Gazette-Times business editor

Facing declining revenue, group cuts director position

PHILOMATH — The Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce is eliminating its executive director position in the wake of declining revenue, the board of directors announced Tuesday.

Today will be the last day on the job for Charlie Redfern, who has served as the chamber’s paid full-time director for the past five years.

According to board president Joe Malcom, who manages the Citizens Bank branch in Philomath, the chamber has no money left to pay Redfern’s salary for the rest of the year.

“Over the last several years, our dues have dropped off some and our special event revenue has dropped off quite a bit,” Malcom said. “We’re just not going to have the money to continue in this capacity.”

Malcom said that membership was around 125 and that dues payments — the local business advocacy organization’s most important source of income — were at about $14,000 for the year, down from about $18,000 in past years.

The Philomath Classic Car Show and the Philomath Blues Festival, the chamber’s other major revenue generators, also had disappointing years. Malcom said board members had been discussing the financial problems among themselves and with Redfern for several months.

“You have to operate your chamber within your means,” Malcom said. “We’ll do what we can.”

For the time being, the Philomath chamber will function as an all-volunteer organization, with members taking turns answering the phone at 929-2454 and responding to e-mail sent to director@philomathchamber.org. The chamber office, housed in a converted railroad caboose at 2395 Main St., will be staffed part-time, although no hours have been set.

The board of directors will discuss the organization’s future at its annual retreat, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14, Malcom said.

Reorganization options include remaining a volunteer-only operation, hiring a part-time director (as the chamber had before Redfern was hired) and hiring a new full-time director when there is enough revenue to pay for one.

One thing that’s not on the table, Malcom said, is disbanding the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Never in our conversations have we said, ‘Let’s go without a chamber completely,’” Malcom said. “It’s a community voice that’s needed.”

Redfern said he wasn’t sure what he would do next, but added that he was leaving on good terms with the board.

“It’s strictly a financial situation,” Redfern said. “Climates rise and climates fall in the marketplace, and chambers have to bend with it. A lot of chambers have their boards running their organizations.”

Looking back on his five-year tenure, Redfern said he was thankful to have worked in such a supportive community. He also took some satisfaction in helping to launch the Philomath Blues Festival, which marked its fourth year in July.

“We did some good things,” he said of the chamber, “and I hope we continue them.”

Bennett Hall is the business editor for the Gazette-Times. He can be reached at 758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net.