By Amy Riggin of the Commercial Staff

August 28, 2009… For the second time in two years, the Greater Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce has taken advantage of a national program to increase membership - nearly doubling in size as a result.

Michelle Rocha, co-director of the chamber, said Thursday 320 new members had joined.

“Our goal was 200 so our volunteers rock,” a clearly excited Rocha said.

Chamber connection
Before the program began this week the Chamber had a membership of about 400 after adding nearly 130 last year with the help of a company called Your Chamber Connection of Fort Worth, Texas.

About 125 volunteers, several of whom were from White Hall as well, Rocha said, gathered at Eden Park Racquet Club and Spa for a “roast and toast” event” to celebrate their efforts.

“When 100-plus volunteers come together for our community, how can people say Pine Bluff is down and out?” Rocha said. “You can’t.”

Jimmy Cusano, vice president of Your Chamber Connection, was dressed in a bright green zoot suit encouraging volunteers to “get jacked up” about their success.

“It’s about building a chamber, yes, but it’s also about the rpide and enthusiasm people have about their own town,” Cusano said. “I’m just a big cheerleader.”

His method is to get volunteers pumped up about the effort, creating teams with captains that compete against one another - but all in good fun, of course. Another reason Cusano said the program works is because it requires only a three-hour commitment from volunteers. It took some time to set up but the actual membership drive was done in only two days.

“We don’t waste anyone’s time,” he said.

Record setting
Cusano said the level of enthusiasm in Pine Bluff was record-setting in Arkansas, with the number of new members this year being the fourth highest he’s seen in the state behind Conway, Russellville and Fayetteville.

“Pine Bluff, Ark., pretty much blew it out of the water,” he said, adding, “What makes it even more special is the economy is slow.”

But Cusano, Rocha and several chamber members said the benefits outweigh the cost. Rocha said the fee is based on the number of employees a business has, starting at $235 a year for those with up to five full-time workers. Individuals can join for $150.

Door-to-door

Andy Lunsford team, Cusano said, set a national record of 102 new members. Lunsford said his team went door-to-door.

“Everyone in Jefferson County needs to come together and make our chamber of commerce as strong as it can possibly be so that we can attract new industries,” said Lunsford, a real estate agent in White Hall. “The bottom line is if we don’t do something as a county, if people keep moving away from our county, we’re all gonna lose.”

Chamber board member David Bridgforth described Your Chamber Connection as “an outstanding program” that informs local business owners of the benefits of membership.

“I think the chamber does a lot to provide a climate in our community that is conducive to doing business,” he said, specifically mentioning networking opportunities and lobbying efforts.