Harford County Chamber of Commerce

I recently had the pleasure to attend the 3rd Annual Maryland Bankers Association Economic Summit as a guest of Phil Logan and Slavie Federal Savings Bank. At this event a number of economists presented their forecasts for 2010 and in part 2011. All of them seemed to be in agreement to some extent with one premise that the economy is coming slowly out of the current recession and some signs of growth are becoming apparent. However, all of them also agreed that the slow improvement will persist into 2011. Although this was not entirely good news it could have been worse news. We left the summit more committed than ever to assist Chamber members with growing their businesses and to watch carefully what is going to be a sustained period of slow growth, but growth none the less.
The Chamber’s motto, “Our Business is Your Success” and its continuing theme of do business with Chamber members first, is more important than ever. As the premier business organization in Harford County and the Northeast Region of Maryland, the Harford County Chamber of Commerce means business. Doing business with Chamber members first has driven the success of this organization for many years and in turn has provided benefits to its membership. The Chamber’s Annual Business Conference and Trade Show does this and more for our members. It is an opportunity for the members of the Harford County business community to come together to spend a portion of their day networking, attending seminars, and visiting the region’s largest trade show and supporting other Chamber members promote their products and services. At the November Monthly Luncheon the General Manager of WBAL TV Channel 11 served as the guest speaker. WBAL has adopted a theme of “Love Local Maryland” to encourage everyone to support local Maryland businesses. The dollars generated by doing business stay locally and help us all.
Currently over 1200 businesses and organizations hold memberships in the Chamber. If we all support each other, we will come out of this difficult economic time stronger as businesses and stronger as an organization. New members continue to join the Chamber and during 2009 159 businesses secured a chamber membership. Renewals of memberships remain strong. Members of the Board of Directors and I are committed to assisting members and to maintain a strong member driven organization. Use your membership, participate in the Chamber, and work with member businesses and before long we will be on to better times.
One way to do this at no expense to you is visit the Chamber’s Annual Business Conference and Trade Show to be held on March 23, 2010 at the Harford Community College. This annual event has grown to include seventy exhibitors, the Chamber’s monthly luncheon and for the third year, a series of informational seminars. Readers will find a traditional show guide inside their subscription of the Harford Business Ledger for complete details about the 17th Annual Trade Show. You can also visit the Chamber’s Web Site at www.harfordchamber.org to get information about seminar and show times. Please be sure to mark your calendars and plan to attend.