Regarding the Chamber and Grove Bucks
This letter is in response to the story "Lots of talk about Grove Bucks; who controls them?"
It seems the information you obtained led you to jump to the wrong conclusion regarding the Grove Bucks as it pertains to the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. I am not sure where you got the information but my aim here is facilitate your jumping to the right conclusion.
First off, the idea for using Grove Bucks for Taste was raised by Chamber Board Member Felice Dubin, who also happens to be Co-chair of the Merchants Group. Her suggestion was to have the "bucks" take the place of tickets regularly used at the Taste event so that "leftover" bucks could then also be used to purchase merchandise in downtown Grove stores.
Normally, the Chamber purchases pre-printed, individually numbered tickets from a company specializing in customized tickets. The tickets are then sold at the Taste event itself and exchanged for food and drink at the booths of participants, to be redeemed later by the Chamber, with a portion going to the Chamber's fundraising efforts.
The matter was discussed and the deciding factor was a purely practical one: the cost of printing the Grove Bucks in 2 denominations, in full color, and at such great quantities as needed for the event would be phenomenal, especially as each buck requires individual numeration, which is an additional, expensive cost.
It has gotten increasingly harder each year to raise the funds it actually takes to put on these events. As you know, many of the fees which were waived by the city in the past cannot be counted on for Taste and other events. An expense of this magnitude is not feasible.
In the past, the Merchants Group has printed their own bucks in small quantities and these are then given out as promotional coupons which then are redeemed by the BID through prior arrangement with the Merchants Group. Therefore it makes sense to not mix the two currencies, and continue as already established.
That cleared, it is important to address the opinion in the blog that , "The Chamber wants to make money from every deal, rather than try to promote the Grove businesses, the Chamber is constantly on the prowl for ways to make money."
Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce exists solely to promote the businesses and commerce of its loyal membership, the bulk of which is in, but not limited to, Coconut Grove. To operate as it has done for more than half a century, the Chamber cannot subsist on membership dues alone, and additional funds are raised through such signature events as Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival, and 4th of July Fireworks, which also greatly promote Coconut Grove itself, to the benefit of all its businesses, including those which are not members of the Chamber. The funds the Chamber raises allow us to continue to promote and grow our membership, and encourage businesses to work with, and do business with each other. The board is a working board, actively participating in committees and volunteering their time and professional capabilities for the good of the Chamber mission to its membership.
It makes sense for Grove businesses, especially restaurants and merchants, which have the most to gain, to support the Chamber's efforts by joining the Chamber and contributing to the strength and welfare of all our businesses as a whole. For as little as $250 a year, (68 cents a day!), which is considerably less than most South Florida Chambers' dues, a merchant or business could join the Chamber and thus take advantage of opportunities that could help grow their business, by using our networking, our ridiculously cheap eblast services, our website and its bulletin board, showcasing member businesses completely free, in the pages of Biscayne Bay Tribune on a regular monthly basis, and the opportunity to be a part of an organization that has been in existence for over 50 years.
Best regards,
Liliana Dones
Past President (2008-09)
and Chamber member since 2003
First off, the idea for using Grove Bucks for Taste was raised by Chamber Board Member Felice Dubin, who also happens to be Co-chair of the Merchants Group. Her suggestion was to have the "bucks" take the place of tickets regularly used at the Taste event so that "leftover" bucks could then also be used to purchase merchandise in downtown Grove stores.
Normally, the Chamber purchases pre-printed, individually numbered tickets from a company specializing in customized tickets. The tickets are then sold at the Taste event itself and exchanged for food and drink at the booths of participants, to be redeemed later by the Chamber, with a portion going to the Chamber's fundraising efforts.
The matter was discussed and the deciding factor was a purely practical one: the cost of printing the Grove Bucks in 2 denominations, in full color, and at such great quantities as needed for the event would be phenomenal, especially as each buck requires individual numeration, which is an additional, expensive cost.
It has gotten increasingly harder each year to raise the funds it actually takes to put on these events. As you know, many of the fees which were waived by the city in the past cannot be counted on for Taste and other events. An expense of this magnitude is not feasible.
In the past, the Merchants Group has printed their own bucks in small quantities and these are then given out as promotional coupons which then are redeemed by the BID through prior arrangement with the Merchants Group. Therefore it makes sense to not mix the two currencies, and continue as already established.
That cleared, it is important to address the opinion in the blog that , "The Chamber wants to make money from every deal, rather than try to promote the Grove businesses, the Chamber is constantly on the prowl for ways to make money."
Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce exists solely to promote the businesses and commerce of its loyal membership, the bulk of which is in, but not limited to, Coconut Grove. To operate as it has done for more than half a century, the Chamber cannot subsist on membership dues alone, and additional funds are raised through such signature events as Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival, and 4th of July Fireworks, which also greatly promote Coconut Grove itself, to the benefit of all its businesses, including those which are not members of the Chamber. The funds the Chamber raises allow us to continue to promote and grow our membership, and encourage businesses to work with, and do business with each other. The board is a working board, actively participating in committees and volunteering their time and professional capabilities for the good of the Chamber mission to its membership.
It makes sense for Grove businesses, especially restaurants and merchants, which have the most to gain, to support the Chamber's efforts by joining the Chamber and contributing to the strength and welfare of all our businesses as a whole. For as little as $250 a year, (68 cents a day!), which is considerably less than most South Florida Chambers' dues, a merchant or business could join the Chamber and thus take advantage of opportunities that could help grow their business, by using our networking, our ridiculously cheap eblast services, our website and its bulletin board, showcasing member businesses completely free, in the pages of Biscayne Bay Tribune on a regular monthly basis, and the opportunity to be a part of an organization that has been in existence for over 50 years.
Best regards,
Liliana Dones
Past President (2008-09)
and Chamber member since 2003
posted by Tom Falco at 11:00 AM
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