BOARD OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE: This week the board provides information on “The Real Value of Joining a Local Chamber of Commerce, A Research Study.”

“Advocates of chambers of commerce have long believed that when a company is active in its local chamber, it is doing the right thing not only for the community but for its own success as well. While there is plenty of evidence to show the impact of chambers of commerce on their communities, it is much harder to find data that quantify the impact of belonging to a chamber. This study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives with support from Small Business Network, Inc., is designed to do just that: determine the real value to companies in terms of consumer outcomes of joining and being active in their local chamber of commerce. Do consumers really support businesses because they are chamber members? Data for the study come from a scientific web-based survey of 2,000 adults nationwide.”

A sampling of some of these results:

— Most consumers (59 percent) think that being active in the local chamber of commerce is an effective business strategy overall. It is 29 percent more effective, however, for communicating to consumers that a company uses good business practices and 26 percent more effective for communicating that a business is reputable.

— If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local chamber (e.g., sits on the chamber board), consumers are 12 percent more likely to think that its products stack up better against its competition.

— When a consumer thinks that a company’s products stack up better against the competition because the company is highly involved in its local chamber of commerce, it is because he or she infers that the company is trustworthy, involved in the community, and is an industry leader.

— When consumers know that a restaurant franchise is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the next few months.

— When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 43 percent more likely to consider buying insurance from it.

— When consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 44 percent more likely to think favorably of it and 63 percent more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.

The SMMC appreciates the support of our 760 members and also the support of those members by the local citizenry.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

— July’s Chamber After Hours is tonight, Wednesday, July 23 and hosted by the Topsham Fair Mall. Come discover their professional office space on the second floor. The event is open house style from 5 to 7 p.m. and free. Fairground Café is catering the refreshments and samples from Ebenezer’s Brew Pub/Lively Brewing Company will be available.

See our scrolling calendar at www.midcoastmaine.com for more information and to register for all events. For some, the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

Thank you to our annual sponsors: Mid Coast Health Services, Mechanics Savings Bank, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, Burgess Computer, RE/MAX Riverside, The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern, Electricity Maine, Coastal Ortho Performance Training Center, FairPoint Communications, Southern New Hampshire University, Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Atlantic Regional FCU, TownSquare Media, The Cryer, WCME Radio 9 and The Times Record.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: For more information on how your business can become a member of SMMC, go to http://www.midcoastmaine.com/chamber info/membership-application.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.