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Great Falls Chamber of Commerce is taking care of business

It’s been six months since Rick Bourne assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Great Falls Area Chamber of
Commerce. Tribune Business Editor Beth Britton sat down this week with Bourne to talk about recent changes at the chamber, the
chamber’s role in the city’s economic development efforts and the future of the business organization.

Q: How do you define the role of a Chamber of Commerce?

A: I think it’s very simple. I think any chamber of commerce is an organization that supports the business community. We should
represent the business community’s interests on a local, state and national level.

Q: There has been much talk of economic development in recent days in the Electric City. What do you see as being the
chamber’s role when it comes to economic development? How can a chamber help?

A: It can help in a couple of areas. First, in the retention and expansion of existing businesses. We need to ensure that we know what the
business environment is like and be a resource for the existing businesses. Second, we would like to provide more information and
statistics in collaboration with the Great Falls Development Authority. And I’m very excited to see the results of the Public Technology
Inc. study.

The chamber brought everyone together with the Community Economic Development Council, and it’s one of the best things the chamber
has done in recent years. I think it’s so refreshing that the various entities are actually sitting at the table and talking to one another. Let’s
talk, let’s get together and let’s work for the betterment of the community.

Q: You have said that one of the chamber’s major goals for the upcoming year is accreditation. Explain what it means for a
chamber to become accredited and what that means to the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce?

A: It’s an organizational thing. Being accredited will give us the direction to become a viable organization, an organization more like other
chambers in the state and nation. Accreditation will place us on the same level with other chambers. Our intent is to submit information to
a national accreditation board by early July, and then they will tell us what we need to do to with our policies, procedures and facility. I’m
hoping we’ll have that done within 12 months, but it’s a huge commitment of time and resources.

Q: How does the chamber prepare for the state’s legislative sessions, and what are some of the issues on the table this
coming year?

A: We’re doing things differently this year in preparation for the 2003 session. We have a legislative task force in place and are preparing
position papers well in advance. We used to have dinner with area legislators prior to the session, but now we want to become more
involved in the issues. We’ve been pushing to do it early so we’re not reacting at the 11th hour.

Our intent is to, in some form or fashion, have a lobbyist in Helena. We need to have a presence in Helena and react to situations.
Economic development, energy and education will probably be the big issues, and we need to be the voice of the Great Falls business
community — proactive and outspoken.

Q: At the chamber’s quarterly luncheon, you mentioned various chamber committees and task forces. What are these
committees and in what areas are they involved?

A: A non-dues committee is examining how the chamber can generate more income without increasing member dues.

The building task force is working on the issue of finding a new home for the chamber. I would like the chamber to be in a more visible
location, and I think parking is now an issue. I think the 1st Avenue North site has been functional, but it’s not conducive to the functions
of a chamber of commerce. I think there may be some opportunity to work with the city, and visibility is so important.

The chamber has other committees, including agriculture, technology and military.

Q: How long have you been involved with the chamber and what do you most enjoy?

A: This is my fourth year on the board. I had been involved in different committees since coming to Great Falls. It’s been an enjoyable
experience; there are so many positive things in this community right now. I think we have an excellent staff and board of directors.

Q: What do you think is the greatest misconception that people have about the chamber and what it does?

A: I don’t know if the community businesses understand the value that we can bring to them. We need to better promote the chamber.
Typically, we have not been very vocal and people don’t know what we’ve been doing. We need more publicity and more interaction with
members than what we’ve seen in the past.

Q: What would you say to a business owner who wonders how the chamber would benefit his or her business?

A: I think in many ways it is an intangible thing. We can, however, be a resource and a support for them. We have so many different
things, including the Bluecoats, Business After Hours, the technology committee, the Community Economic Development Council and
the quarterly luncheons.

I would ask that business owner what their expectations are and what they would like to see the chamber do. We need to work together.
We’re working on a health insurance product for small businesses, and it would be wonderful if we could come up with that. We are
moving in the right direction to create value for our members.

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