With our upcoming 112th Annual meeting on Thursday, I started thinking about how our Chamber has changed but also how we’ve held on to those core values that make up a strong business organization like a Chamber of Commerce.
In 1901, when 35 Manchester businessmen gathered, their intentions were to discuss ways to deal with matters of interest to the members of their group, local business community, and the general public. The outcome was the Manchester Businessmen’s Association. The goals of the Businessmen’s Association was to forward the mercantile (silk mills), manufacturing, agricultural and civic interests of the Town. The 19th amendment had not seen passage yet, so while women could not vote, they also did not own a business. So these 35 hat clad gentlemen made decisions for the well being and growth of the entire business community.
112 years later many things have changed- women can vote, own a business, run for political office or become a supreme court justice, while the important things have still stayed the same…the promotion of business to make Manchester a better place to live work and do business. While our name has changed to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and those first 35 area businessmen are gone and replaced with nearly 600 businesses from the Greater Manchester area and beyond, the most noticeable change may be the fact that the GMCC’s day to day activities are run by three women. Oh, how times have changed! Our mission is still to promote the growth of business through networking, marketing, advertising and keeping business owners abreast on legislative issues that may impact them.
This Thursday, when we celebrate our 112 years of serving the business community, we will also celebrate a business that has been a staple in the Manchester community. Stephen Carter, Owner of Carter Chevrolet will be presented with the Community Achievement Award. This award was established to recognize individuals for their outstanding service to the community in Greater Manchester. Carter’s involvement can be felt locally at MACC, East Catholic School, the Police Department, the Manchester Road Race to national events including the American Cancer Society, Chevrolet Food Drive, American Red Cross blood drives, Operation Kid Safe and Toys for Tots. Carter’s investment in his community is a prime example of business people working together to fulfill the beliefs and mission of the GMCC- to make Manchester a better place to live, work and do business.
So, while the GMCC is no longer run by those 35 hat clad men (although if you catch me on the weekend, I do enjoy wearing my Red Sox cap), I think we’ve come a long way baby!
