Hopkins president-elect of Chamber

When Frank Hopkins was asked to run for the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce Board, he says, “I told them I wanted to be president.” However, the job requires a year in training, so this coming January he will take a seat at Phil Delaney’s left as president-elect when Delaney officially starts his 2007 term as the chamber’s leader. Hopkins takes over in January 2008.

As far as “training” goes for Hopkins, he won’t need much. He’s already served as president of the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce and served on its board for eight years. However, Fallbrook isn’t Fountain Valley, where traditional city activities are augmented by the chamber of commerce. As an unincorporated community, Fallbrook’s chamber takes on a much different role. In Hopkins’ view, “Our chamber plays a pivotal role in the western region of North San Diego County.” Because of this belief, he thinks it can have an even greater influence by focusing on the specific needs of its diverse 620-member base.

Most people don’t know why they join the chamber, Hopkins asserts. “We are going to survey the membership to see how we can help individuals,” he says, then adds the survey to improve membership will take place before he becomes president. “We have some retired farmers, for example, who support us with their membership fees, but we don’t know if, or how, we can help them.” Once the survey is completed, the chamber will know how to improve its services to all its members, not just a few business groups.

Hopkins says the 15-person board will go on a mini-retreat in December to get to know its five new members, solidify the board’s commitment to its member base and appoint each of its board members to a role of governance over the chamber’s many committees. The role of the president-elect is challenging, Hopkins says, for it is in that year that plans for implementation during the year as president are formed. Hopkins believes the mini-retreat is a great start. Investing responsibilities for the success of the chamber’s programs lie not with its president but with its 15 members working as a team, he says. “During my term I plan to build a team to get things done.”

Hopkins cites the popular chamber Sundowner event as an activity that can be improved. “I plan to work with new members to introduce them in a professional manner and give them a few minutes to address the group,” he says. Further, each board member will be tasked to make new members feel comfortable and take them in hand to meet individuals personally.

If Hopkins’ enthusiasm seems boundless, it’s because it is. “I plan to be very strong on getting things done,” he says. With his past chamber of commerce experience and 44 years of successful business management, the man who declares, “You have to give back to the community,” will no doubt be successful.