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What’s a Chamber of Commerce anyway?

One of the unadvertised enjoyments of working for a Chamber of Commerce is discovering what the general public sometimes thinks Chambers are. Or at least what they think we do. Or think we should be doing.

I’ve heard some Chamber executives muse that they should write a book about some of the comments and questions they have received. One of my favorite questions was asked of me by way of a telephone call in which the caller asked me how to get to a certain location. When I inquired where they were, the reply was that if they knew THAT, they would know how to get where they wanted!

Another time my assistant was at a loss for words when a somewhat irate caller, upset because we were unable to provide specific data for her questions, asked in an exasperated voice what DID we do if not answer her questions.

Other times we are treated as an information service and get asked what the temperature is now, what’s playing at the local theaters or even asked questions about the community in another part of the state! Or even a different state! The list goes on.

Well, we sometimes do dispense information and when it’s what the person is looking for, we’re happy to share it. But it’s difficult for many folks to grasp that Chambers of Commerce are membership-supported organizations and, as such, do only what the members instruct them to do.

Some Chambers have contractual agreements with local city or county governments to perform certain functions that the governmental entity either doesn’t want to or cannot do. Sometimes this is the production of so-called “collateral” material which will have up-to-date demographics and other materials to tell the story of that community. Other times the county’s economic development effort is done through the Chamber with the government paying the cost.

But more typically, Chambers of Commerce are on their own and when that’s the case, the wishes of the membership, the stakeholders, prevail. You pay, you play. There’s no financial support by anyone other than the member businesses.

The main function of a Chamber of Commerce is to be THE voice of business. It is to advocate for the combined membership so that their collective voice will be more likely to be heard by local government and the community at large. The business community is nearly always the largest taxpayer in a community but frequently it is neglected or worse when the citizenry at large have issues with their elected officials. And it is often easier for elected officials to listen to those voters who may not pay as much in taxes as business but might not vote for them in the next election.

So, in a sentence, a good Chamber of Commerce provides a voice for their member companies, helps small businesses network for new business and helps the business community to grow so that the members can get new business opportunities and grow and prosper. When those activities occur, good things typically happen to the community through new jobs, new leadership and increased tax revenues for schools, police, fire, public works and services that people pay taxes for.

And, simply put, that is what Chambers of Commerce do!

John Boothby,

President & CEO

South Fulton Chamber of Commerce