Magicians of Main Street

The book outlines how chambers of commerce affected the nation’s finance and currency, public health, transportation, public works, local government, education and even cultural life.

Think of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, New York City’s subway, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Las Vegas gaming industry and the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — all were initiatives of chambers of commerce, working with local leaders to make a difference in their communities. The huge economic impacts continue to this day.

One example is in Watkins Glen, N.Y., where a successful partnership made an enormous difference in the community’s economy while preserving its history and heritage. In what local folks refer to as the “day they stopped the trains,” Cameron Argetsinger worked with the local chamber of commerce and other local and state leaders to start the first post-World War II automobile road race in America through the streets. The race route went over the railroad tracks through town, and the trains stopped. An annual re-enactment of the 1948 Watkins Glen Grand Prix continues to bring thousands of visitors to the area every year.

Simply stated, a chamber of commerce is a conglomerate of businesses working together to benefit the economy, a way of life, its “smart” growth and the sustainability of a community. More simply, a chamber of commerce is a business organization, not a charitable organization, and has the structure and parameters common to any business — marketing and revenue plans, budgeting and strategy.

The Lamoille Region Chamber of Commerce mission is to be the community’s leading business organization, representing its membership in the preservation of economic, agricultural, cultural and recreational excellence. We are proud to represent these communities: Stowe, Smugglers’ Notch, Morrisville, Jeffersonville, Cambridge, Waterville, Belvidere, Eden, Johnson, Hyde Park, Elmore and Wolcott.

The chamber’s board of directors and committees work diligently to create programs that interest its membership. This year, we introduced “Eggs and Issues,” breakfast meetings on topical subjects; they have been quite successful. We organized community programs on safety in the workplace, mandated sick leave, workplace conflict resolution, security at work, Act 250 and Vermont’s Enhanced 911 Board. We also spent a morning with Lt. Gov. Phil Scott.

Thanks to the wonderful cooperation of our county’s state legislators, we offer five legislative breakfasts a year, and Betsy Bishop, executive director of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, visits us twice a year.

Our monthly mixers continue to be successful (networking is as old as dirt, but it works); the Leadership Lamoille program continues to develop new generations of community leaders — and the beat goes on.

Communications, connectivity, commitment and collaboration are what make a chamber of commerce a leading business organization. We intend to continue to be the “Magicians of Main Street.”

I am always ready for a chamber chat and can be reached at 802-888-7607 or max@lamoillechamber.com; or pay me a visit at 92 Lower Main St. (next to Haymaker Card and Gift), our new home in Morrisville.