October has been declared by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as Local Chamber of Commerce month. Oct. 18, specifically, has been designated as National Chamber of Commerce Day. This month and day have been set aside to shed some much-appreciated light on the crucial role local chambers play in the economic stability of our communities. We do so by advocating, supporting, encouraging, as well as educating, the businesses, industries, and organizations in our communities.

I am thankful for a governor who sees the value of local chambers and is supportive of what we do. To quote Governor Shapiro, “I am grateful for our local chambers of commerce for the invaluable role that they play in ensuring that businesses new and old can continue to prosper in Pennsylvania. I commend Pennsylvania’s local chambers of commerce for representing thousands of businesses, and I am certain their efforts to enhance our communities will serve as an inspiration across the Commonwealth for years to come.”

Chambers are governed by a board of directors and are completely membership driven. There is often a misconception that we are a government entity, but that is incorrect. Our funding comes only from memberships and fund-raising events.

You may be wondering just how does the chamber fulfill these aforementioned crucial roles? Let’s dive in and see. My career with the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce began 18 years ago. I, like perhaps many of you, had no idea what the chamber did. I just knew that our local chamber office had an open position, and I was ready to re-enter the workforce after spending a few years raising my children. Even though I arrived at my interview having very little experience in the business world, I believe my experience with people in general helped me land the job.

Once hired, it didn’t take me long to fall in love with my role. I mean what’s not to love? I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and at the end of each day I felt like what I did really mattered. If I aided the growth and expansion of a small business, even a little, I knew it was worth the work. For when our business community is strong, that in turn improves the quality of life for our entire community.

Our chamber has seen significant growth in the last few years as well as the expansion of events and services. Would you be so kind as to let me tell you about a few of them? For starters, we have monthly Business After Hours events. We travel from member to member checking out what each has to offer. They run the gambit in atmosphere and experiences. We have flown in an airplane, sipped wine, ridden an e-bike, pumped iron, driven a golf cart, and played a game of giant Candyland, and that was just so far this year! These events give our host an opportunity to show off their place of business while our attendees connect with each other. It never ceases to amaze me as I stand on the sidelines and observe the connection in action.

Another chamber program that is in its infancy is our Chamber Leadership Institute. This year’s class is our third. We firmly believe in the importance of adding new knowledge and experiences to empower them to inspire and improve their spheres of influence whether that be in their workplaces or in their communities. The institute runs from September to April and covers a diverse number of topics such as: history, heritage, and architecture; community, economic development, and entrepreneurism; healthcare, human services, and nonprofits; law and government; community leadership; education and workforce; as well as tourism, art, and culture. It is exciting to see individuals who have lived here all their lives peek behind the curtain and see their community from a brand-new perspective. For those who are new to the area, it gives them a wonderful overview of what and who we are, as well as an understanding of where we came from.

To help bridge the gap between our business community and our educational one we have established a Chamber Business and Education Committee. This committee, which consists of educators, administration, and business representatives, works with both school districts to assist in the preparation of our future workforce. We do so through a variety of programs such as: college and career fairs, educator in the workplace tours, student in the workplace tours, Free-Wheeling Day, ag tours, mock interviews, and a host of other programs.

Next, we have our business breakfast clubs. These events are held monthly with the sole purpose of education. Our topics have varied from social media content, generational differences in the workplace, workforce development and retention, to the importance of true connection.

I could go on and on, as I am sure you have no difficulty believing, but I will conclude with one of my favorite chamber yearly events, our Women’s Conference. I know you have probably read my previous thoughts on this event, but I believe it deserves repeating. This event is held each fall with the ultimate goal of encouraging and empowering women in our community. These are the women who are in the trenches each day struggling to find balance in their lives as they precariously walk the tightrope of job, motherhood, wife, and many other roles. If we can, even for a few hours, make them feel better about themselves and more powerful, it was worth all the months of preparation.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I will let you in on a little not so secret, secret. I am very passionate about my job. To me it is much more than that. It is a God-given opportunity to do my part, no matter how large or small, in making my community a better place. I must add I couldn’t do half of what I do without someone by my side that is equally as passionate about her community, my administrative coordinator, Alyssa Brown. We fit together like hand to glove, and there is no one I would rather be taking this chamber journey with! Alyssa, hang on, we have a lot left to accomplish and I believe it will be one heck of a ride!

Happy Chamber of Commerce Month, and a special shout out to our members! We would not be here without you, and it is a pleasure to serve you. If you would like to learn more about the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit our website at www.jrvchamber.com, email us at info@juniatarivervalley.org, or you call our office at 717-248-6713.

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Rhonda S. Kelley is the Executive Director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce.