As defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, "Commerce" is the exchange or buying and selling of commodities (or services) on a large scale involving transportation from place to place, i.e, "the possible increase of commerce by a great railroad." Given the aforementioned, does the Kearney Chamber of Commerce actually generate "commerce" for its member businesses? Consider the following (click image to enlarge):

Unfortunately, historically, and even today, the overwhelming majority of "Chambers of Commerce" throughout the United States:

> Do not actively "propel" existing and new members to "engage" in "commerce."

> New and existing members cannot report an increase in their revenue, or profit, or an increase in market share as a direct result of their membership in a Chamber of Commerce. For example, as validated by the graphic below, Buckle, headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska reported a loss of stock price, loss of income, and seven consecutive years of store closures in its 2022 Annual Report, but did not report an increase in revenue, or profit, or an increase in market share as a direct result any initiative to generate "commerce" by the Kearney Chamber of Commerce.

> Many if not most chambers of commerce use a template, a proprietary third-party application produced by ChamberMaster, GrowthZone, MembershipWorks, MemberClicks, etc., which primarily function as database management, but are not designed to be interactive or to actually promote "commerce."

> Many if not most chambers of commerce represent a stereotypical “good ole boy” network of “elite,” politically powerful and affluent non-minorities, primarily White men, that categorize membership “demographics” to celebrate their own "success stories," while ignoring or only giving token and/or patronizing recognition to small businesses and to minority and women-owned business.

In summary, Chambers of Commerce do not function: (1) to strategically achieve and measure targeted increases in individual member business revenue, profits, or to generate original revenue streams and commerce for individual member businesses; and (2) women and minority owned businesses, and small businesses are typically bereft of membership due to cultural and financial roadblocks. Therefore, since individual members typically do not report an increase in their revenue, or profit, or an increase in market share as a direct result of their membership in a Chamber of Commerce, why should any business join a chamber?

Proposed: How to generate "commerce" for all businesses!

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