Lompoc’s Chamber of Commerce will implement a new, tiered dues membership starting July 1, meaning a hike in fees for some members, along with a potential change in the Chamber’s culture.
The new payment schedule will offer four different levels of services for four different prices, with the most basic services going for $150 a year and the highest tier costing $1,800 a year, according to Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ken Ostini.
Currently, the “General Business” membership package with the Chamber costs $180 a year. Nonprofit organizations, home-based businesses, realtors, and civic members receive discounted prices, but all other members pay the same annual fee.
Mike Sewall of Alfie’s Fish and Chips restaurant has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since 2002. Sewall told the Sun he plans to cancel his membership because of the new dues schedule, which he said creates a class system among the Chamber’s members.
“It’s supposed to be a club where businesses can network and talk to each other and be an equal voice in how our awesome little town of Lompoc—weird and strange, but awesome—can do better in business,” he said. “It’s almost as though we’re no longer members, but we’re becoming customers of the Chamber. And that’s not what I thought I was joining.”
The tiered fees will build in services that members currently purchase separately, such as advertisements in the Chamber’s newsletter and tickets to Chamber dinners, Ostini said.
When asked if the new system would lead to higher fees, he replied: “Maybe some slightly, yes. But it’s not a dramatic increase. Again, members can opt to have the lower level.”
The lowest tier is the most similar in cost to the current “General Business” membership, but Sewall said it will offer fewer services. He said he would end up paying much more for his membership to maintain his current access to Chamber services.
“The Chamber is kind of broke and they need more revenue,” Sewall said. “But this new model puts us all in this cliquish, elitist system.”
The Chamber’s board of directors created and voted to implement the tiered system without notifying its members. Ostini said members will be notified of the change individually as their memberships are up for renewal.
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2016.