Written by Chamber Visitor Services Director Grace Allen 

Feb. 1, 2010 ---

There are three major publications printed and sent out to all Chamber members annually. The distribution of the Membership Directory is one of these projects. All publications are done in-house with the services provided by businesses that are Chamber members.

The Visitor Center staff is essential in the process of getting publications out to the membership. Each staff member has a part and they work together to complete the task.

It all starts when our printer delivers copies of membership directory ordered by Visitor Center staff member and Cal Poly student Brett Ward. Brett stacks and separates the boxes into two categories, one for delivery and the other for storage or back stock.

Visitor Center staffer Maggy McLaughlin, a Cuesta College student, is then ready to insert the New Member Listings printed from the Chamber’s Risograph machine, leased from Ultrex. The Risograph is a high-speed digital printing system designed mainly for high-volume photocopying and printing.

Next, Cuesta College student Courtney van Leuven patiently inserts more than 1,400 envelopes to the Panasonic copy machine, also leased from Ultrex. This machine imprints the Chamber’s physical address along with the permit number designated by the United States Postal Service.

Once the materials are in order, Cal Poly student Allison Russell and Cuesta College student Cayenne Hunt stuff each envelope by creating an assembly line of materials including the new member inserts and the membership directory. Brett, Maggy and Courtney then separate and bundle the stuffed envelopes into the designated ZIP codes to comply the USPS guidelines. Once complete, the  materials are delivered in bulk by Brett and Allison to the post office on Madonna Road.

The Visitor Center gets more than 100,000 walk-in locals and tourists alike and receives countless e-mails and phone calls a month. Please stop by and visit us, we are located at 1039 Chorro Street. Take advantage of your Chamber membership by dropping off business cards and promotional materials to be displayed in the Visitor Center.

The Visitor Center is open seven days a week. Its operating hours are Sunday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Remember to keep an eye out for the 2010 San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory!