By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
They may have different organizational structures, but three Whitewater groups with similar missions are in preliminary discussions to pool resources.
For years, the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce, Whitewater Tourism Council and Downtown Whitewater have acted independently of one another. But the trio of groups essentially promote the virtues of doing business in the city and taking in some of its attractions.
While there have not been any indications two or three of the organizations will outright merge, there have been tentative talks of enhancing collaboration and sharing a variety of resources, ranging from website management to accounting services.
One of the more recent visible signs of the collaboration is the hiring of Marie Koch. She is serving as interim director of the chamber and tourism council. Deb Williamson recently departed as the chamber’s longtime director, and the tourism council has been without a person at the helm.
Will the two organizations continue to have the same person heading both groups in the future once a permanent director – be it Koch or another candidate – is named?
“That remains to be seen,” said Jason Mackey, president of the board overseeing the chamber.
Several factors prompted leaders of the three organizations to begin collaborating with one another, including tightened budgets and a desire to enhance organization.
“I don’t think it makes sense for us all to be in different buildings; that’s something that could be consolidated,” Mackey said. “There’s the potential out there to hire a person to handle the phones and office administration. We’re all compatible with one another, even though we’re structured differently.”
In the past, Mackey said there had been duplicative efforts between two or three of the organizations. Case in point: One of the organizations recently published a guidebook for tourists. Another, unaware of the effort already under way, was attempting a similar effort.
“There really has been a lack of communication, and that’s what gotten to be tough,” Mackey said. “But I think there are ways to improve, and I see some of this sharing as a real positive. I hope it works out well.”
From the vantage point of the chamber, Mackey said pooled resources could free up some cash and fund initiatives that currently are not possible.
For example, Mackey said he would like to bring in experts who could speak on a variety of issues of interest to chamber members. One possibility is a seminar with someone familiar with launching and maintaining a website.
“We want to utilize the expertise that’s out there to help the business community grow more,” Mackey said.
For a community the size of Whitewater, having three separate organizations is an anomaly. But Mackey said their formation is a testament to the commitment of area residents.
“This is a very grassroots community,” he said. “There are a lot of people committed to buying local.”
