At the October 2006 Chamber Board Meeting President Marko Tubic requested that each Board Member present "state one desire/hope for the Chamber's future."

According to the minutes the answers went like this:

In January 2007, the Board will gather together for their annual Strategic Planning meeting. In preparation, a few Board members gave me a minute, over the phone and e-mail, to further reveal their dreams for Fremont, the Chamber and the future.

In The Near

"I think we have fun in Fremont and I'd like to find more ways to have fun!" so said Raymond Glandon. He and Rodman Gilder Miller both mentioned a desire to grow Chamber membership. Jon Hegeman hopes we "become fully optimized as a professional organization with adequate revenue opportunities and a dynamic program that solves our community's problems of security, publicity and community."

Security is Raymond's specific focus, and central to his efforts to make "Fremont a more desirable location for customers, employees and employers." His interest in alternative transportation has him pondering notions of a Fremont bicycle license for cyclists that obey the rules of the road. Rodman plans to continue his work as "a conduit between the Fremont Arts Council and the Chamber, sometimes as a mediator." Jessica Fraidenberg hopes to contribute her extensive background in marketing, media and advertising "to draw more people from outside the community in."

Jon "would like to see a community center like Youngstown in West Seattle" for Fremont. Jessica hopes to see the community grow stronger "so when things change, it is less disruptive." Rodman spoke for Raymond, and nearly everyone, when he said, "I hope to see the Bridge finished, a bigger and better Solstice Parade and that the good times keep on happening!"

In The Far

When asked to look out five to ten years into the future, Rodman hopes for "more open space, rather than less." Jon sees future Fremont as "a vital little community with a kick ass community center as the hub of fun things and a magnet for activities." Raymond says, "I'd like to see better communication," among the Neighborhood Council, retailers and all community organizations, "not only in bad times. So everybody's needs are met." Raymond supports electric vehicles and he hopes that Fremont becomes one of the earliest Washington communities to have plug in stations. "Fremont is known as an artist's colony," Jessica mused, "and I want it to return to its roots." As for reaching these dreams, Raymond thinks "we are going in the right direction. We have someone," meaning Michael, our Executive Director, "who is helping us move in the right direction."

For Jessica, one of the youngest Board Members, "this is going to be a whole learning experience. This is my first experience with a Chamber of Commerce. I have no expectations going in." Looking to support the neighborhood she calls home, she welcomes her first taste of community activism and the opportunity to "provide what I can; give what I can."

The Chamber has many long-time, familiar faces on the Board and this year, like any other, we welcome several new ones. Board members hold a diversity of interests, ambitions and perspectives that make it surprising they accomplish anything at all. No worries. For as dissimilar as their answers may sound on the surface, underneath they all speak to the same desire - a healthy, prosperous and fun Fremont for us all.