Chamber of Commerce (page 1 of 2)	
Chamber of Commerce	
My city has a Chamber of Commerce.  What is it?
A Chamber of Commerce is a business group (like a club) that 
professional (business) workers pay dues to join each year so that 
they can meet and talk to other Chamber members.  Professional 
workers include real estate sales persons, bankers, insurance sales 
workers, company owners, restaurant managers, retail store 
managers, and others.  Business leaders want to meet and talk to 
other Chamber members to: 1) Get to know other business persons, 
2) Increase sales for their company; 3) Solve common business 
problems in the city.  Most companies that join the Chamber of Commerce are located within t
he city, but 
some out-of-city companies may join because they sell products to reside
nts (people who live in the city).
What is networking?
Networking is defined as "to meet with people to exchange information and create valuable business 
friendships."  In the Chamber of Commerce, the networking process has 3 steps:  1) Meet business leaders 
in the city; 2) Learn what their company makes or sells; and 3) Share 
what your company makes or sells.  
At a Chamber of Commerce business, or networking, lunch meeting, there m
ay be 50 members to eat lunch 
and listen to a speaker.  Before the speaker, each Chamber member stands to introduce him/herself to 
the group — company he/she represents — products the company makes
 or sells to customers.   After the 
speakers, Chamber members mingle around to talk to each other about business.  Networking helps 
Chamber members find new customers for their company.  For example, a Chamber member who owns an 
auto insurance company can network to find businesses that need auto insurance.  Or , a Chamber member, 
who needs to find empty land for a new company, can network to find a Chamber member who is a real  estate agent and knows of land for sale.
What does the Chamber of Commerce do?
1) The Chamber of Commerce acts as  a unified voice (one 
voice)  that speaks for businesses on issues that affect the 
business world.  The Chamber of Commerce gives 
recommendations for new laws needed to help businesses.  
The Chamber may ask State government for better roads so 
that company trucks can ship products faster.  The Chamber 
may ask County government to lower sales taxes to allow 
customers to buy more products.  The Chamber may ask City government to pass new laws to make it 
easier to start a new business.  
2) The Chamber of Commerce acts as a  source of information about any topic that may affect businesses.  
The Chamber keeps members up-to-date on new labor laws, better ways of d
oing things, and trends in 
robotic technology.  For example, the Chamber may have workshops for members:  1) Way to make 
customers pay overdue bills; 2) How to prevent shoplifting; 3) How to 
prevent robberies.

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The Chamber of Commerce provides many events for members to network such as: 1) lunch meetings 
with speakers; 2) mixer gatherings at different locations after work hours; 3) ribbon-cutting ceremonies 
when new a company opens, and 4) classes to help companies learn ways t
o make more money.
4) The Chamber of Commerce is a  leader in efforts to improve the city.  For example, the Chamber may 
help restore an auditorium for school plays, support city parades or fireworks, help buy benches or special 
dog drinking fountains for city parks.  
5) The Chamber of Commerce  provides information about the city when 
asked.  A person who wants to visit the area for a vacation may call or visit the
 
Chamber of Commerce website to find out what types of hotels, restaurants, and 
recreational or sports activities are available for visitors.  If a comp
any wants to 
build a new store, the Chamber provides information to the builders abou
t the city's population and laws.
Does the Chamber of Commerce help workers?
The Chamber of Commerce helps create new jobs by bringing 
new companies into the city so that workers have many careers 
from which to choose.  When the Chamber of Commerce helps 
companies grow and earn profits (money), the companies give 
workers promotions and higher pay.  When the Chamber of 
Commerce helps companies, workers are also helped.
How is the Chamber of Commerce organized?
A Board of Directors are Chamber members voted onto the Board 
by all the members.  The Board of Directors hires a Chamber President to:  a) Run the Chamber office; 
b) Hire office workers; c) Organize the Chamber into departments (such as Community Development, 
Government Relations, New Member Recruitment, and others).
1.  What is a Chamber of Commerce?
2.  List 3 types of professional workers.
3.  For what 3 reasons do workers want to meet 
and talk to other Chamber members?
4.  How is "networking" defined?
5.  List 3 steps in the networking process.
6.  What do Chamber members do:  a) Before the 
speaker?  b) After the speaker?
7.  What may a Chamber member who owns an 
auto insurance company network to find?
8.  What type of "voice" does the Chamber have?  
9.  a) For what may the Chamber ask State 
  government?  b) For what may the Chamber 
ask County government? 
10.  List 3 workshops the Chamber of Commerce  may have for members.
11.  List 3 events the Chamber will provide for 
members to network.
12.  In what efforts is the Chamber a leader?
13.  What does the Chamber provide when asked?
14.  What 3 things can a person who wants to visit 
for vacation find on the Chamber website?
15.  How does the Chamber help create new jobs?  
16.  What happens when the Chamber helps 
  companies grow and earn money?
17.  List 3 job duties of the Chamber President.
18.  If your class has time, call your city's Chamber 
of Commerce and ask for a Chamber of 
  Commerce member to speak to your class about 
your city's businesses.