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February 04. 2010 6:00AM

There’s value in the local chamber of commerce.

That’s one of the key messages this year’s president of the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce wants its members and community residents to know.

Whether chamber volunteers are organizing in-home visits from Santa Claus or bringing hundreds of extra folks to town for a holiday basketball tournament, the BVACC is doing their part to make Brandon a better place to live, work and raise a family.

“I truly think that there’s value to the chamber,” said Kevin Thelen, who took over as this year’s BVACC board president at the start of January.

For its membership, now 277 member businesses strong, the return of their investment in the chamber hinges largely on their involvement.

For the community, the chamber encourages residents to shop locally so sales tax dollars spent here can be used to build parks and soccer fields and other amenities residents desire. The chamber also does it part to lure new businesses and residents to move here.

As in years past, the chamber will continue to promote the “Buy Brandon” campaign.

“We can’t force people to buy Brandon, but if we give them the pros of what it does for Brandon, then maybe we can increase our sales tax revenues,” Thelen said. “The more money the city has for these amenities helps, and that’s our goal.”

Last November, when Thelen and the BVACC Board met to establish their agenda for 2010, they agreed it’s important to continue to push the “Buy Brandon” message. One new avenue the chamber is utilizing this year is the monthly television commercials that the city and chamber each invested $8,000 in.

The chamber will also team up with the city on another endeavor later this year, a community assessment survey. The survey will be conducted to determine what amenities and services Brandon residents want for their community.

Besides working closely with the city, the chamber has also developed a good working relationship with the Brandon Valley School District.

“In a small town, there are relationships that need to be built and established for a chamber to function,” Thelen said. “The school district works to provide the best education, and we’re working to provide the best service,” he said.

An example of the positive relationship between the school and chamber was the first-ever 2010 Holiday Classic, which was a joint effort of the two entities.

“The school has a huge facility that we can use to bring revenue to town,” Thelen said. “We support the school in their efforts and they support the chamber in our efforts.”

The Brandon Expo was another opportunity for the two agencies to work together, as the Expo was staged in the high school commons and auxiliary gym.

Thelen said additional opportunities are being explored.

“On the fundraising committee table are several ideas of what can bring people to town and how it can benefit our members,” Thelen said. A few ideas up for consideration are a road race, a bicycle tour, and an adult softball tournament.

“We’re really taking a look at the amenities Brandon has to offer as a way to raise money for the chamber and to benefit our community,” he said.

Kim Cerwick, executive director of the BVACC, said Thelen and the two prior presidents – Bob Bruning and Barb Fish – have been perfect fits for the respective leadership years.

“As I’ve said to him and the two others before him, it’s been amazing just how perfect the president has been for that year’s goals,” she said.

Bruning, who led the chamber in 2008, focused his energies on restructuring the chamber committees.

“Barb, being the financial person she is, made sure the books were in order,” Cerwick said. “And as we continue to expand, this year we’ll be hiring a third person. Kevin has been extremely instrumental in the hiring process. So, I just couldn’t be more excited with this year.”

In his three years on the board, Thelen has held the offices of secretary and vice president/treasurer in preparation for his term as board president.

The assistant vice president for The First National Bank in Sioux Falls – Brandon Branch, said he’s humbled and honored to serve the chamber in this capacity.

“As I start my third year with the chamber, it’s been amazing to me the changes that have taken place and that members are starting to take pride in it,” he said.
Thelen said that pride was evident last week when 30-plus BVACC members took part in the fourth annual Brandon Day at the Legislature.

“The chamber, when I first observed it, was in a much different mode than it is now. Being involved in a business here in town, you have to give back to those organizations that are supporting you,” he said. “Because if you don’t do those things, how are these things going to get done?”