Chamber Blog

Chamber announces name change - Poughkeepsie

To better reflect its far-reaching membership base, the Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce announced this morning it will change its name to the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"No doubt we are a regional chamber of commerce. No doubt we are located in the county seat of Dutchess and have been here for 100 plus years," said chamber CEO and President Charles North. "It only makes sense to choose a name going forward for the next 100 years, to reflect what we are to our members today."

The change will be effective Jan. 1.

Read full story [Poughkeepsie Journal]

BWCC president introduces you to Maryland's only regional chamber of commerce

A nice video introduction to the BWCC

Chamber offers gift-wrapping - Unique Fund Raiser

The Greater Laconia-Weirs Beach Chamber of Commerce has opened its doors to holiday shoppers for gift-wrapping services. Now through Dec. 21, anyone is welcome to bring in gifts to be wrapped on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Although there is no fee for the staff's wrapping expertise, donations to the chamber's capital campaign fund are greatly appreciated.

The New Home Capital Campaign financial goal is to become mortgage-free after moving into the chamber's new location, the former Elks Lodge, approximately a year and a half ago.

Read full story [citizen]

If there was no Chamber of Commerce

There would be no office to respond to the inquiries about your community and its opportunities.

There would be no information-gathering center with which to inform the business community and advise it of current events affecting them.

There would be no collective force to make known the physical needs of the community such as improved roads, utilities, facilities, safety and the like.

There would be no forum wherein the business community can exchange views and positions, and no voice to express those to other agencies.

There would be no focal point for social gathering of the business community wherein an exchange of ideas and services may take place.

There would be no political voice to keep our elected representatives aware of the community feelings on legislative action and needs.

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© 2005

Chambers of commerce change with the times

Although networking isn’t the sole focus of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, it still plays a large role, as in this Business After Hours event earlier this year. In 1887, when the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce — then known as the Commercial Club — held its first meeting, global warming was not on anyone’s agenda.

And most likely, no one thought the city’s business elite would be concerned about such an issue — much less such topics as the arts, health care or education.

But all those issues are priorities as the organization celebrates its 120th anniversary.

“We’re not our grandfather’s chamber anymore,” said Pete Levi, the president of the Greater Kansas City chamber. “We’re not lunch clubs anymore. We’re really engaged in the community, looking at the total needs of the people who live here.”

Chambers of commerce throughout the area and the country have had to evolve to meet the needs of their members. Even a decade or two ago chambers were more “networking” social clubs than the chambers of today.

Read full story [Kansas City Star]

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New Chamber of Commerce chief addresses issues in South Carolina

The new chairman of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce says South Carolina is at an economic crossroads.

Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America in Greenville since 1996, told the 28th Annual Summit last week that S.C. businesses are being challenged by global competition that is sometimes fair and sometimes unfair.

“But it is a reality,” Micali said. “South Carolina has got to be first class in every respect in order to compete.”

Before his formal remarks Thursday night as he accepted the reins of the state business organization from outgoing chairman Harris DeLoach of Sonoco, Micali sat down with The State.

Read full story [The State]

Chambers of Commerce Fulfill a Dual Mission

When I was very young, Art Linkletter made a huge hit with a television series and book entitled Kids Say the Darnedest Things. And, while I don’t think either TV or a book deal is in my future, I’ve got to note that readers, too, ask the darnedest things. This week’s column is a case in point.

Elmer wrote last week: “I have a question about chambers. Should a chamber of commerce be in business to support business members or the business community including businesses that, for various reasons, do not belong to that chamber?”

Well, Elmer. Hmm. Good question!

I replied, of course, but it made me wonder how my friends in the business would respond. So, I asked. Here is a sampling of their replies that demonstrate just how difficult this seemingly simple question can be.

From Ron Sachs, chairman of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce board of directors, “At its best, the chamber of commerce serves as a valuable resource to, and advocate for, the business community, developing and promoting programs, projects and services that enable businesses to better prosper. In the course of doing that, the chamber also serves as one of the most trusted authorities on quality of life issues that arise in the community. While we work diligently to serve our members directly and indirectly, we are an important asset for all businesses and all residents in the community. In the end, chamber businesses, their owners and their employees are often among the most involved people in your
neighborhoods, schools, charities, churches and governments, working together to build stronger communities.”

From Juli Puckett, spokeswoman for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, “I think I can speak for our chamber with yes we do support the broad business community. As our all inclusive mission states, we 'enhance the business climate of Florida’s Capital city, while ensuring economic prosperity and improving the quality of life enjoyed by its citizens.’ Non-members can attend our programs and reap the benefits of our advocacy at the governmental level. Often times we draw members based on our advocacy efforts when we’re visible on behalf of the business community.”

So that’s it, right? No other perspectives. Read on.

Read full story [tallahassee.com]

Innovation Summit Draws 500 Chicago Business Professionals

The second annual Innovation Summit, presented by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft, drew more than 500 members of the Chicago business community to Navy Pier on October 27. Attendees heard authors John Kao and Rosabeth Moss Kanter deliver compelling messages about why innovation is crucial to our economy and how it can be achieved. Attendees also saw demonstrations of the latest Microsoft technology, including Surface, which turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive computing platform on display for the first time in Chicagoland.

Kicking off the program, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gerald Roper cited the Summit as the highlight of Innovation Week, which began on October 22 with an official proclamation from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. James Tyree, Chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial, emphasized the importance of innovation, saying: “We must embrace innovation in our business practices to compete in the 21st century. We cannot take comfort in just doing things as we have in the past.”

Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, spoke of the need to “get everyone on the same page, bringing new products to new markets using new processes,” employing open collaborative networks and producing new talent for the workforce.

John Kao, consultant and author of Innovation Nation, delivered a number of strong messages about the need for the US to close the innovation gap with other nations, since many formerly third-world countries have leapt ahead in research and development, education, science and better-prepared workforces. “The Innovation Nation begins with each of us,” Kao told the audience. “We’ve got to realize we live in a global environment, where fundamentally we’re all citizens.” He urged those in business to become “effective stewards of innovation.”

Read full story [Business Wire]

Temecula Valley Chamber - New Website

The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce relaunched its Web site over the last few days at www.temecula.org. The revamped site includes a new layout, links to the Web sites of other local business groups, and chamber and community calendars.

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