St. Peters & St. Charles Chambers Look to Combine and Become the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

St. Peters & St. Charles Chambers Look to Combine and Become the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

ST. PETERS, MO— The boards of the St. Charles and St. Peters Chambers of Commerce, have announced plans to combine the two organizations to create the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce. This decision stems from special meetings between key members of both boards and a vote by the full boards of both chambers.

“The goal is to have a unified organization sometime in early 2012, after legal details are worked out,” said Scott Tate, chief executive officer of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.  “St. Charles County Chambers have discussed combining forces in the past, but we believe that now, more than ever, it’s the prudent thing to pursue.”“

The St. Charles Chamber has 570 members; the St. Peters Chamber has 500 members. Close to 100 of those members are the same, meaning the merged organization will have more than 900 members. The boards plan to maintain all staff and operate out of 2201 First Capitol Drive, in St. Charles,

"Together we can build a stronger, more diverse chamber that will better serve and address the needs of our members and the communities we represent," said Cliff Heitmann, chairman of the St. Peters Chamber's board.

"It provides tremendous networking opportunities for our members," Tate said. "It's a very good move for both organizations in terms of creating a stronger regional voice."

The leaders of both Chambers emphasized that a combined chamber would not affect the community-building or identity of either community, a common concern brought up during early discussions.  “When you look at the region as a whole,” said Aleece Vogt, Chairman of the St. Charles Chamber board, “we are going to be such a large chamber that there will be numerous opportunities for us and our businesses, provided that our members take the opportunity to engage in what the chamber has to offer.  That’s why the chambers’ memberships should approve this plan without hesitation when they vote later this year.”

Heitmann and Vogt agreed that just as businesses have restructured and rationalized operations in the current economic environment with the goal to be more focused and successful, community groups must look to do the same. The strengths of each organization complement the others and it is believed that one combined organization can be stronger, more effective and more efficient.