Chamber of commerce

Template:Histinfo A chamber of commerce (also referred to in some circles as a board of trade, though this phrase is not commonly used in the United States) is a form of business network. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to protect their own interests. Local businessmen are members, and they elect an executive council to run the chamber.

Chambers of commerce serve the following purposes:

• Promotion of trade in their own towns or cities.
• Obtaining and supporting municipal regulations in interest of business in their regions.
• Settlement of disputes between members by means of arbitration.
• Collection of information and statistics which may be of use to their members.
• Recording of a blacklist for members' reference.
• Prevention of unnecessary competition by establishing uniform hours, wages and prices.
• Advocating for business friendly policies at the state, local, federal, and international levels.

The first chambers of commerce were founded in 1599 in continental Europe (Marseille, France and Brugge, Belgium). The world's oldest English-speaking chamber of commerce is that of Glasgow, Scotland, that was established in 1783. One of the newest forms of an updated chamber of commerce is being utilized in the city of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,[1] called CityHost411, [2]. This newer model goes back to the original concept of a chamber of commerce being very local to the community it serves, being backed by local government and not endorsing outside businesses.

Characteristics

Membership in an individual chamber in an area can range from a few dozen to well over 300,000 (as is the case with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry). Some chamber organizations in China report even larger membership numbers. Chambers of commerce can range in size from a single city or town chamber, to a county chamber, to a regional chamber, up to an international chamber of commerce.

The chambers do not operate in the same manner as the Better Business Bureau in that, while the BBB has the authority to bind its members under a formal operations doctrine (and, thus, can remove them if complaints arise regarding their services), the local chamber membership is strictly voluntary.

Chambers of commerce also can include economic development corporations or groups (though the latter often is a formal branch of a local government, the groups work together and may in some cases share office facilities) as well as tourism and visitors bureaus.

Some chambers have joined state, national, and even international bodies (such as EUROCHAMBRES, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Worldchambers). In the majority of countries, the use of the term "chamber of commerce" is regulated by federal law. Currently, there are about 13,000 chambers registered in the official Worldchambers Network registry, and the chamber of commerce network is the largest business network globally.

Chamber models

There are basically two chamber business membership models worldwide, 'compulsory / public law' or 'continental / private law'.

Compulsory/Public law chambers

Under the compulsory or public law model, companies of a certain area are obliged to become members of the chamber. This model is common in European Union countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain). The main tasks of the chamber are foreign trade promotion, training, and general services to companies. The chambers also have a consultive function; this means the chambers must be consulted whenever a new law related to industry or commerce is proposed.

Continental/Private law chambers

Under the private model, which exists in English-speaking countries like USA, Canada or the UK, companies are not obligated to become chamber members. However, companies often become members to develop their business contacts and, regarding the local chambers (the most common level of organization), to demonstrate a commitment to the local economy. Though governments are not required to consult chambers on proposed laws, the chambers are often contacted given their local influence and membership numbers.

External links

• Chamber Search
• [http://www.chamberfind.com World Wide Chamber Guide
• CityHost411.com
• Palm Beach Gardens CityHost411 site