The Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is closing one chapter and suggesting its members open another. The Board of the group that’s boosted Stevensville area businesses for 60 years has decided to dissolve the organization, and throw its support behind the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber, which has offices in St. Joseph and Bridgman.
Lakeshore Chamber President Tom Norbey said the group has had a great run and achieved much for local businesses, but it’s time for change:
“We have endeavored to continue the work Tom McGrath and a group of like-minded business leaders started in the 1960’s to achieve their goal of a second exit off I-94 (exit 23). The all-volunteer chamber they created was a boon to the growing business community. Recently, it has become increasingly difficult for our volunteers to fulfil the growing needs of our members. An all-volunteer chamber simply cannot provide the services and networking a fully staffed chamber can offer. Therefore, effective immediately, the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce will dissolve.”
Believing area businesses still deserve the representation and support a chamber can provide, the Lakeshore Chamber reached out to the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber and invited them to serve as the primary chamber for their members and the Lakeshore community moving forward. According to Norbey, many Lakeshore Chamber members carry dual memberships with the Regional Chamber already.
“The Regional Chamber, with local, full-time staff leveraging a resource-rich regional network, not only understands what our member’s needs are, they have the knowledge, connections, and resources to meet them. “We have complete confidence in their ability to continue the positive momentum currently being experienced by the Lakeshore area business community.”
Arthur Havlicek, President and CEO of the SWM Regional Chamber says it only makes sense for the groups to join forces. “Our organization is proud to step up and serve the greater-Stevensville area in this increased capacity. The Lakeshore Chamber leaves behind a strong legacy of service in the community and it’s a legacy we will do our best to build upon moving forward.”
Havlicek said no action is necessary on the part of Lakeshore Members at this time and that an informational packet will be sent to members explaining the transition process in more detail.
The Lakeshore Chamber has an interesting history. It was formed in the 1960’s after the Stevensville area was nearly bypassed by I-94, with only the John Beers Road Exit for traffic to access businesses on Red Arrow Highway–formerly a busy thoroughfare of US 12. Business people banded together, formed the Chamber, and fought for more Interstate access. Eventually, they got it, in the form of Exit 23, which became a major gateway to Stevensville, St. Joseph and the region. Without the Lakeshore Chamber’s efforts, some believe Exit 23 might never have happened.
Bernice Tretheway remembers. She was the Lincoln Township Clerk in 1963 and later Berrien County’s Register of Deeds for many years. She says people rolled up their sleeves and got to work to save their businesses.
“The Lakeshore Chamber was fortunate to have many volunteers who gave their time, expertise, and dedication for the Lakeshore area over the years. This volunteer group had many accomplishments and met its mission to establish a full interchange at Exit 23 andpromote the newly formed Lakeshore school district.”
Tretheway says the offer from the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber will enhance the services available to the Lakeshore Chamber members and retain Lakeshore’s visibility.
