Chamber director sets goals

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Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce's new executive director, Pat Szarpa, stands on Main Street. Charlie M. Holmes

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August 9, 2012

Chamber director sets goals

Charlie M. Holmes THE COOPERSTOWN CRIER The Cooperstown Crier Thu Aug 09, 2012, 10:32 PM EDT

The director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce said she would like to see Cooperstown become more of a four-season destination, or at least a three-season one, if that goal is a bit more realistic.

“You know, it’s not just a summer place,” Pat Szarpa said. “We’re trying to find ways in which the shoulder seasons, the springs and the falls, get built up.”

Now, five months into the job, Szarpa is on her way to making that idea a reality, and she’s getting a lot of help along the way.

“People are always offering tips, bringing opportunity,” Szarpa said, “I love thinking outside the box. Other people would be afraid to run businesses. People here are opening businesses at the drop of a hat — trying new things — and that’s exciting.”

For example, Szarpa said she has been impressed with the development of the Cooperstown Beverage Trail. Szarpa said she has been awed with how those involved have taken the initiative to promote it.

“They’ve put together this wonderful magazine, Quench. It’s a beautiful magazine,” Szarpa said. “Great job that they’ve done. It’s sort of taking it to a higher level because there is so much more to do here.”

Tourism isn’t the only thing on Szarpa’s mind. She said she is also concerned about the community appreciating what the local businesses bring to the community as well as being aware of those businesses.

“Like Bassett, whose taken on more of a leadership role with the Chamber recently,” Szarpa said. “They are a large player in the community, but they often don’t feel that people appreciate what they bring. They bring a huge chunk of the economy. The people that work there are shopping (locally). There is so much that they do besides providing the great medical care.”

Springbrook and the State University College at Oneonta joined the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce in July for that same reason.

“They feel that they need to be out there,” Szarpa explained. “They’re a large employer. They want to have that recognition as a large employer. And whether people like it or not the name ‘Cooperstown’ brings that attention.”

Szarpa said she realizes that part of the reason Cooperstown attracts attention is because of its aesthetics.

“I’m brand new to living here. Coming from another place and thinking about Cooperstown and not living here, you get this feeling of,” Szarpa let out a satisfied sigh. “It’s just a beautiful community. By virtue of the fact that it looks the same when you come time and time again — that’s what makes it special. You’ve got to put in some of the modern things, but you still have to maintain that look. You don’t want to see big box stores. You want to see these beautiful quaint shops.”

Highlighting the lake and the natural environment is one area that Szarpa is focusing on, and she’s working with local environmental groups with that in mind.

“In fact the Otsego land trust . . . they’re hoping to open up five new access points in different parts here in the area for kayak access,” Szarpa said.

Szarpa said she would also like to feature Doubleday Field more.

“I didn’t know that you could rent Doubleday Field and that anybody ould,” Szarpa admitted. “You think about someone’s bucket list, a special reunion . . . a wedding party. Cool events like, ‘Hey let’s get the family out there to play ball for dad’s 80th birthday.’’”

She’s also thought about using Doubleday Field as the hub for a senior version of Cooperstown Dreams Park.

“Maybe you start small,” Szarpa said. “Maybe once or twice a year there’s a tournament played here. So maybe all those teams merge here. Maybe there are a couple places where they play, but essentially a good portion of the games are gonna be played right here at Doubleday. So again you’re talking about a whole other group of folks coming out here. “

The Chamber offers a lot of networking opportunities to their members, but plans to start offering more through its website as well as in person. Szarpa said that several chamber members expressed interest in learning how to be a better business person. With that in mind, Szarpa would like to implement a series of webinars and seminars on the subject.

“I had a great meeting with one of our chamber members — one of our accommodations folks — who also had a great idea,” Szarpa explained. “She suggested taking people, like all our accommodations folks, and bringing them together for something like ‘has this happened to you?’ so they can learn from each other how do you solve that problem.”

Being a new resident of Cooperstown, Szarpa also saw the clear need for a relocation guide.

“We’re working closer with the folks down in Oneonta as well, and that’s fairly new. Main Street Oneonta is a chamber member of Cooperstown Chamber,” Szarpa said. “They are also wanting to do that local community promotion as well. So we’re going to try to work together between Otsego County chamber, our chamber and Main Street Oneonta chamber to clearly create something that people coming to this area can use to make decisions and be excited about living here.”

The Cooperstown Chamber is planning Pumpkinfest, which will take place Sept. 22 and 23. Szarpa said she is hoping to introduce new viewing areas for the regatta this year. For more information about Pumpkinfest, visit http://cooperstownchamber.org/pumpkinfest/.

Those interested in becoming a member of the chamber may call 547-9983 or email info1@cooperstownchamber.org.