Sedona Chamber – In the community, for the community
THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE RED ROCK NEWS
September 30, 2022
The Sedona Chamber and the League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona are hosting the next Mayoral Candidate Forum. On Wednesday, October 12 you can hear directly from Scott Jablow and Samaire Armstrong. The event will take place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road from 6:30 – 8 p.m. For details go to SedonaChamberEvents.com.
Two events, one early this week and another this weekend, typify the meaning of the Chamber being “in the community, for the community.”
On Tuesday, our “Meet the Chamber” event at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre brought Sedonans together. As attendees made new, personal connections with our staff, I watched eyes light up. Did you know that Chamber employees include people who have raised children in Sedona or have family operating a small business in town? Some staffers have had illustrious professional careers in Red Rock Country before joining the Chamber. In contrast, others are relatively new and still thanking their lucky stars they discovered Sedona or joined us from another country and cultural background. Others are long-time Sedonans who bring years of local knowledge that help inform our policies.
It was a day when new relationships were formed and reminded me that while we are “in the community, for the community,” we are also of the community.
I look forward to this Sunday’s annual Volunteer Appreciation event, my first since becoming President and CEO of the Chamber this spring. As a nonprofit membership organization, we rely on more than one hundred volunteers to make our operations possible. We couldn’t function without them.
For example, volunteers are at the heart of our Uptown Visitor Center, which is at the heart of our visitor education strategy. Visitors always receive a friendly and informative welcome about responsibly interacting with our environment and small-town lifestyle. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we operate the Center seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Sunday, we will celebrate all that our volunteers do for the Chamber and, by extension, Sedona, including our Board of Directors who volunteer their valuable time and expertise. I am excited to acknowledge those receiving service awards and the announcement of the highly prized “Volunteer of the Year.”
Chamber events are popping up one after another over the next few weeks. Members won’t want to miss “Harness the Power of Social Media” on October 5 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre from 8:30 – 10 a.m. Hosted by Social Media Manager and Content Creator Eric Nguyen, this workshop offers expert advice on building a social media presence that creates buzz and impacts your bottom line. Thank you to our host APS. Register for this and all our upcoming events at SedonaChamberEvents.com.
October 6 brings our Partner Benefit Review, a 9 a.m. online session with Partner Services Director Erin Bruce. We offer so many critical services we need to set aside time to be sure partners take advantage of all their membership benefits. Please register in advance at SedonaChamberEvents.com.
On October 12, the SCC&TB’s Annual Partner Meeting comes to the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, starting with a continental breakfast and networking. Members will gather for presentations, awards and recognition, and an update on our FY23 plans. Special Keynote Speaker Jim Rounds, statewide economic expert and consultant and a Community Leaders Panel will engage and inspire. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., and presentations begin at 8 a.m. Partners, please register in advance. SedonaChamberAnnualMeeting.com.
That evening we co-host a forum with Sedona’s mayoral candidates Samaire Armstrong and Scott Jablow at the Sedona Performing Arts Center at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road. Moderated by the League of Women Voters of Northern Arizona, the event is your chance to hear directly from the candidates — all part of our commitment to community service.
There is much more happening during a busy October. I hope to see you at some [or all] of our events. Get all the details at SedonaChamberEvents.com.
–Michelle Conway, President/CEO
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau