A Chamber of Commerce is a, "non-profit business organization consisting of varied local businesses, organizations, professionals, and individuals," and is a, “coalition committed to building a healthy economy and improving the quality of life within the local community."

Four things important to any chamber are, "economic development, community development, public affairs and organizational improvement."

The current President of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Jo Ann Hanstrom, who has been with the chamber for almost 18 years, explained that in 2000, it took over a year to get the details right and create what is now known as a, “Unified Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber.”

This monthly breakfast showed to be an opportunity for members of the chamber to express how the foundation of the Chamber became unified. Three separate chambers are included, the Mabank Chamber of Commerce, Gun Barrel City Chamber, as well as the Seven Points Chamber.

Hanstrom read the mission statement of The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. The mission statement is to, “attract, promote, and provide benefits for a growing business community.

The chamber works under a, “balanced budget” and the board of directors participates one day each year in December, until every penny is accounted for, for what they have decided the yearly budget needs.

Some of the ways the chamber fundraises for money is a golf tournament, a fall event, a yearly car show, monthly sponsored lunches, a spring event that holds a raffle and membership drives.

Hanstrom stated that, “Cedar Creek Lake has the best volunteers.” She also recognized the fact that it takes a lot of volunteers to run and operate the fundraisers.

It is written that the unified chamber is, “An extremely active chamber of commerce, CCLACC, was established in 2001 and boasts approximately 400 members, ranging from non-profit organizations to large corporations serving the area. Membership investment is a yearly fee, based on the number of employees and there are categories for business, individuals, retirees, non-profits, school districts, post offices, fire departments, and utilities. The chamber is a 501(c) 6 non-profit and is governed by 9 members of a board of directors made up of members representing the three chapters, plus two at-large.”

If any individual or entity is interested in becoming a member, members receive a long list of benefits that will help contribute to a heightened business community.

Any city in the lake area that is interested in creating a chapter, should know it is welcomed. Guidelines and fees can be obtained by calling or visiting the local office.

Updates given on the Silver Screen Movie Club, which is an exclusive club for members 55 and older, who, when donate can good items; receive a free movie and a meal. It is said that they are up to 2 movie theaters with about 200 members from the usual 75 they saw in the past.

http://www.cedarcreeklakechamber.com/