What is a Chamber of Commerce?

A Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization.  It unites business and professional leaders and firms, thus creating a central agency which lends itself to improving business and building a better community.

It must be understood that a Chamber of Commerce is people.  There is a place in the Chamber for all who share the desire to improve the community and the conditions under which business is conducted.  It directs the energies of those who believe that a community worth living in is a community worth improving!

Today, Chambers of Commerce have become organizations for the total community.  Currently, the successful Chamber of Commerce is the one which recognizes all the factors which impact the community and adjusts its programs accordingly.

A Chamber of Commerce is not…. a department of the city, county or state government; a civic club or professional society; a social, service, welfare or charitable institution; a private advertising, publicity or public relations agency.

How does the Perry Chamber of Commerce Function?

Just as the ultimate corporate responsibility is to the stockholder, the Perry Chamber of Commerce differs only in the terminology.  It is responsible to its membership.

Functionally, the Perry Chamber of Commerce has a Board of Directors elected from its membership.  From committee and membership recommendations, the Board determines Chamber policy.

The activities of the Perry Chamber of Commerce can partially be enumerated by reviewing its committees and membership.  The activities of the committees and membership are channeled into the Chamber Board of Directors and coordinated by professional staff.

How are we financed?

The Perry Chamber of Commerce depends on the financial investments of its members and annual fundraisers.

Who are the Members?

Just as the financial investments by members range from the base to thousands of dollars, so do business firms on the Perry Chamber’s membership roster range from the smallest neighborhood stores to the largest manufacturing plant and financial institutions.  The Chamber’s membership is composed of more than just business men and women.  Among the membership are professional people including:  physicians, dentists, educators, non-profit and public agencies, certified public accountants, attorneys, engineers and representatives of other professional categories as well as individual memberships.

Your money. . .

. . . .buys a lot of progress.  The annual membership investment does not represent a contribution to the Perry Chamber of Commerce.  It is a legitimate business expense and therefore, is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.  It’s an investment for which the return is the continued growth and prosperity of Perry.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce is effective because the Perry area’s business, professional, and industrial leaders care about the city’s future.  Their personal, civic and business concern in the future of the Perry area is reflected by their financial participation and leadership in their Chamber’s program.  They know that individually they cannot accomplish the many tasks necessary to continue the Perry area’s growth and prosperity.

Why Join?

Business, professional and individual men and women join for various reasons.  For example, if there are over 150 members in the Perry Chamber of Commerce, there are probably 150 reasons for joining.  Members working in the membership development will want to become familiar with some key reasons why people join.  Here are some of the reasons:

1. By joining the Chamber of Commerce, individuals, business and professional people join a partnership of progress in which their investment of money, minds, and manpower make a difference in the lives of others.
2. You are doing business in this area and sharing in its prosperity.  As the Perry area grows…You will GROW!
3. You are able to GIVE back to the community.
4. Display the membership plaque and/or sticker to tell everyone you believe in ACTION…not just words!
5. United effort is needed to cause an entire area to prosper, to compete successfully with other sections for new payrolls.
6. Exchange ideas and methods by association with other business leaders.  Talents you could not afford to pay for alone are yours to share.
7. Promote civic and economic well-being of your entire community.
8. Without a strong effective Chamber of Commerce, the Perry area would be less able to compete with other cities for new industries and new payrolls.
9. Joining hands with your fellow business and professional partners in attacking the persistent problems that are present in every aspect of business.
10. Each business and professional person reaps benefits through the concerted planning, counsel, and action that is best obtained through the work of the Chamber.