At yesterday's annual Member September luncheon, the Covington Chamber welcomed six new members to the Chamber, bringing our total membership to 164. Please join us in welcoming the following new members to the Covington Chamber family:

• Apple Blossom Gift Baskets
• Auto-Chlor System
• Katherine's Beauty Bar
• Northwestern Mutual (returning member)
• Seattle's Union Gospel Mission
• See Ya Later Foundation

They were joined by about 45 other chamber members at our annual membership celebration, hosted by Edline-Yahn & Covington Funeral Chapel. In addition to a catered lunch at the beautiful event venue, we heard from Covington Mayor Jeff Wagner about how and why the Covington Chamber was started in 1992 and from Board Chair Bridget O'Connor who led an exercise to learn how and why people join and come back to the Chamber again and again.

And what's a thank you celebration without goodie bags? Thanks to our sponsors, we provided each member and guest with a goodie bag and about a dozen members received door prizes including floral centerpieces from Countryside Floral & Garden, cookies from Ube Overload, delicious chocolates from Diana + Cory | The Patterson Team, desktop recycling bins from Republic Services, and other goodies.

​Thanks to our members for giving our newest members a warm Chamber welcome!

by City of Covington Police Department and Community Development

Damage from automobiles, both from accidents and intentional crimes, is something that any business near a road or parking lot must stay aware of. In our January email on the CTPED principle of territorial reinforcement, we recommended the use of bollards in front of storefronts to prevent damage and safety hazards for visitors.
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There is clear evidence that bollards are effective, including in Covington. For example, a local business experienced three automobile-related burglaries in 2022, prompting them to install bollards outside their storefront. Since this installation, the number of car-related burglaries has reduced to zero.

Bollards are often brightly colored or constructed of materials that can be unsightly and unwelcoming. By choosing functional bollards that are also visually appealing, you not only protect your business, but also convey that it is well-maintained and cared for. To this end, we developed the Covington Bollard Design Guide, which gives recommendations and examples of bollards that are both effective and visually attractive.

Here are some specific suggestions and examples from the Bollard Design Guide:

• Consider selecting bollards that have a secondary purpose. Some examples include bollards that double as lighting sources, planters, and visitor seating.
• The color of Bollards should blend in with the surrounding environment. For example, if you are placing bollards on a concrete surface, consider a bollard material that matches the color of that existing concrete.
  • If you believe a bright color is needed to provide enhanced visibility of the bollards, we recommend using one or two strips of such a color. 
• Choose a bollard shape (thin, tall, modern, traditional, etc.) and material (metal, concrete, wood, etc.) that match the architectural style of the building they are protecting.
• Review the full Bollard Design Guide on our CPTED website for more suggestions and examples.

Backed by a long history of research and endorsed by the Covington Police Department, CPTED provides strategies that businesses and residents can take to help make their communities safer. If you would like to learn more, visit our Designing a Safe Covington website.

We are always looking for examples of CPTED success in Covington! If you or someone you know has successfully deterred crime on your property through natural access control or other CPTED strategies, please feel free to share those with us at planning@covingtonwa.gov.
 
Thank you,
City of Covington Police Department & Community Development

It's that time of year -- time to start planning for 2024! That also means it is time to seek out candidates for the Covington Chamber board of directors. Directors serve two-year terms, up to a maximum of three consecutive terms. They meet monthly via Zoom on the fourth Thursday of the month (8 - 9:30 a.m.) to discuss Covington Chamber business. They also participate in events and vote on important topics that guide the direction of the Chamber.

This year, we have four board members (George Frasier, Treasurer; Pat Hanis, Chair-Elect; Lori Paxton; and Mark Smith) with terms expiring at the end of 2023. Each has expressed interest in remaining on the board, but we welcome applications from other candidates.

According to our amended and ratified bylaws, we accept board candidate applications and two references per candidate and forward them to our Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee reviews the candidates and, based on their assessment of the applications, selects a slate of candidates to be presented to the Board of Directors for review and voting. Once the slate has been finalized and approved by the Board of Directors, the approved slate of candidates is presented to the membership for ratification at a membership meeting.

We will present the slate of candidates via paper ballot to membership at our October 12 membership luncheon. The slate of candidates shall be deemed approved unless a simple majority of the membership votes to disapprove.

Does board service interest you? If so, you have until September 15 to submit your candidate application and two references for consideration. All information must be complete, including submission of references, for applications to be considered. If any item is missing at the deadline, the application will not be considered for board candidacy.

Due to September 15, 2023:

Application to Covington Chamber Board of Directors
References for Board Candidates

Have questions? Contact Dana Neuts, executive director, at info@covingtonchamber.org or 253-780-1555.

The 2023 Fill the Canoe School Supply drive was a huge success. With 2,370 pounds of supplies raised — the most ever in Covington to date — our community showed up in a big way for our Vine Maple Place families! 
Michelle Frets, Executive Director of Vine Maple Place, shared a story about a family visiting the day we met to weigh all our supplies for the drive. Newly unhoused, a mother asked Michelle if she would be able to get back to school supply help, the worry and concern palpable. Michelle walked them down to our work area and assured them they would have what they needed. The relief was immediate.   

What is typically considered a time of joy and renewal — the start of the school year — can be one of great uncertainty and anxiety for families in need. Thank you to all who supported Fill the Canoe, especially the Covington Chamber’s Good Work Fund, Pollard Chiropractic and the members and branch staff of Red Canoe Credit Union. You made a difference in the lives of our neighbors in most need and we appreciate the partnership in community! 
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For more information on Fill the Canoe, please contact boconnor@redcanoecu.com.

For more information on Vine Maple Place, please contact juliap@vinemapleplace.org.

 ​August 1, 2023, COVINGTON, Wash. –- The South East Area Legislative Transportation Coalition (SEAL-TC) wants to thank the Washington State House and Senate Transportation Committees for maintaining the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) preferred timeline for improvements to State Route 18. SEAL-TC is comprised of regional cities, chambers of commerce, and fire and rescue services in the 5th and 47th legislative districts, and they are grateful to the House and Senate Transportation Committees for moving this project along as proposed.
 
The coalition was formed in fall 2016 to bring awareness to the transportation, commerce and safety challenges posed by SR18 and the importance of widening this key thoroughfare to save lives, facilitate commerce, and provide a safe route for employers and employees between South King County and the Eastside. Construction funding for the project was approved in 2022, and it is slated to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2029.
 
At the beginning of the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a new timeline for the project, which would have delayed project completion to 2033. Members of SEAL-TC, including local elected officials, chamber executives and first responders, testified on behalf of the coalition and reached out individually to the House and Senate Transportation Committees to stress the importance of keeping the preferred timeline for the project. The coalition is pleased that legislators on the Transportation Committees heard them and made their decision accordingly.
 
“It is way past time to complete this critical transportation link,” said Mayor Mary Lou Pauly of Issaquah. “A widened, divided, lit highway, that accommodates both commerce and commuters in the safest way possible, is critical to improving the quality of life for so many.”
 
“Eastside Fire & Rescue continues to support advancing this vital infrastructure improvement project. Enhancing the safety of residents, commuters, and first responders is EF&R's top priority. The Highway 18 improvement project is critical to improving emergency response capabilities along the route,” said Ben Lane, Fire Chief, Eastside Fire & Rescue.
 
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to our legislators for the funding allocation and support for the preferred timeline for the SR18 improvement project. This project is vital to our business community, and it demonstrates a true commitment to safety, sustainability, and economic growth. We are thrilled to see this commitment become a reality, and we look forward to the many benefits it will bring to our region,” Kelly Coughlin, Executive Director, SnoValley Chamber.
 
The coalition’s next steps include working with WSDOT to get regular project updates and remain alert to any possible changes or delays to the project timeline and budget. For more information about the SR18 project, click here: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/sr-18-issaquah-hobart-rd-deep-creek-widening.
 
SEAL-TC is made up of representatives from the following municipalities, organizations and agencies:

• City of Black Diamond
• City of Covington
• City of Issaquah
• City of Maple Valley
• City of North Bend
• City of Snoqualmie
• Covington Chamber of Commerce
• Eastside Fire & Rescue
• Issaquah Chamber of Commerce
• Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce
• Puget Sound Fire
• Renton Chamber of Commerce
• Snoqualmie Tribe
• SnoValley Chamber of Commerce

 
 
Media Contact:
 
Dana Neuts
Covington Chamber
info@covingtonchamber.org
253-780-1555

Red Canoe Credit Union, a Covington Chamber member sponsor, has kicked off their annual Fill the Canoe back-to-school drive. This year, Red Canoe is partnering with Vine Mpale Place, a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness for single-parent families in South King County, for the distribution of school supplies.

• Vine Maple Place works directly to support local families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. In the Kent School District alone (our local district in Covington), over 500 students are designated as experiencing homelessness, and 59% of the entire student population are classified as low income. The need is HUGE!
• While Fill the Canoe is focused mainly on quality backpacks and school supplies, the families helped at Vine Maple also need hygiene products (laundry detergent, deodorant, feminine products, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.) for school readiness.
• Last year, Vine Maple Place served 918 local families. They are a local, community-based model that works with other nonprofits and volunteers to provide wrap-around services that include shelters, food banks, churches, schools, hospitals and so many other agencies.

"Red Canoe is beyond proud to come alongside as partners for our signature Fill the Canoe back-to-school event," said Bridget O'Connor, Community Engagement Officer for Red Canoe Credit Union.

Red Canoe matches every donation: monetary contributions are matched dollar for dollar and school supply donations are matched pound for pound.

Supplies can be dropped off at the following locations during normal business hours:

Vine Maple Place:
Maple Valley: 21730 Dorre Don Way, SE, Maple Valley, WA 98038
Kent: 24044 104th Ave. SE, Kent, WA 98030

Red Canoe Credit Union:
27022 176th Pl. SE, Covington, WA 98042

Yesterday, we co-hosted our annual Joint Chamber Luncheon with the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber. We had more than 100 people come to network, summer fiesta style! We also heard from business consultant and speaker extraordinaire Debbie Page who had great advice on planning for success.

Special thanks to:

• Rein Fire Ranch - venue
• EJ's Custom Catering - taco bar
• Countryside Floral & Garden - table decorations
• Lydia's Cakes & Confections - dessert sponsor
• Ube Overload - dessert sponsor
• Crumbl Cookies - dessert sponsor
• Cakepops by Rachel - dessert sponsor
• Sam Pace - door prize sponsor
• Bicycle Rescue for Youth - door prize sponsor
• Just a Little Something - door prize sponsor
• Tahoma Living - door prize sponsor

...and, of course, thank you to our members and guests for making it such a wonderful event. We can't wait to see you next year!

On November 21, 2022, the Covington Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved changes to our bylaws which were last amended on June 27, 2019 and ratified by membership on August 8, 2019.

​The following is a summary of the bylaws changes unanimously approved by the Covington Chamber Board of Directors on November 21, 2022. See marked up version for exact changes and reasons for the revisions.
 
Overall changes

• Correction of minor spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors (e.g., double commas, extra spaces, etc.)

 
Article I – Membership

• Corrected and clarified wording, changing “Non-Profits” to “Nonprofit Organizations.”

 
Article II – Membership Meetings

• Section 1. Removed the word “Election” from “Annual Election Meeting.”
• Section 2. Changed monthly meetings to quarterly meetings to be consistent with our actual practice.

 
Article IV – Officers

• Treasurer: Changed “approve the financial statements” to “accept.”
• Past Chair: Corrected spelling from “existing” to “exiting.”

 
Article V – Management

• Changed “meetings held on an annual basis of the board” to “meetings in one calendar year” for clarity.

 
Article VI – Election of Directors and Officers

• Made substantive changes in Sections 1, 2 and 3 to streamline the election process, ensure the board of directors’ leadership trajectory, and protect board culture vulnerabilities to more closely align the process with industry peers and best practices. See marked up bylaws for specific changes.

 
Article X – Amendments

• Revised for clarity: added “of members present at any membership meeting called for that purpose and/or by electronic ballot.”

To view the bylaws changes unanimously approved by the Covington Chamber board of directors at their November 21, 2022 meeting, download the file below.

​Per our current bylaws, the bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors. Board action amending the Bylaws must be ratified by a simple majority vote of members present at any membership meeting called for that purpose and/or by electronic ballot. 

To comply with our bylaws, we will hold the ratification vote at the May 11, 2023 Networking Luncheon and Membership Meeting. Designated voting members in good standing who are present at the May 11, 2023 meeting will be able to vote by paper ballot. Electronic voting has not yet been approved. Each member only has one designated voting representative, so only one vote per member will be accepted. A simple majority of designated voting members is all that is needed to ratify the bylaws amendments as presented.

If you have any questions in advance of that meeting, please contact executive director Dana Neuts at info@covingtonchamber.org or board chair Bridget O'Connor at boconnor@redcanoecu.com. ​

​Joining a business membership organization like the Covington Chamber of Commerce may seem like an added expense when you're starting out or facing economic challenges, but it can provide the support your business needs to grow and thrive.
Here are three reasons why investing in a chamber membership is a smart move:

1.  Networking
Building a strong network is a great way to raise the profile of your business and capture new contacts, leads, and customers over time. The Covington Chamber of Commerce offers a range of networking events, attended by businesses in the region each month. While you don't have to be a member to attend, members save on the cost. For example, while our Third Thursday Happy Hours are free to everyone, members pay $5 less at our monthly luncheons than non-members, saving $60 per year.
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2.  Marketing Opportunities
A Covington Chamber membership also offers a range of promotional opportunities for members, helping them raise their profile, target new prospects or markets, and capture leads. One of our most popular and high-value benefits is advertising in our Covington Community and Business Guide. Members receive half off so instead of $1,050 for a half-page ad, they pay only $525. This guide is widely distributed throughout the region. We also have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities, starting at $100.
 
3.  Website Marketing
Each Covington Chamber member gets a free listing on our website with an option to upgrade, starting at $25. We also have online advertising opportunities and member-to-member offers. Members who contribute at the $750 level or above are also listed on our Good Work Fund page, giving them extra visibility.
 
Starting at $300 a year, Covington Chamber memberships are a great investment, giving our members access to networking, advertising and promotional advertising opportunities. Learn more about how a Covington Chamber membership can help your business grow today! 

The Covington Chamber of Commerce and the City of Covington are partnering to host the fourth Covington Makers’ Market on Saturday, April 29, 2023 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Real Life Church. The outdoor event will showcase small businesses, specifically local makers, bakers, creators, artists and artisans. In addition to 40+ vendor booths, this popular community event will feature live entertainment from Sarah Jolk and Hannah Z of EmpowerMe Arts and Tears of Victory, kids’ activities, and food and drink trucks.
 
“We hosted three Makers’ Markets last year, and they were so much fun! We loved supporting  small businesses and providing a free family-friendly event for the community,” said Dana Neuts, executive director of the Covington Chamber.
 
“We are excited to partner with the Covington Chamber on these markets. The community has always wanted these types of events, but the City hasn’t had the capacity to do them beyond the other events we already host,” added Karla Slate, marketing and communications manager for the City of Covington.
 
The day kicks off at 11 a.m. and wraps up at 4 p.m. The itinerary for the day includes:

• Welcome by Mayor Jeff Wagner and Pastor Steve Murray, 11:15 a.m.
• Live music from Sarah Jolk and Hannah Z of EmpowerMe Arts, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Live music from Tears of Victory, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Giveaways throughout the day

 
This event is made possible with the support of Covington Chamber partners, sponsors and members including the City of Covington, Real Life Church, Real Kids Learning, Weatherly Inn, Republic Services, Smith Brothers Farms, Jean Wall Insurance, Covington Water District, Stephanie Hunziker Real Estate, Ristrettos Coffee and Wine, Team Marti, Cosmic Bottles, Nikki’s Restaurant & Lounge, VCA Covington Animal Hospital,  Katherine’s Beauty Bar and SpotOn.