Nashville’s GLBT Chamber of Commerce board of directors has voted to hire a part-time employee, marking a significant growth point in the group’s ten-year history.

The announcement was made at the July 22 NGLBTCC meeting held at the Loews Vanderbilt Plaza.

The new employee, which will serve as a contract part-time executive assistant to the board, will work at least ten hours a week and be responsible for a variety of administrative and membership functions.

“At their July meeting, the board of directors voted to hire the first employee for the NGLBTCC,” said John Wade, president. “This will be a part-time person, tasked to improve efficiencies in planning and executing initiatives of the Chamber.”

Wade said it was an important move and marked a historic development for the organization. The NGLBTCC board authorized a $6,000 budget allotment for the position, to be spent over a period of six months. Should the position function as the board hopes, Wade said he anticipated the board approving additional funding for the job.

“We’ve grown to the point that we needed some help,” he said. “We (the officers and board members) can’t keep up with some of the administrative demands and requests for information. Fortunately the community and business community have been very supportive of our mission and our finances are in a position that we are able to make this move.” 

NGLBTCC finances come from two main sources – membership dues and money raised from the annual “unpredictable” fashion show. Wade said the membership dues typically cover the cost of the meeting space at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza.

Wade said he is appointing a personnel committee from the NGLBTCC board of directors which will draft a job description and begin interviewing candidates. A list of three finalists will be presented to Wade, and he will make his recommendation from that list to the full board of directors.

He anticipates the person to be hired and working by the end of September. Resumes will be accepted before the end of August.

While a job description has not yet be approved, some of the duties of the new position may include (but not limited to): Maintain Chamber cellular phone, taking periodic calls and returning messages; Field emails received through Chamber web site; Send welcome packets to new members; Interview members for content for monthly e-newsletter; Design monthly e-newsletter and send membership meeting reminders; Coordinate logistics of membership meetings, including room set-up; Contact speakers requested by program committee and board to arrange speaking engagements; Coordinate additional networking meetings such as breakfast and lunch meetings; Mail membership renewal letters/applications and follow up with phone calls as needed; Keep member name badges current; Keep content on web site (including calendar) up to date; Assist with the planning/execution of fundraiser (Unpredictable).

“If you or someone you know is looking for extra income to supplement retirement or a current job, we will begin accepting applications in late August,” Wade said. “An announcement will be posted when the committee is prepared to accept applications.”