You have probably heard that question asked at one time or another and you may have wondered about it yourself.
It is a legitimate question and many people, including those to whom the Chamber is very important, have no real concept of exactly what our Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce is, how it works or what it is for.
There are, in fact, a lot of misconceptions about the Chamber. For example, there are those who believe the Chamber just gathers statistics and gives location and telephone information for the city. We graciously do those things. Some people and members do not realize that we are a Not For Profit 501 c (6) organization and solicit our support for all kinds of charitable events. Our individual members participate as often as they can.
However, the primary functions of the Chamber go far deeper than those niceties. The Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst, a common vehicle through which business and professional people work together for the common good of the community.
The Germantown Chamber is made up of involved members who are committed to improving our community, attracting businesses, and providing benefits to our community and to us. We are supportive of endeavors to improve the quality of life, fair business, educational needs, quality service and recognition of achievement. As business leaders, our Chamber promotes financial soundness within and beyond our organization. Our success is dependent upon self-directed programming that is creative and progressive.
A better community means better business conditions, and we work for a better community for everyone. That is why we do what we do. This brings us back to that original question. What do we do? There is, in the final analysis, one reason for the Chamber to exist. To do whatever is necessary to keep the area’s economic condition at a level where businesses will risk their resources here in hope of making a profit. Everything else is just frosting on the cake, a means to the end.
In any community, it is from the profitable operations of business that all other benefits are derived. Only by succeeding in this fundamental goal can we provide the jobs and produce the wealth to finance all the governmental, civic, educational, cultural and charitable needs that our community is faced with every day.
This means we must Do The Job needed. The Germantown Area Chamber, operated by a staff of 4, maintains a full time office devoted to the civic, commercial, visitor and economic development of our area. The Chamber maintains and makes available brochures, maps, business data, relocation packets, and marketing information. The Chamber answers hundreds of inquiries about our city through personal visits to the office, phone calls, fax, email and by mail. The Chamber coordinates the talents of local government and business people in tackling the issues facing our community and lobbies for small business issues when appropriate. The Chamber sees to the health and profitability of the business community. The Chamber produces the Germantown Magazine, Business Directory, Map, a monthly newsletter, and various newspaper inserts. The budget comes from membership dues and special events during the year. The Germantown Chamber has 21 Board of Directors that serve three rotating years. It has approximately 15 committees with over 100 volunteers and 30 Ambassadors that support Chamber functions on a regular basis.
That leaves one final question. Who is this “we” that does all this? “We” are you, the Chamber member and all of your business and professional friends who are also Chamber members.
You are the Chamber of Commerce. You provide the ideas, the drive, the goals, the funds and the voluntary services to keep the Chamber doing what it does. You are the Chamber, and without you, there wouldn’t be any Chamber, and who would do all those things if the Chamber didn’t?