Chamber program being brought back
More details are soon to come on a new leadership program being put together by the Polk County Chamber of Commerce this month.
For the first time since 2013, a countywide leadership class is getting ready to launch with the idea that it will be open to just more than Chamber members.
Tuition costs are coming down for the program as well according the Development Authority of Polk County’s president Missy Kendrick, who has been helping spearhead a committee putting it into motion.
She said the committee has taken what has worked well in past leadership programs and added to it from others that have worked elsewhere to bring the leadership program back.
“We chose the modules and classes we thought would work best for Polk County,” she said.
Final details before signups can begin are being ironed out, Kendrick said, and a forthcoming announcement with more information is expected before the end of February.
The Polk County Chamber of Commerce’s board approved moving forward with implementing the program during a vote in their first meeting of 2017 on Jan. 18.
Kendrick said it would be sometime during the summer months before the program would be rolled out.
Sponsorship costs will help in deferring the tuition for those who want to participate in the leadership program said 2017 Chamber board chair Britt Madden Jr.
Policy for Homespun
cancellations
A new policy for how to handle cancellations of vendors for the annual Homespun Festival was tabled to clarify the language, though the intent is clear: there will be no refunds if cancellations aren’t received within 60 days of reserving a spot.
Hudson asked for the new policy to be approved by the Chamber board during their January meeting ahead of signups set to start soon for the annual festival to end confusion on how to handle those who have to pull out at the last minute.
“We do not need to refund for cancellations,” she said. “We have to be able to plan since this is part of our operating budget.”
But she understands that the unexpected sometimes happens, and wants to accommodate vendors when possible.
So long as cancellations are made in writing within 60 days — preferably by e-mail — a credit is given for the following year’s Homespun Festival based on the new plan.
Weather won’t be a good reason anymore for vendors to cancel last minute.
Credits for vendors who have to cancel last minute would only be good for a year.
So if last minute issues come up for a business who wants to participate in Homespun in 2017, their vendor space credit would only be good until 2018.
The policy tabled also allows for vendors, after they are approved by the Chamber staff, to allow another of their choosing to use the credit for the space as well.
Board member Cody Nichols asked that the wording be clarified since there was confusion over how that policy of allowing a second to use the space would work.
“I agree we should have a policy, but I think it needs some clarification,” he said.
All agreed to meet sooner than the planned board meeting in March to approve a revised policy that cleared up the language in a to-be-scheduled February session.
The policy is meant to mirror other festivals around Northwest Georgia who have a similar vendor cancellation agreement in place.
It’s rare, Hudson said, but vendors sometimes run into unforeseen issues and have to call off coming to the festival.
She said typically there is no is- sue finding someone else to take the place of a vendor pulling out if they do so early, but can be difficult if they do it later.
The July festival in downtown Rockmart is the Chamber’s largest fundraiser annually, accounting for a good portion of their operating budget.
It annually brings in on average between $ 17,500 to $ 19,000 in funds.
There was no policy for cancellations in place prior to the creation of this new language, Madden said.
Chamber board OK with going for Drugs Don’t Work program
A new resource Hudson wants to bring to the Chamber will give Polk County businesses large and small a program an option for keeping their workplaces drug free.
Hudson asked the board to allow her to pursue going after a grant and resources to help businesses take part in the Drugs Don’t Work program, which was started in 1993.
Taking part in a training class and getting access to resources will be the first stage of getting involved in the Drugs Don’t Work program for businesses, but there’s also a small grant that will be available in 2021 after the Chamber gets on a list to participate.
Though many businesses will already have a drug policy in place, Hudson said, the idea is to get small businesses involved and show industries interested in coming to Polk County they take keeping drugs out of the workplace seriously.
Participating in the Drugs Don’t Work program doesn’t require a stringent policy requiring random testing, but helps businesses become eligible for benefits for being a part of it, especially from insurance providers.
Simply providing materials and resources also cost nothing for the Chamber to get involved.
Board members approved the measure to move forward on getting involved in the program.