While the Fremont Chamber is, officially, an independent business association, we play well with others. Witness our involvement, even our participation in the creation of, the Neighborhood Business Association Alliance.

The first meeting of the Alliance took place in August of 2004 in the offices of Fremont Chamber President Marco Tubic. Teresa Lord Hugel, Executive Director of the Greater University Chamber of Commerce, recalls several discussions over the years about unifying the often grassroots, largely volunteer, neighborhood focused business support organizations. Teresa talked with Karen Buschow of the Wallingford community and Beth Miller of Ballard, as well as Fremont's own Jeanne Muir and Marco before they first met, at first referring to the new organization as the Seattle Neighborhood Chamber Alliance.

Good Ideas Recognized

Eight neighborhood chamber representatives gathered at the table that first time, and in less than two years over 22 associations participate regularly. At a recent meeting Aurora Avenue, Beacon Hill, Greenwood-Phinney, Lake City, Madison Valley, Northgate, Rainier, University District, Wallingford and, of course, Fremont met. Associations send either an executive director or decision making staff person, or a Board President or empowered designated representative. The Alliance welcomes key decision makers that fully represent their associations. They don't intend to serve as a clearing house for information, but as an action group.

They hope to represent all business associations throughout the City, but no city-wide solicitation has happened thus far. The City identifies 38 Urban Villages while the Mayor maintains a list of 69 neighborhoods. The number of business associations may lie between those numbers, but no finite list exists. The City Office of Economic Development helps get the word out as associations contact them, and word of mouth among neighbors has worked to equal effect. "It is getting to be much more inclusive," Teresa stated proudly. "If it is one community group making noise, it is like a fly buzzing in your ear," the power of a collective voice can be heard more readily, provided they speak the same message.

Good Ideas Take Effort

"What we weren't going to do was pick a huge array of issues to get bogged down," Teresa explained. Facilitated by Ed Medeiros, of the Phinney Neighborhood Association, founding members asked, "what do we want to focus on." They mention inadequate connections to City departments and agencies, a culture of transferring costs for traditional City services to neighborhood business districts, disappearing neighborhood plans, development impacts, parking and construction mitigation as shared concerns.

In the end, public safety emerged as the unifying and pervasive issue among alliance associations. In September 2004 they sent a letter to identify the Alliance and identify their intent to the Mayor's office. Since then the Mayor and the Chief of Police have attended their meetings and the Alliance has presented their concerns before the City Council. Recently, representatives of the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) attended their monthly meetings, "the City wants to be there to know what's going on," Teresa acknowledges. What I heard is a rally cry for "Stronger Police Presence - More Cops, Beat Cops, Better Deployment."

Focus on a single issue doesn't preclude enjoying the opening of communications possible through regular contact among the associations. Alliance associations have already organized networking events among their member businesses to expand their networks beyond neighborhood borders. The next step, in the fall of 2006, will be organizing political debates among candidates. Alliance members hope to create opportunities for sharing support and operating advice so no one need reinvent the wheel.

Good Ideas Given Power

I am staggered by the potential power of the Alliance. Already they have brought people out from behind counters, desks or workbenches to sit at the table and work to a solution. In an October 2005 briefing to the Seattle City Council, it was estimated that they represent over 5,000 businesses. Businesses that employ workers and pay taxes, mobilized behind the Alliance to create a loud and distinct voice.

Fremont Chamber Executive Director Bill Elder participated on our behalf from the beginning and Marco has taken on this significant responsibility since. It is a duty, and an honor. For all that the Fremont Chamber has done and will do to strengthen and improve the quality of life in Fremont, we must remember and recognize our place among our neighbors, and take our place, armed with all that Fremont has to offer, at the table.