The Collegian

Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Liz Essley The Hillsdale Chamber of Commerce often receives qurestions from residents about things they technically don't cover. For instance, one resident asked what she should wear on hrer upcoming trip to Alaska.

An austere purple house sits on Manning Street, across from the public library. Behind its large wooden doors dwells the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce, an organization many residents know little about, but which they nevertheless call with their questions.

"My most favorite call was not long after I had started working at the Chamber," President and Executive Director Karri Doty said. "This woman was going to Alaska, and she wanted to know what clothes to wear."

Doty asked her where exactly she was going and what time of year it would be, did some research, and called the woman back with the answer.

"People call the Chamber because they're not sure who to call. Sometimes it pertains to Hillsdale County, and sometimes it doesn't," Doty said.

Doty said the Chamber fields about 60 phone inquiries a day.

"It's just a variety of things people think we're responsible for," she said.

Because chambers differ from community to community, many people don't know what the Hillsdale Chamber of Commerce actually is. Doty said that biggest misconceptions were the Chamber's functions and its funding. Many think the Chamber is a tax-funded government agency.

In reality, the Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit network of local businesses that offers its members exposure, referrals, promotion, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, according to the Chamber's business membership application. Membership fees and event revenue provide most of the funding, Doty said.

Cindy Eckhardt, whose business Echkardt Marketing Company is a member of the Chamber, and who designs the Chamber's phonebooks, says that the Chamber provides her with a host of benefits.

"They pretty much make real tight networking opportunities. I think it's a good thing for every community to have."

Eckhardt highlighted the Member-to-Member Advantage Discount Program. Other Chamber benefits include group health insurance, ribbon cuttings and bulk mail service.

The Chamber also hosts events throughout the year, such as Meet the Candidates, a public meeting with local politicians, held Monday night in Philips Auditorium.

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