Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce

Letter from the Chairman  |  What is the Chamber?  |  Mission Statement
Staff  |  What is the Chamber’s Purpose?  |  How is the Chamber Financed?
General Objectives  |  How Does The Chamber Work?  |  Membership Benefits
Commerce Circle

Dear Chamber Investor

We are so fortunate to live and work in southwest Oklahoma.
Thanks to the tremendous effort of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber staff, board of directors and volunteers, the Chamber is leading the way to enhance the quality of life and create economic opportunities throughout our region.

The collaborate efforts of the Chamber, City of Lawton, Fort Sill, Comanche County Industrial Development Authority, Cameron University, Lawton Public Schools, and Great Plains Technology Center, to name a few, are a model of a public and private partnership working in unison for the good of the community. We have witnessed this collaboration time and time again. The most visible accomplishments have been the BRAC initiative, the addition of non-stop jet service linking Atlanta and Lawton, the Downtown Redevelopment Project, and the generosity of Lawton citizens in the passage of a $100 million and $30 million bonds for infrastructure (streets, water plants), and public school support, respectively.

One is often reminded of our good fortune in recent headlines printed in The Lawton Constitution such as Boom Town; Economic Outlook Good; Paths of Progress; and Lawton Fort Sill – It’s a Good Place to Be. I could not agree more. City officials indicate they have identified 5,600 single/multi family units that are being submitted or in the approval phase for permitting. Commercial developers continue to invest in feasibility studies and report that we will experience significant retail growth.

My goal and vision is to continue the collaboration of partnerships that has been established – thanks in large part to the leadership of those that came before me. We must embrace and create a seat at the table for our neighboring communities of Elgin, Cache, Duncan, Frederick and Altus. In addition, we must continue to support our city officials, public school administrators, and higher education leadership, as their needs grow and resources become more challenged. Last and most importantly, we must ensure our future with regards to military and government relations as it pertains to Fort Sill, soldiers, and their families.

The Lawton-Fort Sill community is indeed on the move, we encourage you to join the ride! As a Chamber investor, I encourage you to get involved. We need your time, talent and input more than ever. Call the Chamber office today at (580) 355-3541.
I look forward to working with you over this next year.

David Madigan, Chairman
Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce

What is the Chamber?

The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of area businesses, professional people, organizations and interested citizens who have joined together and are investing their time and money in programs to improve the economic, civic and cultural well being of the Lawton-Fort Sill community.

We are not a department of the city, county or state government; a political body; a civic club or professional society; a social service agency or charitable institution; or a private advertising, publicity or public relations agency. However, we do collaborate with these various entities in our efforts to improve the quality of life of the Lawton-Fort Sill region, as well as enhance the local business climate and build a strong economy to benefit both residents and businesses. The Chamber is a community problem solver that is a proponent of reason, cooperation and constructive improvements in our city. Membership in the Chamber is an investment in your business and the city’s growth.

The Chamber enables its members to accomplish collectively what others cannot do individually. Our strengths lie in attracting the greatest number of firms and individuals into the membership to create a pool of resources. The Chamber exists because of the needs of the business community. The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing quality services for our members.

Staff

Dana D. Davis, President and CEO
Shelia O. Lee, CCE, Executive Vice President
Jennifer Holloway, Membership Director
Joslyn Wood, Government and Military Affairs Director
Sharleen Gehers, Special Projects Manager
Shannon Yarbrough, Executive Assistant
Josh Cranston, Economic Development Assistant

What is the Chamber’s Purpose?

The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber will –

• Aggressively seek out and contact prospective new industries and manufacturers, promote and assist in the expansion of existing industries, and in general, act as the catalyst for industrial development in the area.
• Provide strong business community leadership to achieve objectives relating to growth, development and public well being that are common to the business community, the Lawton region and its citizens.
• Promote and advance the business, commercial, economic, financial, professional, cultural, educational and civic welfare of the Lawton-Fort Sill region, its trade territory, its civic neighbors and environs.
• Foster, maintain and preserve a friendly, personal and business relationship with the Fort Sill community, and exert all possible efforts to sustain the growth, expansion and interests of the installation.
• Promote economic programs to strengthen and expand the income potential of all members, promote programs of a civic, social and cultural nature which will increase the functional and esthetic values of the community, and discover means to enhance business expansion and community growth.

How is the Chamber Financed?

The Chamber is primarily financed by the investment of its members and through a contract with the City of Lawton whereby the hotel/motel tax is utilized to support economic and tourism development. The support of businesses and professionals in the community is essential to finance Chamber programs, which are vital to community growth and development.

Statement of General Chamber Objectives

The Chamber is incorporated and organized to promote and advance the commercial, industrial, recreational, agricultural, health, educational, social and professional activities of the citizens of the Lawton-Fort Sill community. Our objectives include –

• Collecting and compiling information of value to the growth and welfare of the Lawton-Fort Sill area.
• Encouraging and aiding the development of existing business and industry, and establishing viable economic development programs.
• Affirming the friendship between Lawton and Fort Sill, and furthering the interests of the area.
• Constructively advocating public policy issues, and working with all elected officials within the community, county, and state to build and sustain a positive business climate.

How Does the Chamber Work?

• Members will always be at the top of our organization.
• The Board of Directors is selected in accordance with the bylaws. The general membership elects 12 members of the board, the board elects six members to serve, and a number of city officials and community representatives also serve as ex-officio members of the board. The Board of Directors determine the Chamber’s goals for the year based upon what is judged to be in the best interest of the membership as a whole, and these goals are stated in the annual Business Plan of the Chamber.
• The Executive Committee is made up of officers selected by the Board of Directors to act in the interim between meetings of the board. The Executive Committee consists of no more than nine individuals and includes the Chairman of the Board and Lawton’s City Manager.
• The President is employed by the Board of Directors. The President is responsible for hiring staff and as a group they work for the membership in carrying out the day-to-day responsibilities of the organization.
• Committees and task forces are made up of volunteers from the general membership. This is where the real work of the Chamber is conducted. All members are encouraged to get involved and serve on a committee or task force, but they are not required to do so. The Board and committees/task forces identify issues, which affect the business community and provide the leadership necessary to respond to those issues.

Membership Benefits

Marketing Opportunities

• Participate in our annual trade show. This event, usually held in the fall, is the biggest trade show of its type in the area. Booths are offered in a range of prices to encourage large and small businesses to participate. This trade show gives you an opportunity to showcase your products and services.
• Enjoy our referral services as a Chamber member. When people call us looking for a particular product or service, we refer only Chamber members!
• Advertise in Chamber publications like this Membership Directory and Business Guide, maps, and our website.
• Take advantage of opportunities to use our mailing list. You can receive ready-to-peel labels of our entire mailing list – members only, or specific groups. Most lists are $50 for Chamber members. Non-members pay $150 for the same benefit. This list can be alphabetical or zip code sorted.
• Insert a flier in our Chamber newsletter, which is mailed to our entire membership. The cost is only $150 per newsletter insert (approximately 1,400 newsletters per quarter)!
• Take advantage of our sponsorship opportunities including sponsoring one of our Business After Hours where you can highlight your products or service. Other opportunities are available at reasonable rates – just ask us!
• Have an official ribbon cutting ceremony provided by the Chamber for members only. This is particularly helpful if you are a new business, have recently moved, remodeled, or had a name change.

Networking Opportunities

• Attend our monthly Business After Hours. This is one of our most popular functions, it’s informal and it’s fun! Always be sure to bring lots of business cards, and register for door prizes to be given away.
• Attend one of our Breakfasts or Luncheons. Scheduled on an as-needed basis, these not only give you the opportunity to meet new people, but to learn from our speakers.
• Get involved in a committee or task force. Many do not demand a great deal of your time and the rewards can be immense.

Be an Informed Member of the Community

• Read our quarterly Work In Progress newsletter and be informed on Chamber events, activities and programs. Our newsletter includes a community calendar of events for each month and much more!
• Our Legislative Awareness program helps our members know what is going on at local, regional, state and national levels of government. We represent your concerns and opinions on issues of importance.
• Attend the workshops and seminars the Chamber offers. Chamber members also get a discount on many of the training seminars and workshops offered by the Great Plains Technology Center.

Other Benefits and Notes of Interest for Chamber Members

• As a current member of the Chamber, you are eligible for the Oklahoma Blue group health insurance plan.
• Use Chamber Certifichecks to keep dollars in town with Chamber members. Certificheck is like a gift certificate, which may be used at face value with any participating Chamber member. Certifichecks makes a great gift or employee bonus.

The Commerce Circle is a membership level in the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber that allows those businesses that are most committed to economic growth in the community to increase their support for programs and receive some additional benefits along the way. Benefits include special recognition in the Chamber newsletter, links on the Chamber website, and a special annual luncheon.

Adventure Travel Affiliated Van Lines Arvest Bank Aubrey Chevrolet BancFirst Billingsley Ford of Lawton Brox Industries CDBL, Inc Coldwell Banker- Crossroads Realtors Comanche County Memorial Hospital Authority Comanche Home Center Comanche Nation Casino Dan Mullins Nissan Eagle Systems and Services Fiesta Toyota Fitch Industrial & Welding Supply Ford, Hines Klein        & Watson Insurance Agency

Fort Sill Federal Credit Union Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Hatch, Croke & Associates, PC IBC Bank J.T. Neal Insurance Agency Johnny Owens Commercial Properties, Inc. KSWO TV 7 Lawton Publishing Company Lawton Retail Merchants Association PSO Scott’s House of Flowers, Inc. Southwest Ready Mix Southwestern Medical Center Stanley Associates, Inc. Storage “R” Us The Territory LLC Towe, Hester & Erwin, LLC Young Eye Institute

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