1. Membership Survey Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Collected - February 6 to March 10, 2008
Tom Grogan
Center for Community Partnerships

2. Ever Recommend Membership?
Yes – Frequently – 23 (13.2%)
Yes – Occasionally – 45 (25.9%)
Yes – One or two times – 52 (29.9%)
No – 50 (28.7%)
Does not apply – 4 (2.3%)
N = 175 (1 did not respond)
Yes
69%

3. Rationale for Recommendation to Others
Networking opportunities
Business After Hours
Group Buying Programs
Health Insurance
Community Cohesion
Business Promotion
Educational Programs
Community Involvement
To provide support and assistance to start-ups
Builds community connections
Business voice for community issues

4. Reasons for Not Recommending Chamber
Opportunity hasn’t arisen
No reason – haven’t thought about it
Most contacts are already members
Chamber membership didn’t or hasn’t return value for me
Chamber not responsive to input
Don’t know benefits
Chamber seems to support large business
Membership is expensive

5. Satisfied With Chamber?34
22.8% 76
51.0% 26
17.4% 9
6.0% 4
2.7%
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
74% 9%
N = 149
Skipped Question = 26

6. Comments Relating to Satisfaction
Benefits of membership not always clear or felt
Provide more help to small business
Improve political effectiveness
Goals vague – saving downtown
Good leadership
More cheerleading for Oshkosh
Lack of follow-through
Organization may not represent community interests
Chamber does an excellent job
Benefits of membership unclear
Appreciate support for Education in Leadership luncheons

7. Relative Satisfaction by Program/Service
Very Satisfied
Satisfied
Neutral
Dissatisfied
Very Dissatisfied
N/A
Business After Hours
39 – 27%
66 – 45% 18 1
20 – 14%
Seminars
22 – 15%
67 – 46% 21 3
27 – 19%
Fluorescent Tube Recycling 8 24 19
86 – 59%
Office Supply Rebate 4 12 22
99 – 68%
NTD Local LD Phone 10
80 – 55%
Group Health Ins. 7 13 5
Business Insurance 2
102 – 70%
Cellcom Plan 6 28
NationJob 29
96 – 66%
~12-20% % %
51 total respondents – 35% of total
38 total respondents – 26% of total
57 total respondents – 39% of total
50 total respondents – 34% of total
37 total respondents – 26% of total
36 total respondents – 25% of total
40 total respondents – 28% of total
N = 145; Skipped question = 30

8. Key Points Members responding neutral reasonably constant (12-20%)
Business After Hours – very satisfying
Seminars – very satisfying
Participation levels for other programs drop 55-70% not responding
Two areas of concern – dissatisfaction – NTD Phone and Health Insurance

9. Program Comments Ensure adequate parking at events
Some benefit plans are unclear
Needs of large business typically not addressed through Chamber membership
Health insurance plan poses problems for many
More help for small businesses
Economic summit was excellent – more programs like this
Seminar program for sales
Support for education is crucial
More attention to downtown, culture, career education

10. More comments - Programs
Ninth Avenue development opportunities
Must change the perceptions of outsiders about what Oshkosh is
Revisit major plans on an annual basis
There are major differences of opinion (priority) regarding downtown development efforts
Oshkosh needs an identity
Tourism potential needs to be tapped
Community mindset must change to promote growth
Limited cultural opportunities
Riverfront condos
Grocery store downtown

11. Relative Priority Levels – 10-point scale
Business Development – 8.42 pts.
Economic Development – 8.35 pts.
Community Marketing / Promotion – 7.63 pts.
Small Business Initiatives – 7.36 pts.
Networking Opportunities – 7.31 pts.
Workforce Development / Recruitment – 6.85 pts.
Downtown Development – 6.63 pts.
Regional Collaboration – 6.42 pts.
Leadership Training – 6.25 pts.
Career Education / Vocational Training – 6.24 pts.
Land Use – Planning / Zoning – 5.99 pts.
Health Care – 5.96 pts.
Governmental Affairs – 5.86 pts.
Environmental Quality – 5.64 pts.
Cultural Resources – 5.36 pts.
Political Education / Motivation – 4.97 pts.
International Trade – 4.85 pts.

12. Comments Re Priorities
Political education must have broader-base discussion
Health care costs must be reduced – avoid duplication (2 hospitals)
Regional collaboration isn’t worth it
Give higher priority to workforce development
Business recruitment, development and retention can be more programmatic
Need someone to help identify candidates
Oshkosh can become a destination city
Need to figure out how to improve downtown and pedestrian-scale activities

13. High Value Programs – What’s Needed
Business Promotion efforts – need referrals
Follow-through on benefits/services
Networking / advertising
Legal updates
Focus on economic development
Educational Seminars – more focus on leadership training
Reduce health care costs
Need better insurance plan – improve membership discount programs
Salary surveys – also include nonprofit sector
Attract more tourists – work better with EAA
Continue/expand networking opportunities
Business recruitment
Economic development

14. Recommendations More visibility/marketing Small business focus
Showcase member businesses
Expand Leadership Oshkosh regionally
Need infusion of new people/ideas – see what is working in the region
Return calls
Revamp Business After Hours
Turnover in Chamber staff
Better promotion of Chamber success stories
Expand off-hour opportunities for members
Collaboration – regional governments