Member Needs Survey
Following the example of the national and other state Chambers of Commerce, we have established our own list of advocacy priorities. In our 2021 Members' Needs Survey, advocacy was the Chamber's most important function, followed by information sharing, and community events.
Since the beginning of 2020, we have discovered the growing need for our local Chamber office to engage in small business and economic advocacy. By definition*, an advocate is "one who pleads the cause of another."
We understand our primary function to be a representation of the Haines business community to the local, state, and federal policymakers. Our vision is for a thriving business sector, which will benefit the governmental, consumer, and non-profit sectors. Indeed, the starting point for a thriving Haines is a thriving business community. Advocacy is our chief means to realize this vision of a thriving community.
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Therefore, the following insights were generate through our Member Needs Surveys, interviewing the majority of our members in 2021.
*Advocate" (nd.). Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocate