Retail/Small Business Purpose: To serve business owners and managers through programs and services that will assist them in growing their business. Annette Duncan - Chair Person - Business Women's Luncheon Billy Roy - Chair Person - Shop Arab For Education Holli Smith - Chair Person - Ribbon Cutting Continue: To sponsor the Northeast Alabama Small Business Development monthly counseling sessions. To focus on attracting diversity within the business community. To offer counseling advice to those individuals looking to open businesses and to provide Grand Opening services to them. To sponsor Shop at Home campaigns with local merchants and the Arab City School System. To sponsor the Business Women's Luncheon, held in conjunction with National Secretary's Day. Provide quarterly seminars for members on issues that will assist them in competing and growing their businesses. To provide demographical information to those interested in business opportunities in the Arab area. Attempt to communicate with local businesses upcoming events that will have significant economic impact on the area so that they might be prepared. To encourage and promote all area residents to utilize Chamber members businesses.

Membership Purpose: To promote the chamber to prospective members and develop a strong program thereby reducing our non-renewal rates and securing financial stability for the chamber. Billy Roy - Chair Person Continue: To hold annual membership drives, canvassing the community for prospective members to increase our total penetration. To be in contact and visit members to discuss ideas and concerns. Enhance the program for systematic contact of delayed renewals including more involvement from Board of Directors. To publish the Chamber Update newsletter six times yearly to keep memebers informed on events and happenings. To hold Early Morning Coffees nine times yearly to encourage and promote networking between members and keep them informed on issues that may have an impact on their economic future. To recognize individual Chamber members with our Business of the Month program whereby they are given heightened exposure and visibility in the community. To sponsor the annual Circle of Excellence Business Award at the annual banquet honoring a Chamber member for excellence in business service to the community. To utilize the Chamber email and fax program to stay in contact with members and keep them abreast of current happenings. To maintain and update the Chamber's website thereby creating and enhancing our presence on the World Wide Web. To monitor governmental and business issues on a city, state and national level to ensure that members are informed on matters that are pertinent. The outreach of the Chamber to our members through the Ambassador program. Our presence in the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the U.S. Chamber and the Business Council of Alabama.

Newcomer/Community Development Purpose: To promote the positive aspects of Arab. To support and assist with community enhancement projects. Don Bradford - Chair Person Newcomer: Continue: To respond to inquiries and request for information for those looking to relocate to Arab. Partnerships with the Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the North Alabama Tourism Association and the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel in efforts to promote Arab as a wonderful place to live, work and play. Maintain brochure racks with information about Arab, North Alabama and members businesses and continue to provide these brochures to the agencies that distribute them statewide. Develop an in-house brochure and CD showcasing Arab and that can be included in newcomer packets sent out to prospective residents or those looking to bring business to Arab. Community Development: Continue: The outreach of the chamber by co-hosting with the Health Occupations Students from Arab High School, a Golden Age Senior Prom. To sponsor the annual Community Fair. To sponsor the annual Christmas Parade. To partner with the City of Arab in sponsoring the annual Christmas in the Park Celebration. To recognize the Outstanding Citizen of Achievement. To co-sponsor with Wal Mart and any others wishing to participate the Fishing Derby for children.

Member to Member Connection (M2MConnect) Purpose: To provide awareness to our memebers of goods and services that can be obtained locally, so that we help each other grow our own businesses. Highlight a different sector of our membership each month - giving them special recognition at the monthly Early Morning Coffee meetings giving them an opportunity to talk about their businesses and what goods and services they offer. Also providing special recognition each month in the monthly column that the Chamber has in the Arab Tribune. Special recognition n the Chamber Update newsletter. Providing membership listings that are categorized to make it easier for members to find what they are looking for from other members. Encouraging our membership to shop Chamber members first, thereby providing the Member to Member Connection.

Organization Purpose: To support and enhance the overal performance of the Chamber. Lana Hawkins - Chair Person - By-Laws Review and revise the Policies and Procedures manual for Chamber operations to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Review the Chamber's By-Laws to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Conduct the annual Board of Director's retreat and planning conference. Conduct the annual Banquet and business meetings to continue awareness of Chamber functions. Review dues structure to ensure fair share of payments. Obtain Alabama Chamber of Excellence certification.