Mission
"The Chamber That Cares, Connects & Promotes Businesses That Are Focused Locally, Regionally, Nationally and Globally.
Vision
Where Business Want To Be....Burlington
Dick Irwin
President / CEO
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
What Is A Chamber Of Commerce?
Basically, it refines the age-old principle of mutual self-help through voluntary Cooperation. Before the Christian era began, the ancient world had its Chambers of Commerce. Today's typical Chamber of Commerce, however, is probably an outgrowth of the trade fairs and guilds of medieval Europe.
As an association of business and professional people, the Chamber of Commerce harnesses the talent and imagination of this leadership in planning and carrying out sound programs for the economic well being of the community.
How Does A Chamber of Commerce Operate?
There are five fundamental attributes of a successful Chamber of Commerce:
- An active, working Membership is vital to a Chamber of Commerce’s success. Participation of member’s in committee programs and projects and in their formulation is indispensable to direct the community toward sound and orderly civic development.
- The Chamber of Commerce is based upon a Committee System because time has demonstrated the committee to be the most effective means of harnessing energies and abilities of volunteer workers.
- A Chamber of Commerce’s Program of Work, is the detailed assignment that the Chamber of Commerce, through it's membership, it's Board of Directors, and it's committees pledges to carry out each year. The Program of Work must reflect the dynamics of the community's changing needs and broadening potentials, for it is the blueprint for action which sets the goals toward which the Chamber of Commerce strives in meeting community needs and realizing community potentials.
- A successful Chamber of Commerce must have Adequate Income to finance programs that are essential to community growth and development. Since the Chamber of Commerce is entirely privately supported by the annual financial subscriptions of its members and hotel/motel tax from the City of Burlington, the maintenance of high level of support from all business and professional interest in the community is vital.
- A successful Chamber of Commerce requires a Skilled Staff of managerial personnel, experienced in the organization's Program of Work. This staff can never substitute for the membership of the organization, since the members alone provide the prestige, manpower, and resources necessary for the staff to perform the coordinating and organizational functions so necessary to a complex community development program.
Who Runs The Chamber of Commerce?
The Chamber of Commerce is a democratic association of business and professional people. Final authority always rests with the membership in accordance with procedures outlined in the organization’s Bylaws. For practical operations, the membership elects a Board of Directors to handle the legislative functions of the organization and to serve in policy-making capacity.
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