5 Key Benefits of Chamber Membership

By Tara Bitzan, Executive Director, Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

#5 - Credibility

The Alexandria Chamber receives thousands of contacts per year of people looking for resources. They may be seeking an electrician or marketing professional, a contractor or a boat rental. In some cases, they call us because they aren’t finding what they need. In other cases, they call us because they are unsure of who to trust.

It’s easy to do an online search and come with up a long list of businesses that claim to supply what a person may be looking for, but it’s more challenging to find out if the business is reputable and reliable. Many consumers view Chamber members as trustworthy. That’s because the Chamber doesn’t just accept anyone into membership. Businesses and organizers are researched to ensure they are operating legally and reputably. Their membership is approved by the Chamber’s 14-member board of directors. If complaints are made about any Chamber member, the Chamber researches the complaint and talks with the member in question. If the Chamber staff and board feel a business or organization is one that they don’t feel comfortable referring out, then we would deny or drop their membership.

On the other side of this, the Chamber aims to help its members to operate in a reputable and customer service friendly fashion. If a complaint is made about a Chamber member business, the Chamber works with the complainant and the member to try to come up with a solution that works for all involved.

If a consumer sees that a business is a Chamber member, they are assured that that business is held in high standards. To help identify our members to consumers, they are provided with annual membership certificates, window clings, and online logos.

​If we won’t refer a business or organization to our mom, we won’t refer them to you!