The Fremont Chamber began in the early 1980’s in response to problems. Our founders wanted to fix problems we’d inherited, and keep us from repeating them. For many years we fought our past. Hard work paid off and, thankfully, we’ve arrived where we can look ahead and define Fremont’s future, and the Chamber’s role in it. By phone and e-mail, I asked a few Chamber board members about what they see, and want to see, happen here in 2006, and beyond.

A Year Of Patience

In 2006, and ’07, “survive and finish the road projects,” Suzie Burke, a founder that still serves on our Board, insisted. Marko Tubic, Chamber President, spoke more diplomatically. “Minimize any negative impacts and maximize anything positive from the Bridge construction.” “If we can all pull together,” Kathy Moeller, a past President, hopes we can survive replacement of the Fremont Bridge approaches “without a big loss of business.”

Many felt a need to work together, within the Chamber and with out. Paul Nordstrand, elected to the Board in December 2005, sincerely hopes “to bring the community together, to get the different groups together.” Anne Helmholz, Chamber membership chair, looks for “improved communication leading to everyone pulling together and assuring a safe, clean and welcoming place to visit, live and work.” Marko wants to see “a good sense of synergy between businesses and residents.”

“Solidify good work that has been done this year at the [Chamber] office,” Anne wrote about her more specific plans, “cleaning up files, updating membership information, planning for a more organized and focused process of moving forward.” Marko also wants to see work done, on defining responsibilities and setting up systems, “so no matter who is here, the Chamber can keep rolling forward.”

A Year Of Fun

“More fun!” Suzie pinpointed a priority with many Board members. Phil Megenhardt saw the practical application, “with membership wanting to join because we are doing cool things for the ‘hood.” Kathy wants “to see the Fremont Chamber do more after hours.” Kathy praised our 2005 after hours event at Brower’s Café. Besides being fun, they bring people together to meet and network. Finally, Marko simply hopes to see us all “enjoying our life. Business and the Chamber can be serious but I want to keep it fun!”

As for specific plans, Paul’s responded with realistic caution. “I don’t know,” he said, “a lot depends on what is presented to us, and how we can help.” Phil wants to see “retail media buys for the retailers,” while he plans to “take down the Lenin lights and have 100,000 people come to Fremont for the Oktoberfest.” Perhaps he’s over-ambitious but nothing beats Kathy’s “big contribution” to the Chamber by volunteering to remain Programs co-Chair (with Suzie) for 2006. As the biggest and most onerous chore within the Chamber, Kathy wouldn’t promise more.

Our Board members dedicate themselves to the Chamber, and Fremont, because they see their futures inextricably tied here. When asked to look out ten years into the future and see if they’d still be here everyone responded in the affirmative. Well, Kathy actually admitted she’d like to be “retired on some beach,” but after a thought she amended it to “at least part-time” with summers spent here.

A Lifetime of Memories

Personally, Phil and Marko looked at their families. In ten years Phil expects to be “taking my son to his freshman year in college and celebrating the 20th annual Fremont Oktoberfest.” “I love what I’m doing,” Marko explained, but “I want to make sure that I’m taking a little more time to recreate.” Suzie promised to stick around, and to “still be bugging you!”

In the meantime, Phil hopes to “have the Head of the Lake Regatta become a huge traffic driver for Fremont.” Anne wants “more community services which bring an increasingly diverse population to the Center of the Universe, including services for the very young (day care) and older adults (community center or senior center).” Marko works towards creating a Chamber where members feel “they get great value for their check. I want their response to be, ‘Wow! That group really advocates for me!’”

Suzie expects “more action” over the next ten years while Anne sees “more diversity and community involvement.” Phil can see “flying cars and moving sidewalks and young kids at the really cool bars and restaurants.” Paul envisions a future Fremont like “Hogwarts – a magical community.” Marko simply anticipates a community where, “if you come to visit Seattle, people say, ‘You’ve gotta see Fremont!’ Just like they go to see the Flying Fish or the Space Needle.” He envisions a Fremont where things always happen, one to which people want to return, and they want to bring others with them. In which case, it appears the future has arrived.

   January 2006