Private Reply to Althea Garner

Private Reply to Scott Wolpow

Private Reply to Althea Garner

Private Reply to Scott Wolpow

Private Reply to Althea Garner

Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901

Private Reply to Althea Garner

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

Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901

Private Reply to Scott Wolpow

Private Reply to Althea Garner

Okay, a Chamber of Commerce is state-funded. It has employees. But, who decides what the Chamber does? Do the members decide or does the state, which provides monetary funds, decide? Where does the agenda come from?

Speaking of money, since the state is providing funds and the Chamber is charging for membership, why is it that membership in a Chamber of Commerce should cost its members MORE money than say, MABA, when it has more funds from the outset?

Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator

Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901

Private Reply to Scott Wolpow

Private Reply to Kathleen Smart

Kathleen,

I am not the person who looked into this matter. But, think about it. All states have a Chamber of Commerce. Each executive director is a paid position. In the case of the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, even the executive director has paid employees. Where does the money come from to pay for the office, employees and scheduled activities? In Atlanta, you have a both a Chamber of Commerce and a Convention and Business Center. Now, both have a membership base. But, do you think both are run on membership money alone and still paying employee salaries?

It was the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce that helped to start an economic development nonprofit organization called Mt. Konocti Facilitation. An volunteer executive board was put in place. An enterprise facilitator was hired. Fund-raising was done. But, the fund-raisers were not successful. So, the one hired employee was fired. MKF is still $50,000 in debt to the Sirolli Institute, which is the parent organization to MKF. I do believe all Chamber of Commerce organization operate in a similar fashion. I will bet their bylaws are identical on the state level. Unlike most membership-run nonprofit organizations I have a feeling that the Chamber of Commerce dictates the rules and activities to the membership - not the other way around. I have a feeling the Chamber of Commerce is run like a business - not a social club. But, I must confess I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Lamar Morgan
Network Moderator

Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 954-603-7901

Private Reply to Kathleen Smart