How the Illinois Chamber Benefits Local Chambers of Commerce
The Illinois Chamber's primary mission is to advocate on behalf of business interests with state government. Our government affairs staff is experienced at lobbying the Illinois General Assembly and interacting with State agencies.
The Chamber's knowledgeable and professional staff is easily accessible and eager to assist members with their inquiries or needs. Many of our staff members interact with local chambers by accepting speaking engagements, attending local Chamber government affairs functions, participating in conference calls, answering a variety of questions, providing materials for use by local chambers, and occasionally serving as the "outside expert" or consultant.
The Chamber is an excellent source of information. In addition to personal contact with Chamber staff members, the organization's content rich web page offers a wealth of information. The Chamber distributes timely emails about events, legislative developments and grassroots campaigns. There are also special reports dedicated to legislation, tax issues, employment law, healthcare and economic development. The end of session legislative roll call analysis is particularly useful for those who wish to judge and hold elected officials accountable for their business voting record.
Information distributed by the Illinois Chamber can easily be accessed and reused in local chamber publications or posted on local chamber web sites. The Illinois Chamber wishes to promote the concept of co-branding of electronic information to help customize the information for more effective local and broader distribution.
The Chamber's staff monitors, tracks, testifies, lobbies and reports on the thousands of legislative proposals that are introduced in the Illinois General Assembly every session. The Chamber serves as the "eyes, ears and voice" for many members who do not have the capability to represent themselves on a daily basis at the Capitol. Many members look to the Illinois Chamber's legislative staff to be their "early warning system" and look upon the Chamber's staff as political consultants to offer guidance and advice in regards to public policy matters that concern their business.
The Illinois Chamber has worked with the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives to host an annual legislative summit to develop a common legislative agenda that each local chamber may choose to adopt. Besides getting chamber leaders from all across the state focused on the same common issues a key result is presenting a united front by community opinion leaders to the state's political leaders and members of the Illinois General Assembly. The legislative summit is an excellent forum for both education and issue development.
The Illinois Chamber hosts a Lobby Day in Springfield each year while the Illinois General Assembly is in session. From time to time this event has been co-hosted with other statewide business organizations and local chambers of commerce. This annual event is another excellent forum for education and advocacy on behalf of business interests. This focused event is an opportunity for local chambers to energize their members to actively engage public officials and other business owners in discussing important issues.
The Illinois Chamber's reputation and credibility helps to open doors. Members can call upon the Illinois Chamber to gain access to business and political leaders, decision makers, opinion leaders and potential business partners. The Illinois Chamber is in the business of promoting unity and cooperation among the state's business and political community. We strive to help our members reach people they need to reach and achieve the results they desire.
The Illinois Chamber can bring speakers and programs to your community to help strengthen the offerings that local chambers present. Illinois Chamber staff can speak at annual dinners or member luncheons. The Illinois Chamber also presents issue seminars that can be organized in cooperation with local chambers to delve more deeply into topics such as transportation, healthcare, human resource issues, our drug-free workplace program, or environmental regulation issues.
We are eager to collaborate with local chambers to co-host legislative report and general business issue forums. To be truly effective in the political arena, business people need to engage in the process by not only being familiar with the issues but also promoting voter participation among employees and writing checks to help fund the campaigns of pro-business candidates. Most local chambers of commerce do not operate a Political Action Committee, but the Illinois Chamber does.
You do not have to be a member of the Illinois Chamber to participate in Chamber PAC. Chamber PAC is an excellent option for any business or pro-business thinking individual to contribute to candidates of like mind. The Chamber staff and political action committee has a thorough and multi-faceted approach to political action activities. If your local chamber is considering forming a PAC the Illinois Chamber PAC might be of assistance or perhaps could offer an alternative to the administrative burden associated with establishing and maintaining a political action committee of your own.
Lastly, your most solid resource as a local chamber of commerce exists in your ability to contact our Director of Local Chamber Relations directly for a prompt response. Liz Kerns' office is in Springfield and she is here to help you get answers you need.
The Illinois Chamber and its many programs and resources will work for you and with you to make your local chamber of commerce a success.
Doug Whitley
President & CEO
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
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