CHAMBER: Why funds are needed

In answer to the Letter to the Editor asking for an explanation of why the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce is fundraising for themselves. I have been a small business member of the chamber for many years and have found the value it provides to business and the community as a whole to be invaluable to both my business and myself. For my business it provides exposure to the community, education opportunities for both myself and employees and a great opportunity to network with the rest of the business community.

The goal of the chamber is and has always been to provide services to make the businesses and the community as a whole to be successful. The chamber brings to the community many events that serve all of the citizens, not just the business community. Examples of this are Ironman, the Fourth of July parade and fireworks show, and the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon to name just a few. They provide opportunities for interaction with elected officials on policies that affect the business community. They strongly support education for our youth with recognition and support for those who educate our young people.

In answer to your question as to why raise funds for the chamber instead of charities, a strong business community provides much of the funding for charities in Coeur d’Alene. Also it has been the stated goal of the chamber to make the benefits of chamber membership available to as many small businesses as it can. The most important way to do that is to keep chamber dues low enough to be affordable.

The chamber provides many services and those services don’t come cheap. Fundraising allows those dues to be low enough for most to afford. The volunteer members of the governing board are mostly small business owners and employees. Their goal is to keep the chamber healthy and support the business community and if the business community is healthy, so too is the community as a whole.

We are indeed fortunate that we live in such a giving community and the businesses in this community are a huge part of that giving. Outsiders are amazed at how much we give. We are also fortunate that we have many successful small businesses in this community that provide good jobs and futures to our people. That allows them the opportunity to volunteer and give to charity in their own right. Good jobs and a successful business environment contribute to a healthy giving community. The Chamber of Commerce contributes to that success and that is why it is important to fundraise to help it remain strong, healthy and affordable.

DEANNA GOODLANDER

Coeur d’Alene