Dutchess chambers to merge
Dutchess County will start the new year with a single chamber of commerce. The Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber will merge with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce as of Jan. 1.
“We”™re very excited,” said Thomas Weddell, chairman of the board of directors for GSDCC when the announcement was made Dec. 8. “This is going to be a great boost for the business community. Although many were anxious to know what was going to happen after Ann Meagher resigned, we were working in confidentiality. I truly believe this is in the best interest of our entire Dutchess business community, giving us one strong voice.” Weddell said for businesses who chose not to choose between chambers, it may be more enticing to join a single chamber, not just for economical reasons but to avoid duplication of events and services.
“With one chamber, more businesses will have the opportunity to take advantage and become more involved and grow programs,” Weddell said.
“We”™re very happy,” said Charles North, president of Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Depending on how many people rejoin the newly consolidated chamber, our membership could grow to as many as 1,900 businesses.”
Greater Southern chamber memberships have been transferred to the Dutchess County Regional chamber, where members will continue to have full chamber benefits. When memberships expire, the business will be offered the opportunity to renew with the Poughkeepsie-based chamber.
The Greater Southern Dutchess chamber owned its building in Wappingers Falls, which is now up for sale. North said the DCRC will maintain its leased offices in Poughkeepsie and have a satellite location at the Wappingers Falls site, leasing out a smaller space in the building for one year as part of the consolidation terms.
Weddell said the Dyson Foundation provided the funding for legal counsel and consultants, working through the New York Council of Nonprofits, to ensure the consolidation would be a smooth transition, “with all the i”™s dotted and t”™s crossed. ”
Gaye Mallet, chairwoman of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber, said the economy exposed the need for both chambers to serve members in an economic and expeditious way.
“Joining the chambers together is the best way to provide those efficiencies and enhance membership programs,” Mallet said in a statement. “This will make us one of the largest chambers in the state, allowing us to better advocate for our members in legislative matters.”
“Congratulations to Charlie, Tom and both boards are absolutely in order,” said Orange County Chamber President John D”™Ambrosio, who shares the microphone with North on a weekly radio talk show and have worked together for several years. The merger is déjà vu for D”™Ambrosio, who consolidated the Eastern Orange Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce 14 years ago. Today, with nearly 2,400 members, D”™Ambrosio says it is in the best interests of the business community to have a united, powerful voice. “In terms of chambers, there is strength in numbers; size does matter.”