What does the Chamber do?

By Marji Graf, CEO
Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce
There are, in fact, a lot of misconceptions about the Chamber. For example, there are those who believe the Chamber gathers statistics, prints nice brochures, visits new businesses, answers inquiries and advertises what a great place the area is to work, live and play.

They are right, up to a point. We do all those things, and proudly so. All of those jobs are important. But they aren’t why the Chamber is here. They’re fringe benefits of the Chamber, the things we do as a matter of routine because they need doing and we are good at them.

The primary functions of the Chamber go far deeper than that. The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst–a common vehicle through which businesses and professional people work together for the common good of the community. A better community means better business conditions, and we work for a better community for everyone. That’s why we do what we do. This brings us back to the 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 business 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 the civic, educational, cultural and charitable needs that our community is faced with every day.

This means we must do the job needed.

That leaves one final question: Who is the “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–just who would do all those things if the Chamber didn’t?

We need the confidence that it can be done in our community, state and nation. We need to be available to do it, and if we can, and if we do, we will be accountable to the coming generations who will be the true judges of what we do today.

Thank you for allowing us to bring business and community together for our common good.