Businesses and the people behind them belong to chambers of commerce for many different reasons. There are networking opportunities, exposure to seminars on everything from human resource issues to the latest technologies, and a way for their company to share ideas with other business professionals.
There also is business advocacy. The chamber speaks up for business owners, whether they are having difficulty getting a permit from city hall or legislation at the state level.
The Carlsbad Chamber has a very good relationship with the City of Carlsbad and our local business leaders. The Carlsbad City Council wants business to succeed and thrive and to be a part of making Carlsbad a world-class city. When the city receives a letter or a call from the Chamber, they know we will have thought the issue through and are representing the business interests of our nearly 1,400 members.
At the state and federal level, legislators receive lots of phone calls, e-mails and letters from individual constituents and they tally the feedback they receive. When lawmakers get a letter from a business organization that represents 1,400 members, it is important to them.
Many times, though well-intended, a proposed law may have negative repercussions to business owners that may have not been readily apparent. Often, bills will be amended so as not to have that negative impact that chambers are concerned about.
Legislators tell us that if they don't hear from us, they presume we have no opposition to or support for their proposed legislation.
We have a Government Affairs Committee that looks at ordinances developed at the city or the interpretation of existing ordinances that might preclude a local business from expanding. If we see an issue or one is brought to our attention, we will weigh in with our opinion. The same is true for legislation at the state and federal level. We partner with the California Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to share information and use our collective clout to write letters of support or opposition.
The Carlsbad Chamber is non-partisan. We only evaluate the issues and their impact on our local businesses, not what side of the aisle the legislation came from.
It is comforting to know that, while our members are often too busy running their own businesses, they have a partner looking out for them and weighing in for them on laws that will affect their business.
That is good advocacy, and that's good for our members.
There also is business advocacy. The chamber speaks up for business owners, whether they are having difficulty getting a permit from city hall or legislation at the state level.
The Carlsbad Chamber has a very good relationship with the City of Carlsbad and our local business leaders. The Carlsbad City Council wants business to succeed and thrive and to be a part of making Carlsbad a world-class city. When the city receives a letter or a call from the Chamber, they know we will have thought the issue through and are representing the business interests of our nearly 1,400 members.
At the state and federal level, legislators receive lots of phone calls, e-mails and letters from individual constituents and they tally the feedback they receive. When lawmakers get a letter from a business organization that represents 1,400 members, it is important to them.
Many times, though well-intended, a proposed law may have negative repercussions to business owners that may have not been readily apparent. Often, bills will be amended so as not to have that negative impact that chambers are concerned about.
Legislators tell us that if they don't hear from us, they presume we have no opposition to or support for their proposed legislation.
We have a Government Affairs Committee that looks at ordinances developed at the city or the interpretation of existing ordinances that might preclude a local business from expanding. If we see an issue or one is brought to our attention, we will weigh in with our opinion. The same is true for legislation at the state and federal level. We partner with the California Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Chamber of Commerce to share information and use our collective clout to write letters of support or opposition.
The Carlsbad Chamber is non-partisan. We only evaluate the issues and their impact on our local businesses, not what side of the aisle the legislation came from.
It is comforting to know that, while our members are often too busy running their own businesses, they have a partner looking out for them and weighing in for them on laws that will affect their business.
That is good advocacy, and that's good for our members.