In completing my 7th term as a member of the Executive Committee, and my second period as President, it gives me great pleasure to present the 2023 President’s Report on behalf of a dedicated management committee, whom, without their commitment, none of these accomplishments would have been possible. 

The 2022/23 was a year of change in our team as we welcomed Ashlee Collins as Treasurer, with David Perez and I exchanging roles between us. Louise Formosa, and Craig Manley continued as Secretary and the Eumundi Traders Representative respectively. 

In addition to managing the business of the Association, our team's energy continued invested in:

• Progressing various projects underway from the preceding year to promote commerce, encourage business opportunities, and enhance tourism for the benefit of members; and
• Providing a representative voice on behalf of members to various partner and affiliated business and industry groups.

David and I as the elected Director Representatives of Chamber on the Board of ECCO, trading as Experience Eumundi, and Secretary Louise, as one of the Director representatives of EDCA, and the 2022 Chair also dedicated a significant amount of voluntary hours representing our respective memberships, across all aspects of business activities and operations of the Company. 

Over the 2022-23 year membership retention and growth was comparable to preceding years as we welcomed past members, and new businesses to our Chamber community adding to the rich diversity of industry participation in our vibrant chamber. 

Throughout the year we also sadly farewelled some of our valued members, with some moving on from their long standing businesses pursuing others interests and/or new ventures. 

Overall 2022/23 total membership numbers remained relatively consistent with 0.4% net reduction.

Member participation continued to be strong with attendance numbers increasing over the year. The casual Coffee Connect sessions were again well attended by members as a convenient inexpensive way in making connections, accessing resources and valuable networking opportunities as the economy and local businesses bounced back during post Covid recovery. 

As a President, and in fact for our entire team, it’s heartening to observe the cordiality and fellowship of our business community as you all come together at Chamber events. We look forward to seeing many more members get involved and connected in 2023/24.  

The management team continued to foster relationships with our industry partners and associates, namely Business Chamber Queensland (previously CCIQ), Sunshine Coast Council’s Business and Industry Economic Development team, Visit Sunshine Coast, Tourism Noosa, Regional Development Sunshine Coast, Food and Agri Business Network, and Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance through participation in business and industry events, group meetings, zoom sessions, teleconferences, and one-to-one communications.

Our team is extremely proud that Eumundi Chamber is recognised as a lead community group for this region in our capacity as a representative voice for local business, and facilitator for connecting businesses with stakeholder groups, affiliate partners, and resources that promote commerce, encourage business opportunities, and enhance tourism for Eumundi and surrounds.

We particularly acknowledge the support of Cr David Law as our Divisional Councillor, and his preparedness to work with our management team as the representative voice of Chamber members and local businesses. His efforts, and the efforts of his office are sincerely appreciated.

As one of the two Chamber Directors of Eumundi Combined Community Organisation Ltd, trading as Experience Eumundi (ECCO-EE) over two separate periods since 2016, I am proud to have worked alongside David Perez as my fellow chamber representative and thank him for his contributions to the Experience Eumundi Board. 

The Experience Eumundi team expanded this year with the addition of Hayley Gee. Together, fellow directors Louise, David and I, worked closely with Bamik and Hayley on various promotion activities and marketing campaigns, including the 2022 Top Tourism Town Awards. 

We also continued to explore services and opportunities for Chamber members this year, including Chamber member involvement and opportunities to participate in marketing campaigns, cross promotions, VSC famils, industry events such as Sunshine Coast Big Day Out for Tourism (ScOUT), the recent Paint Eumundi Purple VSC, TN & EE combined industry networking event.

The most recent and exciting opportunity for Chamber members has been the invitation to advertise and be included in the brand new publication of a Eumundi Map for targeted distribution to tourism and information centres, outlets for brochure display and distribution throughout the Sunshine Coast, with Brisbane Airport also on the radar. 

David and I would like to acknowledge the achievements of Experience Eumundi’s Marketing and Communications Manager Bamik Baker.  The addition of Hayley further enriches this dynamic team. Their passion for all things Eumundi, and dedication to ensuring Eumundi’s offerings are seen up there with the best of the Sunshine Coast in Tourism is exemplary.

Our member eNewsletter (EDM) was introduced in March 2020 to disseminate valuable information from multitudes of sources to members as quickly and efficiently as possible during the turbulence and uncertainty of Covid.

With each monthly EDM taking a serious amount of volunteer hours to put together, funding awarded to the Chamber through the Sunshine Coast Council Community Partnership Grant Program enabled us to reach out for additional support services to continue this service for members in the 2021/2022 year. 

In 2022/2023 we reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of these arrangements and are working with the Experience Eumundi team to generate more relevant and efficient EDM’s for members. 

The results of the member survey in May 2022 provided insight into the value members placed on the EDM and its content. Of the 42% of members surveyed, 92.5% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the EDM. The most valuable section was Chamber Business, with Business Resources, and Member and Affiliate Partner News also considered to be of value. Of those members surveyed, the preferred frequency was monthly.

Results of the survey have since informed further development of our EDM, with its format and content to be reflective of members' feedback as it evolves over the coming year.

Our social media presence continues to expand with steady growth in followers and increased engagement of Chamber's Facebook posts throughout the year. This doesn’t happen magically with the wave of a wand overnight.

The time required in monitoring posts and locating suitable member content to share is time consuming, so we are currently reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of our online activity in achieving our objectives in line with member expectations. 

We’ve also been consulting with the Experience Eumundi team exploring benefits to members as EE becomes more active cross promoting members social media content in their destination marketing campaigns throughout the year, as well as on their business to business Facebook page and will continue to do so.

Culminating the work of consecutive management committees, it gives me great pleasure to report that Eumundi Chamber Lonergan Lane Market Operations commenced March 1, 2023, providing the opportunity for the Chamber to attain greater financial independence to support activities and projects of benefit to members. 

Lonergan Lane Market provides access to six premium sites, with priority given to Chamber members and approved NFP’s. Additional sites in Dick Caplick Park Laneway are also accessible to NFP’s, made possible with support of Cr David Law, Sunshine Coast Council.

This fabulous opportunity for Chamber members, and local business traders to conduct commercial activities central to Eumundi Memorial Drive business centre, and the Eumundi Markets was made possible through Chamber’s collaboration with ECCO, trading as Experience Eumundi, and Sunshine Coast Council.

Successive Year 2 Community Partnership Grant funding from Sunshine Coast Council has meant the management team has been able to continue sourcing much needed professional support service in the production and distribution of EDM communications. 

We take this opportunity to thank Council’s Business and Industry Economic Development team for their support in working with us to review our deliverables, and refine our objectives to achieve Chambers goals, and meet Council’s requirements over the remaining period of the three-year Community Partnership Grant program. 

The management team also extends gratitude to Eumundi and District Community Association (EDCA) this year in providing our Chamber with an additional fund raising opportunity at their Australia Day celebrations.  

Thank you David and Louise… your hospitality skills shone through with event takings providing a welcome boost to Association funds.  A special thanks also to the Imperial Hotel, and Joe’s Waterhole Hotel for their support to the Chamber and contributions which made the raising of these funds possible.

The Chamber management committee has maintained contact with Cr David Law and Council’s Placemaking team through the year to communicate updates as they came to hand to members. In February 2023, David and I were invited to participate in a community workshop with other invited representatives of Eumundi Community Groups and Associations. 

Community values and visions were confirmed; key themes were explored including traffic safety and pedestrian movement, parking, character and heritage interpretation, landscape and street maintenance. The design was unpacked progressively, with multiple opportunities for further questions and clarification from technical experts provided to those in attendance. 

We observed that the majority of community leaders at the meeting were pleased with Council’s progress. The project is now in the final design stage and we look forward to further updates to share with members as they come to hand. 

Chamber again thanks Cr David Law for his representation of members to Council, and we look forward to anticipated streetscape improvements over the coming year.

I am pleased to confirm the current management committee team have re-nominated for their respective positions. David and I have also nominated again for Eumundi Chamber Representative Director positions on the Board of ECCO, trading as Experience Eumundi for the next year. 

As no other nominations were received for executive positions or as Representative Directors on the ECCO-EE Board, I wish to thank all our members for having entrusted us to represent you as members of Eumundi Chamber. We look forward to the year ahead to do the very best we can to promote commerce, encourage business opportunities and enhance tourism for the benefit of Eumundi and surrounds as we support you in your businesses.

Finally, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and contribution of our dedicated executive committee, David Perez, Louise Formosa, Ashlee Collins and Craig Manley for their valuable contributions this year. 

Balancing business, work, family, health and wellness, along with volunteer commitments can be at times quite challenging. However, being part of a cohesive, constructive and supportive team that unite together with shared values for the advancement of businesses in our community is an opportunity I value immensely, and will be eternally grateful for the friendships that have evolved. 

As President I’m extremely proud to be on their team and look forward to the year of opportunities that lay ahead as we work together to fulfil the objects of the Association for the benefit of members. 

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of members and volunteers that made 2022/23 the year it was; it was certainly one I’ll remember! 

It has been an honour and privilege to be the President of the Eumundi Chamber. I look forward to continued opportunities for our growing Chamber, and appreciate the support of all our members moving forward with the 2023/2024 year ahead.

Cindy Suters
President
Eumundi Chamber of Commerce Inc