CHAMBERS ANTICIPATING FALL MERGER; JOINT MEMBERSHIP MUST APPROVE.Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer The Thousand Oaks-Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce plan to merge this fall, creating one of the largest chamber organizations in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Preliminary plans to consolidate the two groups were approved this week by both boards of directors. A legal agreement will go before a joint board meeting Sept. 15 and will have to be approved by the general membership as well. ``The whole purpose of a chamber is to help businesses by offering seminars and business-growing programs and networking that enhance their ability to be successful,'' said Scott Vandenberg, chairman of the Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce. ``We see this as enhancing those opportunities because we'll have a larger membership and a larger operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. ,'' he said. The Westlake Chamber has about 920 members while the Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. roster lists about 980. Of those, only about 300 businesses cross over to keep their names on both membership lists. ``Right now, businesses feel divided loyalties. They don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. where to spend all their time. And the two chambers can get quite competitive,'' said Jerry Gross, chairman of the Thousand Oaks-Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and superintendent of Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by schools. By consolidating, the new regional chamber would have more than 1,600 members and rank among the largest chambers in Southern California, closely following the 1,800-member Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Together the two groups encompass a diverse membership, ranging from large international corporations such as Dole Foods in Westlake Village and Amgen in Thousand Oaks to small mom-and-pop shops and home-based businesses. On Wednesday, members received letters announcing the proposed merger and suggesting the benefits of a larger regional chamber. Mario Diaz Mario Diaz (born January 10, 1962 in Humacao, Puerto Rico), is a former professional baseball player who played shortstop in the Major Leagues from 1987-1995. Teams
``I think this kind of merger will help the community at large. In reality, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks feel like one town,'' Diaz said. ``I've been living here ten years, and I still don't know where one ends and the other begins.'' Westlake Village Mayor Kris Carraway-Bowman, who also sits on the board of directors for the Thousand Oaks-Conejo Valley Chamber, said a regional chamber would better serve Conejo Valley businesses. ``To me it just makes sense. When we have two chambers going after the same membership base, it comes down to a big fight - an `us against them' mentality. And that's just counterproductive coun·ter·pro·duc·tive adj. Tending to hinder rather than serve one's purpose: "Violation of the court order would be counterproductive" Philip H. Lee. ,'' said Carraway-Bowman, who would have to resign from the chamber's board if they merged to avoid a conflict of interest with her City Council seat. The Thousand Oaks Chamber has struggled for months through a financial crisis, falling behind on mortgage payments for its buildings and incurring more than $100,000 in debt. But with the sale of its building to Thousand Oaks resident Robert Barker barker a term for an animal that does not usually bark which makes a violent respiratory effort, often during a convulsion, accompanied by a sound which roughly resembles a dog's bark. expected to be finalized See finalization. next month, the Thousand Oaks Chamber could walk into the new partnership with $200,000 to its name. With $100,000 coming from the Westlake side, the new entity could start off with a strong financial base for additional programs and bigger networking functions, chamber officials said. Although many of the details are not worked out, chamber officials said the merger also would consolidate office staffs, publications and sales teams. Larry Carignan, president-elect of the Thousand Oaks Chamber, would likely become the chairman of the board, while Janet Levett, executive director of the Westlake Chamber, would direct the new head staff member. And the two chambers would relocate into a single office building. |
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