A recent post from the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center recommends joining your local chamber of commerce in order to find support during the current challenging economic times. They go on to point out that working along side the MI-SBTDC, the local chambers are a great resource to small business owners, providing advocacy, networking and marketing opportunities.

By becoming a member you will be able to participate in activities such as expos, golf outings, educational sessions and special events while networking with other professionals and business owners. Through this established network, business owners have the opportunity to make connections with others who could be their future clients and customers or who cold generate referrals for their business.

Chamber membership affords you many marketing avenues - website links, membership directories, sponsorships, social media outlets and affordable advertising opportunities are available to you as a chamber member.

Membership makes a statement about you and your business. It says that you have chosen to be an active participant in your business community. Your membership investment is actually an investment in the economic development of the community. For information about membership in the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, contact Phil Hughes at 265-2320.


Ann Hughes
President & CEO
annhughes@adrianareachamber.com
www.adrianareachamber.com

What is the Chamber?

Someone asked me last week to tell them about chambers of commerce. I began by telling them what a chamber is not: it is not a unit of government and it is not a privately-owned business. A chamber not a for-profit business, although it's not-for-profit status does not prohibit a chamber earning more income. Not-for-profit is simply a tax status not a preferred way of doing business.

Some chambers are highly political - endorsing candidates and making recommendations to voters. Others, like the Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce are not political, giving equal presence to all candidates. These chambers provide information, ballot samples and access to the candidates to their members.

Chamber revenues are made up of a combination of sources including membership income, program revenue, fundraising activities and contributions. Twenty years ago, membership income might have been made up to 75% of the annual budget. Today, revenue from annual member investments range from 35 - 50%. Therefore the need for creating additional revenue streams to support the organization.

Chambers differ in their mission depending on the nature and needs of their community and constitutents. While many are focused on government advocacy and legislative affairs, others have business and community development, tourism, marketing and education as their priorities. Each chamber is as unique as the community they serve. For more information specific to the Adrian Area Chamber, log ono to www.adrianareachamber.com.

Ann Hughes, President & CEO
Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce
www.adrianareachamber.com
annhughes@adrianareachamber.com