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​With tax time in full swing, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of this busy season. However, this chaos undoubtedly contributes to the uptick in email scams trying to take advantage of businesses.  We are here to help prevent this from affecting your business through education.

Through our decades of history in the chamber of commerce, we as professionals have had difficulty explaining the value of joining your local chamber. The ACCE Horizon 2025 report tells us that we can no longer rest on the fact that a business will join the local chamber just because its the right thing to do. 

How do we explain real value to the membership, the community in a manner that illustrates the value that we already believe it to be? The real value that membership to the Chamber of Commerce brings is now being explained by VOI and not ROI. We will attempt to give you five reasons why you should also consider this change.

Value of Investment - The Chamber brings its members valuable cost-savings programs that directly impact its members bottom line. Traditional programs have been Health Insurance, Worker's Compensation Pooling, Energy Programs, Member-2-Member discounts programs - all designed to lower the cost of doing business.

Value of Information – The Chamber brings its members unique resources – Roundtable discussions, workshops, advocacy on local and state issues, contacts, reference to other businesses, expertise – all information that is timely and relevant to the success of your business operation.

Value of Influence – The Chamber represents its members and communities interests – whether it is representing your business at the local, state or federal level, the Chamber is the advocate on all issues of importance to business.

Value of Interaction – The Chamber provides its members opportunity – people want to do business with people they know, like and trust. Numerous networking events, Member-2-Member programs, and partnerships foster relationships that encourage leads, referrals and more business for our members.

Value of Impact – The Chamber is one of the few, if not the only, organization that can impact the three main pillars in its service area (Government, Citizens, and Businesses). ACCE's Horizon 2025 report tells us that this helps to position the chamber in a place of opportunity to deliver like we never have before. The Chamber represents the area in which they serve – the strength of the membership and the direct results of the initiatives affect outcomes that benefit the members.

Special thank you goes to St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce for the idea and concept of this post.