SIKESTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce is in the process of restructuring.

"We've been wrestling with declining membership for the past few years," said Steve McPheeters, a member of the chamber's board of directors. "We decided to shut down the operation in its present form and reorganize with new committees and a new focus,"

McPheeters pointed out, however, that the chamber doors were not closed. "We'll keep the doors open and will have someone on hand to answer the telephones," he said.

The decision to close was strictly financial, said Mark Nelson, in announcing the closing of the chamber Oct. 1. Nelson, president of the board, said the chamber had three choices:

-- Continue until funds were completely exhausted.

-- Borrow money with no way to repay it.

-- Suspend operations.

The only thing we could do was suspend operations, said Nelson.

Meanwhile, Nelson, McPheeters and other chamber board members started meeting with business leaders locally and in the surrounding area.

Over the past five years, the Sikeston chamber has watched its membership dwindle from more than 400 members to about half that many.

The chamber appears to have lost its identity, said Nelson. "It is perceived as an organization whose only function is to cut ribbons and host luncheons," said Nelson. "As we restructure we must keep in mind that people must feel like the chamber is doing its job -- promoting the area."

"We've been in contact with the Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff chambers of commerce, the Missouri state chamber, and the National Chamber of Commerce at Washington, D.C.," said McPheeters. "We have also hired a part-time person to answer the telephone."

McPheeters said the board was looking at many options.

"We had a recent public meeting to get input on what businesses would like to see the chamber offer," said McPheeters. "We've put together areas that businesses would like to see."

These include such areas as agribusiness, beautification, education, legislation, small business, industrial, health and human services.

McPheeters and Nelson said they would like to see a restructuring plan completed within 30 days. He said that before these areas can be successful "We must have strong committee chairmen and members that are dedicated to making it work. A chamber is only as good as its members."

"Sikeston and Miner continue to show good growth," said McPheeters. "With the northern area of New Madrid County and the southern area of Scott County, we feel that we will once again have a strong chamber."