I've been a member and a business alliance leader for 16 years. ❤

and

I get a $#!t ton of business from mine. The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce made relocating 3 businesses possible to start over and thrive. Not to mention 5 of my closest friends were met there.

Tammy yes I was very involved with the chamber for many years and it was extremely valuable in many ways including business and long time friendships.  A few years or so they changed their focus and small business wasn't the focus anymore buy rather big business.  The friendships continue to this day which is priceless.

I belonged years ago.  I did not find any benefit for the time or money invested. 

our brokerage is a member... good networking, if you like that.

The local chamber is located in quaint downtown Dunedin Fl. It is a tourist and pedestrian Mecca.

The chamber allows members floor space to present branded products that are beneficial to the community. "Buying? Selling? call Annette" is not benefical to the community.

I have received benefit from walking traffic and managers looking to move into the area.

If the chamber does not make provision for members to get in front of the traffic, there would be little value.

I was encouraged to join the Chamber as a new agent and again I felt it may be helpful when I opened my own shop. There was no ROI either time.

Tammy,

When we managed a real estate company in Napa, we did for a while, and it really did not pay off.  Here we thought about it, and the membership was lessening like crazy, so we passed.  A

I don't but I do believe our brokerage does

I am a member of our business alliance (not called the Chamber any longer here) and so is my office. It's a great resource for networking but, the leads are not that plentiful.

I keep an eye on it though. If I have one Closing, it more than pays my fees. It costs me less than a typical referral would cost so, I keep my membership.

I reall depends on the Chamber. How do they treat small business, traffic?  Is the atmosphere open or cliquey.

Was a member for many years. Got very little business out of it and was more of a social benefit to see and say hi to people you know.

I don't belong, but I belonged in the past when I was in a different business.

Membership is beneficial only if you work at it.  If you sign up, then do nothing, you won't get any benefits.  You have to join the committees, go to the networking events, etc.  If you aren't going to do that, don't join.

Assessing what is or is not working is visiting with us all.....

I have not, but have heard fellow REALTORS have, but gained no business by joining.

If you are willing to take a leadership role, the chamber of commerce members can provide excellent networking opportunities.

I canceled our brokerage membership this year.  The yearly economic forecasting breakfast was interesting, but not worth the annual membership to receive the discount member price for the breakfast.  

When I managed an office we belonged. Then one year, we dropped out and business did not suffer. So we did not rejoin.

It is one place you can buy a pretty good link.

Yes, membership  is a great networking , in the normal world the monthly business card exchanges are a great way to meet new people and catch up w/ friends in the business community.

Our company does . Networking takes time and some volunteeri

I haven't ever joined.  People find benefits in lots of ways.   

Wayne is very active in the chamber of commerce. Our office recently was recognized by the chamber as the small business of the year.

I do not. Ours has the franchises, big banks and politicans, and they dont take kindly to those not in their circle trying to speak up. So easier to stay away

If you pay to join the local chamber of commerce, you must be active in the organization in order to gain any benefit. Go to the mixers and/or lunches, join a committee, etc. If you are not active, no one knows you. Sure, you can spend extra to buy a chamber ad but you can probably spend money more wisely elsewhere if you have an add budget.

I and we do not belong.  I looked into it at one point 6 years or so ago and did not see any benefit beyond the backlink to my website and saying "member of X, Y and Zed Chambers of Commerce."

Personally, I don't see a benefit to being a member and it doesn't improve my view of a company to see that they are a member of the chamber.

No, these groups always seem to have in "in crowd"