2007 Membership Survey

Be sure to include your contact information. Those who submit a completed survey will be entered to win a one-night stay in a king deluxe room at the Hotel deLuxe in downtown Portland as well as two tickets to the Portland Artists Repertory Theatre. Limit one entry per person.

The information revealed through responses to this questionnaire will be treated as confidential. Individual responses will not be made public or shared with other entities.

Company Name:
Street Address:
Phone:
Company Web site:
Name:
Title:
Email address:

Business Profile

1. How long has your company been a member of the Portland Business Alliance?
(Or the Alliance’s predecessor organizations prior to the July 2002 merger; the Chamber of Commerce or Association for Portland Progress)
Less than one year 1-3 years 4-10 years 10-20 years More than 20 years

2. How long have you personally been involved as a member of the Portland Business Alliance?
(Or the Alliance’s predecessor organizations prior to the July 2002 merger; the Chamber of Commerce or Association for Portland Progress)
Less than one year 1-3 years 4-6 years 7-10 years More than 10 years

3. What is the total number of FTE (full time equivalent) employees working for your company in the Greater Portland Metropolitan Area?
(Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas & Clark Counties)
Less than 5 5 to 50 50 to 200 Over 200

Events & Programs

4. The Portland Business Alliance sponsors a number of recurring educational and networking programs. Please choose the level of value each event gives to you. If you are not familiar with the program, please choose N/A:

Business Leads Exchange	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
ShopTalk Showcase	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Business After Hours	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Cornerstones for Success	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Jump-Start Your Membership	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Forum	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Pacific Northwest International Trade Associate (PNITA) events	High value Some value Little value No value n/a

5. The Portland Business Alliance sponsors a number of special events. Please indicate the level of value each event gives to your business. If you are not familiar with the program, please choose N/A:

Annual Meeting Breakfast	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Business Leadership Evening	High value Some value Little value No value
Golf Scramble	High value Some value Little value No value n/a
Chair's Cup	High value Some value Little value No value n/a

6. What recommendations can you make that would improve the value of programs and events for your business?

Committee Involvement

7. In which committees do you participate?

Downtown Services committees:
Central City Committee	Downtown Marketing Committee
Downtown Retail Council
Public Policy committees:
Government Relations Committee	Education Committee
Transportation Committee	Economic Development Committee
Sustainability Committee	International Trade (PNITA)
Membership committees:
Membership Committee	Small Business Council
President's Council	Cornerstones Committee
Golf Scramble Committee
Communications committees:
Communications Committee

8. If you don’t regularly participate in Alliance committees, why not? Meetings are held at inconvenient times for my business I do not receive notification of meetings Committees do not address issues my business is concerned with Committee process is not an effective method of advocacy for my business I do not have time to commit to participating on a committee Meetings don't offer enough opportunity for member participation

Benefits and Services

9. The Portland Business Alliance provides benefits and services to members. How important are the following Alliance benefits and services to your business?

Visibility: Opportunities for sponsorship, advertising, web directory listing, events and committee participation
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Connections: Opportunities for networking with potential customers, business leaders and strategic partners
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Advocacy: Ensuring that the business perspective is heard in public policy debate through committee work and lobbying efforts on behalf of the business community
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Education: Providing strategies for doing business and serve as an information resource on issues impacting the business environment
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Savings: Access to promotions and member-to-member discounts on events, products and services to assist your business
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Civic Responsibility: Ability to have a meaningful impact on the community and the business climate through participation in Portland Business Alliance programs, committees and events
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Downtown Management: Maintaining and improving a vibrant Central City through Downtown Clean & Safe programs, marketing and contract management
High value Some value Little value No value n/a

Other(s) please list:

10. Rate your satisfaction with how the Alliance is delivering these benefits and services:

Visibility: I receive business that justifies my marketing, promotion and sponsorship investment
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Connections: I receive business leads and/or develop strategic relationships through networking events and committee participation
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Advocacy: Progress is made on policy issues that are important to my business
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Education A: Alliance events and programs are a useful resource for information on tips and strategies for my business
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Education B: The Alliance is a useful resource for learning about topical issues that impact my business
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Savings: The discounts offered through membership are valuable to my business
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly Disagree

Civic Responsibility: The Alliance is representative of the greater business community
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Downtown Management: The Downtown Clean & Safe program effectively addresses and responds to my downtown cleanliness, safety and livability concerns
Strongly agree Agree Neutral Strongly disagree

Advocacy

11. The Alliance Government Relations group works on a number of issues that impact business. How important are the following to your business?

Local business taxes. The Alliance successfully advocated for relief for small businesses from the City of Portland’s business license fee, achieving an increase in the owners’ compensation deduction and gross receipts minimum and laying the groundwork for further reductions over the next five years. The Alliance also successfully advocated for a similar reduction in the county’s business income tax.
Very important Important Not important

Rainy Day Fund. The Alliance joined with the state's major business organizations to defeat a legislative proposal to impose a significant gross receipts tax on Oregon firms and successfully lobbied to establish the state's first general rainy day account to be funded with a one-time suspension of the corporate kicker, but preserved the kicker for firms with less than $5 million in Oregon sales.
Very important Important Not important

Partnership building and business advocacy. In creating the first Regional Business Plan, the Alliance joined with 15 other business organizations, including the Oregon Business Council, and many public leaders to create a roadmap for the work we must do to achieve regional economic prosperity. A progress report on the plan was published in January.
Very important Important Not important

Education and Work Force Development. The Alliance worked with local government and school leaders to find a solution for our region’s continuing school funding problems. In aggregate, Alliance members were the largest contributor to the successful campaign to pass the 5-year Portland Public Schools operating levy, which provides long-term school funding stability.
Very important Important Not important

A strong, vibrant central city. The Alliance focused on areas of key concern downtown, such as adding additional security, opening public restrooms and creating day shelters for the homeless. Last year saw a 13 percent reduction in crime overall and a 27 percent reduction in car prowls.
Very important Important Not important

Transportation. The Alliance joined with public and private sector partners to complete a statewide study of the economic cost of traffic congestion, especially as it impacts freight mobility. This study, based on the successful regional effort in 2006, will serve as a basis for advocating for additional transportation dollars.
Very important Important Not important

Federal Arena. The Pacific Northwest International Trade Association tracks federal issues of importance to the Portland region including transportation, tax and trade legislation.
Very important Important Not important

City and County spending. The Alliance advocates for efficient and cost-effective allocation of services between the city and county, and works to identify efficiencies in city and county programs to improve services and reduce costs.
Very important Important Not important

Law Enforcement Resources. The Alliance works with partners to allocate city and county funding for critical services such as the sobering station and additional jail beds, and advocate for measures that help improve the pedestrian environment in Downtown and the Lloyd District.
Very important Important Not important

Sustainability. The Alliance provides a forum for companies interested in sustainability to share strategies and issues, identify best practices, publicize events and market the Portland region's commitment to sustainability.
Very important Important Not important

Initiative Campaigns and Candidates for Office. The Alliance reviews and provides information regarding the potential impacts of initiatives and referenda, provides a forum to discuss measure campaigns, conducts candidate interviews regarding issues of importance to businesses and make endorsements.
Very important Important Not important

Central City Development. Advocacy for workforce housing, office and retail development in the Central City is a key policy focus. The Alliance works with Metro, the city and the Portland Development Commission to promote development tools and favorable zoning to support a vibrant and economically viable Central City.
Very important Important Not important

12. How are you interested in helping the Alliance advocate for a business perspective at the city, county or state level?
Write letters or send email on issues Call council or legislative leaders Visit regional and state elected officials

13. How do you respond to the issue alerts and calls to action sent by the Alliance when a particular issue is before local or state governments?
I read it and act on those issues relevant to my business I read it and use it as an information resource only I delete it without reading it

Communications

14. How much do you use the Portland Business Alliance e-Newsletter?
(Please check all that apply):

I read every item	I read about half
I delete it without reading	I print it and read it later
I file a copy for reference	I pass it along to others in my organization
I do not receive the publication	Other:

15. How much do you use the Portland Business Alliance print newsletter?
(Please check all that apply):

I read every item	I read about half
I file a copy for reference	I pass it along to others in my organization
I do not receive the publication	Other:

16. How much do you use the Portland Business Alliance weekly E-Calendar?

I read every item and register for events	I glance at it and sometimes register
I pass it along to others in my organization	I do not receive the publication
I delete it without reading	Other:

17. How useful do you find the Alliance website?
Very useful Somewhat useful Not very useful Never access it

18. How can we better communicate with you?

Distinguishing Portland

Launched earlier this year, the Distinguishing Portland Initiative promotes the value businesses contribute to the community. Currently focused on sustainability, the campaign will expand to community involvement, global reach and business ethics.

19. Where did you hear about the Distinguishing Portland Initiative?
Alliance newsletters Alliance Web site Annual Meeting I am not familiar with the Distinguishing Portland Initiative

20. The Alliance is considering developing informational materials such as a video or electronic brochure to inform your employees, clients and customers about how business contributes to the community. Would you use it?
Definitely Probably Not sure Probably Not Definitely not

Members Only Feature

Launched earlier this year, the Members Only section of the Alliance Web site is an exclusive area that allows members to access their accounts, and receive special benefits and savings.

21. How do you use the Members Only section?
To change/update my company profile To access members-only discounts and promotions To pay membership dues To add special member-to-member coupons I do not use the Members Only section

22. If you do not use Members Only, please indicate why:
Didn't know about it Difficult to use Don't know my username and/or password Features not useful to my company Prefer to access features/benefits over the phone or in person

Member Satisfaction

23. When it is time to renew your company's membership in the Portland Business Alliance, will you recommend your company renew for another year?
Definitely Probably Not sure Probably not Definitely not

If you are unlikely to recommend renewal, please explain the determining factors:

24. Would you recommend membership to the Portland Business Alliance to other businesses?
Definitely Probably Not sure Probably not Definitely not

If you are unlikely to recommend membership to other businesses, please explain the determining factors:

25. Please identify improvements you would like to see undertaken at the Portland Business Alliance to improve the value of your membership:

Please type the above letters for verification purposes.