Podcasts on How to use a Chamber Membership

What is a "Traditional - Non-Profit" Chamber of Commerce?

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A PLATFORM  top

A stage for public speaking, or historically the Chamber would offer a landing alongside railroad tracks to present issues and solicit membership to join.  Today the Chamber also provides a place, means, or opportunity for public expression of opinion.  It's also a formal declaration of the principles on which a group, such as a political party, makes its appeal to the public.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A NETWORK  top

A interconnected group of Chamber of Commerce members with similar interests or concerns about the community who interact and remain in contact for mutual assistance or support.  Media typically plays a role in the Chamber of Commerce, and like a chain they relay.important member and Chamber data that is broadcast over a radio, television or web network.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A TEAM  top

The Chamber of Commerce is a group of people and businesses (team) that's on the same side, as in a game.  A group organized to work together: a team of knowledge worked through to better a community, or increase local commerce.  More Chambers realize the future is a team of virtual business members, selling as a team online to increase global awareness of their area.

 
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS PUBLIC  top

The Chamber of Commerce is of, concerning, or affecting the community or the people: the public good. Maintained for or used by the people or community: a public park. Capitalized with membership plans.  Participated in, or attended by the people or community: “Opinions are formed in a process of open discussion and public debate” .  Connected with or acting on behalf of the people, community, or government: public office.  The Chamber of Commerce is also a public vessel that is open to the knowledge or judgment of all.  

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A VOICE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is a sound resembling or reminiscent of local utterance: One of the individual vocal members or strands of members in a composition: stringing voices to carry the message expression; utterance: gave voice to their feelings at the meeting.  A Chamber of Commerce is a medium or agency of expression: a newsletter that serves as a neighborhood voice.   The right or opportunity to express a choice or opinion: a territory that has a voice, but not a vote, in Congress.  The Chamber of Commerce with its members creates a distinctive style or manner of expression or gives voice to; utter: voice a grievance as loudly as one's voice will allow in all due respect.  Objective is to have one voice in complete agreement; unanimously, but accepted when not.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS COMMUNITY PRIDE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is a sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in a community and its many achievements.  A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction knowing that your community is on display.  Sometimes a Chamber of Commerce is a flamboyant or impressive group that extends the Chamber of Commerce into a Chamber of Events that brings pride to the community.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR  top

The Chamber of Commerce is the body who maintains a popular community calendar of events and meetings.  A Chamber of Commerce provides a table showing the months, weeks, and days in at least one specific year. A schedule of events or an ordered list of matters to be considered: a calendar of business or commerce meetings, community issues, ribbon cuttings, open house notifications for businesses and more. 

A Chamber of Commerce will typically let the public post events and meetings on the calendar that the Chamber deems of value to the community.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A BUSINESS DIRECTORY  top

The Chamber of Commerce maintains a powerful business directory of business and commerce.  It is a book containing an alphabetical or classified listing of names, addresses, and other data, such as telephone, email, of specific persons, groups, or firms.   Most Chambers today offer files contained in a storage device, such as a magnetic disk and served through a website.  Some Chambers even allow the community to do business online instantly with their members via the member directory. 

Businesses in a community should always be listed on this Chamber of Commerce directory.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A LOCATION  top

The Chamber of Commerce maintains a place where community visitors may visit to find information on the community or local businesses.  Typically a friendly  volunteer, or paid staff will greet the visitors.  Members are welcome in Chamber facilities to help out with community projects, or to promote their own local businesses to visitors.

The location provides an ideal place for members to vent their concerns and hold Chamber of Commerce board meetings.

 THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY PRESENTATION  top

The Chamber of Commerce is typically the only established body, or at minimum, plays an important roll in giving a community presentation.  Truly the Chamber has the act of presenting such as an award or gift, that may be offered or given by the community to a dignitary or from the Chamber to a local business or association.  Something such as a lecture or speech, that is set forth for an audience.  A formal introduction of the mayor or a social debut of a new park or employer who newly arrives in town.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE BUSINESS SUPPORT  CENTER top

The Chamber of Commerce is typically the only recognized business support center in the community.  The Chamber will bear the weight of most business complaints associated with competing businesses coming in to town (Big box retailers for instance).  Some Chambers will help businesses find capital or steer them in the right direction.  Hold local job fairs, or trade shows to help local businesses prosper.  Designed to strengthen: The letter from the Chamber supported him in his grief.  To provide for or maintain, by supplying with necessities.  To furnish corroborating evidence for: New facts supported by members story.  To aid the cause, policy, or interests of: supported in her election campaign.   To argue in favor of; advocate: supported lower or higher taxes. The act of supporting.  The state of being supported.  One that supports.

Modern Chambers provide members with aggregated online selling tools that increase sales through the Internet.  A popular service with physical businesses looking to expand online, or home based businesses looking to add a lot of traffic to their website from online Chamber visitors.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS A LOCAL BOARD  top

The Chamber of Commerce is governed by its Board Members and listens closely to member suggestions.  It's an honor to be part of a Chamber of Commerce Board and it help gives participants a credible community voice.  Today's Chamber often polls its membership electronically prior to board meetings to help steer decision making.

It is actually a group of people responsible for supervising the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce.   The board generally sets broad Chamber policy rather than participating in day-to-day managerial decisions, although selection of the Chamber leader is the board's responsibility in most cases. 

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE FUTURE OF LOCAL COMMERCE ONLINE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is the future as it has been historically for the last 100 years.  A Chamber of Commerce is an organization of citizens who are investing their time and money in a community.  Working together to improve the economic, civic and cultural well-being of the area.  The work of the Chamber is financed by the members who support it on the basis of their ability to pay membership and their interest in the progress of the area.

The Chamber of Commerce is composed of staff or volunteer workers, director(s), and officers who serve with or without pay depending on the Chamber size in most cases. A Chamber executive and staff who devote their full time to the Chamber of Commerce are the only paid employees in most cases.

A Chamber of Commerce helps to create job opportunities through stimulation of industrial and commercial growth. It seeks the improvement of community facilities such as streets, highways, parks, schools, marketing and human resources.

Today all of these same attributes are now needed to aggregate the community online so the community can compete as a single selling block.  Just like the past 100 years where the promotion of the physical space of businesses was the primary objective of the Chamber, today they are now getting set to promote its virtual business members too.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS SERVICE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is all about service to its members, the community, and to the public including tourists. 

• Employment automation in some Chambers now allows them to provide FREE job posting and online candidate matching services to its members. 
• Members can now sell online right off of the membership directory at NO COST.
• Chambers are now providing free websites with lots of web traffic shared and delivered to their member businesses.
• Online catalogs are now the craze as members get them FREE.
• Relocation services are now becoming fully automated designed to get new residents or businesses to relocate to the area.
• Fully automated membership directory that allows members to adjust for the most possible prospect traffic.
   

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY HANDSHAKE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is often valued for its community handshake where dignitaries and other important people like tourists always get a warm handshake and welcome to the community. 

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL MEDIATOR  top

The Chamber of Commerce is often called the middle-man where businesses can log a complaint and the Chamber will try to mediate the issue.  Recently I witnessed a Chamber get a complaint from a merchant about another merchants vehicle being parked in a prime customer parking area.  The Chamber called the offending merchant without ever disclosing the complaining merchant name and all was taken care of. 

The Chamber is very useful in mediating problems like this.  In my humble opinion I see Chambers as a HUGE ASSET to any community as they are solving problems everyday.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY MAIL ROOM  top

The Chamber of Commerce is the logical solution for any business that needs to communicate its business services to others in the area.  Many Chambers actively mail newsletters and event information on a regular basis to keep its members and/or the community informed about events, issues and more.  The Chamber's mailroom handles incoming and outgoing mail for its members, community and or local organizations.  Many now offer members pre-printed mailing labels and electronic distribution on information.

 
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY WEBMASTER top

The Chamber of Commerce is responsible for keeping up-to-date records and information about their community, members businesses, events, and much more online through their website. The role of the webmaster(s) is responsible for the development and maintenance of all of the web pages.  This is sometimes handled outside of the Chamber through a website service.  Some Chambers are now using systems that automatically update the Chamber website so that no webmaster is needed.  In many cases this saves the Chamber a lot of money and hassles in communicating required website changes or updates.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL GUIDE  top

The Chamber of Commerce is also a tour guide for the community.  This volunteer tour guide often leads others on a tour of a downtown area or is familiar enough to give great tourist information over the phone, or email.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE COMMUNITY RECEPTIONIST  top

The Chamber of Commerce answers the phone for the community and for its members.  Many calls and email requests come in daily from people looking for local information.  When you are a member of the Chamber of Commerce they will promote your business to the caller when it makes sense to do so.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL EVENT PLANNER  top

The Chamber of Commerce is one of the most important enterprises in any community.  It works hard to bring events to an area so visitors will come and increase commerce, while bringing pride to the community residents who like people to notice.

A Chamber is often involved in being a professional planner of parties or social events, and for corporate or government officials interested in the area, or to re-locate their business.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL FUND RAISER  top

The Chamber of Commerce is an important fundraiser and works with most local organizations to the betterment of the whole community.  Without the Chamber of Commerce, many organizations would not have the "glue" necessary to get many social programs off the ground.  The Chamber of Commerce solicits financial contributions from organizations for social functions.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL BUSINESS PROMOTER top

The Chamber of Commerce is a business promoter and a very good one at that.  The call logs show that most Chambers field thousands of calls a year from people looking for specialty business services. Every day Chambers across this country promote their members and communities. 

Now that more and more people are inquiring through the Internet about Chamber services and their  member businesses, many Chambers are upgrading their systems to provide instant access to business services.  You can now buy services or products online right from the Chamber directory in some cases. 

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS THE LOCAL BUSINESS VALIDATOR  top

The Chamber of Commerce is in a perfect position to validate businesses for callers or website visitors.  Years ago the Chambers of Commerce were partners with the Better Business Bureau so many people still rely on the Chambers to be a reference point for a member business.  Being a member of a Chamber assures that your business will be referred and validated so join a local Chamber of Commerce today.

A Chamber is like
a Pot of Soil...

Your Membership
is Adding Soil...

The Board is
Providing the Water...

Together We Become
a Strong Plant...

A Strong Plant
Weathers a lot of Storms...

Your Business does Better with Strength!