THE LAWTON FORT SILL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LAWTON - Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce recently named former Lawton and Comanche Nation police departments’ community policing agent R.L. Smith as its new membership director.
Although Smith remains active with several nonprofits and other outreach programs, his involvement with community efforts while working for each of the police departments was something he missed after he retired from law enforcement earlier this spring.
“I truly love just about everything about Lawton. And I’m a people person,” Smith said. So when the opportunity to be involved with promoting Lawton’s businesses became available, Smith applied. “About 25% of Lawton businesses are members of the Chamber, and that is something I would like to improve,” said Smith.
According to the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce website, membership rates depend on the number of employees and range from $340 to $555 annually for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
With several events scheduled throughout the year, members are able to network, build credibility, increase brand visibility, receive professional development while strengthening businesses and the community. The Chamber also allows members’ use of its boardroom, if available, and will promote members’ events.
“It’s a good return on investment,” said Smith. The Indianapolis-born ordained minister grew up in Kentucky and joined the Army in 1977. While attending Bible Baptist Church that year, he met Billie Hisle and the couple were soon married.
“Both of our children were born here at Reynolds Army Hospital,” Smith beamed. After his time in the service, Smith joined the Lawton Police Department working in patrol, traffic and detectives’ divisions. Enjoying community outreach programs, Smith and his team initiated several community-based programs.
Being involved with the community, overseeing the crime prevention unit and neighborhood watches was “what I really loved doing,” said Smith. “By involving the citizens, working on the Cops and Kids Picnic, the Lawton Southside Youth Rally and hosting a Law Enforcement Day,” Smith worked “to build positive relationships between law enforcement and the citizens,” he added.
After more than 20 years with Lawton Police Depart- ment, he retired as a sergeant. As the community policing agent for the Comanche Nation Police Department, Smith was able to continue his passion for community outreach. Along with several other initiatives to form relations between the police force and the citizens, “we did the first-ever totally independent Crime Stoppers program on tribal property in the history of the United States,” the former Comanche Nation lieutenant proudly stated.
After resigning from the Comanche Nation in April, and not being one to just sit around, Smith looked for something to do that would benefit the community. “For about five months, I was just enjoying retirement,” said Smith. “Even before I came to the Chamber, whenever I’d hear people complain that Lawton doesn’t have many things to do, so I rattle off 16 things that will help the local economy, because I believe in the shop local moniker and making Lawton better and stronger.”
Being responsible for Membership 101, overseeing the membership committee, obtaining and retaining members, Smith says he enjoys working with the chamber. Between ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Breakfast B4 Business and After Hours events, there is always something planned to help members’ businesses become more successful, he added. While the chamber is membership-driven, Smith said he is looking forward to cultivating professional relationships with members.
“What I love about this opportunity is that I get to promote the businesses of the community I love. And in this chamber, we all jump in together as a team to give our businesses our support,” Smith said. Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce welcomes members to participate in several networking events each month. Smith added that the Chamber is promoting a Shop Small event on Sat., Nov. 30.
For more information about the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, call (580) 355-3541 or visit www. lawtonfortsillchamber.com.