Althea,

For the record, we have MABA members who are involved with the Clearlake and Lakeport Chamber of Commerce. Why? Because they want the exposure. The Lakeport Chamber can offer more than either MABA, Clearlake or Cobb for serveral reasons:

1) Paid employees as opposed to volunteers.

2) State funded. (While the Clearlake Chamber must also be state funded, I believe its resources are small compared to Lakeport, which is the county seat.)

3) Lakeport being a "regional" Chamber of Commerce has by far the largest membership and therefore likely the most active members in overall numbers.

Supposedly, one of my MABA associates has totall researched this issue about an incorporated area having a Chamber of Commerce and she says it is NOT a problem. I personally do not if that is accurate. But, let's assume she is correct. Should Middletown have its own Chamber of Commerce? And, if we should, what should become of MABA? Should the two co-exits? Or, should MABA disband and the members of MABA join the new Middletown Chamber of Commerce? Some folks at last Thursday's mixer were telling me they though MABA should be dissolved in favor of a Chamber of Commerce.

I personally would hate to see MABA simply disappear. What I am wondering is if MABA could possibly morph in some way into the Middletown Chamber of Commerce? Why should MABA throw away everything it has worked hard to build? Why not use MABA assets - like its web site and loyal members - to build a new foundation for a Chamber of Commerce? After all, we would have the added benefit of state funds? However, it is what we might lose in the process that concerns me. Right now, MABA members have a say-so in what MABA does and how it does it. There is a great deal of freedom in that regard. Do Chamber members have such freedom or are they simply TOLD what is on the agenda? I am certain the cost for being a Chamber member is a great deal more than being a member of MABA. So, the difference in cost may turn a lot of people off. For example, people who are now members of all all four organizations, may not want to continue with MABA as the Middletown Chamber of Commerce is the dues significantly increase.

Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator

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