Amidst all of the big picture items happening lately, the announcements, the community priorities accomplished, the events and transportation goals achieved by Greater Owensboro, our team at the Chamber is here proudly serving our members.
We talk daily about our membership — how to serve them better, how to offer valuable tools they need, opportunities to connect with different markets and a ready workforce. Many times we are celebrating recent successes of our members. Those moments are the best.
So one of the toughest questions to answer is “what do I get for a membership?”
It isn’t a tough question to answer because I don’t have an answer. I could talk for hours about why investing in any Chamber is good for any business. It is tough to answer because I see it every hour of every day — and I have seen it play out in our community since I was 18 years old in Owensboro and started paying attention to things going on in my great hometown.
Chambers are good for business. Period.
What do our members in the Greater Owensboro Chamber get for their investment? They have a group of people who wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night thinking of ways to help their business or organization find new markets. They have an organization that watches trends and regulations, that works to communicate these things to them and connects with city hall, the courthouse, Frankfort and D.C. on items that impact their bottom line. They belong to an association of nearly 1000 other businesses and organizations that believe that together, our voice is stronger and that prosperity and success are contagious.
The bottom line is — the Chamber needs each member. We have very active members, and we have members so busy that they are unable to break away and participate in events. Regardless, each is important.
Through the years, our Chamber has been a driving part of some of the most exciting, groundbreaking and time-tested community change, projects, initiatives and ideas. Just imagine, if no one invested and our Chamber was no longer here — our members make us happen. They inspire us every day.
By Candance Brake President and CEO Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce