realize some of their actions can be seen as going beyond their bounds but you can't blame them for concentrating on the city's image; that's their entire purpose.

[LuccaBrasi]

Remember, the job of the Chamber is to promote the city externally and bring in new business activity.

I realize some of their actions can be seen as going beyond their bounds but you can't blame them for concentrating on the city's image; that's their entire purpose.

Ditto, Pete. It puzzles me all the chamber bashing that goes on in these threads because of politics. Although some bring up some good counter points from time to time over some chamber actions, I can usually read past most of the bashing and see a true lack of knowledge. If people only knew some of the facts that other participating business executives and COC members have seen, they would know better to continuously bash and name call the COC. All must remember, the chamber is made up of local businesses and the COC get's the majority of their funding from local businesses who continue to be pleased with the ROI for this city and continue to give year after year, and I'm not talking just the Devon's and CE's.

Also, I have read and seen firsthand that the OKC COC is highly respected and well respected throughout other cities including many much bigger than OKC, with much bigger budgets. The effort and strategies of the OKC COC is very well respected nationally for the work they do in promoting OKC and others are even emulating some of their practices. There are too many unseen and outstanding things they do day to day to help move this city forward. If people only knew a few of the facts about some of the behind the scenes efforts to land Boeing, Dell back in the day, new retail, non-stop flights, bioscience efforts, education, etc., they might change their tune. What the COC did on the Boeing deal alone is unbelievable. This will likely go unnoticed, but the percentage of Boeing employees offered a relocation who have opted to move to OKC is extremely high as compared to other similar situations. That comes largely, not solely, in part of the COC's efforts in flying a large contingent of local business leaders out to present facts about OKC to Boeing staff and family. I have talked to several local business leaders that went on that trip and were amazed at how the COC orchestrated that whole ordeal. I also heard first hand out of the mouth of a California Boeing executive who praised OKC COC and their efforts that helped them select OKC, not to mention the comments he received from their employees after the OKC COC came and left. Stuff like that does not go un-noticed amongst other fortune 500 execs.
As far as the momentum, I could not agree more. I just hope the political banter on both sides does not escalate to the point of becoming a Tulsa, or where severe controversy and infighting impedes momentum. We've come too far as a city, largely in part from the business and public sector often being the same page in looking to move this city forward. Although they do not always whole heartedly agree and attempt to brain wash us as many would have us believe, they find common ground because a rising tide elevates all ships. I agree good discussion is warranted, but hopefully agenda's don't become so strong and egos so big that momentum is crushed. Again, from where I stand, I have heard outsiders say that one of the reason's OKC is on so many national radars is because of our momentum, and because the public and private sector have developed a reputation for elevating the tide. It appears as if many claim that's lining certain people's pockets which is absolutely ridiculous.
Here's hoping OKC’s momentum presses onward as our city is just cracking the egg in the incubator of national prominence.

[Larry OKC]

Am reminded of the old adage "What is good for GM is good for the Country" and there is an element of truth to that.

But I am not hear to demonize the Chamber nor to praise them. The trouble for me is that sometimes the relationship between the City & Chamber is too cozy, the line distinguishing where one ends and the other begins gets blurred from time to time (i.e., the Chamber's involvement in getting various tax issues passed). The Chamber of Commerce's purpose should be solely focused on improving business (not improving the City's image). Always found it ironic that the Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit entity. The City should be responsible for improving it's own image. Don't take that to mean that I believe that both entities can have overlapping concerns at times. But they should remain separate & distinct entities and not just on paper.

Many people talk about separation of Church & State. Personally would like to see separation of City & Chamber.

[ljbab728]

I am not hear to demonize the Chamber nor to praise them. The trouble for me is that sometimes the relationship between the City & Chamber is too cozy, the line distinguishing where one ends and the other begins gets blurred from time to time (i.e., the Chamber's involvement in getting various tax issues passed). The Chamber of Commerce's purpose should be solely focused on improving business (not improving the City's image). The City should be responsible for improving it's own image. Don't take that to mean that I believe that both entities can have overlapping concerns at times. But they should remain separate & distinct entities and not just on paper.

I'm not saying you're totally wrong, Larry, but improving the City's image is part and parcel of recruiting and improving business. And that is and should be the Chamber's goal.

[LuccaBrasi]

I'm not saying you're totally wrong, Larry, but improving the City's image is part and parcel of recruiting and improving business. And that is and should be the Chamber's goal.

Correct. And as I mentioned, the COC gets their money from the business community. They have also organized and raised funds for the "Forward OKC" campaign for many years. If a majority of the business community was unhappy with the coziness of the COC and the City of OKC, they would not give their money. The COC is in the midst of Forward OKC IV at this time. See link: http://www.okcchamber.com/gateway.asp?id=12


All the money for these initiatives comes from local businesses. I learned about it many years ago when the company I worked for at the time participated, as does my present company, and neither had their pockets lined, but thought it was a matter of good business and community sense to back the forward progress of the city in general. Same holds true for organizing the MAPS elections......The COC's participation in various tax elections has sure not hurt their 4000+ business membership.


I don't understand the rationale of why any COC in any city would not be behind marketing that city's image and brand in multiple ways.....it simply equates to more business at the end of the day. There's a reason for the old saying: "This is a chamber of commerce day", pretty much anywhere you go in the USA when the sun is shining and its 72 degrees, no wind, and the birds are chirping. Most people think of a city's COC as the promotion engine of that city, therefore, they must have an understanding and relationship with the city's governing officials.

[Larry OKC]

Like I said, there can be overlapping interests for sure. The problem I see is when City leaders are involved in the Chamber, seemingly in direct conflict with the ban on the City advocating how to vote on an issue once the election date has been set. From the moment the announcement is made, there should be a complete and total "hands off" policy. One one hand, he banned citizens from advocating one way or the other during Council meetings (but I didn't see that same ban on Council members). Yet appeared and identified as "Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett" in numerous print and TV commercials, telling people to "Vote yes". Had entire episodes of the Mayor's Magazine show advocating the various MAPS 3 projects (without giving equal representation for the other side). I'm not saying that the City should actively campaign against an initiative that they want passed either, only that they should remain neutral on it (as the law requires).

Then on the flip side of it, we have seen the Chamber overly involved with the implementation of the MAPS 3 projects (i.e., the Convention Center). If the Chamber wants to control the C.C. so badly, they should have had a fund raiser from their membership and paid for it themselves, then they could have all the say in the world as to what the budget would be, site selected, time line etc etc etc.

I see this in exactly the same way I see the millionaire/billionaire owners of the Thunder wanting and getting the naming rights revenue to buildings they don't own. Want the naming rights money? Fine, build the Arena & the Practice Facility yourself, own the building and you can have all the revenue generated from it that you want.

Correct. And as I mentioned, the COC gets their money from the business community. ...

Not entirely true, they also get taxpayer money directly and indirectly from the City. From the Chamber's FAQ page of website in the link you provided:

3: Is the Chamber a government entity?
A: No, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is a non-profit corporation that operates government contracts and raises funds independently.

4: How are the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau (OKC CVB) and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber connected?
A: OKC CVB is a division of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and promotes Oklahoma City as a first-class visitor destination, while the Chamber focuses on local businesses and economic development. OKC CVB is funded by the hotel-motel tax and the City of Oklahoma City to provide convention and tourism (visitor) services. The OKC CVB can help you with meeting and convention activity - planning, promotion, housing and registration and visitor services.

Those government contracts aren't done pro bono, they are paid by the City utilizing taxpayer funds. Then there is the money coming directly from the taxpayers through the hotel-motel tax. According to the most recent City budget report, it is expected to bring in $8.5 million (split between CVB & Fairgrounds) for this year (down slightly from previous).