I say the local Chamber of Commerce is a civic club.
      My friend says the chamber is not a civic club.
         Am I right or is my friend wrong?

Dear joeleejohnson-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.

A Chamber of Commerce is a civic-minded ?organization? that promotes
the civic, commercial, industrial and agricultural interests of a
given locale. Even though many Chambers of Commerce and ?civic clubs?
both frequently have charters, by-laws, membership dues, officers and
board members, most Chambers of Commerce do not officially consider
themselves ?civic clubs?. In fact, for whatever reason, many even go
out of their way to clearly explain that they are NOT civic clubs.

GOOGLE SEARCH
"Chamber of Commerce" "not a civic club"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Chamber+of+Commerce%22+%22not+a+civic+club%22&btnG=Google+Search

Your question, ?Am I right or is my friend wrong?? is a leading
question that can only have one answer - favoring your opinion on the
matter. However, if you are asking, ?Am I right or is my friend
right??, the answer is, your friend is right (and you, unfortunatley,
are wrong).

Sorry.

Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any questions
about my research please post a clarification request prior to rating
the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final comments
and I look forward to working with you again in the near future. Thank
you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher


INFORMATION SOURCES

GOOGLE SEARCH
"Chamber of Commerce" "not a civic club"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Chamber+of+Commerce%22+%22not+a+civic+club%22&btnG=Google+Search

---

Request for Answer Clarification by joeleejohnson-ga on 04 Nov 2004 04:24 PST

IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK--WALKS LIKE A DUCK-SOUNDS LIKE A DUCK-----

      BUT IT AIN'T A DUCK, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT SAYS IT AIN'T A DUCK.
   
     EVERY ARTICLE THAT YOU USED TO COME UP WITH YOUR ANSWER IS WRITTEN

     BY VARIOUS 'CHAMBERS' TRYING 'IN VAIN' TO CONVINCE SOMEONE THAT

     THEY ARE NOT A "DUCK".

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 04 Nov 2004 06:52 PST

You didn't mention up front that you were opposed to being proven
wrong. What kind of evidence would you suggest I find that makes the
case better that dozens of Chambers of Commerce around the nation that
publicly and vehemently deny being a "civic club"? I mean, we're not
likley to find a Websters Dictionary reference on this so what kind of
evidence do you REQUIRE as proof to satisfy the question?

tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 04 Nov 2004 07:07 PST

Chambers of Commerce are CLEARLY considered "business associations",
not civic clubs.

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=%22chamber+of+commerce%22+%22is+a+business+association%22

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 04 Nov 2004 07:36 PST

?What is the Chamber of Commerce?
It is a private, non-profit organization that represents local
businesses. It is a business association and volunteer organization
supported by volunteers and members.?
AIRMONTINFO.COM
http://www.airmontinfo.com/commerce.html

Even the US Chamber of commerce was originally a group of 700
delegates from various commercial and trade organizations that came
together to create a unified body of business interest [defined as a
?business association?] that today is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Interestingly enough, in spite of what I said earlier, it was Daniel
Webster himself who said of the US Chamber of Commerce:

"Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers,
build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see
whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something
worthy to be remembered." -- Daniel Webster, June 17, 1825, Speech
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill,
Charlestown, Massachusetts

HISTORY OF THE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
http://www.uschamber.com/about/history/default

This promotion of business interests is a business association, not a
civic organization.

Tutuzdad-ga

tutuzdad-ga,
        You sure earned your fee. I lost the bet and you still want a tip?
   You must be a member of the chamber or you need to go to the chamber.
                       Thanx for the answer-Good By- Good Luck & God Bless

Chambers of Commerce are associations of businesses who promote
commercial and industries in the community.

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&oi=defmore&q=define:Chamber+of+Commerce

Civic Clubs:
"This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in promoting
the civic and social interests of their members. It includes
non-for-profit social and ethnic clubs, alumnis, auxiliaries,
societies and associations. These establishments may also operate bar
and restaurant facilities for their members."
http://www.ibisworld.com/industry/definition.asp?industry_id=1755

The key difference here is promoting the civic and SOCIAL interests of
their MEMBERS. Chambers promote businesses within their community. 
Therefore, chambers are not civic clubs.  Kiwanis, Rotary, Ruritan and
those of similar ilk are civic clubs.  Chambers definitely do not fall
within this group.

Hope this helps

-THV