The Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce team plans on expanding their events and the guest speakers for their meetings this year to better inform the community, and also to advocate for the the Falcon, Peyton and Calhan businesses and residents. The organization will focus on improving dialog with elected officials and agencies and enhancing communication to ensure residents and entrepreneurs know the sources available in eastern El Paso County.The chamber has about 20 business members, and includes a full, committed board of directors for the first time in several years, said Dave Ahrens, chamber president. The leadership team and members have been involved in community events and fundraising for civic groups. ìWe helped with the dog park, we donated to Relay for Life, the food pantry. We try to do many community things like that,î Ahrens said.ìWe had an all-star speaking line up last year, including Sheriff Elder, the county roads department, staff and students from District 49, county commissioner candidates,î said Ben Kley, chairman of the board. ìWe also sponsored kids from Falcon High School to attend the DECA state competition, supported the District 49 bond initiative and the Falcon Regional Park.Kley said attendance at the meetings with speakers has been strong. ìWhere else did Bill Elder come and talk to the community?î Kley said. ìEveryone loves to complain about the roads, but when you bring the county roadsí people to address those concerns, we want more people to show up.îWhile the chamber has been proactive in its efforts to inform the business community and the public, Ahrens said it is time ìto take it up a notch.î He would like to see people from the community not only join the chamber for educational presentations but also to provide feedback on what the chamber needs to do for them.ìWe need that feedback,î Ahrens said. ìWe can help promote business, but we can also help keep the community involved and informed.îThe Eastern Plains Chamber is significantly smaller than its neighbors like Tri-Lakes or Colorado Springs. ìWe’re limited in what we can do, because we don’t have a brick-and-mortar location or a paid staff,î Ahrens said. ìBut we can help people who contact us to help them learn about the community and be involved in the community.ìWe’re not just Falcon’s chamber. We are the Eastern Plainsí chamber Ö . We take in a large area. Falcon just happens to be where our meetings are, but we have members from Colorado Springs, Black Forest, Calhan; and we’ve had people come in from Simla.ìWe always tell our members to bring guests, and let their neighbors know.îMeetings are open to everyone, Kley said. For more information about the chamber and upcoming guest speakers or events, visit http://easternplainschamber.com.See chamber updates in Business Briefs.
