MWCOC Committees: Get Involved!

Maximize Your Membership!

Members are invited and encouraged to participate in one or more of the Chamber's committees. Your opinions and ideas are essential for the Chamber’s development.

Members may want to consider joining a committee that they not only enjoy but, in an area where they have a level of expertise. However, another option is to consider joining a committee that targets a skill set that you would like to develop or improve – now that’s maximizing your involvement!

Committee work is a pleasant experience that allows you to develop close relationships with other area business people. Another level of networking, working on a committee shows off your talents to fellow Chamber members and increases your visibility in the community. Participating on a committee can lead to consideration for a Board of Directors appointment.

Your participation at this level increases leadership skills, gains you a level of credibility in the business community and builds lasting relationships. You add to your resume: leadership, volunteerism, community involvement, event organization, marketing and other skills that are important for all businesses.

So, in order to really maximize your membership, consider volunteering on a committee for increased visibility, business development, leadership and shaping the direction of your chamber. Get involved!

Professional Women's Network

The mission of the Professional Women's Network is to provide mutual support for business women who strive to educate, mentor and facilitate professional growth.

The steering committee meets monthly to organize events and activities for the Professional Women's Network.

Act as hosts for Chamber meetings and events, welcome new members to the Chamber, and provide valuable input to the Board of Directors and Chamber staff concerning member interests and needs. Morning meetings are held once a month at area business locations.

Ambassadors are expected to:
Participate in monthly meetings
Ensure that the Ambassadors are represented at events
Contact new members about events and their membership
Produce the quarterly program: The Value of Membership

The committee chair is Armand Diarbekirian

Marketing

Define the Chamber’s Brand Positioning, evaluating marketing materials and make recommendations that enhance the Chamber’s ability to educate and inform Chamber members and the community.

Marketing members should be prepared to:

Attend scheduled monthly morning meetings
Develop an annual marketing plan for the Chamber
Review web site content for necessary edits
Develop message for all PR, events, web content, and Chamber literature

The chair of the Marketing Committee is Lou Genovese

Membership

Help promote the programs, services and activities of the Chamber to increase participation among current members thereby improving the retention levels year-over-year.

Create a methodology to regularly communicate with members.

Legislative/Public Affairs

Analyze emerging issues to determine their impact on business, monitor important local and state legislative and regulatory proposals, review local government activities, maintain open exchanges with decision makers in all levels of government, and plan appropriate membership notifications and responses.

Members on this committee should be prepared to:

Attend scheduled meetings
Participate in town meetings – when appropriate
Prepare an annual legislative program for the membership
Report to the Chamber on issues affecting local businesses

School Business Partnership

Work with the Acton school officials to plan and implement the very successful Job Shadow Week each year, help publish a resource registry, and be involved in projects that create awareness of how school learning applies in the workplace.

Committee members will also work towards:

Development of the Chamber’s scholarship program
Development of a Chamber resource registry that benefits all area schools and businesses
Assist with practice interviews at the schools when needed
Building relationships with all service town schools to develop programs beneficial to the student population and the businesses in our towns

More on the School Business Partnership

Awards Dinner

Plan the Chamber's premier annual event: An Evening with the Stars!

Beginning each summer, meeting planning involves: soliciting sponsors for this event which draws close to 200 participants each year for the dinner/dance, promoting the nomination process for the 8-10 awards, promoting silent auction participation and collecting the donations, and overseeing event details such as site selection, entertainment, menu, theme and more. Meetings are often twice a month from August through December.

Volunteers on this committee also oversee the actual event from set up through clean up. This fun and dynamic committee offers high visibility and diverse event planning coordination. Join this committee to offer your expertise, develop your sales and marketing skill set, or work on event management through a highly successful program.

The chair of this committee is Shawn Linehan.

Oktoberfest 5K Run/Walk

Plan and orchestrate the annual road race in conjunction with and to kick-off the West Acton Oktoberfest. Planning meetings begin each spring to secure sponsorships, prizes, advertising, volunteer worker activities, and race participant registration efforts. Volunteers are expected to not only participate in the planning of this event but, also the set up the day before and race day execution.

The Oktoberfest 5K became an area fundraiser in 2008 when an Affiliation Program was developed offering money back to any area non-profit that would advertise and send us registered runners in their name. The program took-off fast and in the first year had over 28 affiliated organizations earning over $2,000.

THe committee also solicits area non-profits to use the race as a fundraiser through the Chamber Affiliation opportunity.

The committee chair is Amy Kinne, Especially for Pets