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Dear Prospective Member:

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. In joining the Chamber, you will be working with over 250 Catalina Island businesses and organizations to ensure a strong economic future for our community.

The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is governed by a 21 member Board of Directors. Thirteen of these directors are elected by the membership from member businesses. The other directors represent major interests on the Island.

The primary focus of our Chamber is the promotion of tourism to Catalina Island . As tourism is the Island 's only industry, a steady flow of visitors is necessary to keep our economy moving. Our current emphasis is in attracting visitors during the off season and mid-week. While the Chamber's marketing budget sustains much of this effort, we also enter into cooperative ventures with our members to achieve our promotional goals.

The paragraphs below describe many of our activities, membership requirements and classifications, and our dues schedule. Should you require any further information, we would be happy to meet with you.

Again, thank you for your interest in our Chamber. We sincerely hope we can include you on the membership roster of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau!

Sincerely,

Wayne G. Griffin, ACE
President and Chief Executive Officer

Pat Jamieson
Member Services Manager

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What Is The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau?

Because tourism is Avalon's only industry, island residents and businesses have a strong interest in promoting travel and tourism so as to improve the local economy. The City of Avalon, the only incorporated municipality on Catalina Island, is particularly interested in tourism promotion because taxes generated by tourism and related activities are the primary source of most city revenues.

Incorporated in 1949 as the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber has been promoting Avalon and Catalina Island for the past 50+ years. A membership of over 250 businesses and individuals involved in the hospitality industry serve the needs of the island's visitors. While performing the functions of both a Chamber and a Visitors Bureau, the organization's primary role is that of the community's only private, non-profit destination marketing organization.

Funding for the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce is provided by both public and private sources. Overnight visitors to Avalon pay a transient occupancy tax collected by all hotels and other transient accommodations within the City of Avalon. Islanders have voted to allocate twenty-two per cent of this tax for advertising and promotion through the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce. In the 2008-09 fiscal year, these public funds will account for approximately 60% of the Chamber's total budget . The remaining funds come from membership dues, member participation fees for various Chamber programs, and fundraising. The private sector further leverages Chamber funding through in-kind contributions of boat tickets, hotel rooms, event tickets, meals, and other services. Members also coordinate their advertising and sales programs in cooperation with the Chamber through joint participation in travel and trade shows, hosting site inspections, “banner page” advertising, and other programs.

MISSION
The mission of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is to contribute to the economic development of Avalon and all of Catalina Island by selling, marketing and promoting Avalon and Catalina Island as a year-round destination, and to advocate the interests of business members on Catalina Island . Sales and marketing efforts are focused on attracting visitors mid-week and at any time during shoulder months.

STAFF
The Chamber is staffed by a team of sales and marketing professionals. Current staff includes a President/CEO, Marketing Manager, Visitor Center Manager/Film Liaison, Programs Manager/Administrative Assistant, Member Services Manager, and Visitor Information Specialists.

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BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

PROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS AND CATALINA ISLAND!

• Free listing in the Chamber's Catalina Island Vacation Planner , published annually in January, and on the Chamber’s website, CatalinaChamber.com
• Opportunity to advertise on the Chamber’s website, in the Catalina Island Vacation Planner and the Catalina Pocket Map
• FREE to display materials in the Chamber's brochure rack on the Green Pleasure Pier
• Opportunity to display materials in mainland boat terminals through the Chamber's program with Certified Folder Display Company
• Referral of visitors seeking products and/or services offered by your business
• Cooperative advertising opportunities, at specially negotiated reduced rates in the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register , and the Los Angeles Daily News.
• Participation in the Catalina Island Gift Certificate Program
• Cooperative participation in travel and trade shows targeting consumers, travel agents, senior group leaders and corporate meeting planners
• Listing of your business's 'specials' in the Chamber's "Media Alerts," mailed to more than 200 publications every month
• Possible promotion of your business through the Chamber's public relations programs
• Insert flyer in monthly newsletter (small fee)
• Use of the Chamber’s photo library - FREE
• Opportunity to "host" a Business After Hours mixer to showcase your business

REPRESENTING YOUR BUSINESS INTERESTS

• Representation at all levels of government
• Opportunities to help shape the policies that affect your business
• Candidate Forums and Questionnaires (local)

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

• Ability to attend Chamber-sponsored seminars at member-only rates

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

• Periodic Business After Hours mixers
• Monthly Committee Meetings
• Annual Meeting

& OTHER BENEFITS

• Opportunities to volunteer to work on Chamber committees
• Chamber Insights, the Chamber’s monthly newsletter

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MEMBERSHIP DUES SCHEDULE

2009-2010
Dues Requirements: Membership in Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is renewed on an annual basis in July of each year. On application, the applicant must provide a copy of their City of Avalon Business License (if required) and the application must be accompanied by the full amount of the membership dues. Renewal memberships must provide a copy of their current business license as well. Memberships will be pro-rated for businesses becoming members during the fiscal year. A one time initiation fee of $30 will be included with all new applications. The membership year is from July 1 through June 30. The dues level for the various membership categories is as follows:

Active Member - The status of Active Member shall be conferred upon those persons, firms, corporations or associations who are engaged in a profession or business in the City of Avalon or are engaged in business on Catalina Island. Each Active Member has the right to one vote on matters coming for a vote before the membership. Active members are entitled to one free listing in the annually published Visitors Guide, and may purchase advertising in the Visitors Guide at rates lower than those offered to non-members.

Accommodations: Hotels, rental units, condominiums, apartments & real estate offices.

$495.00 plus $3.75 per rentable unit.

Restaurants: An establishment serving food with table service provided.

$495.00 plus $1.15 per seat.

Transportation: Dues is based on number of passengers carried per year

Banks & Utilities: $980.00 per year

Business: Any business entity not fitting one of the above classifications:

$349.00 plus $2.05 per employee during peak season.

Community Non-Profit Organizations:  $47.00 per year.

Corporate Membership: Multiple businesses owned by the same individual or entity may elect to apply for a corporate membership. The annual dues of Corporate Members shall be $988.00, plus $162.00 per individual business (DBA), plus the per seating, per employee, per passenger carried, or per unit charges applying to the categories listed above.

Non Business Friend of the Chamber: Those persons who are not actively involved in business, but who share a common interest with the objectives of the corporation may apply for membership as a Friend of the Chamber. The dues required is $84.00 per. Friends of the Chamber are not entitled to vote on matters coming for a vote before the membership, nor do they receive a free listing in the Visitors Guide or on the Chamber’s website.

IRS regulations require that you be informed that contributions or gifts to the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses. You may wish to consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of these contributions.

Pro-Rating of Dues
Dues will be pro-rated for businesses becoming members of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce during the fiscal year. To figure the initial amount of the dues to submit with your application, use the chart below. First, d et ermine the month in which your membership will be considered by the Board of Directors. The Board me et s the third Wednesday of each month. Then, multiply the basic dues amount, plus any per employee, per unit, per seat, or per passenger amounts by the % shown for that month. Basic dues amounts can be found on the she et entitled Membership Dues Schedule.
Month in which Membership is Considered

% of Yearly Dues
July - 100%
August - 92%
September - 83%
October - 75%
November - 67%
December - 58%
January - 50%
February - 42%
March - 33%
April - 25%
May - 17%
June - 8%

Thereafter, your membership will be renewable at the full annual rate. Membership renewal notices are mailed the first week in June, and are due by July 31 each year.

Download a Membership Application