A chamber of commerce (or board of trade) is a form of business network, for

example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests

of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to
advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members,
and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the
chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director,
plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization.
A chamber of commerce is an organization of businesses seeking to
further their collective interests, while advancing their community,
region, state or nation. Business owners in towns, cities and other
territories voluntarily form these local societies/networks to advocate
on behalf of the community at large, economic prosperity and business
interests. Chambers have existed in the US for more than two
centuries, with many having been established before the jurisdictions
they represent. A business-led civic and economic advancement entity
operating in a specific space may call itself any number of things
board of trade, business council, etc. but for the purposes of this
primer, they are all chambers of commerce.
Chamber missions vary, but they all tend to focus to some degree on
five primary goals: Building communities (regions/states/nations) to
which residents, visitors and investors are attracted; Promoting those
communities; Striving to ensure future prosperity via a pro-business
climate; Representing the unified voice of the employer community;
and
Reducing
transactional
friction
through
well-functioning
networks. Chambers have other features in common. Most are led by
private-sector
employers,
self-funded,
organized
around
boards/committees of volunteers and independent.
They share a common ambition for sustained prosperity of their
community/region, built on thriving employers. Most are ardent
proponents of the free market system, resisting attempts to overly
burden private sector enterprise and investment. Local businesses are
voluntary paying members of a chamber (non-profits, quasi-public and
even public sector employers also sometimes pay dues to belong). The
membership, acting collectively, elects a board of directors and/or
executive council to set policy for, and guide the workings of, the
chamber. The board or executive committee then hires a chief
executive (various titles), plus an appropriate and affordable number of
staff to run the organization.
Local chambers of commerce have long been a crucial element to the local area's
business initiatives. They foster a greater sense of business community, identify
emerging leaders, and advocate on behalf of small businesses. As time has

continued to grow short for some businesses while digital communications

methods have increased, many have decided to drop memberships from local
chambers.
In some cases it's to save money during a difficult financial period. But as
connections and networks continue to grow in importance, organizations like a
chamber of commerce serve a very unique and important purpose locally. I
decided to ask Katy O'Neil, the executive vice president for the Greater Boston
Chamber of Commerce, a number of pressing questions about the chamber's
influence, its embracing of social media and how it is adapting to help local
businesses grow and thrive.
Q. What is the most important role that the Chamber serves today, in
your view?
A. The Chamber has made a top priority of developing and connecting the next
generation of leaders. Strong leadership is vital to drive economic growth, build a
more inclusive community, and ultimately make Greater Boston a better place to
live and work. Through the Chamber Leadership Initiative, the Chamber has
embraced the mission of developing leadership in the Greater Boston region,
instituting leadership programs designed to provide our members with the skills
needed to be effective leaders in the 21st century.
Q. How specifically is the Chamber helping to represent or further the
interests of small businesses in the Boston area?
A. We recognize the importance of small business and provide the following
opportunities to the Chambers small business members:

Public policy advocacy focused on health care reform, business tax reform, and
energy efficiency tax credits issues that impact all businesses but are
particularly significant for small business

Free programs and events each month the Chamber offers one free program
for our budget-conscience members

Business Showcase this annual event provides the opportunity for our small
business members to showcase their products or services

Small Business of the Year Awards this annual program highlights and honors
the innovative small businesses of our region
Q. Has the influence of the Chamber diminished over the past decade,
and if so, why?
A. No! In these challenging economic times, I think the role of the Chamber is
more important than in prosperous times. The Greater Boston Chamber has

consistently been the lead voice for our regions business community, and we
have maintained our diverse range of offerings despite the economic challenges.
We continue to provide our members with access and visibility, strategic
networking, powerful advocacy, and a commitment to creating our regions
next generation of leaders.
Q. How has the Chamber adopted social media tools to educate and
connect members, if at all?
A. Our social media strategy is continuously evolving. We have a strong presence
in many social media venues, including Twitter (follow us at @bostonchamber),
LinkedIn, Facebook etc. and use our blog as a major communication vehicle for
the latest Chamber news and information (blog.bostonchamber.com). We are
always seeking opportunities to engage with our members and with the
community at large, and see social media as an important component in that
effort.
Q. Is it important to Chamber members to feel a greater sense of
community than in the past, given the increased demands on their
time and resources? And if yes, how has this changed over time?
A. Our members have always expressed an interest in being a part of a
Chamber of community, and we see that as part of our mission.
Pressures on time and resources have not deepened this desire, but have certainly
made members more strategic about how and where they spend their time.
Q. Is education a greater focus than it has been in the past?
A. Through our leadership development programs, the Chamber has brought an
increased focus on educational opportunities for our membership.. We have
partnerships with the MIT Sloan School of Management, the Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University, the Simmons School of Management, and the
Suffolk University School of Management. Partnerships with these worldrenowned institutions help strengthen the content we deliver to our members.
In addition, the Chamber has long recognized the critical role of a well-educated
workforce not only to our economy but to our society. We actively supported the
landmark Education Reform bill in Massachusetts and believe our state needs to
continue taking action to improve K-12 education. Also, in partnership with the
Boston Federal Reserve Bank, the Chamber has created an internship website -Chamber Intern Connect (intern.bostonchamber.com) -- that seeks to connect
students in the Greater Boston area with employers seeking interns.