Chamber reports a record surplus

With a surplus of $50,626, 2010/11 is the best year Rotorua Chamber of Commerce has had.
Speaking to the chamber's Annual General Meeting at the Distinction Hotel on Thursday night, chief executive Roger Gordon said the organisation was building a comfortable buffer that would offer it confidence in the future.
"When I joined the chamber, I remember going to the bank to get a loan to pay the wages. Now we are in a position where we can have confidence the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce will never again fall into that position."
Gordon said the goal was to build a "cushion" - enough to cover the chamber's operating costs for a year and see it through any difficult periods in the future.
He thanked his staff and the executive members for their support in making 2010/11 "the best year the chamber has ever had".
"Our prompt response to the financial crisis to consider base costs of personnel and accommodation was appropriate and the chamber has again achieved a very positive financial result."
Total revenue was up from $211,582 in the previous year to $254,100, increasing the surplus from $40,309 to $50,626. That revenue comes from member sponsorships, interest, subscriptions and activities.
Gordon said the chamber's support in the community was demonstrated by the fact it had not lost a single sponsor in the past four years, despite the recession.
"They have all supported us and many have increased their contributions. We have welcomed another couple of new sponsors into our family this year."
He described breaking through the 700-member threshold as a highlight of the past year and, while membership had dropped back to 689 at the end of the financial year, it has since rebounded to 700-plus.
During the year, the chamber lost 143 members and gained 148 new members to gain slightly on the 2009/10 end total of 684.
President Michelle Pleydell said many of the resignations were businesses that had ceased trading. But despite the difficult conditions, she said the chamber had added to and improved its services to members, including the Women in Business Network and a substantial training and development programme.
The new executive for the 2011/12 year was announced at the meeting, with only two changes. Michelle Urquhart and Duncan Fletcher both stood down this year and they were replaced on the board by Rotorua District Council economic projects manager Nick Dallimore and Flying Start Childcare's Kathy Hawker.
Electronic voting, which increased member participation five-fold in last year's election, saw another increase in votes. A third of chamber members took part in the election, with 234 votes registered. This was up from a 30 per cent turnout of 211 members in 2010 and just 45 votes in 2009.
 
The 2011/12 Rotorua Chamber of Commerce executive

President: Michelle Pleydell.
Immediate past president: Christa George.
Executive:
- Nick Dallimore, Rotorua District Council.
- Aaron Gillions, The Radio Network.
- Kelly Hamlett, Talent ID.
- Kathy Hawker, Flying Start Childcare.
- Colin Patchell, Patchell Stainless.
- Steve Pinder, Westpac.
- Damien Radesic, Mainfreight.
- Margriet Theron, Voluntary Sector Governance.