The meeting focused on a presentation by Amanda Wiggins, CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, about the organization's role and programs. Amanda shared her personal background, the Chamber's growth to over 800 members, and its mission to promote a thriving community through connected business leadership. She detailed various programs, including the Ambassadors, the Business and Principal Exchange, Dine and Discover Marana, Impact Marana, and the health education scholarship. She also described several networking and information events, such as Marana Mornings, 4th Tuesday Mixers, Marana Insights, and the annual State of the Town. Mark and other members discussed ways the Rotary Club could collaborate with the Chamber, such as promoting events in the Chamber's weekly e-news. The group also briefly touched on membership trends and the importance of maintaining strong connections with local entities like the school district and the Marana Health Center.
Collaboration
- Rotary Club of Marana: RSVP for the CTE Ambassador Day at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursday via the provided link.
- Rotary Club of Marana: Consider options for collaborating with the Community Coalition for Prosperity at the business meeting on the 27th.
- Rotary Club of Marana: Utilize the Marana Chamber's weekly e-news to highlight club activities and events.
- Rotary Club of Marana: Attend and participate in Marana Chamber events, especially Marana Insights, to strengthen community connections.
Club Updates and Leadership Program
Mark discussed updates about club members, including Christina Brewer's application for membership and her work on a doctorate. He shared information about a leadership program involving school district representatives and community members, highlighting its benefits and collaborative opportunities. The group briefly touched on the importance of collaboration and the potential for their club to be the first Rotary Public Society associated with CC4P.
Career Fair Community Presentation
Mark discussed upcoming opportunities for community members to visit a career fair at the Ritz, where they can see student presentations and ask questions about different programs. He clarified that the event runs from 1:00 to 2:00 PM and features about 40 different program stations, including auto shop programs at Marana and Mountain View. Mark then introduced Amanda Wiggins, CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce, who began her presentation by sharing her background and explaining how community relationships built through chamber programs have benefited the school district.
Marana Community Programs Overview
Amanda discussed the Dine and Discover Marana program, which is entering its fourth year and involves visiting restaurants while completing a card to earn free merchandise, with over 300 participants last summer. She also explained the Impact Marana leadership program, a 7-month immersive experience that takes participants through different community sectors, and mentioned the health education scholarship program that awarded $11,000 in scholarships last year. The discussion concluded with a brief mention of Marana mornings events held monthly at the Tucson premium outlet.
She described various monthly programs offered by the Marana Chamber, including a networking event with 100 attendees where each person gets 30 seconds to speak, Marana Mornings mixers held on the 4th Tuesday, Marana Insights sessions on the 4th Thursday featuring town officials and community partners, and business connection luncheons occurring every other month. She highlighted the upcoming business connection luncheon on the 20th featuring a speaker from the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and mentioned that the annual State of the Town event will be the 50th anniversary celebration at the Ritz Carlton, likely scheduled for the Thursday before Easter.